Gareth MacHale was fastest on the opening 3 stages. Gareth did beat the bogey time on the first stage so his total has been modified slightly. When he arrived in here to service the rear of his Focus WRC was showing signs of contact with the scenery and he said. “It was a 2nd gear right into a 2nd gear left, the back broke away over gravel and just touched the bank. I didn’t lose any time really but I’m disappointed to get docked 12s in beating the bogey on the first stage”. Eugene Donnelly reported a slightly problem with his Corolla WRC in that the compressor for the water injection seems to have faulty and the car is a little down on power and also the launch control characteristics are altered. Darren Gass was up into 2nd place after the first stage but at the end of stage an oil pipe on his Subaru came adrift and there was a small fire, nothing serious, but Darren was forced to pull in. Liam McCarthy is now getting into the groove, his first time in the car since West Cork.
Denis Cronin is getting used to his new co-driver and his times are coming on, third fastest through stage 3. Alastair Fisher dropped a couple of seconds in stage 3. He started the day with scuffed tyres on his Lancer and said he is going to fit a new set of Pirellis for this loop. Owen Murphy has all sorts of problems with his new car including a back shock absorber not right, the starter motor not working and the clutch pressure plate seems to have no bite.
Phil Collins was fastest Modified through stage 3. Phil settled down after a lack of confidence on the opening stage. He said. “Complete lack of match practise. That was my first real stage since West cork. On rallies like Barbados you’re just pissing about”. Washington James had some intercom difficulties on the first stage. Ger O’Donovan has crumpled the front left corner of his green Impreza but is still in the top 10. Jeremy Taylor in his Lancer caught and past Pat Neville in stage 2, lost virtually no time and joked at service in control that he was going to get his engineer Raymond Mason to adjust the rear wing to counteract the ultra high speed stages. Eugene Meegan damaged the front right wheel and steering of his Civic when he ran out of road on a square left tightens. Andrew Fanning had a few hairy moments when an errant water bottle found its way under the pedals of his Puma. In the race for best Fiesta Robert Barrable still leads Mark Donnelly. Mark’s example running out of top speed.
On Rally Le Touquet after 3 stages today Martin McCormack has battled back into the lead of the Citroen Racing Trophy despite losing 30s with a misted up front screen. Jason Pritchard was 2nd and they are both ahead of all the hot shot French drivers which is pretty remarkable! In World Championship Rally Spain Sordo and Loeb are swapping seconds for the lead.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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