1^st Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Subaru) 1.03.20.2

2^nd David Mann/Alun Cook (Subaru) 1.03.32.1

3^rd Mark Perrott/Garry Mansell (Escort Cos) 1.04.55.8

4^th Steve Hill/Andrew Bargery (Lancer) 1.05.03.7

5^th Steve Hendy/Mark Milton (Escort Cos) 1.05.20.8

6^th Steve Petch/John Richardson (Hyundai) 1.05.21.6

7^th Warren Philliskirk/Eurig Evans (6R4) 1.05.22.2

8^th Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley (Lancer) 1.05.52.0

9^th Steve Fleck/George Thaw (Subaru) 1.06.13.1

10^th Graham Middleton/John Morgan (Corolla WRC)1.06.25.3

This Rallye Sunseeker has every appearance of going down to the wire in terms of the overall winner, with David Mann setting fastest times through stages 12 and 13to close the gap on rally leader Kenny McKinstry to 12s. Mann commented her at service "We’re doing everything we can". McKinstry said "That wasn’t a good lap of stages for us. The exhaust got damaged and I thought perhaps it was the manifold and to avoid any risk of fire I switched off the anti lag system which meant the car was well down on power. Hopefully we can get this sorted and have a good run to the finish". Mark Perrott jumped from 6^th to 3^rd on that loop of stages, and although Mark wasn’t the fastest, the young man wasn’t a hairsbreadth off it and that was despite problems with the engine. It would appear that the anti lag isn’t working properly, and the throttle Is sticking causing the motor to race on.

On the subject of engines, Graham Middleton set a cracking time through stage 13 and told us that the mechanics have at last found the problem with the lack of turbo boost which was down to a small hole in a pipe. There are still some difficulties with anti lag and throttle but basically Graham is a lot happier. Other stories include..Brian Bell again overcooking a 90 degree corner and stalling the engine, but the bright side for the Focus WRC driver was that he had a good time through the long stage, Mount Ararat. Dave Wood in the gpN car reports a good run over the last few stages, although co driver Les Waterfall admits to being a fraction late with a pace note, on a double cautioned double corner, but then Dave overcooked it on a hairpin which sort of equalled the score! Jeremy Easson continues to lead gpN in his Mitsubishi Lancer with DaveWood 2^nd in his Subaru. Steve Hendy is setting some impressive times, his co driver Mark Milton remarking "He’s getting very brave and very confident!" Warren Philliskirk had a half spin at the hairpin in stage 13 but a good run in stage 12 and went very hard over the rough patches to make up time. We mentioned earlier on Ollie O’Donovan retiring his Legacy, we thought he was down about 7^th place at the time, but when he arrived here his time card showed a very quick time through Mt Ararat which would have moved him into the top 6. Steve Fleck had a little difficult earlier with his Impreza WRC when a rear link bar broke, and the car was rear wheel steering, he has that sorted and is going well now despite a brush with a chicane which has damaged the side of the car. More later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTESON

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