by Geoff Mayes

Despite leading for nearly half of the event, round one winner and regular WRC contender Guy Wilks slid off on the final stage of leg one of the recent Jim Clark Rally, throwing away a relatively comfortable lead. When Gwyndaf Evans then retired with mechanical failure on day two Mark Higgins was the lucky benefactor, claiming his first win of the year.

Weather was to play a key factor on this event. Despite the recce being dry and sunny, changeable weather conditions were forecast for the actual event.

The rally began with two short spectator stages around Langton on Friday night. The two Mitsubishi drivers were tied quickest on the first run through but the reigning champion, and 2006 winner, Mark Higgins went quickest on the second loop. Despite this fast time Wilks took a slender lead into the rally proper.

BRC contenders Phil Morrow, Rob Swann and Lorna Smith were all lucky to get away with moments on the opening stages. Morrow had a brief spin at the water splash, whilst Swann spun approaching a chicane. Smith was by far the luckiest of the bunch when she survived both an excursion through the trees and a visit to a ditch during the two runs, much to the delight of the gathered spectators.

Saturday morning dawned bright but cool. Higgins was quickest through the opening test, but Wilks was less than 3 seconds behind. 2006 Evo Challenge winner and former BRC champion Gwyndaf Evans was third, just over half a second behind Wilks after 7 and a half miles.

Wilks then put in a storming drive on the 11 miles of Abbey St Bathans. Not only was he the fastest BRC driver but he was also third fastest overall, beating a number of Irish registered World Rally Cars. Higgins was not far off, with Evans once more chasing hard. Only eight cars passed through Stage 5 before the test was halted due to a car fire at the flying finish.

This meant that Wilks led Higgins by almost 9 seconds, but the dark clouds were rolling in and tyre choice would be more of a lottery for the next loop of stages. Evans topped the time sheets through Edrom, with Wilks almost 2 seconds further back, but then the team-mates switched places on the next stage, Wilks going quicker by 1.3 seconds. On both stages Higgins was third fastest but gradually dropping further back.

Stage 8 saw the crews deal with everything from bright sunshine to hail and a number of competitors suffered spins or excursions into the undergrowth. However Wilks and Higgins appeared unfazed by the bizarre weather conditions to top the times once more.

At the half way point of the day it was still Wilks from Evans and Higgins but a relatively strong run in the Toyota S2000 had seen David Higgins move up to fourth, albeit over a minute and a half down. Mitsubishis topped the times for the next three stages but then Mark Higgins put a stop to that with a dynamite drive through Fogo 2, topping the overall times, some 3 seconds faster than the nearest World Rally Car. Second fastest BRC crew was his younger brother, David hustling the screaming S2000 around quicker than Evans. Missing from the field was rally leader Guy Wilks. The former Suzuki works driver had been caught out in the wet and had gone straight on into a field, damaging the front of his Evo 9 and retiring from the leg.