SS11: More drama as Bogie retires

Scottish champion David Bogie’s bid to win the IRC Production Cup is over after he retired at the end of the first High Corrie stage.

Bogie was dicing with fellow Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX driver Jarkko Nikara for category honours when he ran wide on a corner and tore the left-rear wheel off his car striking a submerged rock by the side of the road.

Although he managed to complete the run, the damage was too great to enable him to continue to the remote service halt in Callander. Ironically, Nikara, who completed the stage with the fourth fastest time, reported possible problems with his car’s front suspension.

“I was having a real good run through the stage but the car went slightly wide on a corner,” said the British and Scottish champion. “I continued for about four or five kilometres, and then the wheel came off. I’m annoyed because it was just marginally wide, I don’t feel that it was worth losing a wheel over but that’s rallying.”

In the battle for victory on the all-action Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier, Juho Hänninen has cut Andreas Mikkelsen’s lead to 28.3s after going fastest through the 25.81-kilometre High Corrie test.

“It was a difficult stage and one of those stages where if you want to go fast you have to be on the limit but we’re not pushing so much,” said Mikkelsen.

Craig Breen lost time when the engine in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 dropped on to three cylinders. “The engine is not on full cylinders, I hope we can fix it,” said the Irishman, who has moved up to fourth overall following Patrik Sandell’s retirement at the end of stage 10.