Co-driver Ricky Finlayson insists ice-cool Chris Collie can steer them towards top-10 contention in Saturday’s AM Phillip Trucktech Snowman Rally.
The Scottish Rally Championship season-opener around the Black Isle and Inverness sees Finlayson from the Highland capital chase down a strong result on his home patch.
The 30-year-old hooked up with Stonehaven’s Collie last year and he says they made headlines for all the wrong reasons with a spinning crash into the sidelines at the Jim Clark event in Kelso.
Finlayson, poised for his fourth Snowman overall, explained how the connection with Collie was forged and detailed that heart-racing moment of unwanted drama.
He said: “Chris was looking for someone to do Speyside with him last year and I was available, so through Facebook we did that as a one-off. Then we did a few more rallies together.
“We were doing well last year then we had a really big crash in the Jim Clark.
“We went over a jump and landed on the grass before hitting a tree backwards in fifth gear. It was all over Facebook at the time.
“John Wink (from Huntly) was the next car on the road after our crash, so he came across us.
“It wasn’t our best day out, but thankfully we were both fine, which is the main thing.”
Collie is lively Snowman Rally contender
And he’s impressed by Collie’s approach in the heat of the battle as the clock ticks down to start time at the Black Isle Showground from 8.30am on March 4.
He said: “Chris is probably the most relaxed driver you can ever meet. He’s always fine.
“Chris had a second overall at the Grampian one year (in 2013) and he’s won a tarmac rally, so he’s got a good track record.
“With it being the first event of the year, there is always a rush to be ready, but we’re on track and can’t wait for Saturday.
“The car has been getting all ready for the weekend thanks to a couple of guys working on it in England, so earlier in the week there was a wee bit of panic, as there always is.”
Finlayson targeting home success
Finlayson appreciates their car is up against top-class competitors in the hunt for high placings in the Snowman.
However, he insists they aim to go out with smiles and give it their all.
He said: “It’s a new car for Chris this year, so we will see how it goes.
“There are a lot of drivers in really high-spec cars. We have a clubman Subaru (Impreza) – it’s nothing too fancy, but we’re going out to enjoy ourselves and see how high we can get on the board. If we can get into the top 10, that will do us.
“I think I finished 26th in my first Snowman in a Nova (with driver Thomas Gray) and I haven’t finished in the next two, which is really annoying for me. This is obviously my local event.
“The Snowman is the one you really want to do well in. It hasn’t always been the case for me, but we’re going out to have a good time.”
Ricky Finlayson’s rallying interest started with dad
Chartered accountant Finlayson, who welcomes the Dingwall High Street finish which is set for 3.20pm onwards, detailed how his interest in rallying began.
He added: “My dad used to build cars for people and that’s how I first got involved in the sport. It was inevitable that would happen, one way or another.”
And in terms of getting set for the day, Finlayson explained doing his homework is the key to having a chance of hitting the heights on Saturday.
He said: “It takes about a week’s worth of preparation, you go over all the notes and you have to get everything ready. If you do your preparation correctly, the day itself is pretty easy.”
Finlayson said the support of the following sponsors is appreciated – Zenith Energy, MAC Architects, Inverness Trophy Centre and just Flask.
The suggested viewing points other than the Black Isle Showground start and the Dingwall High Street finish are at Rogie, Contin Forestry offices for stage two at 10.09am and stage five at 3pm and Lochletter, off the A831 Glenurquhart, for stage three at 12.09pm.
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