Thorburn and Beaton forced to settle for second in Elgin

A PUNCTURE on the penultimate stage denied Euan Thorburn (Duns) and his Inverness co-driver Paul Beaton the chance of victory at the Speyside Stages Rally in Elgin.

Reigning champion David Bogie benefitted from Thorburn’s misfortune as he went on to win round six of this year’s ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

Bogie completed the eight Morayshire forest stages in a total time of 41 minutes 21 seconds, finishing 13 seconds ahead of Thorburn. Jock Armstrong secured the final podium spot, a minute and a half further back.

After six stages, Donnie MacDonald and co-driver Andrew Falconer, both from Inverness, were sitting fifth overall but a puncture ultimately knocked them back two places come the end of the event.

"Anyone can get punctures but we really didn’t need it at that stage, while we spun on the last stage which didn’t help," he said.

"It’s a shame because we were well on the pace, so that’s a real positive to take away."

Fellow Inverness crew Dougal Brown and Lewis Rochford were only another three seconds adrift to take eighth overall, while former Speyside winner Andy Horne, co-driven for the first time by daughter Alison, brought his Ford Focus WRC back in ninth place – the city drivers’ third top 10 finish of the season.

John Morrison (Conon Bridge), with Peter Carstairs navigating, finished 13th overall, while Rosemarkie’s Scott MacBeth, who had Scott Hunter on notes, crossed the finishing line 35th overall to move into the lead in the Class Two Championship.

The sixth round of the championship is the GWF Energy Merrick Stages, based in Wigtown, on Saturday 2nd September.

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