20 July 2025 / By DAVID FERGUSON
First rule of rallying for spectators – don’t ever listen to drivers who say their intention is not to win!
Duns man Garry Pearson and his co-driver Hannah McKillop thought they would use the RSAC Scottish Rally around the Dumfries forests as perfect prep for their return to Probite British Rally Championship action but insisted that the result didn’t matter as they were not out to win it.
He may even have convinced himself of that beforehand, but come Saturday and finding themselves 11 seconds off reigning champion and local stars David Bogie and Kirsty Riddick after stage one through Glengap there was no stopping the Borders pair as they hauled the local duo back in. Pearson went on to win the next three stages and while Bogie hit back with the final two to top the SRC standings, he couldn’t close the gap far enough and it was the Fiesta Rally2 of Pearson and McKillop who came out on top over the Skoda Fabia by 15 seconds.
Garry said afterwards: “That wasn’t the target going into today, but what an honour it is to have our names on such a prestigious trophy. Our main aim was testing and seat time ahead of the Grampian Forest Rally in the British Rally Championship next month, and we’ve come away with plenty of knowledge gained.
“Huge thanks to M-Sport for an excellent car as always and Hannah McKillop on the notes – it’s not a bad year we’re having so far.”
Mark McCulloch and Michael Hendry completed another Pirelli 1-2-3 on the podium in his Proton Satria Evo S2000 and gave Mark’s Dumfries following plenty to shout about, having decided late on to compete – what a good decision that turned out to be. And youngster Robert ‘Fun Bobby’ Proudlock also delighted his local fans, after, with Harry Marchbank on the notes, bringing his Fiesta Rally3 home in a fine fifth spot after a superbly consistent and fast drive, finishing ahead of a number of Rally2 cars to show why he feels he has got to grips with his new car in perfect time for the second half of the British Championship season.
In the Two Wheel Drive field, Paddy Munro and Andrew Stevenson claimed the honours in Paddy’s Mark 2 Escort, and there are familiar faces at the front of the Historic event with Keith Robathan and Craig Nelson coming out on top in their Vauxhall Firenza.
Robbie Wood was not slow to add to his honours in Dumfries as, with Simon Mills stepping in for his unavailable co-driver Steven Brown, he won the MG3 title to ramp up the pressure on the leaders in that championship – another driver whose prediction of just taking it easy and seeing how he goes in this, his debut year, was clearly complete nonsense. he may have started off with that outlook, or maybe that was for his parents’ benefit, but Wood is providing that the rallying desire and skill of his parents, Andrew and Ann Wood, is hereditary.
Clerk of the Course, Jonathan Lord, commented: “We have had a great day’s motorsport made possible by a superb organising team who have worked for months to put the day together, supported by an army of volunteer marshals who ensure the event ran safely.
“We are indebted to Dumfries & Galloway Council for their continued support, and to the owners and staff at Jas P Wilson for hosting us and providing us with a fantastic base for Rally Control and service area.