Championship points leader Jonny Milner set the pace on the first stage ahead of an inspired Tatsu Taguchi in the Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Group A Lancer. Great excitement had been generated before the start by the re-appearance of Mark Higgins – this time in a DGM-prepared Toyota WRC of similar specification to Milner's example, rather than the Focus that he used to such good effect on the Pirelli. The prospect of a great battle was soon dashed however, as Higgins lost a rear wheel after clouting a bridge parapet just before the finish, sending the car pirouetting down the track. Unluckiest crew of the PBRC so far must be David Henderson and Scott Poxon. This time, the engine of their Ford Racing S1600 Puma lunched itself half way through the stage and Henderson, quite understandably, disappeared into the Loch Grannoch forest to gather his thoughts and ponder life in general, and rallying in particular. David Robinson's Escort WRC never even made the start of this first stage, and was last seen stopped in a lay-by outside Dumfries with a broken cam-belt.
Leg One certainly emphasised the Scottish Rally's long-held reputation for toughness, with technically demanding stages that were extremely rough in places. Punctures were a problem for almost everyone, starting the usual debate about whether they can be avoided by considerate (to car and tyres) driving, or whether they're an inevitable outcome of setting competitive times. Whatever the answer (and the jury still seems to be out on this), they, and thick dust hanging in the still air, were two of the main features that influenced the first day's order. Guy Wilks suffered badly, losing about eight minutes when in fifth place overall and leading the 1600 class, and dropped down to 20th, whilst another driver reported having had his car up on its jack seven times.
The usual suspects were swapping fastest times at the front, with Group N Subaru drivers Tapio Laukkanen and David Higgins again setting out to prove that late-spec, so-called ‘production' cars in the right hands are quite capable of upsetting the WRC contingent. Trying to resist this onslaught were Jonny Milner, Marcus Dodd, Austin McHale and Robert Woodside, all out to prove that power really does matter. They, in turn, were ably supported by the flying Taguchi. Unfortunately, ‘flying' soon took on a rather too-literal meaning, as the works Mitsubishi driver misjudged a series of bends on the last stage of the day, bending the car too badly to continue. When one considers that this was his first visit to Scotland, his speed certainly underlines his potential, and it will be interesting to see how he goes on tarmac on the
Jim Clark.
