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RALLY
NEWS NO.4 Hafren - Sunday 09.00
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 - Hafren
1st (29) Charlie Jukes/David Williams (Subaru) 33.51.9
2nd (14) Tapio Laukkanen/Ilka Riipinen (Impreza N) 33.55.4
3rd (12) Johann Kressner/Leif Wigert (Subaru) 33.58.6
4th (9) Marcus Dodd/John Bennie (Impreza WRC) 34.01.8
5th (10) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 34.06.6
6th (11) David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Impreza N) 34.12.1
7th (16) Katsuhiko Taguchi/Derek Ringer (Lancer) 34.31.1
8th (17) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC) 34.35.0
9th (20) Glyn Jones/Craig Parry (Subaru) 34.50.4
10th (23) Nik Elsmore/Huw Lewis (Lancer N) 34.51.3
SUPER 1600 - Justin Dale (Peugeot) 1st on 35.30.6. Gwyndaf
Evans (MG) 2nd 35.44.6. Rory Galligan (Peugeot) 3rd on
36.30.8. Guy Wilks (Ford) 4th on 36.36.0.
The nature of the stages on this Rally of Wales has changed
somewhat since the Saturday night tests in Clocaenog -
Hafren is much more twisty, a bit wider, probably better
surface, and it was noticeable that the gpN cars of
Laukkanen and Higgins were much closer to the front running
pace. Having said that, Jonny Milner in the Corolla,
delighted to be back on 4 wheel drive, was fastest on
15.02.6. Tapio Laukkanen was 2ndfastest on 15.06.9 then it
was Marcus Dodd on 15.10.3, then Charlie Jukes on 15.10.8
and David Higgins on 15.12.6. Most of the drivers remarked
on how surprisingly slippy the stage was, particularly
under the dense tree cover where it was pretty damp.
Main stories included - Kris Meeke losing a lot of time
when his Puma incurred a broken drive shaft. James Thompson
in the Peugeot 106 has not emerged from the stage,
reportedly off the road on a "5 right". Gwyndaf
Evans felt his engine was slightly down on power, but was
still over 20s faster than Justin Dale. Justin's Peugeot
suffering a puncture. Martin Sansom was held up slightly as
he struggled to get past Kris Meeke, whose Puma was stuck
at a hairpin. New rally leader Charlie Jukes commented
"We took a bit of a liking for the ditches in there,
we were getting very sideways". Marcus Dodd felt that
his brakes had gone off the boil halfway through the stage,
but otherwise all OK. David Higgins had been worried about
the centre diff in his Barretts Subaru playing up last
night, but said the car was perfect this morning.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Oscar Svedlund has put his
Lancer off the road. Alistair Ginley felt that he didn't
drive particularly well in the stage. Robert Woodside
reported a broken drive shaft in his Subaru from 2 miles in
to the stage, but still set a respectable time of 15.44.1.
Just as a comparison, Austin McHale did 15.41.7 in the
Corolla WRC, Austin's car still wandering slightly after
yesterday's jump-thump. Glyn Jones had a nice run on
15.36.0. Steve Petch, now with 4 drive shafts working on
his Hyundai had 15.40.3. Leon Pesticcio, having dropped
around 6 mins. Last night with a puncture, lost a few
seconds this morning in stage 3 when he caught up with
Peter Stephenson's Subaru, Stephenson struggling with the
handling of his car. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ
PATTERSON
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