Crawford is driving force in forest rally

Sep 11 2008 by George Topp, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTHERWELL’S John Crawford produced another blistering performance to take top two-wheel-drive honours and eighth place overall in Saturday’s Merrick Forest Stages Rally in Galloway.

In the penultimate round of the County Saab MSA Scottish Championship, Crawford, with co-driver Ian Simpson, brought his Ford Escort Mk2 home in a time of 43 mins 43 secs after six challenging stages through the Galloway Forest.

Their placing was one better than their previous, and equally impressive, outing on the Speyside event in August.

Carnwath farmer Walter Henderson and co-driver Jim Kinloch also had a solid run in their ex-Stobart Subaru Impreza N10, rounding off the top 10 and taking third in class.

Young Bothwell driver Alick Kerr was also in fine form, claiming a hard-fought class win in his Leaker Direct Rangemaster Ford Fiesta and finishing 30th overall.

At the finish in Newton Stewart, Kerr (20), partnered by regular navigator Drew Sturrock, explained that their day had been far from trouble-free.

He said: “The first stage went OK but we got a puncture on the second and then another on the fourth.”

The result moves Kerr into third place in the Scottish Junior Championship, with one round remaining.

Carluke teenagers Jonathan Smith, with Ian Angell of Bothwell on the notes, took fourth place in their class in their Peugeot 205, ending the day 42nd overall from 62 classified finishers.