RallyNews No4 Manx International Rally

MANX TAILS NO.4                                   Jurby-Service-Friday 10.45am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 West Baldwin
1st (15) Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley (Corolla WRC) 46.53.8
2nd (14) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 47.28.7
3rd (16) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 49.14.3
4th (11) David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Impreza N) 49.44.0
5th (1) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 50.03.1
6th (17) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 50.05.3
7th (5) Rory Galligan/Gordon Noble (Peugeot) 51.02.5
8th (20) Alistair Ginley/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 51.44.8

Heavy rain this morning has made life difficult for the drivers with streaming roads the order of the day. Mark Higgins was fastest on this morning's opening West Baldwin stage, Mark just over a second faster than Andrew Nesbitt with Jonny Milner a further 1s back.

Nesbitt was 2nd last night going into service but unfortunately a timing error incurred 1m50s road penalties which knocked the Tarmac Champion back one place behind Jonny Milner, but still ahead of gpN leader David Higgins and Super 1600 front runner Justin Dale in his Peugeot.

Killarney's Donie O'Sullivan retired his gpN Subaru at that final Thursday service, a re-mapped engine reportedly causing damage to the cylinder heads. Garry Jennings found out that he had no turbo pressure on his Lancer last night, a turbo change then running into trouble when a stud sheared in the block. Garry got the car into parc ferme, but it was going to be touch and go if the DGM mechanics could get the silver machine back on the road within the allocated time this morning.

Guy Wikes was lying 3rd in the Super 1600 overnight, but his Puma has run into engine problems this morning and we are awaiting news of his progress. Stuart Darcy had a problem from the start of the rally with an oil leak causing lubricant to spray on to the clutch. That has now been fixed. Kris Meeke has had a problem on the first stage this morning and dropped over 2 minutes - possible puncture - to be confirmed.

Overnight class leaders included: Harry Cathcart in his N1 Suzuki Swift. Chris de Fortis leads class 2 in his Honda Civic. Alan McMahon leads class 3 in a Honda Integra from Marcus Foss (Almera) with Italian Marco Veroni 3rd in his Clio. Class 5 is led by ladies crew Aisling Dooris & Wendy Blackledge from Co. Fermanagh in their Suzuki Swift with Alyn Spiers 2nd, almost 2 minutes behind. Manx crew Nigel & Michaela Cannell leads class 6 from Monaghan brother and sister Dessie & Laura Keenan, that's Corsa and Peugeot 106 respectively, with Eugene Meegan in another 106 3rd. Guy Woodock, with former Manx Clerk of the Course John Skinner co-driving, lead class 7 in their Escort RS2000 and are a very respectable 15th overall. Steven Quine, with Richard Skinner (John's son) co-driving, is 2nd in class 7 in the Astra, with Oliver Marshall in a Volkswagen Golf 3rd.

Confirmation on Robert Woodside's retirement is that the front wheel studs just sheared after a jump, there was no damage to the wheel. More news after stage 7. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON           www.rallynews.net