UP-AND-COMING SCOT MAKES LANCER E7 SWITCH

Young Scottish driver Johnnie MacKay has upgraded to a Mitsubishi Lancer E7 but will stick with his Ford Fiesta ST for the rest of the season.

Explaining the change to MN, MacKay said: “We’ve basically done everything we can in the Fiesta. Last year we won the Juniors in the SRC and this year we stepped up the events in the Protyre championship – we’ve had a bit of a nightmare of a season with an engine failure on the Jim Clark but we are leading the Junior championship there as well.”

But why an Evo?

“For me, an R2 was a big step up in money and not really a big step up in performance,” MacKay said. “I could be quick in the 1600 class but there’s not that much competition, so I was looking at an Evo and I could get that for the less than the cost of an R2.”

MacKay is aiming to get his first taste of the car at the VIP day for the Grampian

Forest Rally. His plan next year is to return to the Scottish Rally Championship and vie for the Challengers championship title.