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MANX TALES NO.5 Douglas/Grandstand/Friday 11.30am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7 NEWTOWN
1st (2) Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley (Octavia WRC) 41.37.9
2nd (1) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 41.39.7
3rd (3) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 41.58.3
4th (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 42.36.4
5th (8) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 42.44.6
6th (10) Dougi Hall/Steve Egglestone (Focus WRC) 42.55.8
7th (7) Paul Bird/Andrew Bargery (Focus WRC) 43.15.9
8th (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 43.20.6
9th (21) Rob Watson/Norman Quayle (Lancer N) 43.55.3
10th (12) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 43.55.7
11th (9) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 44.03.2
12th (11) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 44.09.8
Mark Higgins got a wake up call on the opening stage today when he was only 3rd fastest, so got the finger out in stage 7, Newtown, to set quickest time from Jonny Milner, with Derek McGarrity 3rd fastest despite ongoing gearbox problems. Mark said "I'm having to drive harder than I would like, particularly over the bumps and I'm braking a wee bit early. We need to change something in the set up, its just knowing what to change. It is so tight at the front we can't afford to go the wrong way. Still, the car is fantastic, just out of the box. I have found some new shiny bits of tar out there, I think the man with the shiny tar stick has been out!" Kenny McKinstry, fastest on today's opening stage, dropped time on that 7th stage when he spun at a junction on shiny tar. Kenny said "A bit silly really, it was a big wide junction". Derek McGarrity is having the gearbox on his Subaru changed, yet again, at this service and is hoping for a clean run.
Austin MacHale reports no problems and is looking fairly solid in 5th. Dougi Hall in 6th said "Not going too bad, we're finding our feet a little bit, this is our first proper time on the Island, we only did 5 stages last year". Following a good run on the first stage this morning Eugene Donnelly was again a bit down in the dumps after stage 7, saying "We spun on the last junction, I've no commitment, I was only over that stage twice". Eamonn Boland has re-arranged the front of his Impreza WRC, Eamonn saying "We lost it over bumps into a left hander and that was that, into the bank. Then we stalled it reversing back, acting the bollocks." Eamonn's co driver Francis Regan observed "If we didn't have bad luck on this rally, we would have none at all!"
Rob Watson continues to set the roads alight in his GpN Lancer, and said when he arrived into service. "Past the Eyrie Dam we had a big old moment, one of the Green Light TV boys waved, we got really sideways and knocked down a row of fence posts". Rob went on to say "There's not a lot I can do about these cars" as he pointed at the WRC machinery. Robert had to be reminded that you are not supposed to beat world rally cars with a Group N Lancer! Matthew Wilson reported an excursion up someone's drive on a square left into right, had to reverse the Focus back on to the road, dropped 10s. Steve Perez has smashed the driver's side of his Vodka Kick Focus WRC, the car slewed sideways at the duck pond and slammed into a tree. Steve reckons the rear tyre compounds are too soft. Looks like he was lucky to get away with the accident.
Guy Wilks continues to lead Super 1600 in his Ignis but reckons he is going to have to make a dramatic change to the suspension, as he is having to concentrate very hard on keeping the yellow machine between the hedges. Tim McNulty's Subaru blew a turbo halfway through stage 7, he has dropped probably a minute and several places. Ollie O'Donovan is also going backwards on the results, Ollie's Subaru having lost turbo pressure. The London based Limerick man saying. "In this car I'm as lucky as a dead man 6 foot under". Young Simon Hughes is 2nd in the Super 1600 to Wilks, Simon surviving a spin on that 7th stage. Gareth Jones retired his similar Clio last night when the engine started to rattle. Besides highest placed Manx driver Rob Watson there are several more having a great battle - Shaun Fox is 15th and looking for more horse power. Nigel Cannell is 20th and Stephen Quine 17th.
Jenni-Lee Hermansson in the 22 Motorsport prepared GpN Impreza is well down the order having made a slow start as she gets used to the new car. Thinks the car is brilliant, but just not settled in. Lorna Smith is 24th and leading Lady driver in the overnight results. Some class winners from overnight include. Stephen Quine/Richard Skinner lead A7. Thomas O'Rourke/John O'Rourke led cl.3 in their Kadett. John & Stephen Moxon led cl.N1 in their Skoda. Jeremy Taylor & Jody Patterson lead class 5 in the little red Mic\ra. Andrew Tood/Martin Kennedy lead cl.2 in their Civic. Shaun Woffinden moved into the lead of the Fiat Stilos from Chris Davies. Finally for now we would like to send our very best wishes to the Communications Officer of the Rally, Brian Perrin, who was taken into hospital following a heart attack yesterday. He is now reported as stable and off the danger list. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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