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Rally News No.2 Charterhall .... Friday evening UNOFFICIAL FORMULA RALLY LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 1st (F2) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 13.18.7 2nd (F1) Martin Rowe/Chris Wood (Ford Puma) 13.24.5 3rd (F5) David Higgins/Mike Gibson (VW Polo) 13.43.4 4th (F11) Simon Mauger/Keith Hounslow (Proton) 14.00.6 5th (F4) Mats Andersson/Claire Mole (Proton) 14.01.6 6th (F3) Patrick Magaud/Guylene Brun (Ford Puma) 14.05.1 7th (F7) Max McKillen/Nicky Beach (Saxo) 14.11.5 8th (F6) Martin Sansom/Phil Wells (Peugeot) 15.04.6 9th (F10) Ian Barrett/Andy Coupland (Proton) 15.59.3 10th (F3) Liam Brady/Greg Shinnors (Proton) 15.25.6 As expected the big race tonight was between Justin Dale and Martin Rowe - the 2 Formula Rally points leaders. As can be seen above, Justin in his Peugeot was fastest and he commented "We pushed really hard, we had a few moments but it went well. We took the big jump-crossroads in 5th and it was a real whoaaaaa moment!" Martin Rowe told us "The back tyres were pretty cold at the start of the stage and I was a bit cautious, was getting a bit of oversteer, then the car was darting from side to side over the small bumps so I'm going to make a few slight adjustments to the suspension, where I pushed hard I think I was quicker than Justin - I got a board sign halfway through the stage saying I was 1s up, but I finished 8 down. I'm not too worried, obviously it would be better to be ahead, but I think we can make it up. Another slight delay was, plonker that I am, I was getting front wheel lock up and turned the brake balance bar the wrong way!".
Martin's troubles were minor compared to those of a couple of the other drivers - Martin Sansom struggled through 8 miles of the 15 mile stage with his Peugeot locked in 3rd gear and did well to lose so little time. Paul Wedgbury's Saxo stopped at the start of the stage and then struggled through with a broken "long drive shaft". We haven't spoken to Paul just yet, so don't know the exact sequence of events. Ian Barrett had a decent enough run through the stage but unfortunately has incurred a 1 minute road penalty - reason unknown. Mats Andersson in the Proton was slightly disappointed with his time, and told us "Everything seemed to go quite well, certainly I was trying hard, I did have one big lock up but otherwise I kept it tidy, and we just don't seem to be able to keep up. I did hit the jump-crossroads pretty hard". David Higgins in the Volkswagen Polo told us "No flow, new car to me and first time with it on tarmac, it just didn't go well. Terrible really. My wife could have driven quicker" (Kara is not going to like that comment David - but you did say it!!!).
Other stories from the front of the field include ... former World Rally Lady Champion, Louise Aiken-Walker, blew a turbo in the "OOing" Steve Petch Subaru. Further back - first of the National drivers through was Tim McNulty in his Subaru who clocked 13.20 and described his performance as a bit cautious. The Metro 6R4 of John Indri is apparently off the road. Peadar Hurson in the Celica said he took it handy, and recorded 13.26. Phil Walker in the Mazda hit a big patch of mud halfway through and he was all over the show ..... "a bit scrappy" is how Phi described his stage.
More News Later ...... Brian & Liz Patterson
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