Seven days after dominating the latest round of the Scottish Championship in the Borders, Aberdeen’s Dave Weston jnr made an impressive start to his campaign in the British Rally Championship by finishing second in the opening event.
The 19-year-old, driving his 2010 Subaru Impreza, was in impressive form as he slithered his way through the gruelling eight stages of the 100-mile Bulldog International Rally in Wales.
The N-east driver, one of three Scots in the top six, finished 2min 01sec behind the Subaru of defending British champ, Keith Cronin. The Irishman started his defence by winning with a time of 1hr 40.3secs. Weston jnr though was impressed by his own performance.
“This is a brilliant way to start my bid to become British champion,” the youngster, whose dad Dave Weston is a former Scottish champ, said after arriving back at rally HQ in Welshpool.
“We backed off over the final couple of stages because they were so slippery, but the car was perfect all day. It never missed a beat.” That was in stark contrast to the Mitsubishi Evo IX of 2009 Scottish champ David Bogie.
The 22-year-old from Dumfries struggled through the opening loop of four stages after his car suffered a dramatic loss of power. But after changing the car’s engine management system and intercooler at service, his pace improved over the final four tests.
But worse was to follow for Bogie. Having recovered to finish the day sixth, he then discovered he’s been handed a seven-minute penalty for changing a wheel at an arrival control. That relegated him to 12th overall. He did though finish third in the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge, the championship he won in 2008.
Duns driver Euan Thorburn, meanwhile, overcame a broken driveshaft in his Subaru in the day’s second stage to finish fourth.
JM