by Geoff Mayes
Welshman Craig Middleton survived one of the toughest events of the year to take his third win of the season and move himself into a strong championship position with just one round remaining.
Before the Newton Stewart based Park Systems Rally had even begun the organisers had made the decision to cancel two stages as they were deemed unfit for the rally cars. Even with these two stages cancelled though the ANCRO Championship competitors still faced some 60 odd miles of tough and rough South Scottish stages and it really would be a case of survival of the fittest.
With Norwegian wonder boy Andreas Mikkelsen putting in an entry the championship contenders were prepared to admit defeat to the rapid youngster - but Andreas would be one of the first casualties of the rally after being caught out on a notoriously rough section half way through the opening 19 mile stage when his Ford Focus WRC was thrown out of the ruts and off the road, causing extensive damage to the car.
Meanwhile the championship contenders were not having an easy time either. Barry Johnson, although no longer in with a chance at the title, had the potential to take points away from everyone else, but a plague of punctures, followed by a fuel pump problem would soon sideline the Subaru pilot.
Meanwhile Middleton and Marcus Dodd, both in Hyundai World Rally Cars, and both double winners in 2006 were embroiled in a fight out front. Setting identical fastest times on the opening stage was an indication that neither driver was prepared to settle for second.
However Dodd's rally would come to a premature end when the former champion was forced to pull over in the second stage with terminal engine problems, robbing him of any chance of taking the 2006 title. Meanwhile Middleton was not having things his own way. Intercom failure caused him to overshoot a junction, costing him 5 seconds. Even with this time loss Middleton was still 20 seconds clear of the chasing pack.
![Craig Middleton [Pic credit: Geoff Mayes Images - www.geoffmayesimages.com]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/263456.jpg)
