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RALLY NEWS NO.6 Caerwent (and the rain
has ceased!) Sun.3.45 UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 10 1st (5) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 1.22.30.5 2nd (1) Mats Andersson/Claire Mole (Satria) 1.23.35.8 3rd (7) Martin Rowe/Chris Wood (Ford Puma) 1.23.55.6 4th (33) Michael Brew/Breeshey Christian (Peugeot)1.25.22.9 5th (36) David Henderson/Ian Windress (Ford Puma) 1.25.32.3 6th (35) Guy Wilks/Clive Jenkins (Ford Puma) 1.25.44.5 7th (31) Garry Jennings/Martin McGarrity (Peugeot)1.25.57.5 8th (42) Daniel & Clive Dunbabin (Peugeot) 1.26.19.4 9th (34) Rory Galligan/Billy McCullins (Peugeot) 1.26.22.4 10th (40) Chris Moore/Andrew Dugdale (Peugeot) 1.26.22.5 11th (30) Ryan Champion/Cliff Simmons (Peugeot) 1.26.39.8 The tough stages here at Caerwent continue to take their toll, with the latest driver to run into problems, Paul Wedgbury. Paul, with Neil Dashfield on the pace notes, was leading earlier and was 2nd after stage 9, just 10s behind the works Peugeot of Justin Dale, but trouble struck on stage 10. The Saxo did get through the stage, but very late, the clanks and bangs from underneath confirming Paul Wedgbury's comment "differential". A few minutes later, co driver Neil Dashfield came strolling down the service area with his hands in his pockets..."It's all over, 13 teeth off the differential. That's the end of a dream - I used to work for Fram when they sponsored the old Welsh Rally and the sight of Mikkola in a Quattro, Llewellin in a 6R4 and Lovell in a RS200 made me think - I gotta get a piece of this. I've always wanted to win the Welsh, so close and yet so far!" No such dramas for Justin Dale who is going like clockwork at the head of the field, but surprised to be slightly slower on that stage than the previous run through - the Peugeot driver commented "It's drying out, but perhaps there is more mud on the junctions than before, and goodness knows there is no shortage of junctions!" Justin went on to say how well the car was going and he has had no problems at all so far. Mats Andersson, although now into 2nd place, is starting to look over his shoulder at Martin Rowe, Mats admitting that he made a huge mistake in picking the wrong tyres for the stage. Indeed tyre choice seems to be the main topic of the moment. Martin Rowe went on an intermediate Pirelli, but still is struggling to match Dale. Perhaps the big difference today is the power characteristics of the two cars. The Peugeot seems to go well everywhere, the Ford is rather peaky and seems to be just wrongly geared for the slower junctions. Too many revs in first, not enough low down power in second. Michael Brew in 4th place continues to lead the Peugeot Super 106 Cup contenders, although his 4th overall place is under threat from David Henderson in the Puma, David quite a bit faster than Brew on that stage. Brew's cause was not helped by an overshoot. Rory Galligan also had an overshoot. Kris Meeke knocked down a signpost as well as being off the road twice. Shaun Woffinden clipped a rear left hand wheel earlier today and damaged the rear axle beam - he has just clipped the rear right and bent it right in. Young Ian Barrett is holding his position of 15th overall and leading privateer in the Formula Rally and he reports no big problems. Ian did lose a bit of sweat in stage 10 when his power steering broke. In the VW Polo Challenge Clive Wheeler had to stop and change a wheel allowing David Batgeson in front with Kermode now 2nd. More news to follow..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
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