Martin McCormack's 1st attempt at the Jim Clark Rally based in the Scottish Borders town of Kelso was once again a trying experience for the team.

With his regular navigator unavailable for this event, Martins sister in law, Caroline stepped into the co-drivers seat for the rally, having last contested an event 12 years ago. After a good recce the crew set of for the 170 stage miles that made up the rally. With a rebuilt engine installed in the Citroen C2R2 after the previous weekends Tour of The Sperrins the crew were straight in at the deep end with a 16 mile opening stage. They emerged 2nd C2R2 setting a time 40 seconds slower than the leading C2 of George Thomas with Martin expressing concerns about an inconsistent brake pedal. Fast stage times on the next 2 stages before service clawed some time back and with the brake problem rectified this allowed the crew who were quickly settling in, to mount an attack for the rest of Saturday's stages.

More fast stage times followed. and with the time gap to the leading C2R2 cut by 20 seconds it was looking good for a satisfactory overnight position of 2nd C2R2. However on the last stage of Saturday a driveshaft broke and as Martin tried to make it back to service a wheel bearing also collapsed. Frantic activity by the service crew and with a lot of help from other C2 teams the car was successfully booked into overnight parc-ferme with a few small things to finish on the Sunday morning service before competition.

With 5 stages left on Sunday before the rally finish in Kelso and still 2nd in the C2 R2's despite the problems on Saturday evening the team set off to contest the remaining stages. Still holding 2nd in the C2R2's the wheels literally came off the car with 2 stages to go. Wheel studs sheared as Martin and Caroline approached a square right, square left, over a bridge and with only 3 wheels on the car their event was over.

Super Rally rules allowed the crew to book into parc-ferme and be classified as a finisher and get 4th place points in the British C2R2 Cup. The result still leaves Martin 4th overall in the British C2R2 cup, 4 points off the lead and joint leader of the Junior driver category in the British Rally Championship.

www.martymccormack.com

Photograph By:
Daniel Forsyth - http://mysite.orange.co.uk/drfrallyphotos/