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MANX RALLY
TALES NO.11 Douglas/Grandstand/Friday 9pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 18 (last Fri.stage)
1st (2) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (V/hall Astra)2.06.56.4
2nd (10) Neil Simpson/Mike Gibson (Lancer N) 2.10.57.5
3rd (5) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot 106)2.13.04.8
4th (21) Nik Elsmore/Jayson Brown (Lancer N) 2.15.24.2
5th (12) Gavin Cox/Tim Hobbs (Lancer N) 2.15.27.7
6th (25) Guy Woodcock/John Skinner (Escort) 2.19.31.8
7th (22) Alistair Ginley/Greg Haynes (Impreza N)2.20.21.0
8th (23) Stuart McQueen/Alistair Green (Lancer N)2.20.23.1
9th (19) Mike Brown/Aled Davies (Lancer N) 2.21.43.7
10th (24) Roy White/Michael Patterson (Lancer N)2.22.21.9
11th Natalie Barrett 12th Nigel Cannell 13th Peter Christian
14th Mats Andersson 15th Robert Watson
Fastest on every stage today, rally leader Mark Higgins, climbed
from his Vauxhall here at the grandstand and observed "Very
enjoyable day, the car ran faultlessly although we clipped a
kerb in Castletown which was a bit of a scare, but it came to
nothing. We've still 8 stages to do on the final day, so its
not over yet". Second placed Neil Simpson also reported
no problems, although he said that on the final stage, Blackboards,
on the big long fast corners, and with very high grip from the
surface causing his Pirellis to heat, Neil was finding fuel surge
due to the G force causing a slight hesitation in the engine.
Justin Dale in 3rd nursed his Peugeot's gearbox over the last
few stages just as a precaution, and the mechanics are changing
the unit at this last Friday service. Fourth and fifth placed
Nik Elsmore and Gavin Cox are still having a huge battle for
every second, while Guy Woodcock has driven a copybook event
to keep his Ford RS2000 in the top 6. Gavin Cox has now got an
oil leak which he reckons is between the transfer box and the
gearbox, and with a 45 min. service time tonight he reckons he
can take the transfer box out and seal the leak.
Robert Watson was thankful just to reach this service, his Subaru
has been stuck in 2nd gear for 5 stages now. Shaun Fox was another
happy to see Douglas and service, his wee Corsa used £30
worth of petrol from Castleton in, as a fuel line had split.
Peter Christian has crept up to 13th place in his Astra, Peter
telling us "We've had a good run although the throttle keeps
sticking open and always picks the worst spots"! David
Bateson/Daniel Barritt are now edging their VW Polo into the
top 20 and are leading the next Polo Cup contender by 7 minutes,
despite being in a ditch for a minute last night, the same ditch
that accounted for Neil Buckley's retirement. Two further retirements
from the International include Martin Newcombe with mechanical
trouble and Simon Thomas' Peugeot stopped with a broken driveshaft.
This was repaired and Simon was draft in to do OO duty, leaving
co driver Liz Jordan redundant!
In the TROPHY RALLY after 15 stages Andrew Nesbitt had a 4 minute
lead over Mark Fisher with Glenn Leece 3rd, Mark Ellison 4th,
Russell Millward 5th, Sean McArdle battled back to 6th after
a slow start. Eugene Ferry 7th and Cliff Cowin 8th. Carine Walker
is 9th and Liam Davis 10th and 2nd in gpN.Dessie McCartney leads
the Post Historic in his Porsche with Lee Freestone 2nd. Dessie
Nutt leads the full Historics in his Porsche with Adrian Kermode
2nd and Alan Courtney 3rd. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
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