RALLY NEWS NO.9               Baldoon service/Sunday 1pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 11 (last stage)
1st (4) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 1.30.11.1
2nd (5) Tapio Laukkanen/Miika Anttila (Impreza WRC) 1.30.39.1
3rd (6) Jari-Matti Latvala/Carl Williamson (Focus WRC) 1.33.58.3
4th (3) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 1.35.30.3
5th (9) Gwyndaf Evans/Claire Mole (MG) 1.35.57.1
6th (7) Julian Reynolds/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza) 1.36.25.8
7th (20) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza) 1.36.39.3
8th (13) Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson (Corsa) 1.37.52.4
9th (14) Mirco Baldacci/Simone Scattolin (Punto) 1.38.35.6
10th (17) Neil Buckley/Dougie Redpatch (Lancer N) 1.39.13.0

In a real twist at the end of this Scottish Rally Jonny Milner came through to win with Tapio Laukkanen slowed on the final stage with a puncture and having to accept 2nd place. Jari-Matti Latvala was fortunate to survive a last stage accident to take 3rd place.  Irishman Austin MacHale concentrated on conserving his Subaru over the final few stages to take 4th while Gwyndaf Evans scored a memorable Super 1600 victory and 5th overall.  Dougie Hall had been 5th, but he crashed his Lancer and finished outside the top 10.

Jonny Milner commented when he brought his Corolla WRC into final service "Its brilliant to have won again, good to prove that we won't lie down and we'll fight as hard as the next man when the going gets tough. We had a difficult last few stages, we had a right front puncture 2 miles from the end of stage 10 (Glentrool), and then we had some brake problems. When I saw bits of blue bumper lying in the road I thought maybe Tapio had a puncture and I really attacked, There was nothing left".  Tapio said "It was only a mile into the last stage when we punctured at the rear, still we tried to push but couldn't do it. Still, we had a good drive and we have to be pleased to be here in one piece and get some points".  Latvala explained his accident "A square right after crest, missed braking in the dust, got stuck in ditch for what seemed long time".  Former 5 times Irish Champion Austin MacHale said "Took it cautious towards the end, didn't push, avoided punctures, this is a spare gearbox we have borrowed, and there is a problem with the linkage".   Dougie Hall's co driver Steve Egglestone explained about the accident "It was a fast right into a medium right, we slid wide, touched the edge and barrel rolled."

Super 1600 winner Gwyndaf Evans told us "We really struggled on the long stage, the tyres over heated and lost all their grip.  We were off the road a couple of times, but then the tyres came back and we had a good run towards the end of that long penultimate stage, and then on the last stage as well. The car has been good although we have struggled with the intercom. Claire did well on the notes, especially first time in the car". Kris Meeke was determined to attack Gwyndaf over the last few stages, but his Corsa lapsed on to 3 cylinders and he had to be content with runner up. Mirco Baldacci did well to take 3rd in the category. Garry Jennings 4th, his Peugeot rear suspension giving more problems towards the end. Ryan Champion also had rear suspension problems at the end, jury rigging a set of mole grips where a bolt in the back arm had sheared.

Other stories towards the end included - Gareth Jones retiring his Subaru towards the end with gearbox trouble. Young Simon Hughes crashed his Clio out of the rally halfway through Glentrool. Neil Buckley has won group N on the rally from Paul Alexander, both in Lancers.  In the Peugeot 206 Super Cup Shaun Gallagher set fastest time on the 4th of today's 5 stages. Philip Morrow was fastest on the 3rd. Chris Moore's car is reportedly badly damaged following a fire.  Latest news from the 5th and final Peugeot stage is that Jack & Grania Ingleby are the winners by just over 12s from Catalunyan crew Joan Roca/Dani Guirro. Shaun Gallagher is 3rd just 1s back. Philip Morrow a close 4th. Mike Faulkner 5th. Sebastian Ling has rolled out. Finally for now many thanks to all who helped and supported the RallyNews service.  BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON