ELFYN Evans and co-driver Craig Parry were comfortable winners of the RSAC Scottish Rally when they registered a comprehensive victory on round four of the MSA British Rally Championship.

The DMACK Team driver returned to the top step of the podium for the first time since the first round in mid Wales.

His second victory has elevated him back to the top of the championship table by 20 points, heading sparing partner Fredrik Ahlin, who retired on the event.

“This win was just what we wanted, as we’ve had a lot of bad luck on the last few rounds and wanted to get on back track in Scotland,” said the Dinas Mawddwy ace.

“I am really happy that we managed to do it, and we can go to the next round pretty happy, and with confidence as well.

“It’s a shame Fredrik [Ahlin] and David [Bogie] retired the way they did, but luck has gone our way this time, and I will look forward to the battle resuming on the Nicky Grist Stages in two week’s time.”

Rising-star Tom Cave, from Aberdyfi, made a heroic last stage push to put his Michelin-backed Fiesta R5 into second place, with Irishman Desi Henry taking his first BRC podium place in third, making it three tyre manufacturers on the rostrum in his Pirelli-shod Skoda Fabia R5.

“It has been a really good day and a solid points haul as well is brilliant,” said Cave. “We had a couple of issues to be honest, but we just had to overcome them and hold the head high to get through it.

“Congratulations to Elfyn, he drove really well again and his pace has helped inspire me, as I want to get as close to him as possible. Things are coming together nicely for us now. Spencer Sport is a young team, things take time to gel and things are starting to work really nicely. I felt the time was right to play the Joker, and the pace helped me make the most of it.”

Local-hero David Bogie held a solid second overall, until damage to his Skoda Fabia’s radiator put paid to his weekend on the final stage, and denied his home fans the chance to see him on the podium.

The one-day Scottish Rally was to provide a thrilling backdrop for the fourth round of Britain’s premier rallying championship. To the sound of a bagpipe player, crews set off from the ceremonial start in the centre of Dumfries, heading into 62 miles of fast and furious forestry action.

Classic gravel tests, including Castle O’er, Gubhill Rig and Burnfoot provided an exciting day of action, with dust being a real challenge in the morning loop, while heavy rain showers made the competitive stages slippery in the afternoon.

Evans, in his Ford Fiesta R5, showed his world championship credentials right from the off, taking an 8.8 second lead on Stage One. The World Rally Championship star was in fine form and it was a lead he wasn’t going to relinquish, as he went on to set the fastest time on all seven stages, taking a commanding 52.4 second victory over fellow countryman Tom Cave.

The ever-consistent Cave continued his 100 per cent finishing record by returning to the podium, a position he has longed for since the Mid Wales Stages. The Spencer Sport driver suffered a lack of power on a number of stages early on, and was never able to challenge Evans for victory on the flat-out Scottish stages as a result.

Although holding a comfortable third place going into the final stage, the rising star went on a late charge, digging deep to wrestle runner-up spot off home-grown hero David Bogie. As Cave had played his double-points ‘Joker’ he has now moved back into championship contention.

Fredrik Ahlin led the series coming into the Scottish, and after a slow start, the Swedish star started to reel in teammate Bogie, but on stage four he too had to retire, with a broken prop-shaft the culprit.