RALLY NEWS NO.12 Grandstand/Service/Saturday 2pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 24 CRINGLE
1st (10) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC)  2.38.28.3
2nd (12) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 2.43.27.7
3rd (11) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 2.44.40.5
4th (8) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 2.45.59.5
5th (19) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 2.46.04.4
6th (21) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 2.52.03.8
7th (1) Garry Jennings/Gordon Noble (Peugeot) 2.54.30.0
8th (28) Paddy White/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 2.55.54.2
9th (27) John Cope/Donna Harper (Esc.Cos) 2.56.13.5
10th (25) Aaron MacHale/Damien Connolly (Lancer N) 3.00.02.2

There was no change amongst the top 3 through stages 23 and 24, but Austin MacHale briefly slipped behind Eamonn Boland after stage 23, but was 6s faster than his Tarmac rival through 24 to arrive into service with a couple of seconds in hand.  Jonny Milner was equal fastest with McGarrity through stage 23, Kenny McKinstry was fastest through 24 by just a hair's breadth of a second from Austin MacHale. Milner's Corolla WRC sported a flat spotted front left rim when he arrived into service. Jonny saying "We ran over a rock, thought it was small, but it wasn't so small when it flattened the rim like that".  Jonny went on to say that he has raised the ride height of the Corolla, just as a precaution to save any damage. Also telling us that he is going to slow right down now to get through the last 2 stages.   Kenny McKinstry said "We had a good run on that last stage, enjoyed it, but having said that I reached over and switched off the anti lag coming down the hill after the mines. How often do you do that on a rally". 

McGarrity reported no problems. While Austin MacHale explained about falling behind Boland on stage 23. "For the first 2 or 3 miles I had new tyres fitted, they were still bedding in. Happy enough though to be on the pace through Cringle".  Austin also mentioned that it is 13 years since he has been here on the Island, the last time in his BMW M3. 

Seamus Leonard is really untroubled at the head of the gpN category, with 2nd placed Aaron MacHale taking no chances at all. Dermot Hanafin and George Tracey are having a major battle for 3rd place in gpN. Tracey overshot a hairpin right, handbraked too hard in stage 24 and lost a few seconds. Hanafin has found his engine seems to be losing a bit of power, but otherwise OK.  Incidentally, Dermot's co driver Mike Gibson is heading straight off to Rally Finland as soon as this Manx International is over, to co-drive for Mark Higgins. 

Russell Millward is now 11th overall in his gpA Lancer. Dermot Hanafin is 12th. George Tracey 13th. Young Glenn Wilson 14th despite wrecking his Peugeot's exhaust and having to use a standard unit. Noel Kelly is 15th in his Lancer.

In the Super 1600 category Garry Jennings is comfortably ahead, but interestingly Leon Pesticcio is still setting stunning times, although many minutes back. When Garry arrived into serevice he was asking the engineers for yet another rear suspension change. The 206 also needing attention to the exhaust and the brakes. Garry commented "The car is changed completely from the start of the rally, we've raised it up, its 100 per cent better than it was and I am looking forward to the Ulster, although I still need a tarmac test before then". 

In the Trophy Rally after stage 22 Shaun Fox had a 35s lead over Lee Batty with George Collister 3rd. Steven Quine is 4th and Paul Gallagher 5th. In the Ford Ka Championship John Moffatt leads from David Crossen with Jonnie Wigmore 3rd.  More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net