Grant Jessiman on his way to his first major win          Photo: SLROC

Grant Jessiman wins 4x4 Festival of Scotland

24/09/01

Just two seconds separated the top two after nearly fifty five gruelling off road miles at the 4x4 Festival of Scotland. Six fastest runs from a total of ten was just enough for Grant Jessiman in his Bowler Tomcat to take the overall honours.

The Scottish event was the third event in the Goodyear British Off Road Championship's non-championship "4x4 Festival" series. The round took place on land usually reserved for the Scottish Hillrally, but with the Hillrally series cancelled for 2001 due to the foot-and-mouth crisis this is the only opportunity that competitors have had to sample the delights of the Ochil Hills near Perth.

Ian Sykes, mastermind of the Scottish Hillrally was the Clerk of the Course and with the help of the Scottish Off Road Club set a tough, but flowing 5.5 mile course, encompassing open moorland, and fast woodland tracks.

Landowner Sandy Cook awards the trophy to winner Grant Jessiman                                Photo:  Neil Dockray

Bob Webster in his rear engined Land Rover set the early pace with a first lap ten seconds quicker than his nearest rival. Grant Jessiman started his charge on run two, but a fan belt failure on run three saw him drop back down the leaderboard. Webster's chances of overall victory were quashed by a puncture, and it was Chris Kinross who with a series of consistently fast times led into the final lap. Chris's luck ran out part way through the final lap when his rear diff let go, allowing the recovering Grant Jessiman through by the smallest of margins.

 

Results

1. Grant Jessiman  Bowler Tomcat 88 1h17m16s

2. Chris Kinross  Bowler Tomcat 88 1h17m18s

3. Bob Webster  Land Rover 1h18m57s

4. Iain Lawrie  Land Rover 1h21m20s

5. David Bartlett  Bowler Tomcat 88 1h24m16s

6. Rick Wells  Land Rover 90 1h28m13s

7. George Lobban  Bowler Tomcat 1h28m44s

8. Peter Baird  Land Rover 1h28m48s

9. John Hine  Land Rover Ltwt 1h36m03s

10. Gordon Berry  Land Rover 1h36m32s

11.  Michael Bruce   Land Rover  1h47m46s

12.  Colin Ross  Land Rover  1h51m32s

13.  Geoff Hind  Range Rover  1h52m22s

14.  John Omara  Land Rover  2h37m37s

15.  Jim Miller  Land Rover  3h09m54s

Ford brought two specimens of their recently launched special edition the Ranger World Rally