RALLY NEWS NO.4 Ettelbruck..Saturday 5.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 - WILTZ
1st (4) Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Corolla WRC) 1.05.02
2nd (1) Rocco Theunissen/E.Mombaerts (Corolla WRC)1.05.24
3rd (3) Hans Stacey/Daniel Sonck (Impreza WRC) 1.05.57
4th (9) Eamonn Boland/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 1.07.31
5th (5) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (ImprezaWRC)1.08.02
6th (31) Peter & Piet Bijvelds (Lancer N) 1.08.08
7th (7) Francois Duval/Patrick Grignet (Lancer N) 1.08.15
8th (32) Mark Maaskant/Pierre Krieger (Lancer N) 1.09.02
9th (12) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Subaru) 1.09.54
10th (26) Rob Barry/Allan Whittaker (Lancer) 1.10.14

Although listed above in 5th place, Derek McGarrity has decided to call it a day here at service after stage 8. The Glengormley man found he was having to hold the gearstick in place, and in fact some times it was co driver Dermot O'Gorman who was having to hold it in, as the sophisticated machine did its best to jump out of gear. Derek felt there was no point in continuing. Car No.6 Chris Van Woensel was lying 4th on the rally after stage 7, but his Lancer did not start stage 8, some sort of mechanical problem forcing the Belgian to pull out. Tim McNulty set his first really good time on stage 7 as he bedded in to his new Subaru, but has reportedly put the car off the road at a hairpin following a long straight in stage 8.
Out at the front of the rally Ian Greer was in fine form after stage 8, having again set fastest time. Ian's co-driver Dean Beckett commented "There was snow in the ditches, but the roads were not too bad. From where I'm sitting Ian is driving really well, loving this car, really enjoying himself". Dean went on to say that the little cable that works reverse gear had snapped as they were leaving service after stage 6, so they had no
reverse for stages 7 and 8, which was a bit of a worry. Theunissen observed that he was going well, the car was fine, but "OK, not fast enough!" Hans Stacey in 3rd place feels that his Subaru is too low geared, does not have a high enough top speed.

In group N Peter Bijvelds is now starting to go slightly faster than Duval, neither Mitsubishi driver reporting any real problem. Alistair Ginley is going well and has got qahead of Ben Briant and Bob Colsoul.

Eamonn Boland, up into 4th place, told us "Things are going well, its certainly better than sitting at home!" Patrick Elliott feels he is not on the ball at all, but he is still creeping up the leaderboard. Sean Keenan, now just outside the leaderboard in the Multis Celica on a total of 1.11.51, told us "I'm trying to find the proper balance of the car. It is OK on the fast stuff but the power is driving me on through the tight corners. I'm getting closer as I get used to the car. I had a few moments on that last stage when the spare wheel came out of the carrier, and started to lie on the seat belts, pulling me ever lower in the car". Robert Woodside is up to 19th now in the Puma despite 2 5th gear spins, one in stage 7 over bumps, one in SS8, overexuberance!

More later..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON