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RALLY
NEWS NO.3 Charlbury PC - Saturday 11.30 (No.3A-amended 1pm) UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 - Cornbury 1st (66) David Lapworth/John Spiller (Subaru) 18.34.5 2nd (5) Mats Andersson/Claire Mole (Proton) 18.40.1 3rd (1) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 18.44.3 4th (7) David Higgins/Mike Gibson (VW Polo) 18.45.9 5th (2) Martin Rowe/Chris Wood (Ford)18.46.9 6th (67) Myles Jude/Dave Cabena (Subaru) 18.57.3 7th (16) Rory Galligan/Paul Nagle (Peugeot) 19.11.0 8th (11) Simon Mauger/Andy Street (Proton) 19.13.1 9th (6) Max McKillen/Nicky Beech (Saxo) 19.15.5 10th (14) Garry Jennings/James O'Brien (Peugeot) 19.24.4 11th (4) Martin Sansom/Phil Wells (Peugeot) 19.24.9 12th (30) Barbara Armstrong/Ieuen Thomas (Peugeot) 19.27.7 Following the second run through Cornbury the drivers had mixed feelings, about their cars and about the conditions. Mats Andersson of course being out in front in the Formula Rally section seemed pretty happy with his lot, and said "The car is brilliant now, it is all going very good, the earlier smoke was nothing, just a little from the exhaust". Justin Dale had led initially, but dropped back after a pretty big spin in stage 4, and said "Just trying too hard". Martin Rowe had a worried frown on his brow when he arrived in her to the control, and was asking advice from engineer Philip Dunabin about soft front suspension - Was it anti roll bar settings, a leaking damper - no service allowed until after Silverstone. Martin's Ford team mate Patrick Magaud was complaining about hs Puma pulling all over the road, sounds like a problem with the differential or a driveshaft. Those in more serious trouble included Martin Sansom whose Peugeot was suffering a broken gearbox after stage 4, still going quite well, but not on full song. David Higgins in the Volkswagen Polo commented "We're driving as hard as we can, but struggling for grip, there are slippy patches and really Enstone was very difficult with the cones scattered about". Max McKillen is going remarkably well in the Saxo, considering he has flu and is dosed up with medicine. Stephen Chamberlain in the Honda Civic at No.10 has a very loose gearstick and is missing some gears. Simon Mauger reported a big overshoot early on, but has settled down to the job now. Barbara Armstrong in the new Peugeot 206 is still grinning from ear to ear, but said "The suspension is very hard, and the bumper has dropped off, but it's a great car". Paul Wedgbury commented "Not pushing too hard, a good steady run". In the Volkswagen Polo Challenge after 3 stages - Clive Wheeler led from Adrian Kermode, David Bateson 3rd after a small off in Enstone. In the Peugeot Super 106 Cup - Rory
Galligan continues to set the pace amongst the early runners, a couple of
seconds per stage faster than Garry Jennings, who in turn is a few
seconds ahead of Ryan Champion. Galligan commented "All I can
say is we're getting through them, the stages, but the little rough one,
Great Tew, was shocking". Garry Jennings said "Just
OK". While Ryan Champion reported a couple of spins, but changed his
front tyres to the rear before Cornbury and that helped. Ryan remembered
Cornbury from Rally GB and thought it was fun. Michael Brew is
still fairly well on the pace, but lost time behind a slower car in
Cornbury. More later..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON |
