RALLY NEWS NO.10               Ocean Terminal Edinburgh/Sunday/1.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 25 - Final stage
1st (12) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC)  2.03.42.1
2nd (16) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 2.04.25.8
3rd (17) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 2.04.48.0
4th (25) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Impreza WRC) 2.05.17.2
5th (15) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 2.05.44.7
6th (14) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 2.07.38.1
7th (23) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 2.09.13.2
8th (26) James Thompson/Plug Pulleyn (Evo) 2.09.59.3
9th (4) Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson (Opel Corsa) 2.12.23.1
10th (36) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 2.12.55.0
11th (27) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 2.12.58.0
12th (32) Andrew Stewart/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 2.13.37.2
13th (7) Leon Pesticcio/Tim Sturla (Punto) 2.14.32.3
14th (9) Ryan Champion/Cliff Simmons (Ford Puma) 2.15.02.2
15th (41) Michael Curran/Dessie Wilson (Lancer N) 2.15.39.9

Irish eyes are certainly smiling at the end of this Jim Clark Memorial Rally with Irish drivers having won the rally overall, Super 1600, Group N, Ladies Award and class for Aisling Dooris, F1600 for young Glenn Wilson and the Peugeot 206 Super Cup for Shaun Gallagaher.  However, a Yorkshireman, Jonny Milner, breaks the mould in that he extends his lead in the Pirelli British Championship with his fine 2nd place.  Jonny was knocked right out of the leaderboard when his Corolla WRC suffered a stage 3 puncture.   There was very little change to the leaderboard after the final few stages, the most significant one being Seamus Leonard battling his way in front of Roy White to take the Group N category.  What a tussle these two have had - White was ahead by 2s leaving the last service at Duns with just 4 short stages to do. Leonard immediately bit back on the next 2 stages to get in front and try as he might, White couldn't reverse the positions before the end.   

Andrew Nesbitt coasted his Subaru into the Ocean Terminal and was able to relax, telling us "Obviously well pleased with the result, a difficult rally in yesterday's changeable conditions, one of the slippiest events I've ever done. We stalled the car on the very first corner and had a couple of overshoots as well, not normal for me. But we got going and tried to control it a bit, where there was time to be made we went for it. I tried to be good to the car today, I knew there was a seal leaking in the transmission which affects the differentials and brake setting. My co driver James was great on the notes, he's a good man to pull the reins when needed, but even so on one of the jumps we were like Eddie the Eagle!"  Andrew moves into a strong position in the Tarmac Championship, but no decision as yet been made regarding the Manx Rally.  Derek McGarrity reinforced his lead in the Tarmac with his fine 3rd place today, although his co driver Dermot O'Gorman admitted "I don't know where we can get the extra time to challenge Andrew on the stages. The pace was well up here from last year". 

Pirelli British Championship leader, and indeed current champion, Jonny Milner, said "Brilliant to be leading but I can't rest on my laurels. I did enough to get back up the leaderboard and of course there was a bit of pride involved. This is an old car now, with new suspension which made a big different over the jumps and bumps". 

Super 1600 winner Kris Meeke, who along with co-driver Chris Patterson, is due to head to the Rally Finland, said "A cracking result, the car never missed a beat. We chose a pace in the wet and I think it paid off. I'd love the opportunity now to do the Manx, but it's the week before Finland which is very difficult". 
Last word to gpN winner Seamus Leonard "Some weekend - after all those stages just 3s in it between Roy White and me at the finish. Fantastic!".  Roy still leads the gpN division of the Tarmac with 39 points, with father and son Dickie & Michael Curran equal 2nd.  Finally for now many thanks to all who helped and supported the RallyNews service. Hopefully see you all on the next Pirelli BRC round in the Isle of Man. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON                  www.rallynews.net