SS5: Disaster for Wilks in Scotland

Any hopes Guy Wilks had of claiming his first victory in this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge by winning RACMSA Rally of Scotland appear to be over after the Peugeot UK driver lost more than six minutes when he spun into a ditch in the 17.68-kilometre Errochty stage.

Wilks began the stage 3.4s behind ŠKODA UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen but has now dropped out of contention for top spot. His delay means stage winner Mikkelsen is now 28.6s in front of Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 Super 2000 heading to the regroup in Perth city centre.

“I thought I had a rear puncture and I knew I didn’t want to lose too much time so I was pushing like hell,” said Wilks. “But I pushed too hard.”

Bryan Bouffier, who was second quickest through the stage in his Peugeot France 207, moves up to third overall, one place ahead of PG Andersson, who reported an electrical glitch on his PROTON Satria Neo S2000 at the end of the stage.

Andersson’s team-mate Alister McRae stopped in the stage with a mechanical problem. Karl Kruuda completed the test with damaged suspension and conceded he would be unable to make it back to service in Perth.