Binnie: BTRDA podium proves pace relative to Scottish Championship

Michael Binnie believes his BTRDA podium on the Carlisle Stages last weekend shows the strength of the Scottish Rally Championship.

Binnie has not finished higher than seventh on an SRC event and is 12th in the standings, and is six events into competing with a new Mitsubishi Lancer E9, having previously driven a Lancer E5.

He went equal fastest on the last stage in Cumbria to seal his podium.

“Beating some of the R5s was unbelievable,” said Binnie. “It’s a credit to how competitive the SRC is right now and to be able to show that in a major British championship gives me a lot of confidence ahead of the Argyle Stages. I’m very proud of that performance.”

It was also Binnie’s first competitive rally with his new co-driver Richard Simmons, having previously worked with Claire Mole.

While the result was aided by crashes for frontrunners Luke Francis, Stephen Petch and Charlie Payne, Binnie asserted himself well against established R5 and BTRDA regulars.