Seven crews took part in Sunday’s Jacobite Navigation 12-car, departing from Balintore in Easter Ross on a mild but drizzly evening. Covering 51 miles over a compact route, cars passed though Nigg village before returning to Hill of Fearn, looping round Loch Eye, and on towards the more traditional roads of Delny and Scotsburn. The final two legs skirted around Fendom and Geanies, before finishing back at Hilton.

 

Outright winners were the Expert pairing of Andy Straube and Stewart Hurst in their VW Tiguan scoring an impressive zero penalties. The Novice class proved challenging for some and rewarding for others, with Tom Howie and Jorja Campbell on 7 penalties emerging as winners ahead of David Fraser and Susan MacRae on 14, with both crews working their BMWs hard.

 

Newly returned to rallying, Hugh Munro and Graham Norrie took their Range Rover Evoque to an impressive third in class on 18 penalties, whilst Graham MacDonald and Kimberley Waite lost some time mid-event in the Fiesta ST to finish fourth on 37 penalties. Rounding off the novice class were William and Ollie Smart, amassing 112 penalties in their Audi A3, with a simple Wrong Direction accounting for much of the damage.

 

As sole entrants in the Historic class Peter MacInnes and Neil MacGregor had an excellent night in their Targa-ready BMW 318, finishing with only 2 penalties. A great effort by Neil, thwarted only by slow driving, although Peter claims he was slowed by poor aerodynamics due to missing body panels. Andy Straube can explain.

 

Nav-Rally regulars Jesse Wigman and Emma Garden turned out to marshal on the event because their amazing Citroen Dyane is currently on axle stands in preparation for the Far North Winter Classic, the next event in the Highland Car Club calendar. Our first ever Targa, January 24th & 25th should already be in your diary!

 

Grateful thanks to competitors, marshals and organisers for making these events happen.