Rock wrecks Bogie charge: Ahlin winsposted in BRC18 | 03 | 2017
SWEDE FREDRIK AHLIN won the opening round of the British Rally Championship in Jedburgh today as home favourite David Bogie’s charge was wrecked by a rock. (Related: Bogie No1 seed for BRC opener)
Bogie, the 29-year-old from Dumfries, was lying in a comfortable podium position and pushing to close the gap on the Swede when disaster struck on stage six.
“We hit a rock, that wasn't on the pacenotes, on the inside of a corner and the impact broke the steering,” the five-times Scottish and 2011 British champ explained after parking his Skoda Fabia R5 at the side of the stage (pictured).
“It’s a disappointing way to end the rally. Sadly we weren’t the only ones to hit the rock. It also claimed Marty McCormack’s Skoda; he ended up parking right beside us.”
That took the pressure of Ahlin, and the Swede cruised through the final four stages in his Skoda (main picture) to win the Border Counties Rally by 38.6secs ahead of Welshman Tom Cave’s Ford Fiesta R5, with countryman Osian Pryce, in another Fiesta R5, third.
Duns-based Euan Thorburn, tackling his first BRC event in his new Ford Fiesta R5 (pictured immediately above), finished eighth, despite suffering two punctures in back-to-back stages midway through the rally.
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Jim McGill
Pictures: Jakob Ebrey and CPL Motorsport Media