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RALLY NEWS
NO.13 Service..Craigswalls..Sunday 04.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 23 - Ayton
1st (2) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (V/hall Astra)1.55.50.8
2nd (1) Tapio Laukkanen/Kaj Lindstrom (VW Golf) 1.56.14.0
3rd (4) Jarmo Kytolehto/Arto Kapanen (Coupe) 1.58.14.4
4th (3) Neil Wearden/Trevor Agnew (V/hall Astra) 1.58.16.1
5th (17) Neil Simpson/Mike Gibson (Lancer N) 2.01.11.8
6th (15) Martin Rowe/Chris Wood (Ford Puma) 2.03.11.6
7th (24) Guy Anderson/Dave Taylor (Lancer N) 2.03.34.5
8th (11) Marko Ipatti/Kari Kajula (Lancer N) 2.04.11.0
9th (22) Dave Wood/Les Waterfall (Impreza N) 2.05.38.6
10th (21) Gavin Cox/Tim Hobbs (Lancer N) 2.06.24.8
Just one stage to go, Abbey St. Bathans, but this SEAT Jim Clark
Rally is far from over. A light skiff of rain coming out
of the grey dawn sky has meant slippy roads and drivers reporting
worrying moments. Rally leader Mark Higgins is only 24
seconds ahead of Tapio Laukkanen so cannot afford to relax for
an instant. Vauxhall driver Higgins faces the difficult equation
of whether to go for a percentae run, knowing full well that
under normal circumstances Laukkanen could not take 24 seconds
in one stage. But then these are not normal circumstances. Similarly
in the battle for third and fourth places, Neil Wearden has closed
right up on Kytolehto, Jarmo still going as hard as he can, Neil
determined to keep the pressure on, and go for the final podium
position.
Neil Simpson is very much on his own in 5th place, co driver
Mike Gibson saying "We're on the tourist trail now".
Martin Rowe did not realise that stage 20 has been cancelled
altogether, which left Guy Anderson in the Lancer much closer
to the Puma than Martin realised. There is a race on there as
well.
During the last few stages some front running cars disappeared
- Niall McShea's Saxo went out with a damaged cam shaft. Justin
Dale's Peugeot stopped when the diff casing disintegrated causing
a small oil fire, and the cancellation of stage 20. Keith
Robathan disappeared from the leaderboard, reason unknown. Ian
Barrett has retired his Delphi Corsa with a mechanical problem.
Laukkanen survived a small accident unscathed.
Just outside the leaderboard Andrew Pinker holds 11th, and then
its Callum Guy in his Astra, Stuart McQueen is in 13th having
survived a puncture which has damaged the bodywork. Then its
Rory Galligan who continues to lead the Peugeot Super 106 Cup.
Nik Elsmore is next up and is now setting reasonably good gpN
times.
In the national part of the rally Lyall leads in his WRC from
Buckley with Wood 3rd. Scottish championship leader Trevor Moore
(starting the rally), has retired with damaged transmission and
John McKeown retired his Escort Cosworth with a blown turbo half
a mile into the 15 mile stage. More news to follow.BRIAN &
LIZ PATTERSON |
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