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RALLY
NEWS NO.1
Wrexham - Saturday 5 pm
Round 2 of the 2002 Pirelli British Rally Championship and
its 'all stations go' here in Wrexham as the drivers
prepare for Saturday evening and Sunday battling through
the forest special stages of Wales. Clocaenog, Hafren,
Sweet Lamb and Myherin are the magical special stages
stretching ahead. This year's Pirelli series is all about a
mix of cars. Super 1600's, World Rally Cars, GpN machinery
and the one makes - VW Polo, Ford KA and Ford Puma 1400 -
all are in with a shout at achieving glory.
Gwyndaf Evans in his MG ZR starts at No.1 in this
International Rally of Wales, heading the 8 'Super 1600'
cars at the front of the field. Marcus Dodd starts at 9 in
his Subaru and is the first WRC car, while David Higgins at
11 is the first GpN car. The one makes compete over the
Sunday stages only, their part of the event called the
Gwynedd Rally. The Peugeot Super 206 Cup competitors (24 of
them) compete over both days, their section called the
Wrexham Rally. There are 46 cars in the International, over
30 'one makes' plus 5 Land Rovers.
In the Super 1600 part of the rally Gwyndaf Evans is
probably favourite, although he does tell us that he isn't
feeling particularly well today. Sure to give the Welshman
a hard time will be the two 'works' Peugeots of Justin Dale
and Rory Galligan, although neither have had a chance to do
any testing since the Pirelli. In fact due to the late of
arrival of some engine parts, Justin's car was only really
readied today. The Puma's of Kris Meeke, Guy Wilks and
David Henderson shouldn't be a mile away either. Young
Stuart Darcy is also in Super 1600. The young Donegal man
is seeded at 40. He has a new engine in his Puma, and
Claire Mole co-driving for the first time, so it should be
interesting to see how he goes.
Stories from the WRC competitors include….. Johann
Kressner has a new engine in his Subaru, plus a new
co-driver in the shape of Leif Wigert. Jonny Milner reports
having a few problems with his Corolla gear change, but
also feels that this could be down to him being too gentle
with the car! Natalie Barratt makes a welcome return to the
British Championship and tells us that her Hyundai gave
head gasket trouble in testing. The car is set up very high
on the suspension, as a shakedown really for the Acropolis.
Derek Ringer is another making a welcome return to the
British scene, Derek co-driving for Japanese driver
Katsuhiko Taguchi in a works Mitsubishi Lancer. Derek
reports that it is actually one of last year's cars and
Katsuhiko is here purely to get a feel for the Welsh
forests. Robert Woodside has been moved up the
seeding order from 31 to 19th on the road - Robert just a
little nervous on his first outing since his Pirelli Rally
accident.
In Group N, former winner of this Rally of Wales, David
Higgins, has a new engine in his Barretts Impreza.
The team is also running Canadian visitor Peter Warkum who
owns the AV Sport Team for whom David drives in the USA,
winning his last 3 rallies. Alistair Ginley has Craig
Thorley co driving in his GpN Lancer, Rory Kennedy far from
recovered from his Killarney accident. Gavin Cox is a
surprise non-starter. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ
PATTERSON
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