Smith gets new Fiesta R2 chance

BTRDA 1400 frontrunner Mat Smith has been given another chance to show what he can do in an R2 car and will compete on Saturday’s Grampian Rally.

Smith was one of the drivers chosen by Swift Caravans’ Peter Smith to have a prize drive in his Ford Fiesta R2 on the Carlisle Stages, but a stone in the calliper broke several rims. He still scored 16th overall and second in the B10 class.

“We had one or two issues when we were out and

I think that’s why I’ve got another chance,” said Mat. “Peter was the one who suggested to have another go. I was disheartened at the end of the event, because of the issues we’d had, but Matt [Edwards, whose hire car Smith will use] was soon on the phone asking if I wanted to do the Grampian.

“There’s not many who would do what Pete’s done.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve done the Border Counties and the Scottish when I had my

Peugeot 205, but I’ve never been that far north before.”

Meanwhile the battle for the Scottish Rally Championship intensifies on the Grampian, the penultimate rally in the championship.

Andrew Gallacher (Ford Focus WRC) leads Donnie Macdonald’s Ford Fiesta R5 by a single point heading into the event.

Perennial frontrunners Jock Armstrong and Garry Pearson return to action as cars one and two.