After SS2: Wilks, Meeke stretch away

Guy Wilks and Kris Meeke set identical times of 2m07.5s on the second run through Scone Palace, extending their advantage slightly over the chasing pack. Wilks reported a strange sensation through his Fabia S2000´s steering which will be examined during service.

"The steering went dead for a second and I thought I had a puncture or something," he said. "Maybe we just had some gravel or mud in the wheel."

"It was fun," said Meeke. "The last run was a bit quicker and we’re looking forward to tomorrow now."

Andreas Mikkelsen held on to third in the M-Sport Fiesta, although he admitted that he was looking forward to tomorrow’s gravel stages. Thierry Neuville was just half a second slower than Mikkelsen in SS2, jumping two places overall in the Peugeot Team Belux 207.

In Group N, Jonathan Greer edged ahead of David Bogie by setting the eighth fastest time on the stage, splitting the Proton Satrias of Tom Cave and Keith Cronin in his Ralliart Lancer Evo IX.

"I had a good run through, it’s a nice stage," he said. "There’s lots of things to catch you out but I’m enjoying it."

From the short demonstration stages around the historic site’s asphalt drive the RACMSA Rally of Scotland moves to the much-anticipated gravel stages tomorrow, beginning on the 17.34km Craigvinean test at 07:20hrs.

Overall positions after SS2: