Tony Jardine overcame technical problems and a puncture to claim a class podium on the IRC qualifier.
Motorsports pundit Tony Jardine and co-driver Gordon Noble made it to the finish of RAC MSA Rally of Scotland in 21st overall and third in their class.
The SkyBet/ProSpeed team suffered technical problems and a puncture on Saturday but made up places on Sunday despite sustaining broken suspension. After 14 stages, they ended up with a podium finish in their Ford Fiesta R2.
“The stages in Scotland are tough, so I'm pleased to have finished the rally in one piece and with a podium in our class,” said Sky Sports News F1 analyst Jardine.
“We've had lots of dramas today as the left front suspension was in danger of collapsing. It has been a case of nursing the car through arguably four of the fastest stages of the event, plus we have been struggling with some intercom problems. Probably on High Corrie 2 is where I have personally been at my best and Gordon has been absolutely brilliant, he really got into it. The car has taken so much punishment and there have been so many other cars off that it has mainly been about survival, with ProSpeed keeping the Fiesta running for us.”
Experienced Northern Irish co-driver Noble was navigating Jardine for the first time.
“We knew some of the stage conditions were going to be bad but we didn't expect it to be as bad as it was on Drummond Hill and Errochty,” said Noble. “They were treacherous in terms of rocks and mud and our visibility was at a minimum through there, as half of our screen was steamed up. We have been trying to preserve the car, but it has been a truly demanding event.
“More than anything Tony has done really well to keep going, the car is not easy to drive and the stages have been in bad condition, mainly because there were 100 cars over these roads in similar weather conditions last Saturday on the Colin McRae Stages. Ultimately, we have achieved what we set out to do which was to make sure we reached the finish ramp. It has been challenging, but fun.”
