RALLY NEWS NO.4                            Canford Service/Saturday  11.45am

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7 SOMERLEY SOUTH
1st (29) Craig Middleton/Robin Hernaman (Accent WRC) 30.09.6
2nd (1) Marcus Dodd/Stephen McAuley (Corolla WRC) 30.10.8
3rd (6) Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Impreza WRC) 30.16.8
4th (17) Brendan Crealey/Steve Harris (Lancer N) 30.18.6
5th (7) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 30.19.2
6th (4) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 30.20.8
7th (30) Dorian Rees/Patrick Walsh (Impreza N) 30.26.6
8th (14) Paul Bird/Larry Carter (Focus WRC) 30.38.3
     (16) Steve Perez/Plug Pulleyn (Focus WRC) 30.38.3
10th (10) Phil Morgan/Martin Douglas (Impreza WRC) 30.41.3

The above times are still unofficial, and to a certain extent the form book is getting turned on its head here today in the icy and slippery conditions, with some of the top seeds lying well down the order as they grapple with the ice and snow.  Current Champion for example, David Mann, is being shown down in 42nd place, Andrew Burton even further back in 44th. Former Champion Mark Perrott is 30th. 

Craig Middleton has had a brilliant run in his Hyundai and leads by just 1s from Marcus Dodd. Marcus told us here at service that he had lost a bit of time in the Mt Ararat stage when he had a big spin, and then a few more seconds when he caught up with David Mann towards stage finish, in a narrow place, and couldn't get past.  Marcus went on to say that the car felt good, but it was hard to judge how good in the conditions. Andy Burton reports his Peugeot Cosworth wheels spinning virtually all the time, the diff seemed to be set pretty tight and the car is a real handful.  David Mann had no real answer as to why he is not setting the times today.  Mark Perrott said he is driving with his head, not his right foot, and is determined to try and reach the finish. Roger Duckworth reports falling into many ditches, but just charging on.  While Steve Petch arrived into service with a large hunk of straw bale sticking out of the front of his Hyundai.

Even Group N leader Brendan Crealey, setting some fabulous times, reported some massive moments, including a hair raising one at Somerley, when the rear of the car hit a bank, that sucked the front in, and the Lancer went up on 2 wheels, Brendan thought never to come back. But it did, and he's here.  Nik Elsmore has been setting some superb times, he is trying to use the ditches to get round the corners and it is surprising that he is only 14th, 5th in GpN. Rory Galligan is 11th and 3rd GpN. Martin Sansom is 12th overall and 4th in the category. Geoff Jones is being shown as 21st overall, Geoff had one time consuming spin in his new GpN Subaru, but otherwise his times have been really good, and again its surprising he is so far back. Late news - young Ulsterman Philip Morrow could be into the lead of the Evo Challenge, times to be confirmed, but he is well up there.

Ollie O'Donovan reports his Subaru WRC to be cutting out, stalling at junctions, so he is doing well to hold on to 13th place.  Stephen Harron, also in a McKinstry prepared Subaru, is well down the list, his car having suffered a broken drive shaft for several of the last few stages.    

Further stories include - Steve Perez in the Vodka Kick Focus has suffered a couple of overshoots but is coming up well. Paul Wedgbury slid off the road on a hairpin right but got away with it. Jeremy Easson has retired after stage 6 with a hole in his Subaru radiator. Richard Hogg has had at least 3 spins and a stall, his Lancer transmission seemingly a bit wonky arriving into service. David Wright has retired apparently after a small fire in his Impreza.  Rod Bennett retired his Lancer on the spectator stage last night following an accident. Winston Clarke retired his Escort after missing the control following stage 2.

In the Peugeot 206 Super Cup Stuart Jones leads after stage 5 from Tom Boardman with Gareth MacHale 3rd, Chris Moore 4th, Ieuan Rowlands 5th.

More news later……dugong again…well !!  BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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