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MANX
TALES NO.4
End of stage 6 - Friday 10.30am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 EYRETON
1st (2) Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley (Octavia WRC) 33.52.7
2nd (1) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 33.53.0
3rd (3) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 34.02.9
4th (8) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 34.47.0
5th (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 34.47.4
6th (10) Dougi Hall/Steve Egglestone (Focus WRC) 34.55.1
7th (7) Paul Bird/Andrew Bargery (Focus WRC) 34.59.3
8th (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 35.05.9
9th (12) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 35.26.3
10th (21) Rob Watson/Norman Quayle (Lancer N) 35.32.9
11th (9) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 35.58.5
12th (11) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 35.58.6
There were no major changes to the leaderboard on this morning's opening
stage, but quite a few minor ones. More than that there was a subtle
change of emphasis in the power struggle at the front. McKinstry was
fastest. That is not hugely significant for one stage, but in
McKinstry's whole attitude, his approach, he just could be the man.
Jonny Milner was 2nd fastest, Mark Higgins 3rd. The latter said about
his Octavia. "Overall the car felt good, brilliant on the smooth quick
stuff, difficult over the narrow bumpy roads." Jonny Milner
discovered last night that his Subaru was leaking some oil from the rear diff.
The drop in hydraulic pressure is now affecting the centre diff and Jonny is
hoping for a replacement box perhaps at next service. The seal was replaced
last night. He remarked about the stage "We were a little bit
careful in places, there were damp bits under the trees."
Paul Bird was 4th overnight and he dropped to 7th, not a big time loss, but 2
spins, one of them a dramatic 6th gear job, took the edge off the time, and
certainly left Paul a little shaken although his Focus WRC was relatively
unscathed, just a dent in the passenger side sill and door. Dougi Hall
also dropped a place after stalling his Focus at the hairpin on to the main
road, and as he said himself. "My classic flat foot on the throttle
mistake". Derek McGarrity was looking fairly grim faced at stage
finish, very determined, but at the same time looking upset. His time
was pretty good, 4th fastest, but Derek was not happy. "Something wrong
with the new gearbox, we're missing 5th gear and missing gears on the
downshift." Eugene Donnelly was just a couple of seconds slower
than McGarrity, and he was producing his first smiles of the rally, the
Dungiven man saying. "The Corolla felt good, I felt good."
The weather at the end of the Eyreton stage was absolutely beautiful,
sunshine, blue skies, lovely Manx scenery. An extra breath of sunshine
was the look on Rob Watson's face when he arrived at stage finish in his
all-sideways singing and dancing Lancer. "Fantastic, mind blowing,
I love Baldwin first thing in the morning. I had my biggest moment ever in
there, plus some big slides!" What a contrast between young Robert
and many of the top drivers, many of them grim faced at the strain of it all,
when they are all supposed to be enjoying themselves!!
More stores from Eyreton include….Eamon Boland's Subaru suffering some
clutch slip, the Wexford man having to turn down the anti lag device to try to
save the plates. Barry Johnson reported his Subaru filling with smoke.
Tony Davies had a good go, and said. "Pretty cool, we had a big lock up
at the 3rd corner, the anti lag is now working, looking good."
Young Matthew Wilson was another with a marvellous sunny smile on his face,
and saying. "What a wake up, fantastic stage". Matthew set a
very respectable time and improved several places on the leaderboard. Tim
McNulty wasn't hanging about either, his Subaru also right in the hunt, the
Dubliner reporting "We had a real cut without taking any big
chances".
Guy Wilks was 15th at the end of that stage, leading Super 1600, and reporting
"The handling is a bit better, still searching down on the quick stuff,
having to hold on to the steering a bit more than I would like on the
straights".
Further news from Eyreton is that Mark I'Anson, lying well up in GpN overnight
has crashed his Lancer and blocked the stage, happily crew OK.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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