RALLY NEWS NO.7 Ettelbruck..Sunday 2.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 16 - WILWERWITZ
1st (4) Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Corolla WRC) 2.10.59
2nd (1) Rocco Theunissen/E.Mombaerts (Corolla WRC)2.11.32
3rd (3) Hans Stacey/Daniel Sonck (Impreza WRC) 2.12.22
4th (9) Eamonn Boland/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC)2.15.20
5th (31) Peter & Piet Bijvelds (Lancer N) 2.17.03
6th (7) Francois Duval/Patrick Grignet (Lancer N) 2.18.19
7th (32) Mark Maaskant/Pierre Krieger (Lancer N) 2.18.29
8th (36) Johan Deen/H.Scholtalbers (Lancer N) 2.18.34
9th (14) Edwin Abbring/Ed Van Kessel (Celica) 2.20.09
10th (8) David Croes/Emmanuel Debois (Lancer N) 2.20.23

There were worried frowns in the Ian Greer service camp as the times came in from stages 14 and 15 showing Theunissen fastest by 7s in stage 14 and then 2s in stage 15. There was relief when through the grape vine the times for stage 16 showed Greer 5s faster than his Dutch rival. This leaves the gap at 32s with 2 long stages to go....

Part of the problem for Greer on stage 14 was that a brake bedding session on the way out to the Gralinger test heated the wheels and tyres up, and sent the tyre pressures up. Ian let some air out before stage 15 and things were better, and then in stage 16, he was fastest. Partly this may be down to the nature of the stages - 14 and 15 had many tight handbrake corners, the type of terrain that a Netherlands or Belgian driver will excel on. Stage 16 was fast and flowing all the way. The final 2 stages have a predominance of fast
sections which may favour Greer in the race to the finish. One more problem for Ian was that his Corolla's gear change was just a little sticky.

In group N Francois Duval in the Marlboro car is setting stunning times to leapfrog up to 2nd in the category, but will be hard pushed to close on showroom leader Bijvelds. Interestingly, Duval has the very latest specification Lancer and is even using special fuel. Further back in gpN Ben Briant is now 1s in front of Alistair Ginley, the pair just outside the top 10.

Eamonn Boland was requesting a change of anti roll bar here at service. Robert Woodside also changed his suspension settings during the day, making the Puma a little softer at the back, which Robert feels has improved the handling. This is reflected in his times as he continues to edge back towards the top 20, after his 4m time loss last night. Dick Curran is starting to set good times in gpN and is now 20th. Patrick Elliott reports no problems and is 15th. Jan de Winkel continues to lead F2 and is lying 11th overall, despite a 5th gear excursion on to the grass. Simon Hughes is 3rd in class A6 and 29th o/a in his Peugeot 106. Sarah Murray in the Nissan Micra is doing well lying 41st o/a, 2nd in class A5 behind a Fiat Seicento and looking for more power!!

More news after stage 17..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON