MANX TALES NO.2
Cregneash - Friday - 8.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 PORT ERIN
1st (3) Marcus Dodd/Stephen McAuley (Impreza WRC) 1.53.4
2nd (4) Andy Burton/John Roberts (Peugeot Cos.) 1.53.9
3rd (6) Mark Perrott/Garry Mansell (Escort WRC) 1.54.1
4th (8) David Mann/Alun Cook (Impreza) 1.54.4
5th (27) Paul Bird/Larry Carter (Accent WRC) 1.54.8
6th (40) Gareth Jones/Ryland James (Impreza) 1.55.3
7th (7) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 1.55.4
8th (21) Steve Fleck/Mark Aspinall (Impreza WRC) 1.55.7
9th (16) Steve Hendy/Aled Davies (Esc.Cos) 1.55.8
10th (1) Melvyn Evans/Marc Jones (Impreza WRC) 1.55.9
Surprisingly the first 2 cars on the rally, Melvyn Evans and Kenny McKinstry,
did not break any records over this opening stage, Port Erin. It was left
to No.3 seed Marcus Dodd to set the pace. All the more surprising as Marcus
observed "I've never driven this car on tarmac before". Although
the weather conditions here are bright and sunny, it is also quite cold, and the
drivers had no opportunity to warm their tyres before stage start. In fact, Phil
Collins appeared at stage finish with his red Escort absolutely sideways, and
joked "I think the tyre warmers have gone on the blink!" Melvyn
Evans did say when he finished the test "We had a bit of a spin at the
first hairpin." Kenny McKinstry told us "It was very slippy, the
tyres were cold, took no chances". A later competitor, Eian Pritchard
in his fabulous Impreza WRC summed the job up when he said "There is little
to gain in there, all to lose". Indeed, the stage starts off through
the streets of Port Erin with kerbs right and left, and then up over the
headland the road narrows right down, and there are large boulders and stones in
the verges. The only driver to have any difficulty was Ollie O'Donovan. He
punctured a front right tyre but still lost very little time.
Kenny McKinstry's time, by the way, was 1.57.7, just outside the leaderboard.
Some other times include - David Kynaston 1.57.7, the National Tarmacadam
Championship leader saying "I suddenly realised how quick the Audi goes,
after driving the recce car all week". Tony Davies in the Metro 6R4
was on 1.58.4 and said "We had a mad spin in there, just caught it".
Pete Doughty in the Escort WRC, hasn't been out for quite a while, and said
"We have to learn what all the switches and knobs are for once again".
Former multiple Motoring News Champion Pete had a time of 1.57.0. Cathal
Arthurs in the Celica overshot a junction but still recorded 1.58.5. John
Price was on 1.56.6.
First Group N car on the road, Bob Fowden, just outside the leaderboard on
1.57.0.
Nigel Hicklin, running with No.52 on his Subaru, but starting in the twenties,
had a time of 1.58.5. Glenn Leece, very rusty, not in a rally car for months,
was 2.00.9. Rob Watson in the Nova had a fabulous time of 1.57.1.
More news from the TT Grandstand. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
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