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RALLY NEWS NO.5
Dolgellau - Saturday 8pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Gartheiniog (end of leg 1)
1st (2) David Higgins/Craig Thorley (Accent WRC) 1.04.29.7
2nd (1) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 1.04.45.7
3rd (3) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.05.16.6
4th (6) Paul Bird/Andrew Bargery (Focus WRC) 1.05.48.4
5th (7) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 1.06.05.9
6th (4) Steve Perez/Daniel Barritt (Focus WRC) 1.07.07.4
7th (5) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 1.07.13.7
8th (16) Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson (Corsa) 1.07.24.6
9th (57) Julian Reynolds/Ryland James (Impreza WRC) 1.08.05.2
10th (30) Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Ignis) 1.08.05.7
11th (18) Leon Pesticcio/Tim Sturla (Punto) 1.08.13.8
12th (19) Aki & Mika Teiskonen (Saxo) 1.08.22.9
Through stage 5 Jonny Milner was fastest by 4s from David Higgins,
Paul Bird was 3rd, a further 10 back from Milner and Austin MacHale
was another 12s back, having put his Focus off the road at the first
junction in that 5th stage, Gartheiniog. David Higgins put in a
pretty stunning time through stage 4, 14s up on Milner and Jonny
really had to turn up the wick if he was to keep Higgins within
striking distance on day 2. The problem for Jonny through the
Sunday stages is that he will be running in Higgins' dust, having had
clean air all day today.
It hasn't all been sweetness and light for Higgins. Apart from
battling with dust cloud thrown up by Milner's Subaru, Higgins has had
a continuation of the brake problems that dogged him earlier.
David commented here at service "I'm happy enough with my pace,
we've had a few problems including a puncture, but hopefully we will
have a clean run tomorrow". Jonny Milner commented
"The gap to David is just 16s, he's not out of reach, I'm looking
for a good fight tomorrow. We are still having a slight problem with
the car pushing the nose on some corners. We had a 2nd gear spin at a
hairpin in stage 4 and we ran over a camera. That accounts for some of
the time loss there". Austin MacHale was furious at having
lost time at that first junction in stage 5 and said "I just
couldn't see it. Higgins' exhaust is blowing straight into the ground
and making the dust even worse. This is too risky".
Paul Bird got out of the car after stage 5 and said "That was a
dream run, it was perfect, although earlier I had to stop several
times for the dust. But at least the car was mega".
Steve Perez reported some brake problems with his Vodka Kick Focus WRC,
the brake pedal going to the floor, but Steve is still very much in
the hunt. As is young Matthew Wilson, the 17 year old telling us
"There seems to be a bit of an oil leak in the Focus. Not quite
sure what it is but with a 45 minute service we should get it fixed.
We stalled at a hairpin back there, and had a bit of a spin, we were
heading for the trees on a left 4 but it was OK. I think I'm
still a bit inexperienced, inconsistent with my notes. Tomorrow should
be better. I'm glad we are here and in one piece, we will attack
tomorrow".
In Group N Seb Ling has departed the fray, his Lancer stuffed into a
bank after doing a wall of death act around a huge corner with a big
drop on the outside. Dorian Rees takes over the mantle of gpN
leader. He lost time when he suffered a puncture near the end of stage
5. He was quite amazed, when driving up the road section to service
the bonnet suddenly blew open and smashed his Subaru windscreen. Jenni-Lee
Hermansson is now into 2nd gpN with her 22 Motorsport prepared Subaru.
Aaron MacHale is 3rd. Lorna Smith 4th.
Dougie Hall described his earlier accident as just simply down to the
dust misleading him into driving into a layby, and then being too late
to avoid a bank. Worringly, he said 3 or 4 cars almost ran into
him when he was stuck.
In the Super 1600 category Kris Meeke still leads, and describes his
Corsa as perfect, but eased off considerably in the dust. His co
driver Chris Patterson said "We both just hated the dust towards
the end, worse than fog". Leon Pesticcio turned in a
fastest Super 1600 time through stage 4, Dyfi 2, and reports his Fiat
Punto to be going well. Aki Teiskonen lost some time, firstly with his
Saxo steering rack being badly damaged, and a huge amount of play
coming into the steering, and also not being able to hear the pace
notes because the exhaust was broken just behind the engine and
completely deafening the Finnish brothers. Barry Clark lost 8
minutes when a coil lead came adrift, commented "Jobs
knackered". Gareth Jones was still well off the pace, car
just not handling. Damian Cole retired, engine problem. Barry Johnson
almost late into service, petrol problem.
More news in the morning. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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