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MANX TALES NO.7 Grandstand/Friday 5.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 12 Rockmount
1st (1) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 1.18.08.8
2nd (3) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 1.19.26.3
3rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.20.14.2
4th (8) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.20.35.3
5th (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.20.46.2
6th (7) Paul Bird/Andrew Bargery (Focus WRC) 1.21.30.9
7th (12) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.22.22.6
8th (2) Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley (Octavia WRC) 1.22.29.6
9th (21) Rob Watson/Norman Quayle (Lancer N) 1.23.28.1
10th (9) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 1.23.30.5
PLEASE NOTE THE ABOVE LEADERBOARD IS ABSOLUTELY PROVISIONAL AND MEANT FOR
GUIDANCE PURPOSES ONLY
Unfortunately Dougi Hall has crashed his Focus WRC heavily in stage 12.
Thankfully there were no injuries to the crew. Austin MacHale was first on the
scene and with no "OK" board showing, took the only proper course of action,
slammed his Focus WRc to a halt and checked that crew was OK. The accident
happened on the narrow piece of stage, at the jump past the bungalow going up
towards the duck pond. Only 4 cars got through the stage unhindered. Mark Higgins
had a major problem with his FitzSamuel Insurance backed Octavia when the
prop shaft let go and he crawled through the test, dropping well over 3 minutes
to Milner. Mark's co driver Craig Thorley told us. "We felt a vibration on the
previous stage, thought it was a puncture. We checked the wheels before stage
12 and all seemed OK, but then a mile into the stage the prop shaft just let
go without warning, and we had a long way to go. Jonny Milner had a good run
through stages 11 and 12. He was fastest through both stages but he did report
that his Subaru is taking a 2nd bounce over the jumps, a double bounce,
doesn't know what the problem is, but it could be the heat affecting the fluid in
the front struts. He is going to ask the mechanics to change the suspension now
as a precaution. As an aside, as Jonny was telling us about the suspension,
one of the cars in the Historic part of the rally came past, and Jonny's nose
gave a fierce twitch. His eyes lit up and he whispered with reverence
"Castrol R…reminds me of my rallycross car!"
Kenny McKinstry slowed ever so slightly through stages 11 and 12, discovering
that some bit of his Subaru exhaust manifold had started to leak. He got a
bit of wood or stick out of the hedge at the start of stage 11, but naturally
enough this burned up. He then got a piece of aluminium and stuck it in for
stage 12, but still the car wasn't right. Eugene Donnelly had a good run through
stage 11, 3rd fastest. But then was quite thankful in a way, although
without wishing anything like Dougi Hall's accident to happen to anybody, was glad
in a way that stage 12 was stopped, as his Corolla had developed a turbo anti
lag problem. Japanese driver Fumio Nutahara, winner of the North Attack Rally
in Japan 2 weeks ago, has retired his Lancer with transmission trouble.
Matthew Wilson being slowed by a power steering problem on stage 11, dropped
close to a minute. After that 11th stage Guy Wilks was still leading the
Super 1600 category. Seb Ling was 2nd Group N from Dessie Keenan from James Foley,
these 3 swapping seconds. Class leaders included: Stephen Quine in his
Escort F2. Thomas O'Rourke in his Kadett. Andrew Todd in his Civic. John Moxon in
his Felicia and Reg Berrie in his Ford Ka. In the Historic part of the rally
Adrian Kermode led cl.B5 from Dessie Nutt. Stephen Smith led Cl.C3. Richard
Gower cl.C5. Frank Cunningham has retired his Mini Cooper S with a broken drive
shaft.
William Bonniwell led the Fiat Stilo Cup despite some gear change trouble
from Shaun Woffinden with Chris Davies 3rd. Tom Metcalfe lost time and lead
position because of a horrendous misfire. The Trophy Rally starts shortly on stage
13 and at least one driver, Cork man Pat Maguire has reason to thank the
decency and understanding of the organisers. Pat's crew missed the ferry from
Dublin to Douglas and had to get a ferry to Holyhead and drive to Heysham thence
to Douglas - the organisers arranged a special scrutineering session for them
this afternoon.
Finally for now, Robbie Head is here as usual helping with the TV commentary,
and has just become a father for the first time last week when his wife Lucy
presented him with a 4lbs8oz baby girl called Emily…6 weeks ahead of rally
schedule!!More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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