Luck deserted Scottish rally driver Garry Pearson at the final round of the British Rally Championship (BRC), the Cambrian Rally, last weekend [October 25].
Co-driven by Hannah McKillop, the 34-year-old M-Sport driver headed to Llandudno in north Wales hopeful of a podium result to conclude what had been an encouraging season at the top of British rallying.
However, a puncture on the first stage was a cruel blow for Pearson, who dropped over a minute to the leaders and had to cautiously complete the rest of the three-stage loop without a spare tyre in the boot.
With the entire rally totalling just 43 miles, Pearson knew he wasn’t going to catch back positions on pace alone in the afternoon, so instead focused on punching in strong stage times and enjoying himself, which he duly did.
A third-quickest time on the final stage consolidated his fifth place, but it was the second gravel rally of the year where Pearson proved he had the speed to get a podium, just not the fortune.
The Duns driver finished the BRC season sixth in the championship with one podium to his name at the Carlisle Stages, but his pace and overall victories at the non-championship Malcolm Wilson Rally and Scottish Rally stand as the true reflection of the progress he’s made over the last 12 months.
“In many ways, I think the Cambrian told the story of our season. Hannah and I can be extremely encouraged by our improvement in pace this year, but misfortune has cost us some good results, which was certainly the case at the weekend.
“We don’t do this to finish fifth, but sometimes that’s the way things go in this sport and it only serves to make the success taste sweeter. Unfortunately we lost a stage at the Cambrian but the organisers and the volunteers put on an amazing weekend in really challenging conditions at times. Massive congratulations too to fellow Wera Alliance Racing Academy driver Max McRae on his victory.
“With the season now over, it won’t be long until our thoughts turn to 2026. I think our improvements this year have been noticed by many – we are now a regular podium threat in the BRC and are regularly winning events outside the championship – so we absolutely intend to come back stronger and build on that progress next year.
“Thanks to all of my partners, supporters and the M-Sport team for their help, guidance, support and effort to get us onto the stages and make this such an enjoyable year.”
