RALLY NEWS NO.2              Pickering Showgrounds/Saturday 12.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Gale Rigg
1st (14) Tapio Laukkanen/Ilka Riipinen (Impreza WRC) 15.42.5
2nd (11) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 15.47.0
3rd (17) Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Anttila (Focus WRC) 15.47.4
4th (12) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 16.07.4
5th (16) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 16.24.4
6th (15) Julian Reynolds/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza WRC) 16.27.6
7th (19) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 16.36.8
8th (22) Nigel Heath/Steve Lancaster (Impreza WRC) 16.45.8
9th (18) Chirs Mellors/Craig Thorley (Escort WRC) 16.46.4
10th (21) Bob Ceen/Alistair Douglas (Impreza 555) 16.57.1

Tapio Laukkanen turned in a superb time through stage 3, Gale Rigg, to move into the lead of this Trackrod Rally. Jonny Milner led after stage 2, and indeed was fastest in stage 2, but in stage 3 Laukkanen's Subaru stopped the clock on 6.24. Latvala was 6.32.7 and Milner was 6.34.1.  Tapio commented here at service "In stage 2 I stalled the engine at a junction and lost a few seconds. Stage 3 went well, this is my first mileage on gravel in this Subaru S7 model and it is good. Tyre choice is very critical, we picked the right Pirellis, I think some other drives pick a softer compound".  Jonny Milner's co driver Nicky Beech said "We had a good run, nice and safe".  Latvala commented "I go too slowly in stage 3, lost a little bit confidence, car is going quite well".  Austin MacHale went straight into deep conversation with Pirelli technician Dick Cormack, the Dubliner saying afterwards "We are near enough, but the car is floating a bit at high speed, I suppose it's the same for everybody".  Steve Petch holds a superb 5th and that was despite stalling at the chican. Co driver John Richardson, buckling with laughter as he recalled a photographer retreating into the undergrowth after the Hyundai stalled, and Petch rammed on through the bushes instead of reversing!
Julian Reynolds rounds off the top 6, Barry Johnson 7th despite reporting his Impreza slightly down on power due to a problem with the water injection.
Nigel Heath in 8th has a 6th gear problem with his Subaru, it is jumping out of the cog when he lifts off. Co driver Steve Lancaster telling him just to keep it flat and don't lift off!!

Chris Mellors has his Escort WRC in 9th, co driver Craig Thorley of Motorsport Travel, saying "He's driving quite well, throwing it sideways through the slower corners but still lacking a bit of confidence on the fast stuff, which is natural after a two and a half year lay off."  Bob Ceen in 10th said "Bit of an eye opener here, very fast, but I'm not unhappy with my position, still learning the Yorkshire stages".

In Group N Neil Buckley continues to set the pace, reporting "Steady run, plan at the moment not to risk anything need to finish for the Pirelli Championship".  Neil went on to say that he was finding the stages quite slippy and rutty.  Roy White is driving one of Buckley's hire cars and he said "Every time I'm getting more confidence, getting used to the forests, the car is good. Not as much grunt as my own, but I'm loving the sideways!"

In Super 1600 Gwyndaf Evens is setting the pace with Kris Meeke in the Team Palmer Opel 5s behind, and then Ryan Champion a further 6s back with Garry Jennings 16 in arrears of Champion. Gwyndaf said "Could be better, still settling in".   Gordon Noble, co driver to Garry Jennings in the works Peugeot, said "It feels good from where I'm sitting. Carrying the speed well through the fast corners, but still 1s a mile off Gwyndaf".  Young Kris Meeke reported a stall at one of the very tight chicanes, also an alloy stone guard came loose on the Corsa and rattled about causing a vibration. Interestingly, Kris was deep in conversation with Robert Kuebel  when he came into service, Robert the German engineer managing the Corsa project. Ryan Champion was fastest of the Super 1600s through stage 2, but Ryan, on local ground here, reported exceptional tyre wear on his Puma and lost a few seconds in stage 3. Leon Pesticcio lost a lot of time, his Puma pulled a driveshaft out costing over a minute.  Worth watching is young Finnish driver Aki Teiskonen, he's driving a super 1600 Saxo, although not registered for the championship. He was very quick on the opening test, and currently 18th overall. Gwyndaf Evans is 11th, Kris Meeke 12th, Ryan Champion 14th.

GpN driver Buckley is 13th. Neill Gatt is 2nd in gpN, Rob Swann 3rd, Barry Groundwater 4th. Craig Johnson 5th and Roy White 6th.

In the Peugeot 206 Super Cup Chris Moore was fastest on stage 2, leading overall by 2s from Shaun Gallagher with Jack Ingleby a further 5 back. Sykes was 4th Roca 5th.  In stage 3 Gallagher was fastest by Moore still leads by a hair's breadth.

In the Historic Rally Steve Perez leads Chris Green. Post Historics Richard Gower is in front with David Stokes 2nd. In the Classic part of the event Marcus Dodd leads from Gareth Lloyd.

More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON       www.rallynews.net