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MANX TALES NO.10 St.John's Regroup/Saturday 1.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 21 Cringle 2
1st (1) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 2.17.25.3
2nd (3) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 2.19.17.8
3rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 2.20.01.4
4th (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 2.20.40.7
5th (8) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 2.20.55.5
6th (2) Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley (Octavia WRC) 2.22.46.6
7th (12) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 2.24.24.4
8th (9) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 2.25.29.3
9th (30) Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Ignis) 2.27.31.5
10th (11) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 2.28.44.9
11th (21) Rob Watson/Norman Quayle (Lancer N) 2.31.45.1
12th (37) Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Lancer N) 2.31.56.9
Rally leader Jonny Milner had a very lucky escape on the Ballachrink stage
when the rear left corner of his Subaru smacked hard against a bank, but he
continued at unabated speed and lost little momentum. The drivers will have done
3 stages since they left last service and Mark Higgins was fastest on all
three. Kenny McKinstry has been turning in some sparkling times. Third fastest on
19, 2nd fastest on 20 and 21. Milner's advantage at the front is just under
2 minutes on McKinstry, but Kenny wanted to put a bit of daylight between
himself and Derek McGarrity. Eugene Donnelly has also been tramping on to keep
McGarrity on his toes. Austin MacHale hasn't been hanging about either just in
case any of the drivers in front would make a slip. Milner commented at the
regroup at St. Johns. "The car is nervous on the narrow stuff, darting about a
bit, we're going to soften off the back suspension". Jonny did admit that he
was lucky to get away with his stage 20 indiscretion.
Kenny McKinstry said about the Cringle stage "Its lovely to get a cut at it,
we were able to see where we were going this time, not like Thursday night.
It's a good stage and the car is going well". Derek McGarrity said "That is
where our box broke the other night so we didn't really get a run at it last
time". Austin MacHale in 5th reported all well, but he is knackered, keeping the
pressure on every stage. Mark Higgins commented on his run in the Octavia
which is supported by FitzSamuel Insurance and Vodka Kick, "There's a valve
leaking and we have no initial boost, the car is OK when we are up and going. We
have got the softest springs we can get in now, the diffs are working and the
car is really quite good". Eamonn Boland didn't set a wonderful time through
stage 21, his co driver Francis Regan said "We are just trying to get the car to
the finish now". Matt Wilson held on to his 8th position despite a bit of a
moment, Matthew saying "I think I flat spotted a tyre and there was some mud
in the rim, but when I hit the brakes hard at a 4th gear right hander the car
went straight on into the ditch. We seemed to lose a load of time but it
couldn't have been very much, I lost confidence in the tyres."
Guy Wilks told of a puncture just under 2 miles from the end of stage 21, Guy
admitting to clipping a rock, the tyre went flat instantly and he backed off
coming down the hill through the narrow stuff, only lost about 20s. No such
luck for young Rob Watson. He heard a clicking noise on the road section
between stages 20 and 21, and thought it was just something to do with the brake
disc. However a mile or so into Cringle a front tyre went flat and, not having
the finance to replace the mud guard and bumper, he decided to stop and change
the wheel, losing perhaps 4 minutes. He has not however lost the overall GpN
lead, but the gap to Dessie Keenan is down to 12s. Keenan is the highest
placed of the Pirelli Tarmac Championship group N runners, Willie Fannin is 2nd and
Colm Murphy has come into 3rd. Colm 4th overall in gpN. James Foley's Lancer
is stopped less than half a mile from stage 19, reason unknown, but it could
be that the car suffered a puncture, and then broke something. Colm Murphy
told us that he has been right off the pace for most of the rally until today.
Apart from his older model Impreza having no torque, the mechanics discovered
that following a hub change on the Donegal Rally a rear suspension arm was the
wrong length. So that's why the car wasn't handling.
News of a further retirement is that Simon Hughes' Clio has stopped with a
mechanical problem. Local driver Shaun Fox has dropped 4 minutes with gear
selection problems. Guy Woodcock now leads cl.A7 in his Escort F2, Steven Quine
dropped 5 minutes on Cornaa when a coil lead came adrift. Lorna Smith retired
her gpN Impreza last night. Jenni-Lee Hermansson in the 22 Motorsport Impreza is
not only the leading Lady and starting to really speed up in the new Impreza
N11. She is also 2nd in the Pirelli GpN BRC points for the rally, behind Owain
Beman. In the Fiat Stilo Cup Shaun Woffinden leads from Metcalfe by 24s.
Then there is a big gap to Bonniwell. Further class leaders include Thomas
O'Rouke in his Kadett from Simon Wallis. Andrew Todd leads N2. John Moxon N1.
Jeremy Taylor/Jonathan Patterson lead Class A5 in the O2 Micra from Reg Berrie's Ka
with Harry Cathcart 3rd in his Swift.
News from outside the Island - David Higgins is leading the China Rally after
Day 1 by 14s. Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson are 9th overall and leading Super
1600 on the Pirelli Mantta Rally in Finland. Leon Pesticcio in the Fiat is 16th
o/a and 2nd Super 1600
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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