Rallying: Wilson in home double

MALCOLM WILSON, of Scotland, produced a stunning performance yesterday to win the Perth Scottish Rally for the second time.

Driving a Ford Escort Cosworth, the 38-year-old Cumbrian set the fastest time on 22 of the 24 special stages to win the three-day rally by 4min 35sec and moved smartly into second place in the Mobil 1/Top Gear British Rally championship.

His team-mate, Stephen Finlay, finished a rally of attrition in second and the Ulsterman extended his championship lead to 17 points after three of the five rounds.

Belfast's Philip Young won the production-car category in his Escort, finishing fifth overall and the Finn, Tommi Makinen, lifted the two-wheel drive Formula 2 class in his Nissan Sunny in sixth.

PERTH SCOTTISH RALLY Final positions: 1 M Wilson and B Thomas (Cockermouth) Ford Escort 2hr 10min 39sec; 2 S Finlay and C Roy (Ballygawley) Ford Escort 2:15.14; 3 M Gronholm and V Silander (Fin) Toyota Celica 2:16.06; 4 M Grierson and S Merry (Dalbeattie) Subaru Legacy 2:20.59; 5 P Young and R Philpott (Belfast) Ford Escort 2:23.54; 6 T Makinen and M Kidd (Finland) Nissan Sunny 2:24.56. Championship leading standings: 1 Finlay 67pts; 2 Wilson 50; 3 M Rowe (Isle of Man) 41.