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RALLY
NEWS NO.2
Service - Matchams - Saturday 10.30am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3
1st (2) Marcus Dodd/Stephen McAuley (Impreza WRC) 8.03.2
2nd (10) Steve Hendy/Mark Milton (Esc.Cos) 8.03.7
3rd (18) Martyn Harrison/Stewart Merry (6R4) 8.04.3
4th (5) Raymond Munro/Neil Ewing (Impreza WRC) 8.07.2
5th (8) David Mann/Alun Cook (Impreza) 8.08.3
6th (17) Tony Davies/Wyn Thomas (6R4) 8.10.0
7th (1) Mark Perrott/Garry Mansell (Escort WRC) 8.10.3
8th (9) Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Impreza WRC) 8.12.4
9th (6) Charlie Jukes/Dave Williams (Impreza) 8.13.9
10th (4) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 8.15.7
Marcus Dodd was adamant before the start of this Rallye Sunseeker that he was
going to take it easy, just drive for fun, and there he is after the first 3
stages leading the rally. Marcus said when he arrived into service
"The car feels good, although it did take a while to get used to it
again. I am surprised to be leading, because I made a safe tyre choice".
Steve Hendy is, like Dodd, on home territory on these stages but the Poole
Ford dealer reckons he won't have the same advantage when the rally goes into
the forests through the next few stages. Martyn Harrison took
full advantage of his Metro 6R4's instant power through the early stages, but
could struggle a little on the gravel stages to come.
The big news story from the early stages is that Ulsterman Robert Woodside
has crashed his Corolla WRC in stage 3. This is the car that Mark
Higgins took to victory on the Manx International last year, and apparently
the car is fairly badly damaged. Robert reported a braking problem, but we do
know that there were ice patches in the tarmac stage, and his accident
occurred at the end of a 130mph straight.
Other stories included - Raymond Munro's Impreza having a misfire. National
Champion Mark Perrott reported his tyres going off. Roger Duckworth has
been ill over the last 2 days and feels very weak this morning. Tony Davies
got one of the chicanes wrong on the Bournemouth promenade, ended up with
"a box full of neutrals", but got it sorted to set good times
through stages 2 and 3.
Fastest gpN time we have so far is from Brendan Crealey. Mike Brown was
expected to be a front runner but reckons his car is losing pace on the
straights. Nik Elsmore is 16s behind Crealey, Nik with Jon Desborough in the
hot seat, is determined to finish the day with no dramas.
Gary Midwinter tells us his Escort WRC is jumping out of 3rd gear. Ollie
O'Donovan set good times through stages 2 and 3 and we reckon will come into
the leaderboard, but he admits to being a bit asleep on the first stage.
Steve Fleck set good times through stages 1 and 3 but was held up by quite a
few seconds behind Woodsides's accident, otherwise the Subaru WRC driver
would have been right up the leaderboard. Andy Burton is shown on a total of
8.16.2, just off the leaderboard. Andy reports no real problems but his 2nd
stage time seemed a fraction slow.
Early times from the Peugeot Winter Cup show Leon Pesticcio, one of the
favourites for the title, well down the order following a bout of sickness
during the night. Unofficial we have leading - Martin Evans with Shane
McCarthy in close attendance in 2nd place having changed the rear axle on his
Peugeot during the night. Sebastian Ling is joing 2nd with McCarthy. More
news later…BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
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