RALLY NEWS NO.4          Baldoon service/Saturday 3pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 Disdow
1st (5) Tapio Laukkanen/Miika Anttila (Impreza WRC) 24.45.9
2nd (4) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 25.08.5
3rd (8) James Thompson/Plug Pulleyn (Lancer) 26.03.1
4th (3) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 26.24.4
5th (16) Dougie Hall/Steve Egglestone (Lancer) 26.32.1
6th (9) Gwyndaf Evans/Claire Mole (MG) 26.40.8
7th (13) Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson (Corsa) 26.41.8
8th (7) Julian Reynolds/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza) 26.42.4
9th (20) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza) 26.46.6
10th (14) Mirco Baldacci/Simone Scattolin (Punto) 26.52.4

Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala was leading this Scottish Rally at the end of stage 3, although Tapio Laukkanen was actually fastest in stage 3 and had closed to within a second or two of his fellow countryman.  On stage 4 the picture changed dramatically though, Latvala's Focus WRC suffering a front right puncture.  It turns out that he had stopped on the road section before the stage with the intention of changing 2 front tyres, but the jack would not work properly so he decided to go on and chance the well worn rubber.  Then the puncture happened not long after the start of the stage, and he tried to drive for a bit on it, but thought it was too risky. He then had to stop and lift the car up as far as he could to get the jack to work, hence the 3 minute time loss.  Laukkanen said here at service after stage 4 "Getting used to the car now, quite confidence. We did have a broken front damper after stage 4 but we will change it now. The stages are fine, we have some problems with the dust but not too bad, hopefully the wind blows".

Second placed Jonny Milner also has front damper problem, but Jonny knew the offending strut was leaking oil and drove "conservative through stages 3 and 4" but still set nice times. James Thompson I showing real flair in hanging on to 3rd place.  Austin MacHale in 4th says his only problem now is dust coming through the floor of his world rally car.  Dougie Hall in 5th remarked "We're learning a bit on every stage, just have to try to keep it altogether now".

Gwyndaf Evans in 6th and Kris Meeke in 7th are having a marvellous battle for Super 1600 supremacy.  The Welshman said "The car is good, and so is the pace, like the old formula 2 days. Dust is a problem though, if you get within 40s of the car in front its very thick".  Young Ulsterman Kris Meeke said "Spot on, car working really well but the dust is a problem, we're relying totally on the notes. In stage 3 the timekeeper did not close the door properly and Chris had to hold the door closed the whole way through the stage and read the notes!"  Mirco Baldacci is 3rd in Super 1600, Simon Hughes in the Clio 4th and Leon Pesticcio in the second Punto is 5th. Leon said "Bit too cautious on that last one but things are going fine". His team mate Baldacci said "I find the stages difficult, fast but good".  Simon Hughes commented "I was a bit cautious through stage, there was a terrible noise at the back of the car, but it turned out to be nothing more than a tyre rubbing a dust guard".  Ryan Champion in the Puma said "We're struggling, fighting with the car, can't put a finger on the problem. We have altered a few things since the test and theoretically should have move forward, but it doesn't seem like it".

In Group N Paul Alexander has speeded up and was faster than Neil Buckley through stage 3, Buckley fought back in 4 and still leads the category.

Outside the top 10 - Gareth Jones is 11th and struggling for grip. Garry Jennings is 18th and trying desperately to get his confidence together. Running first on the road and having made his own notes he is finding a real handicap.  Latvala is in 17th. Rob Swann 20th.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON           (www.rallynews.net)