RallyNews No7 Manx International Rally

MANX TAILS NO.7 Jurby-service-Friday 4.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 11 Clannagh
1st (15) Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley (Corolla WRC) 1.33.18.6
2nd (14) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 1.33.50.0
3rd (16) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.36.26.7
4th (11) David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Impreza N) 1.38.17.2
5th (17) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.39.02.3
6th (1) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 1.40.39.4
7th (21) Trevor Cathers/D.Wilson (Lancer N) 1.42.15.2
8th (20) Alistair Ginley/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 1.42.26.8
9th (31) Dickie Curran/Gary Lyons (Lancer N) 1.42.41.5
10th (23) Robert Watson/Sean Crellin (Impreza) 1.42.48.3

An earlier stage time of Jonny Milner's turned out to be incorrect. That was on stage 9, Jonny was still fastest, but by not nearly as much as was at first indicated. Mark Higgins was fastest through stage 10, Ballagyr, and then through stage 11 Mark was fastest again, this time by 13s from Jonny, with Nesbitt a further 20s back, having caught an ailing Ford Puma. Mark did lose a couple of seconds at the end of stage 11 when he almost wrong slotted after the ford. Jonny Milner commented "I was just being a bit cautious in there".

The ford at the end of stage 10 was in full flood, and this caused quite a bit of carnage amongst the Super 1600 cars, with damaged bodywork, radiators and drive shafts being reported by several of the drivers. One of those was Justin Dale, but the Peugeot man lost no time. Martin Sansom however trailed into service with his 106 suffering a damaged gearbox, Martin dropping at least 2 minutes. David Henderson was very late, and there was no sign of Kris Meeke. James Thompson lost more time in stage 10 - -is car had received suspension repairs at service, but a nut came loose and James had to stop and tighten it.

In Group N Alistair Ginley dropped some time when he spun his Lancer on the Curraghs - on the very narrow place - and was lucky that the only sign of damage was the intercooler full of mud. Young Robert Watson went well onstages 10 and 11 and he told us "The tyre choice was just right that time. Steve Colley, the World Championship Trials rider, does my gravel notes. I look after him on the world trials events". Paul Alexander has retired his Co-Ordsport Lancer following a small accident. The Volkswagen Polo Challenge led by Sophie Robinson started after stage 9, as did the Ford Ka and Ford Puma series. Ryan Champion was leading the Pumas but he has retired with a broken drive shaft to leave Darren Snape in front from Ian Forgan. In the Ford Ka's - Barry Clark leads by 17s from Shaun Woffinden with Niki Cleland 3rd a further 2.6s back. In the Astra Challenge James Vickers has been fastest so far, by just 8s from Peter Christian, with Tim Foster, the challenge co-ordinator 3rd.

Further news on the International Rally - David Henderson's Puma looks to have a very sick engine with lots of steam coming out of the exhaust. News from earlier - Steven Quine/Richard Skinner retired at Braaid following an accident and the rear of their Astra was too damaged to continue. More news later.BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net