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RALLY
NEWS NO.6
Matchams - Service - Saturday 4.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 12
1st (2) Marcus Dodd/Stephen McAuley (Impreza WRC) 55.34.1
2nd (3) Andy Burton/John Roberts (Peugeot Cos.) 55.50.7
3rd (8) David Mann/Alun Cook (Impreza) 56.19.5
4th (1) Mark Perrott/Garry Mansell (Escort WRC) 56.28.0
5th (5) Raymond Munro/Neil Ewing (Impreza WRC) 56.39.5
6th (9) Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Impreza WRC) 57.31.9
7th (25) Phil Morgan/Martin Douglas (Impreza WRc) 57.32.7
8th (22) Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley (Impreza) 57.40.6
9th (18) Martyn Harrison/Stewart Merry (6R4) 57.41.7
10th (24) Ollie O'Donovan/Conor Bruton (Impreza) 58.21.0
11th (26) Paul Bird/Larry Carter (Accent WRC) 58.27.7
12th (20) Bob Ceen/Alistair Douglas (Impreza) 58.59.4
Although seemingly with a substantial lead and with only a few stages to go
Marcus Dodd looks fairly secure at the front of this Rallye Sunseeker, but
anything can happen on this rally. Andy Burton in 2nd is pushing very hard,
as is 3rd placed David Mann. Interestingly, 4th placed Mark Perrott is
running so far back on the road following his throttle sensor problems, he is
virtually in another rally, but he is still 4th and the current champion
cannot be disregarded.
An earlier retirement was Charlie Jukes, his Subaru arriving in here with
clouds of smoke emitting from the engine.
Will Nicholls continues to lead gpn in his Subaru while Paul Alexander is 2nd
in gpN, but leading Mitsubishi Challenge car. Worthy of note is that
David Maslen in the OO1 car, a gpN Subaru from Prodrive with some of next
year's gpN bits bolted on, is setting a time 2s a mile faster than the best
gpN in some stages!
In the Peugeot Winter Cup there has been another major upheaval with the news
that Philip Morrow has damaged his Peugeot 206 engine on a big jump in stage
11. It looks like Philip may be out which will leave Stuart Jones almost
certain to win the Winter Cup title.
In Formula 2 on the rally Craig Middleton leads in his Hyundai Coupe and that
was despite rear brake problems on the Plumley Wood stage.
Marcus Dodd commented when he reached service "It felt like a good run
over the last 3 or 4 stages but the tracks are badly rutted now".
Raymond Munro reported 2 more overshoots and commented "There's that
many arrow I can't get the distances right". David Mann's Subaru
had a stall in stage 12. Ollie O'Donovan has hurt his back over some very bad
bumps, the London based Limerick man is really struggling to keep going.
Tony Davies has burst the suspension of his 6R4 over the bumps and may not be
able to keep going. Steve Hill has retired the Alfa Romeo with a broken
cam belt pulley - the car shows a lot of promise, especially on tarmac. Roger
Duckworth was very much back on the pace in stage 13 having got his Impreza
WRC turbo pipe replaced. In the NI Championship rally at Kirkistown Eugene
Donnelly still leads from Denis Biggerstaff with Maurice Gass 3rd Kieran Shaw
4th Trevor Moore 5th. Kenny McKinstry's daughter Emma, on her first rally,
4th in class and going strong. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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