RALLY NEWS NO.2 Charterhall - Service - Friday 7pm (UPDATE - 7.15PM)

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Abbey St. Bathans

1st (4) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 17.12.5
2nd (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 17.18.5
3rd (15) Dougi Hall/Steve Egglestone (Focus WRC) 17.27.7
4th (6) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 17.38.0
5th (5) David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Accent WRC) 17.39.2
6th (7) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Lancer WRC) 17.51.2
7th (27) Paul Wedgbury/Neil Dashfield (Lancer N) 18.01.0
8th (2) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 18.05.06
9th (3) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 18.13.8
10th (28) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 18.14.5 11th (14) Steve Perez/Carl Williamson (Focus WRC) 18.14.7
12th (24) Sebastian Ling/James Phillips (Lancer N) 18.27.2

Slip sliding away was the name of the game for the top drivers on this Jim Clark Memorial Rally as a heavy rainstorm deluged the first 2 stages, most of the drivers on semi dry weather tyres. Pirelli British Champion Jonny Milner was in early trouble with a faulty rear differential on his Subaru. Andrew Nesbitt was fastest on the first stage. Eugene Donnelly fastest on the 2nd. Early retirements included Tim McNulty, whose Subaru slid into a ditch on the first stage, also young Gareth Jones who crashed his Clio on the last corner of the first stage. Dougi Hall turned in 2 really good times to hold 3rd.

Eugene Donnelly commented about that 2nd stage fastest time. "We had a great start to the stage, right to the top of the mountain, I was pushing hard, got a couple of scares, slowed a bit and then speeded up towards the end. We had, I suppose like most people, intermediate tyres on the front, slicks on the back, and the car wanted to swap ends all the time." Andrew Nesbitt said. "It was very very slippy and I was on the wrong tyres". Austin MacHale reported a long backwards slide in his Focus on stage 2, but got away with it. David Higgins reported. "First time on tarmac with this car, not the best of conditions, we kept it cautious and smooth". At that David grabbed his young daughter Alicia and gave her a big hug! Perhaps Eamonn Boland summed the conditions up when he said "You couldn't have the right tyres!"

Further comments included - Paul Bird "I treated it like a Sunday run out". Derek McGarrity reported "I was nearly off on the same place that Hurson crashed last year". Paddy White said "We were very cautious in the wet, this is an older car and I'm finding it difficult. I would like to see some of Scotland's good weather!" Barry Johnson's Subaru suffered a front right puncture, Barry reported the tyre just exploding 2 miles from the end of the stage and taking off the front mudguard.

Leon Pesticcio had a first stage puncture and ran through stage 2 with one intermediate tyre and 3 slicks. Leon reporting "From then on it was a damage limitation exercise". Guy Wilks was fastest of the Super 1600 runners and placed just outside the top after those first 2 stages. Pesticcio was 22s down on Wilks following the puncture. Simon Hughes was another 30s back on Pesticcio.

In Group N Paul Wedgbury was provisionally fastest from Roy White. Further stories include - Aki Teiskonen has retired, crashed into river end of stage 1. Damian Cole/s Impreza WRC was in a field in stage 2, that was coming down off the mountain, over the cattle grid into turn square right. Damian went straight on into the field, got going, no damage to the Subaru and minimal time lost. Fiat Stilo Cup points leader Chris Davies, off the road stage 2.

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

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