THORNBURY'S Adam Gould and co-driver Seb Marshall finished an excellent eighth overall and third British Rally Championship contender on last weekend’s Jim Clark International Rally.

The two-day event based in Edinburgh was also a round of the Irish Tarmac Series, so the BRC regulars were up against a host of World Rally Championship cars. But this was Gould’s first time on Tarmac in the Teg Sport run, Pirelli backed Subaru Impreza N14. A spin on the first stage cost some time, but apart from that he was happy with the first leg of the event on Friday night.

“Our plan was to make sure our notes worked on the first run through the stages and have a big push on the second run and it has worked so far,” said a delighted Gould who arrived back at the end of leg one third BRC crew. Day two started with a time consuming overshoot and with local boy Evan Thorburn breathing down Gould’s neck but with everything working well, he maintained his position to finish behind Mark Higgins and Irishman Keith Cronin.

“I’m delighted we had to be patient and it was important for us to get the mileage.

“We have no money in the budget for testing so we work on set up as the event progresses, but its been a great event for us,” said Gould.

Britain’s brightest talent is also looking to fund an outing on Rally Scotland in November, final round of the all new Intercontinental Rally Challenge in a S2000 car. With all the manufacturer teams there, it’s an ideal opportunity to put himself in the shop window and with live TV coverage its an excellent window for potential sponsors. “I would love to do Rally Scotland in a S2000 car as that’s the way to go. I am talking to all the top teams to try and get the best car available, but it comes down to finding extra money to allow me this opportunity.”