RALLY NEWS NO.6                  Baldoon service/Saturday  5.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Craignell
1st (5) Tapio Laukkanen/Miika Anttila (Impreza WRC) 45.22.1
2nd (4) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 45.44.9
3rd (16) Dougie Hall/Steve Egglestone (Lancer) 48.40.3
4th (6) Jari-Matti Latvala/Carl Williamson (Focus WRC) 48.41.1
5th (3) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 48.44.2
6th (9) Gwyndaf Evans/Claire Mole (MG) 48.52.7
7th (7) Julian Reynolds/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza) 49.02.0
8th (20) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza) 49.06.9
9th (10) Gareth Jones/Marc Jones (Impreza) 49.34.0
10th (13) Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson (Corsa) 49.39.0
11th (17) Neil Buckley/Dougie Redpatch (Lancer N) 50.14.8
12th (11) Simon Hughes/Calvin Cooledge (Clio) 50.16.9

"Punctures" were the main topic of conversation amongst the top drivers when they arrived in here to service at the end of this first leg of this Scottish Rally. Remarkably, despite all the flat tyres positions remained relatively unchanged at the front.  Tapio Laukkanen's Subaru had a puncture in stage 5 and then another one in stage 6, the rally leader remarking "Fortunately they were both just before the end of the stage and I lost little time".  Jonny Milner was fastest through stage 5, but then took it very cautiously through stage 6, especially where the roads were re-graded and there were sharp rocks. Jonny thinking he had been too cautious, but still he avoided the punctures. Austin MacHale had been 3rd and he dropped to 5th when his Subaru WRC stuck in 3rd gear halfway through the 15.6 mile stage. 

Jari-Matti Latvala suffered a puncture on his Focus through stage 5, Little Water, but then turned up the wick in stage 6 to set fastest time and leap frog up the leaderboard to 4th. Dougie Hall looked almost bewildered to be in 3rd place, a badly bent front hub testimony to a close escape from a puncture. 

Young Kris Meeke had been up as high as 5th and leading the Super 1600s after stage 5, following a scorching time, but then his Corsa incurred a front left puncture when he hit bed rock very hard. A track control arm was also bent and Meeke did well to only lose approximately a minute. Other Super 1600 drivers to suffer punctures included San Marino visitor Mirco Baldacci - he had a flat tyre in stage 5 and then damaged a compression strut in stage 6. His Punto team mate Leon Pesticcio suffered 2 punctures, had only 1 spare, and crawled through stage 6. Ryan Champion had got his suspension well sorted in his Puma and then ran into the back of Pesticcio in stage 6, just not seeing the red Fiat in the dust. Barry Clark, also in a Puma, had a good run through stage 5, but the car started to handle poorly in stage 6, the intercom packed up at one point so there were no pace notes coming through.  Barry also caught up with Pesticcio, ran into a rock, broke something in the back of the car. Further stories include - Gareth Jones reckons his Subaru is down on power.  Gwyndaf Evans had a puncture in stage 5, it was at the rear and for 4 miles so he didn't drop too much time. He also had problems with the intercom. Gwyndaf told us that the MG's suspension is knackered and needs changing fot the morning. Garry Jennings was a lot happier looking when he arrived into service, although his Peugeot back shock absorbers were gone Garry was getting a lot more confident and starting to set good times. Simon Hughes lost a bit of time when his Clio door would not close properly and co driver Calvin Cooledge had to hang on the whole way through stage 6.  Neil Buckley continues to lead gpN, Paul Alexander is still 2nd but slipped back with a puncture. Rob Swann is 3rd.

Peugeot 206 Super Cup - Mike Faulkner continues to lead after stage 5, Shaun Gallagher 2nd and Joan Roca into 3rd.  Rodney Wilton 4th. Jack Ingleby 5th Richard Sykes 6th. All within the same minute. Sebastian Ling was 3rd, knocked a wheel off.

WEDDING BELLS IN GRETNA FOR RALLY FANS - congratulations to Roz Pleasance and Keith Valters who combined this Scottish Rally with getting married at Gretna Green. Keith and Roz won a Pirelli competition to visit the rally and decided to tie the knot at Gretna. A special moment was Jock Armstrong giving them a lift from the hotel to the Registry Office in his GpA Subaru Impreza.  Roz and Keith would like to thank all involved in their special day.  BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON