UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 - 2 DAY SCOTTISH

1st (6) Dave Weston/Neil Shanks (Impreza N) 1.00.11.1

2nd (3) Brian Bell/Paul Spooner (Escort WRC) 1.00.22.4

3rd (7) Stuart McQueen/Alistair Green (Lancer N)1.00.45.3

4th (58) Steve Palmer/Bruce Harper (Lancer) 1.00.48.2

5th (10) Rory Galligan/Paul Nagle (Peugeot) 1.01.31.6

6th (60) Eamonn Boland/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC)1.01.36.3

7th (14) Mike Faulkner/Alan Clark (Peugeot) 1.01.50.6

8th (56) Raymond Munro/Neil Ewing (Impreza) 1.02.02.2

9th (11) Ryan Champion/Cliff Simmons (Peugeot) 1.02.19.2

10th (22) Daniel & Clive Dunbabin (Peugeot) 1.02.19.2

No sooner had the Formula Rally Super 1600 contenders finished their 6 stages, with Justin Dale taking the top award, than news of many dramas started to come in from the Scottish 2 Day competitors, on both Ae and Windy Hill. The biggest drama on Ae was that Alistair Ginley's Subaru had gear change trouble. Alistair was lying 2nd at the time in the McKinstry Impreza WRC. Co-driver Rory Kennedy held the gear linkage in position, but got his hand damaged. Alistair stopped the car immediately and an ambulance took Rory to the Infirmary. Also in that stage Raymond Munro who was lying 3rd incurred power steering problems with his Subaru and dropped to the back of the leaderboard. Jock Armstrong's Lancer suffered a broken front wheel which eventually came off altogether, and from a splendid 4th place he dropped right out of the leaderboard. While all this was happening, Mark HIggins was comfortably leading the rally heading into stage 6. However, his Subaru had some type of mechanical problem and the engine went on fire. Mark was forced to pull the car off the road and tried to fight the blaze. Eamonn Boland stopped and handed over his fire extinguishers. This still did not put the blaze out and the fire brigade was called in. Eventually stage 5 Ae, was restarted - there was yet another drama there when Alan Barr put his Subaru on it's roof, but the stage kept going.

Stage 6 then got going and the rally was back on course, albeit with a heavily revised leaderboard! In the Peugeot Super 106 Cup category Ryan Champion was leading going into stage 5 but his car started to misfire very badly and cut out, Ryan dropping a fair bit of time. Rory Galligan started those final 2 stages on worn tyres and he was forced to slow down towards the end of Ae, but still set a good time, although Garry Jennings set an even faster time through stage 6, but basically Rory is leading the Peugeots overnight. Garry Jennings joked "We're the happiest men alive to be on the pace at last".

Other stories included...Eamonn Boland still struggling with his Subaru WRC running on 3 cylinders...Dave Weston commented about the day "Really enjoyed it, I'm remembering what this rally game is all about!"...Brian Bell reported a good run through Ae, but not great through Windy Hill, Brian saw Mark's car on fire and also encountered torrential rain which knocked him off his stride a little. In the various one make championships after stage 4 - Darren Snape was leading the Ford Kas from Ian Forgan with Edward Pugh 3rd. If Darren can finish the day in first he wins the championship, which includes a œ20,000 support package and the use of a Ford Puma for next year's championship. In the Puma championship today, Shaun Woffinden leads from David Henderson with Mark Wheeler 3rd. More news later..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON