RALLY NEWS NO.9                  Duns - service - Sunday 11.15am

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 21 Bothwell
1st (12) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.50.57.2
2nd (16) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 1.51.49.3
3rd (17) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.51.57.1
4th (25) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Impreza WRC) 1.52.11.6
5th (15) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.52.33.8
6th (14) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 1.54.29.2
7th (23) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 1.55.59.4
8th (26) James Thompson/Plug Pulleyn (Evo) 1.57.12.9
9th (4) Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson (Opel Corsa) 1.58.49.7
10th (27) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 1.59.22.4
11th (36) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 1.59.24.4
12th (32) Andrew Stewart/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 1.59.47.7

There were no major changes to the leaderboard following stages 20 and 21, Jonny Milner set fastest times through stages 20 and 21 by just a second or two from Andrew Nesbitt.  The Group N changed hands once again, with Roy White just getting ahead of Seamus Leonard. Barry Clark retired from the Super 1600 tussle, his Puma oil filter terminally damaged when the radiator was pushed back in the Langton water splash.  Another victim of the water splash was Irishman Martin Browne, here on a prize trip from RallyMaps, his Civic broke a driveshaft this morning in the Langton water splash.  It was a major disappointment for Martin and co-driver John Kilmurray on their first trip to a UK mainland rally, and they were lying 3rd in class.

Andrew Nesbitt commented as he steered his Subaru into service - "We're on a steady pace, braking early, still a few problems with the gearbox and we're nursing that".  Jonny Milner commented "I'm on a happy pace, keeping it tight and tidy and braking early, but still going hard".  Trying to keep position now".  Derek McGarrity's yellow Subaru had a wrecked front spoiler, evidence of the Glengormley man short-cutting the open fields through the farmland of Bothwell. 

In the Super 1600 battle Kris Meeke can afford to nurse the car, the young man from the Bush crossroads in Co. Tyrone saying "We have a slight problem at low revs with the throttle body, its going a bit rough and dropping on to 3 cylinders, but its fantastic rallying in the dry, we're keeping a real good pace, gives you a lot of confidence."  Leon Pesticcio in the Fiat Punto said "Trying not to lose time to Ryan Champion behind, going nicely, although the car is a bit loose at the rear end".  Ryan Champion in his works Puma reports a little gear selection problem, the car is clicking into neutral when he is going down the box and looking for 3rd under braking.

Austin McHale has changed the manifolds on his car and it is back on full song.  Peadar Hurson old us he is still trying pretty hard although only 14s behind McGarrity isn't too hopeful of moving up to a podium place. James Thompson, in 8th place in his gpA Lancer, is setting some pretty competitive times, just a second or two off Nesbitt.

Going back to the gpN battle, Roy White and Seamus Leonard are literally swapping seconds, and it looks like being a massive race right to the chequered flag for these two.  Andrew Stewart, 3rd in gpN, told us he is not bothering about the 2 cars in front, but having said that he was faster than Seamus Leonard through stage 21. Michael Curran is 4th in gpN, Michael is registered for the Mitsubishi Challenge and is in line for a £500 bonus if he can hold his position.  More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON    www.rallynews.net