RALLY NEWS NO.8     Hexham service..Sunday 11.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 - WHICKHOPE
1st (4) Jarmo Kytolehto/Arto Kapanen (Coupe F2)1.34.48.3
2nd (11) Marko Ipatti/Kari Kajula (Lancer N) 1.35.02.8
3rd (26) Dave Wood/Les Waterfall (Impreza N) 1.36.45.0
4th (8) Mats Andersson/Claire Mole (Satria) 1.37.37.3
5th (22) Nik Elsmore/Jayson Brown (Lancer N)1.37.39.7
6th (30) Guy Anderson/Dave Taylor (Lancer N)1.38.26.1
7th (5) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot)1.38.39.9
8th (20) Gavin Cox/Tim Hobbs (Lancer N) 1.39.16.2
9th (32) Jock Armstrong/Paul Morris (VW) 1.39.28.2
10th (42) Stuart McQueen/Alistair Green (Lancer)1.41.56.3

The gap between first and second on this Pirelli Rally - Jarmo Kytolehto and Marko Ipatti - is down now to 14 seconds after the 28.85 mile Whickhope test.  Fastest through stage 9 was Neil Simpson in the Pirelli/Proflex Lancer, Neil's first fastest time on a Mobil 1 British Championship round.  However, Neil is still lying just outside the top 10 in 11th place.  The real spotlight is on the battle for the lead.  There are almost 30 stage miles to go, and the big question is can Ipatti catch Kytolehto in front. 

Jarmo commented after Whickhope "It was a long stage, very difficult to find the right driving style and not destroy the tyres. Technically difficult. I was using the hardest compound tyre we have, and at the end of the stage I drive only 60 per cent, although the car was still handling quite well". 

Marko Ipatti told us "We tried very safe tyres for stage 9. Now we try and mix.  We have a 2 minute gap with Neil Wearden retired, should be no dust, we try to win". 

Mike Brown was 3rd, but his Lancer had a fuel related problem in stage 9 and the driver fiddled about with all sorts of things until the car burst into life.  This leaves a very cool Dave Wood in 3rd place in his Impreza. Mats Andersson is doing a sterling job in his 1600 Satira, and although the Swedish driver felt he picked too hard a compound tyre for that long stage, he was still 6s faster than Justin Dale.  Dale's Peugeot team mate David Higgins is back in 16th place, and he was 20s slower than Dale through that stage 9.  David is now struggling in Pinker's dust. Pinker was struggling with no brakes and lost a lot more time to slip back to 22nd place.
Jonny Milner was equal fastest on the first stage this morning and dropped a little time when his Celica drowned out in a Whickhope ford.  Interestingly Mark Higgins helped to push the car out, Jonny remarking that every time he sees Mark on a stage, the damn car stops!!

Nik Elsmore sliced a post in that stage, but happily little damage as the young Forest of Dean man is going great guns.  Paul Griffiths was knocking on the top 10 overnight in his Subaru, but he has not emerged from stage 9. David Wright's brave drive ended in there also when he Opel Corsa Kit Car engine ceased. Peugeot Super 106 Cup - news from SS9 - overnight leader Ryan Champion, lost wheel. Seamus Donnelly retired. More to follow. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON