1^st Ken McKinstry/Noel Orr (Subaru) 8.50.0

2^nd Steve Hendy/Mark Milton (Escort Cos) 9.09.9

3^rd Steve Fleck/George Thaw (Subaru) 9.10.0

4^th Mark Perrott/Garry Mansell (Escort WRC) 9.13.3

5^th Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Subaru) 9.14.7

6^th David Mann/Alun Cook (Subaru) 9.15.6

7^th Ollie O’Donovan/David Moynihan (Legacy) 9.19.0

8^th Richard Moore/Lesley Higgs (6R4) 9.20.2

9th Steve Hill/Andrew Bargery (Lancer) 9.21.1

10^th Warren Philliskirk/Eurig Evans (6R4) 9.24.9

Kenny McKinstry was fastest on stage 1, the Bournemouth promenade, quickest again on stage 2, Matchams, and the. en on stage 3, the 2^nd run at Matchams, it was Steve Hendy who took the honours of fastest. Steve Fleck reports that he was also held up, for approximately 7 minutes, while the medical services looked after a spectator who had taken ill.

It’s certainly all happening on this Rallye Sunseeker so far…no dramas however for first on the road Kenny McKinstry. The 1999 ANCRO Champion reported after the 2^nd Matchams stage "Everything going well so far, that stage was a wee mix of damp and dry, so perhaps slick tyres would have been the answer, not the intermediates we were on, but it was no problem". David Mann felt he was "driving like an old woman" but still his times were very respectable. Roger Duckworth also rued fitting intermediate tyres instead of slicks. Steve Petch in the Hyundai said "It’s our first time on tarmac with the car, it’s a real real learning curve". Brian Bell in the Focus WRC said "I’m going well, but running out of revs on the fast stuff". Dave Wood in the gpN Subaru said "We made a slow start but we were getting into it by stage 3. In group N terms we’re outgunned really by the Lancers on these stages". Following his fastest time through stage 3, Steve Hendy said "The tarmac suits us better, it will be a different story when we get into the forests". Graham Middleton in the Corolla WRC reported "We’ve got big high suspension in the car, we’re waiting for proper springs coming, today is really for trying to score a few points in the Kumho Championship".

Other stories include..Peter Stephenson having a small spin in stage 3 but otherwise going very well. Steve Hill reckons he is pretty rusty, not having driven really competitively on stages for several years, feels he is braking too early, but still his times are good.

More news to follow…BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON

ã 2002 www.rallynews.net (Patterson Agencies). All rights reserved. Unauthorised duplication is a violation of applicable laws. Last update24/02/02 00:54:34