UNOFFICIAL INT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 6
1st (2) Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (Fabia S2000) 37.50.6
2nd (3) Kevin Abbring/Seb Marshall (Peugeot 208 T16) 38.05.9
3rd (1) Craig Breen/Scott Martin (Peugeot 208 T16) 38.07.8
4th (5) Robert Barrable/Stuart Loudon (Fiesta R5) 38.54.7
5th (6) Sam Moffett/James O`Reilly (Fiesta RRC) 39.01.2
6th (4) Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian (Fabia S2000) 39.12.0
UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 6
1st (101) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 38.28.0
2nd (102) Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Impreza WRC) 38.54.7
The first stage after the lunchtime service was the 2nd run over the Bucks Head test outside Downpatrick. The Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi in his Skoda Fabia was again fastest. Whereas on the 5 morning stages there was only a second or less between the top cars on most of the stages, on stage 6 Lappi was over 7s faster than his closest pursuer, Kevin Abbring, with Craig Breen a split second behind his Peugeot team mate. Lappi reported a clean run. He maintained that he did not push so hard but most importantly made no mistakes. Many of the other top drivers had problems. Abbring finished the stage with marker tape flapping from his 208 T16 that was testimony to a trip up an escape road. Perhaps more worrying for the German driver was that his car smelt very hot and indeed he had to put coolant into his car at the finish of the stage. Craig Breen reported a massive moment when the car took off after a 6th gear jump dip and flew along the top of a hedge dislodging the rear bumper and various bits of bodywork. Sepp Wiegand overshot a junction and lost a few seconds.
Petter Kristiansen from Norway in the Skoda at No.15 reported going over a crest and hitting a bumper lying in the road that punctured a back tyre and has affected the brakes. Neil Simpson, currently 8th o/a, said at stage finish. `You could build a car with the bits that are lying on the road in there!` Sam Moffett had a major moment when his Fiesta RRC snapped sideways on a right hand corner and had a huge excursion up a bank, fortunately with no real damage or time loss.
Early International times from stage 7, Hamilton`s Folly 2, show Esapekka Lappi fastest from Craig Breen with Sam Moffett 3rd fastest. Lappi leads by 18.5s from Breen, Robert Barrable is 3rd o/a over a minute back and Sam Moffett is 4th.
Following our story about Kevin Abbring putting coolant in the Peugeot radiator after stage 6 he has not appeared at stage 7 and is reportedly stopped.
News from the National runners on stage 6 is that Garry Jennings fitted a harder compound tyre to his Impreza WRC and really attacked over the first few miles of the stage, got some heat in the tyres, and was then fastest. Declan Boyle picked a softer compound tyre and was disappointed to lose a little time to Garry, but also reckons the engine in his Subaru just is not right. Eugene Donnelly in the Mini WRC slid his car up an escape road, he spun it around without damage but lost 20s. Kenny McKinstry reported a good clean run. Derek McGarrity said his Mini clutch now seems OK. Wesley Patterson`s Escort has stopped at the triangle junction in the stage with a suspected mechanical malady. Frank Kelly dropped 20s with a massive spin. Peter Taylor had another good run in his new Fiesta S2400. Steve Simpson has retired his Subaru with a damaged front differential.
Stephen McCann/Breen McNamee retired their Lancer in SS3 when the brakes failed. Liam Egan pulled his Corolla WRC out of the National Rally when he broke the suspension against a kerb in SS3. Robin Neeson/Hannah McKillop have retired their Escort with a blown engine. Hopes to fit new engine tonight and rejoin under Super Rally.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PTTERSON with thanks to Michael & Zoe Patterson www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
