Andy Scott finished ninth overall and fourth in class in Sunday’s Carter’s Pit Stop Stages Rally, the unofficial shakedown to 2018 Sol Rally Barbados (Sol RB18). The Albatec Racing Team Principal landed in Barbados just as his striking 2017-spec Ford Fiesta R5 arrived from the Dumfries workshops, and managed just a brief shakedown in preparation for the event.
The rally was held over ten stages and 41.90 stage miles and was split into two legs. The morning leg comprising five stages; three runs through Malvern to Wilson Hill, interspersed with two runs through Pool to Society. Stage 1 saw a rare error from the former rallycross champion and double BRX vice-champion, as he was caught out on dry tyres on a wet surface, pitching Scott into a half spin, which consequently compromised his overall time. The weather deteriorated on SS5 forcing him to drive more cautiously on the wetter roads, further compromising his times.
After the regroup in Kendal, the event resumed, starting with the first of three runs through Society to Pool with Scott now re-seeded fifth. Over the course of the remaining five stages he progressively improved his times, setting the fifth and sixth fastest stage times in the Motis, Rock Oil and Teng Tools supported R5. On the final run through Society to Pool he flew through the stage culminating in the fourth fastest time and elevating him to ninth overall.
The changeable weather conditions across the day allowed him to gain additional experience in differing road conditions ahead of his next rally, Sol Rally Barbados, which takes place from June 01-03.
In the meantime, focus switches to round three of the Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship at Croft, North Yorkshire on Sunday 6 May, where Scott will be re-united with his Peugeot 208 RX Supercar, alongside team-mate Mark Higgins.
Andy Scott, driver Albatec Racing:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the rally, it was a fantastic event, with loads of support from the large crowd. We lost some time with an early half spin on Stage 1 when I was on dry tyres and the roads were wet, which dropped us down the order. Stage 5 was even wetter, so I went a little more cautiously as I wanted to get to the finish. We got progressively faster during the afternoon and that was my main objective as I’m still getting familiar with the car.
“It really couldn’t have been a better shakedown for Sol Rally Barbados, as we got to experience all different kinds of weather, which meant we had a variety of road conditions to deal with. I’m happy to have brought the car home in one piece and to have consistently improved to the point of setting fourth, fifth and sixth fastest stage times from the ten stages.”
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