RALLY NEWS NO.2    Grandstand - Douglas - Thursday 7pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Tholt y Will
1st (10) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 17.33.7
2nd (15) Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (Ford Focus WRC) 17.40.8
3rd (12) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 17.45.1
4th (17) James Thompson/Plug Pulleyn (Lancer) 17.53.8
5th (11) Derek McGarrity/Demot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 18.02.0
6th (14) Tapio Laukkanen/Ilka Riipinen (Imprezaa WRC) 18.03.3
7th (24) Paul Bird/Larry Carter (Accent WRC) 18.04.1
8th (2) Gwyndaf Evans/Claire Mole (MG) 18.04.7
9th (3) Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson (Corsa) 18.10.2
10th (8) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 18.25.0

Fastest through stage 2, Knocksharry, was Jari-Matti Latvala, while fastest through Stage 3, Tholt y Will was Jonny Milner.  Finnish driver Latvala commented "This is a different car from I had in Germany last week, a 2001 car this time, 2002 car in Germany.  On the first stage I was very careful, but on the second it was very good, while on the third I wasn't sure about the grip".  Jonny Milner's Corolla WRC appeared here at service minus its rear bumper, Jonny saying "We clipped a bank at Brack a Broom, no great problem but we damaged a rear rim. This meant we changed on to the 2 spare tyres for stage 3, they were wets and the stage was pretty clean, so we could have been faster."  Although Jonny said it was no great problem when he hit the bank, the following drivers reported a mass of rocks and mud on the road. McGarrity damaging a rear wheel against a rock, very pleased he didn't have a puncture. Derek also spun at a hairpin left on the 2nd stage. McKinstry said "Finding grip is a problem, we had a big moment on the first stage when the car went very sideways on a straight under braking. Then picking my way through Milner's wreckage was no great joke either".  Tapio Laukkanen, speeding up nicely as he gets used to the new cars, said "The first stage was a shake down, now I speed up step by step. There are 2 long days to go, the car feels good, but there is no point in doing anything stupid at this time". James Thompson lost a few seconds in stage 2 when the intercom started to cut out, the British Touring Car Champion saying "Disconcerting".

In the Super 1600 category Gwyndaf Evans is edging ahead of Kris Meeke, these 2 now putting a fair bit of fresh air between themselves and the other 5 Super 1600 machines.  Gwyndaf said "OK, the conditions are tricky, but not like the Jim Clark. Its quick in places and there was quite a bit of fog at Tholt y Will, it was difficult to find the chicanes" Kris Meeke reported "Bedding ourselves in nicely, taking no risks, I'm not too worried about Gwyndaf. I know where I lost time in stage 2 and I was a bit cautious in the fog in stage 3. The car's a bit lively over the bumps here so we might soften it".  Garry Jennings was happy enough with his run over the first 3 stages, co driver Gordon Noble saying "Car's a bit skippy at the back, but conditions are unpredictable anyway, but we're going OK". Leon Pesticcio lost 4 minutes in stage 2 when his Punto hit a pot hole very hard and smashed a front wheel. 

Just outside the leaderboard is Dickie Curran in 11th and leading group N, Dougie Hall is 12th, Seamus Leonard 13th, Eamonn Boland 14th, the Irishman slowed when his Impreza WRC hit a rock pulled out on to the road. Ryan Champion is 15th, his Ford Puma still suffering from too soft front suspension. Garry Jennings is 16th.   More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON                           www.rallynews.net