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RALLY NEWS
NO.11 Dumfries..Sunday 4.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 12(Glengap-last stage)
1st (17) Neil Simpson/Mike Gibson (Lancer N) 1.59.45.0
2nd (11) Marko Ipatti/Teppo Leino (Lancer N) 2.00.18.3
3rd (1) Tapio Laukkanen/Kaj Lindstrom (VW Golf)2.00.25.3
4th (2) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Vauxhall) 2.01.12.0
5th (4) Jarmo Kytolehto/Arto Kapanen (Coupe F2)2.01.57.9
6th (19) Gavin Cox/Tim Hobbs (Lancer N) 2.02.45.6
7th (9) Jani Pirttinen/Tomi Tuominen (VW Golf) 2.03.01.5
8th (3) Neil Wearden/Trevor Agnew (Vauxhall) 2.03.26.8
9th (20) Dave Wood/Les Waterfall (Impreza N) 2.03.29.0
10th (23) Guy Anderson/Dave Taylor (Lancer N) 2.03.59.6
11th (5) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 2.04.30.4
12th (21) Nik Elsmore/Jayson Brown (Lancer N) 2.04.58.7
Neil Simpson was 29 seconds in front of Marko Ipatti going into
the final stage, Marko looking over his shoulder for his fellow
Finn Tapio Laukkanen who was 14 seconds back. Laukkanen
was 7s faster than Ipatti on the last stage. Simpson was 6s faster
than Ipatti - so the positions remained unchanged as the cars
came into Dumfries. Mark Higgins was fastest on the last stage,
but it was too little too late for the Vauxhall driver, who saw
a certain podium place slip away when the car stopped with an
electrical problem earlier in the rally. Neil Simpson,
co-driven by Mike Gibson in the DGM Lancer, was naturally delighted
to have won, his best result ever, although after his performance
in the diesel Golf last year it was always on the cards that
he was heading for the big time. When Neil stepped from
his Pirelli backed Lancer he told us "I knew after my times
on the Pirelli I could do it, I came here to win. Tapio did surprise
me, he goes very quickly and in fairness to him I think he had
a little left. My biggest moment this morning was on the Black
Loch stage, the car seemed a little down on power, we were trying
very hard and got very close to a large tree!" Neil
Wearden, who looked like he was heading for the win early on,
was the first driver to shake Simpson's hand, and laughed "At
least it has gone to a fellow Lancastrian!"
The Mobil 1 British championship points table after this Kumho
Scottish Rally provisionally reads: Ipatti 32: M.Higgins 20:
Kytolehto 17: Wearden & M.Andersson 15:
There were dramas right to the end, with David Higgins reportedly
crashing his Peugeot off the road in Glengap, the final stage.
This leaves fellow Peugeot driver Justin Dale in 11th overall
and winner of the Super 1600 category today. In the Scottish
Championship leg of the rally, latest news is that Lyall in the
Subaru has a 9s lead over championship leader Trevor Moore in
his Escort Cosworth. On the Acropolis Rally Colin McRae
has won from Carlos Sainz with Kankkunen 3rd. In the Ford
Puma championship, with 1 stage to go, Ben Briant is heading
for victory with Simon Maugher 2nd. Unofficially Nik Elsmore
finished 12th having softened the suspension a little towards
the end to improve traction and improve his times. Mike Brown
was very disappointed to finish just outside the leaderboard
having been 5th overngith and heading for a top position until
a 3min puncture intervened. Many thanks to all who helped on
what was another great Scottish Rally..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON |
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