MN Circuit Rally: Knockhill
Class B produced a feelgood story to warm the hearts of the local fans even in the most undesirable of winter temperatures.
Ashleigh Morris upheld Scottish honours with a fine Class B victory in her Ford Fiesta R200, bouncing back just 12 months after a spectacular barrel roll at the same circuit threatened to halt her rallying progress.
Morris and navigator Jamie Mactavish took the fight to a flying Chris Ruck – unbeaten this season prior to Knockhill – from the outset, easing out a slender lead early on before the latter’s Opel Corsa slid wide twice on SS4 after slipping into neutral at the low speed infield section.
Morris stayed consistent during changeable conditions, claiming the class victory by 26s on her way to finishing 13th overall. “It’s been close between us and Chris, the car is actually quite good in the wet as it suits us against theoretically faster cars,” said Morris, who took maximum MN points and her first class win since Anglesey 2018. “We’re feeling good at the moment.”
In a rally of survival, Mike English took the cautious approach early on in conditions he described as “the worst that I’ve ever driven in during a rally”. It paid off, though, as he took
Class C spoils and MN points with a late surge after a sluggish start.
“I just need to take a step back and get through this one,” he said during a treacherous morning.
Battling wiper problems caused by the strong winds, the Ford Escort Mk2 driver added to his Cadwell Park success by overcoming Johnnie Mackay’s Fiesta ST with a series of faster times in the afternoon loop.
Class A went the way of the Vauxhall Nova of Nathan Hogg comfortably, finishing 2m41s clear of nearest rival Eamonn Kilmurray (Citroen C2 GT). MN honours in class were claimed by Ron Walker, who tested the limits in his nervous Ford Puma to achieve fourth in class and add to his strong points hauls from Oulton Park and Cadwell.
D2 victory went to overall winner Bird, who also claimed full MN points. Fifth-placed Kyle Adam was rewarded for his fine showing in his Escort Mk2 with overall honours in the D1 class, the MN win going the way of Barry Morris despite ending with an identical time to the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus of Mike
Taylor after a late moment.