Duns driver being '˜realistic' ahead of 2016 Scottish series

Duns driver Garry Pearson is all set and ready to kick start his assault to become the 2016 ARR Craib Scottish Rally Champion.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jan 2016, 13:34 BST
Updated 28th Jan 2016, 13:42 BST
Duns rally driver Garry Pearson (right) with co-driver Robbie Mitchell and their new Ford Fiesta R5.Duns rally driver Garry Pearson (right) with co-driver Robbie Mitchell and their new Ford Fiesta R5.
Duns rally driver Garry Pearson (right) with co-driver Robbie Mitchell and their new Ford Fiesta R5.

He and co-driver Robbie Mitchell, also of Duns, will contest the 2016 season in a Ford Fiesta R5, and given Garry’s minimal experience of the M-Sport car and indeed any four-wheel-drive machinery, he is realistic about what he can achieve on the opening round of the championship, the Snowman Rally.

Garry said: “We have to be realistic. Mileage in the car is key for the Snowman. A top 10 would be nice which we would aim to build on. We would like to develop round by round.

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When asked what his aims for the 2016 season are Garry replied: “Having never driven the car before and having only driven four-wheel drive once prior to the Snowman it’s a difficult question to answer.”

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“As of today I’ve sat in the car for two minutes for a photo and couldn’t get my legs under the steering wheel. We hope to have a small test in the car before the Snowman, if not I’ll learn quickly on stage one.”

The Scottish Rally Championship has been won by three different drivers over the past three years, making it a very open and closely contested series. There are many drivers who are in with a shout of taking the 2016 title.

“I’ve watched Mike Faulkner since I was about 12 years old and Jock Armstrong since about 14,” Garry explained.

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“They’ve always been there or thereabouts and have a wealth of experience in Scotland as well as Jock being reigning champion. There’s also a fierce bunch of Group A Evo’s and Shaun Sinclair should go well in the Subaru.”

Pearson has chosen to compete in the Scottish Rally Championship despite the reincarnated British Rally Championship, in which the main contenders are using cars like Garry’s Fiesta. But Pearson sees the SRC as a much better place to learn the car and get comfortable and competitive in it.

“For us it’s a great way to learn the Fiesta R5 and in my previous experience the Scottish Championship offers some of the best stages in the UK to do this on. The BRC is somewhat in the unknown at the moment for sure some big names have signed up which is excellent for them but realistically for us new to four-wheel-drive it would be unrealistic to be able to jump in an R5 and compete with the likes of Evans and Bogie.”

The Snowman Rally kicks-off the series on February 20.