Penpont and Dumfries duo take third at RAC Rally

A DUMFRIESSHIRE rally crew have finished third in the UK's longest rally, which finished on Monday afternoon with a flat out high speed test non stop over 40 miles of forestry roads, the longest single forest stage ever held in British rallying. In total crews tackled 300 miles of flat out motoring in those five days, equivalent to more than six 'normal' British rallies. The RAC Rally – or Roger Albert Clark Rally – attracted 190 crews from literally across the globe. For five days and nights they battled the elements in the forests of Wales, the north off England and southern Scotland before the rally finally finished in Carlisle late on Monday afternoon. It began in the snow and ice of the Welsh forests on Thursday, continuing into Friday, before crews headed north to Carlisle. Saturday and Sunday saw them tackle forests on both sides of the Border, from Kielder to Dumfries and Galloway. The sting in the tail came on Monday's return to Kielder, with the rally finishing with one massive 40-mile stage. That is the length of most British one day rallies, but this time competitors tackled several shorter forest tests before heading into what was called 'the big one'. Finishing third overall – and also winning the open category – were Greg McKnight from Penpont and co-driver Harry Marchbank from Dumfries. They were in a Ford Escort Mk2.