2009 Season

Last year saw the team go from strength to strength at each round of the championship. Round 1 at the Border Counties Rally saw the first outing of Colin R Smith and Craig Chapman. Both team members competed last season with other drivers and co-drivers respectively.

A mature performance saw the team win round one, beyond all expectations and goals for the day. With this result in mind the team set about preparing for Round 2 – The Granite City Rally.

The Granite was a challenging day for the team, sitting equal second place going into service the team were happy with their progress. The car developed a misfire as the day went on and the team slipped back to 3^rd place at the finish. Not the ideal result but it kept the team at the head of the Championship still, going into Round 3.

Leading the Championship after 2 rounds was a fantastic boost for all involved in the team, sponsors, mechanics and family, not to mention Colin and Craig…

                  Colin and Craig in action on the 2009 RSAC Scottish Rally

Round 3 was a gruelling test through the forests of Dumfries and Galloway at the RSAC Scottish Rally. The day saw the team set fastest times through the Super Special Stage and also 1 other stage. Going into the last 2 Ae stages the team were pipped by fellow competitors John and Peter MacCrone to 1^st place.

For Round 4 the team were back on home soil for the Speyside Rally and with many local spectators and sponsors on hand, the pressure was on! The first 2 blasts round Cooper Park saw the team post the quickest times in the entire 205 field (including the 1.9’s) and were on the pace of the leading S1600 cars!

A niggling misfire was diagnosed going into the second forest stage and hampered the team’s progress until the first service. With some emergency repairs to the wiring loom, Colin and Craig were back fighting for the next two stages. Losing only 1 second over the next 2 stages to rally leaders ‘The MacCrones’ Colin and Craig were back in the hunt. A ‘maximum attack’ approach was adopted for the last 20 miles of the rally, hoping to force the leading car into a mistake. The teams plan worked, taking 31 seconds out of the next fastest 205 the team took the win, the second of the season in dramatic fashion.

Colin and Craig’s celebrations were short lived. An irregularity was found with the car at post event scrutineering which excluded them from the 205 results. This was a massive blow to the teams Championship hopes. Faced with emotional turmoil Colin, Craig and the rest of the team picked themselves up and ensured all necessary preparations were in place for Round 5 – The Merrick Rally.

The Merrick was the most difficult rally of the year for the team. The first 2 stages were wet, rough and not flowing at all. Colin and Craig picked up a puncture on stage 1 and took things steady through stage 2. After the puncture the team lost out on the lead and dropped to second place, keeping ahead of the fast charging Garry Pearson. A very mature and quick drive say the team pick up the pace throughout the rest of the day, comfortably consolidating second place on their way to more silverware.