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| Manx National Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.2 - After SS3 - Friday @ 21:15:09 |
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WEE MANX TALES NO.2 Friday/End of stage 2/9.10
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Cronkdhoo
1st (4) Paul Bird/Ian Windress (Focus WRC) 15.48.6
2nd (3) Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery (Accent WRC) 15.58.2
3rd (1) Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 16.15.3
4th (11) Steven Quine/Richard Skinner (Lancer N) 16.28.3
5th (10) Danny Barry/Martin Brady (Lancer N) 16.30.4
6th (2) Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Impreza WRC) 16.33.9
7th (6) Steve Perez/Stephen McAuley (Focus WRC) 16.35.2
8th (23) George Collister/Janet Craine (Lancer) 16.41.1
9th (5) David Kynaston/Andy Russell (Audi A3) 16.42.9
10th (15) Wayne Sisson/Daniel Stone (Lancer N) 16.43.7
The rally started with quite a few dramas partly influenced by the weather. Local driver George Collister in his Mitsubishi led after the opening Port Erin test with another local man Steven Quine 2nd and Alan Cookson 3rd. Reportedly heavy rain for the leading drivers made the going difficult and stones at the side of the tricky stage caused a few punctures.
In stage 2, Black Hill, over 11 miles long and part of it through St. Marks village, was a truer test for the rally and Paul Bird was fastest from Marcus Dodd. Melvyn Evans, last year’s winner, was first on the road and he said. “It was so slippy in there and in the last section, from the duck pond on, the sun was in my eyes and I backed off. They are not conditions I like.” Paul Bird said. “I can’t get the car off the line, but we have plenty left to come”.
Marcus Dodd said. “I had a few moments in there, that’s why I’m sweating, I was really pushing”. Steve Perez seemed disappointed at stage finish and he told of a puncture on the opening stage and then having to run a mix of dry and intermediate tyres through stage 2. David Mann, another previous winner, was well on the pace through stage 2 and reported no problems. However David lost time in stage 3 and dropped out of the leaderboard down to 14th place. Roger Duckworth was definitely slightly down in the times and apart from a spin at the hairpin on the opening stage he told us that he is still getting used the McKinstry Subaru and not quite satisfied that he has got the handling the way he likes it.
In the race for Evo Challenge honours it is Danny Barry who seems to be the man to watch and he admitted that he was having a real good push through that 2nd stage and Nik Elsmore also said he was “on it”. The third Evo Challenge contender is Simon Hughes and he lost quite a few seconds in stage 2 with a spin but then had a good time through stage 3 and was 12th o/a., one place behind Nik Elsmore. Steven Quine and his co driver Richard Skinner have had a great run so far in their GpN Lancer and they had flames licking out of the front brakes of their Lancer when they came to a halt at St.John’s. Wayne Sisson was another who had a puncture in the first stage. Graham Coffey said he was being very cautious. Nigel Cannell in his new Lancer was down in 23rd after the first 3 stages as he settles into his new car. John Stone in the Metro 6R4 at No.18 was down in 33rd following a good time on the first stage but slow through 2 and 3.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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