Wilks tipped to fight back in Scotland

Marc van Dalen has backed Peugeot UK’s Guy Wilks to make up for the disappointment of his early exit from Rallye Sanremo earlier this month when the Intercontinental Rally Challenge resumes on RACMSA Rally of Scotland next week.

Wilks, who lives south of Scotland’s border with England, is one of the favourites for honours on the gravel round following his victory on the inaugural event in 2009.

However, his crash in Italy recently, his fourth retirement in succession, has left him desperate to make up lost ground ahead of Rally of Scotland.

“Guy made a stupid mistake in Sanremo but he was very unlucky because there was a lot of dust on the corner where he crashed,” said van Dalen, whose Kronos Racing operation runs the Peugeot 207 Super 2000 driven by Wilks and navigator Phil Pugh. “It was very disappointing for him because he was actually fastest at the timing split before the accident.

“Scotland is a very important event, not only for Guy, but for Peugeot UK because it is their home rally. I have no doubt Guy can do something good there.”

Wilks is seventh in the IRC drivers’ standings after nine rounds.