McDonald & Munro Speyside Stages champion driver Finlay Retson praises Moray and Aberdeenshire rally event
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It was a weekend of firsts for McDonald & Munro Speyside Stages rally champion Finlay Retson.
The Blairgowrie-based driver led from start to finish for vioctory in the second event of this years Scottish rally Championships.
Celebrating at the finish in Elgin, Retson praised rally organisers 63 Car Club and the new stages of the event, which included two night-time sections at Fochabers on the Friday night.
Retson and co-driver Paul Beaton in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 finished 29 seconds clear of Snowman Rally winners Jock Armstrong and Hannah McKillop. 63 Car Club driver John Wink was third with navigator Will Atkins.
The winning driver picked up his first-ever gravel stage victory, debuting on new Pirelli KM6 tyre and also winning from first stage to last for the very first time.
"Friday night saw us getting two fastest stage times and leading the rally by 17 seconds, this meaning after the overnight halt we would start car 1 on the Saturday morning runs round Cooper Park," he said.
Retson and Beaton were joint-fastest in both Cooper Park stages to retain their lead.
"During the day we had five stage wins and two joint-fastest over the 11 stages, throwing away five seconds to Jock on the first Gartly run while showing some big slides to the large crowds of spectators.
"However we tidied the job up on the second run through, taking the five seconds back.
"As the official programme read, any of the top 12 could win this rally. I was car 12 and we won by 29 seconds.
"A credit to the other 11 crews for bringing the fight, but seriously we never dreamt of joining you at the front so soon in our 4wd debut season."
Retson is an admirer of the organisation that goes behind the Speyside Stages.
"It's got to be one of the best events on the calendar this year, and probably anywhere else in the UK it's one of the best stages that I've driven up until now," he added.
"It's nice, fast and flowing, and it was good to see lots of spectators out there as well.
"We started as one of the last cars out last night (Friday) and we were one of the last to finish. Because it was reverse seeding, we were the first out today.
"So we didn't much last sleep (on Friday). But it was great to be here at the end and the stages round here were really good so it's been quite an enjoyable day.
"It's my first time here and my first win. It's my first year and only my second event in the Rally2 car so I didn't think getting a win this early on in the season would be possible. But we've done it and I'm pleased with that."
