RALLY NEWS NO.1                  Dumfries - Saturday 08.00

Jonny Milner, current Pirelli British Rally Champion and last year's winner of this Scottish Rally, was in top form as his Corolla WRC was put through its paces at the Ice Bowl scrutineering last night. The Yorkshireman observed about today's rally, "The car is good, all ready, the stages are in fair condition, not rough, fast. If the weather stays good, dust could be a problem. We will have to go flat out from the word go here. I got bitten on the first round of the series, the Pirelli, when I rested for a couple of stages and couldn't pull it back. The competition is too good for that."

Just one to look out for is 18 year old Finn Jari Matti Latvala in the M-Sport Ford Focus WRC. Fresh from a top ten finish on last weekend's WRC Acropolis, the young Finnish driver commented, "Yes, I'm looking forward to the rally. I was here last year, but the stages are quite different for me. Last weekend I have the 2002 Ford Focus, now it is a 2001, but quite similar." His co-driver Carl Williamson said, One big difference is that we are not allowed mousse tyres here. They are fantastic. Punctures could be a problem here."

Austin MacHale, who drives the fabulous S8 Subaru WRC, said about today, "The big thing is not to get a puncture on one of the long stages. I've had a bit more time on gravel now, so we shouldn't be far away, although  I want to watch the car, keep it right for Donegal next weekend." Jonny's biggest opposition will probably be Tapio Laukkanen, current points leader in the Pirelli series after winning the first round.  Others to look out for in the open class include Julian Reynolds (Subaru) and Touring Car Champion James Thompson in his ex works Lancer. Then there is Barry Johnson, whose Subaru has had a major overhaul, although Barry is not happy about being seeded so far back. He commented, "We'll go for it, nothing to lose and all to gain." Young Gareth Jones, very much a rising star, is driving David Mann's current Impreza. Natalie Barrett brings a touch of glamour to proceedings and is driving the David Greer Corolla WRC, liveried in Natalie's own inimitable style. Natalie said, "I enjoyed driving the car in testing. The Corolla isn't massively different to the Hyundai. I just want to get out there and enjoy myself."

In GpN just two of the main men will be Neil Buckley and Paul Alexander. The latter's Lancer has been totally re-prepared since the Mutiny by the Promax team. Neil Buckley is determined to go for a good result, but definitely doesn't want any damage so close to his home Jim Clark Rally, with so much work on in the Buckley workshop at the moment. The lead GpN machinery should surely be mixing it in the top ten, while the top Super 1600 cars will certainly be in the middle of the fray. Garry Jennings in the 'works' Peugeot 206 is first on the road and should be the benchmark. But so close is the competition that he is sure to have a very hot ride indeed. Garry has been testing the car, and is well pleased with it.  Some who will be pushing him very hard include Gwyndaf Evans in the works MG, Ryan Champion in the Ford Puma and young Kris Meeke in the Opel Corsa. Gwyndaf, so experienced, so fast here in Scotland, remarked, "The engineers have been working away tweaking the MG's suspension and the transmission, just small things, but it all adds up. I have a new co-driver, Claire Mole, so it will take a few stages to build up confidence."

Ryan Champion has carried out extensive testing in his Ford and observed, "I'm looking forward to it, the stages may cut up where they have been patched, but they seem very good." Kris Meeke told us; "Of all the rallies in the British series this is the one I would have the best knowledge of, having done the Galloway Hills and the Park, but I'm told, I really have to finish this one!" San Marino driver Mirco Baldacci, fresh from the Acropolis, is driving the same Fiat Punto as he used there. The car broke the oil cooler in Greece, two stages from the end, and has had a new engine fitted, virtually on the way here, in the transporter! Leon Pesticcio drives the sister Punto. Simon Hughes in the Clio, complete with a revised engine, is another who could be right on the pace. One thing for sure is that this Super 1600 is one very competitive arena. The same can definitely be said of the Peugeot Super Cup contenders running behind the main rally, with the VW Polo Cup contenders having their own interesting battle. Main non-starters in the main rally include Mark Higgins, Steve Hill and John Lloyd, the latter's Subaru engine suffering from a mysterious misfire.

Running order -  all Super 1600s run first then a 5 min. gap to MacHale's WRC Impreza. More news after stage 2.  BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON