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MANX
TALES NO.9
Grandstand/Saturday 10.30am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 18 CORNAA
1st (1) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 1.53.59.2
2nd (3) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 1.56.09.6
3rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.56.35.0
4th (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.57.10.6
5th (8) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.57.17.1
6th (2) Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley (Octavia WRC) 1.59.57.4
7th (12) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 2.00.08.5
8th (9) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 2.01.22.8
9th (30) Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Ignis) 2.02.26.9
10th (21) Rob Watson/Norman Quayle (Lancer N) 2.02.38.9
11th (11) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 2.04.04.6
12th (37) Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Lancer N) 2.05.50.9
There are 5 stages left on this Manx International Rally and Jonny Milner now
has a 2m10s lead over Kenny McKinstry so he is looking fairly secure at the
front. There is still a mighty race going on between McKinstry, Derek
McGarrity, Eugene Donnelly and Austin MacHale for the runner-up spots.
Mark Higgins in 6th with the Octavia is in a little time envelope of his own
as regards catching the cars in front. Milner commented here at service
after today's opening 3 stages. "Everything feels good, we're still going
hard but only 90 per cent, backing off on the narrow stuff. The car was
bouncing about a bit at the start of Druiddale, but then others complained of
that as well". Kenny McKinstry was being slightly canny this
morning, saying "Going hard enough, but being steady, watching the boys
behind. I had a wee bit of concern over the new manifold we fitted last night
but all seems fine". (Kenny's mechanics changed the manifold in 40
minutes which was pretty good gooing).
Derek McGarrity in 3rd place said. "I was being careful enough through
Cornaa, a bit timid through the crossroads where we got the puncture last time
through. I feel happy with the car, we have a good setup". Eugene
Donnelly set his first fastest overall time of the rally through Cornaa, in
fact his first ever fastest time on the Isle of Man! He joked. "An
old priest at home used to say "You have to know your parish". We
were a minute quicker through the stage than the last time, and on the same
tyres. Mind you we were far from cautious, I think we hit every bank!"
Austin MacHale, setting times right with the boys in front, but not really
closing on Donnelly, said. "We changed the gearbox last night, the
housing was damaged. The car is fine but we lost a bit of time on that last
stage, there were peacocks in the middle of the road the size of turkeys, and
we had to slow right down. Boys that size can do a fair bit of damage to
radiators!"
Rounding off the top 6, and having led the rally for mot of the first half,
Mark Higgins commented. "You don't get a chance to drive these WRC cars
very often, its great to be on the stages with the Octavia. The car felt
really good leaving service this morning, the diffs were starting to work, but
then when we got on to the stages the diffs locked up, the car was diving
about trying to fire itself off the road at every bump. We think there must be
a loose wire somewhere following the hammering the broken prop shaft gave it
yesterday. You know, it was a bit like meeting the perfect woman, the car felt
so good, everything's fine, and then you find out the woman's a man!!"
Looking on down the top 10 - Eamonn Boland had a steady run this morning, in
his own words "No problem at all". Matt Wilson reckons he made
a sleepy start through Sulby Glen but then woke up and had a couple of quite
good stages. Guy Wilks is still adjusting the ride height and suspension
of his Ignis. Rob Watson was content to let Wilks move ahead in the general
classification, Rob concentrating now on preserving his GpN advantage. Pirelli
BRC Group N Championship leader Seb Ling has retired his Lancer in stage 17,
the car sliding into a ditch and Seb couldn't get it out, although there was
minimal damage. Steve Perez clouted his Vodka Kick Focus WRC on the Sulby Glen
stage, managed to keep going and despite the best efforts of co driver
Claire Mole to sort some of the damage with the aid of a conveniently located
sledge hammer, it was too much of an uphill battle and Steve has called it a
day.
Ollie O'Donovan, 12th overnight, did not re-start this morning, Ollie most
unhappy with the performance of his Subaru engine. Dave Corris in the yellow
Escort Cosworth has had an accident in stage 16 and blocked the road. No
reports of injuries. Damian Cole and co driver Martin Brady have been
forced to retire from 22nd overall when their Celica clutch gave up in Sulby
Glen. Dessie Keenan is now 2nd Group N. James Foley 3rd. Top Manx crews after
Rob Watson are Nigel Cannell in 14th, Shaun Fox 16th, Steven Quine 19th.
In the Fiat Stilo Cup Paul Tod has just retired when he broke a driveshaft at
the Brandywell hairpin, Woffinden still leads from Metcalfe with Bonniwell
3rd.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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