|
|
|
|
|
|
RALLY NEWS
NO.14 Service..Craigswalls..Sunday 06.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 24 - FINAL STAGE
1st (2) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (V/hall Astra)2.08.22.2
2nd (1) Tapio Laukkanen/Kaj Lindstrom (VW Golf) 2.08.48.8
3rd (3) Neil Wearden/Trevor Agnew (V/hall Astra)2.10.52.3
4th (4) Jarmo Kytolehto/Arto Kapanen (Coupe) 2.11.00.4
5th (17) Neil Simpson/Mike Gibson (Lancer N) 2.14.26.0
6th (15) Martin Rowe/Chris Wood (Ford Puma) 2.16.36.9
7th (24) Guy Anderson/Dave Taylor (Lancer N) 2.17.03.4
8th (11) Marko Ipatti/Kari Kajula (Lancer N) 2.18.06.7
9th (22) Dave Wood/Les Waterfall (Impreza N) 2.19.34.2
10th (21) Gavin Cox/Tim Hobbs (Lancer N) 2.20.22.2
Vauxhall driver Mark Higgins clocked fastest time on the final
stage of this SEAT Jim Clark International Rally to cap a superb
victory. Mark and co driver Bryan Thomas were under pressure
from Tapio Laukkanen in his Volkswagen going into that final
Abbey St.Bathans test. Low cloud and mizzle made the smooth
asphalt like ice in places. Higgins got it just right, commenting
when he arrived here at the final regroup "It was a hell
of a stage, nice to put in a good time when we needed it. I'm
very pleased for myself and the team to have won. Tapio caught
us by surprise earlier and that last stage was a bit of a mission".
Laukkanen commented "I did not make the perfect choice with
the rear tyres, it was quite wet and after a couple of big slides
we slow down". Neil Wearden gave it a good go at the
end to move ahead of Kytolehto, while Neil Simpson was able to
cruise the last stage, his Pirelli backed Lancer the class of
the gpN field. Martin Rowe put in a brilliant performance
in the Ford Puma to take the Super 1600 category. If he makes
the finish OK Charlie Jukes will finish 2nd in the Super 1600
category in his AcryliCon backed Proton, quite a comeback for
Charlie after losing a mountain of time earlier on when he broke
the steering rack and incurred road penalties also.
Guy Anderson put in a very accomplished drive indeed to take
7th overall and 2nd in the showroom category. Marko Ipatti did
more than enough to retain his lead in the Mobil 1 British Championship
with 8th overall. Dave Wood in the Beechdale Subaru fought
a down on power engine for all of the rally, to take 9th, just
ahead of Gavin Cox in 10th, the two sharing top spot in the Mobil
championship gpn category.
Just outside the leaderboard Andrew Pinker in 11th will score
valuable manufacturer points. Callum Guy is heading for 12th
and there has been an amazing turn around in the Peugeot Super
106 Cup with Martin Sansom coming into 13th overall and earning
maximum points, just ahead of Rory Galligan. Galligan led for
the entire 2nd half of the rally but was caught flat footed on
the final stage, the Irishman's cause not helped by an overshoot.
Stuart McQueen was 15th. Heading for class wins with just a few
miles to go were drivers such as Simon Thomas in N3 with his
Peugeot, Steve Head in the N2 Proton, David Williams in his Metro.
Jock Armstrong was a late retirement because of engine trouble
in his Golf. Simon Maugher looked fairly convincing in the Ford
Puma Championship for a 3m win over Ben Briant. BRIAN & LIZ
PATTERSON (with many thanks to all who helped us especially Michael
& David.Thanks also to Joan & John Bimson) |
|
|
|
|
