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WEE MANX TALES NO.4 From a very wet Grandstand/Saturday
11.30am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 Tholt y Will
1st (3) Ken McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 44.31.6
2nd (17) Mark Perrott/Paul Morris (Escort WRC) 45.21.4
3RD (2) Melvyn Evans/Martin Henry (Impreza WRC) 45.43.7
4TH (14) Paul Bird/Andrew Bargery (Focus WRC) 45.45.3
5TH (4) Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (WRC) 46.19.1
6TH (15) Craig Middleton/Robin Hernaman (Accent WRC) 46.26.7
7TH (1) David Mann/Alun Cook (Impreza WRC) 46.27.7
8TH (21) Geoff Jones/Rhydian Welson (Impreza N) 46.31.5
9TH (16) Steve Perez/Daniel Barritt (Focus WRC) 46.34.6
10TH (9) Marcus Dodd/Stephen McAuley (Accent WRC) 46.49.7
11TH (20) Brendan Crealey/Steve Harris (Lancer N) 47.00.5
12TH (31) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 47.36.1
Mark Perrott was fastest through the first 2 stages today, Barroose and
Mt.Rule, stage 8, Orrisdale, was cancelled because of shortage of manpower, and
then on stage 9, Tholt y Will, Kenny McKinstry re-exerted his authority with a
fastest time, from Paul Bird in the Accent. When McKinstry's Subaru came to a
halt here at the grandstand, he reported "All went well, there was some fog on
the top of Tholt y Will, towards the end of the stage, although it was no
great problem. We did mess up the finish some way, it didn't seem to be quite in
the right place or something". Mark Perrott reported no real problems although
the results sheet is showing him a time of 4.07.7 for that last stage, co
driver Paul Morris feeling it should be 4.01.7. Melvyn Evans in 3rd place feels
his clutch is drying out and it seems to be behaving itself. Paul Bird was 2nd
starting the day, but was slow over the bumps and jumps of the Mt Rule stage
and dropped 26s to leader McKinstry on that one stage. Paul saying that his
Ford Focus rear suspension is just not up to standard for the jumps, and was
bottoming out causing the car to kick its tail. His Ford Focus team mate Steve
Perez stalled his example in stage 7 and lost a bit of time. David Mann lost
ground to Craig Middleton on that 9th stage, David's co driver Alun Cook
remarking "We took it steady, going backwards a bit".
Craig Middleton commented "I don't like those real fast stages, the car
stepped out a couple of times. We'll try and get the boys to dial that out".
Marcus Dodd is getting to know his Hyundai, first time he has driven it in wet
conditions, but enjoying the stages.
In overall Group N terms, Geoff Jones continues to lead, but Brendan Crealey
was just a fraction faster through stages 7 and 9. Roy White has moved to the
head of the Evo Challenge contenders and is now up to 12th overall, just
ahead of Paul Wedgbury with Martin Sansom 3rd. Stephen Quine leads Formula 2 in
his Escort Maxi, Stephen saying that the car is handling like an Escort in the
rain, back stepping out everywhere, the rear tyres not heating up. Anthony
Willmington is 4th Evo Challenger. Michael Curran 5th. Duckie Curran 6th and
suffering from having no hydraulic hand-brake. Nik Elsmore 7th.
There has been a major shake up in the Peugeot 206 Super Cup positions.
Chris Moore was looking very dominant, but he has retired when a drive shaft broke
on a tight hairpin. Young Stuart Jones was 2nd but his car has suffered a
puncture, dropped some time. This was after stage 7 and Gareth MacHale led.
Latest times after stage 9 show Stuart Jones back into the lead with a fastest
Peugeot time, Gareth MacHale 2nd and Mike Faulkner 3rd. A further complication is
that Stuart Jones would appear to have had an entirely innocent 30s flier
from an earlier stage, so this is being looked at.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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