RALLY NEWS NO.3 Heathhall Service/Friday 11.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 AE SOUTH 2

1st (2) David Higgins/Craig Thorley (Accent WRC) 16.57.3
2nd (1) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 17.03.2
3rd (4) Paul Bird/Andrew Bargery (Focus WRC) 17.23.7
4th (5) Dougi Hall/Steve Egglestone (Focus WRC) 17.25.9
5th (8) Steve Perez/Daniel Barritt (Focus WRC) 17.27.0
6th (6) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 17.36.5
7th (3) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 17.49.9
8th (7) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 17.58.0
9th (30) Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Ignis) 18.02.1
10th (9) Sebastian Ling/James Phillips (Lancer N) 18.07.9

David Higgins set a cracking time on the 2nd visit to Ae, stopping the clocks on 7.57.3. Jonny Milner was 8.00.4. Although the time sheets showed Milner to be leading the rally after the first stage, David Higgins had always disputed this, and his time was subsequently amended, so that he has in fact led the rally from the word go. This means that David will be first on the road starting the Saturday leg. He commented at service. "I was fiddling with the lights for the first couple of miles and missed a crest, braked a bit early for a corner. It was difficult light anyway, sort of half dark. The car is good, the new suspension is working well". Jonny Milner said. "We weren't taking too many risks, kept it quite clean". Paul Bird has had a good run to 3rd overnight, although he told us. "I ballsed up a squared a left a bit, and the car stalled, backed off over a few crests, driving safe but I'm happy. The car's a dream".

Dougi Hall had a real good run through stage 3, not the fastest, but not a mile away, to move into 4th place just ahead of Steve Perez, who also reported no problems. Matthew Wilson was a full 20s faster on his 2nd visit to Ae, and jumped up the leaderboard a couple of places. Matthew saying "I started to get a bit more confident, quite a nice run". Austin MacHale was slightly better on his 2nd visit to Ae but still far from happy with his Focus WRC, it is still set too low at the front and Austin feels the centre diff isn't quite right, that the car is sliding about too much.

Guy Wilks continues to lead the Super 1600 category and was 10s faster than Leon Pesticcio on the 2nd visit to Ae, neither driver is particularly happy with the handling of their cars. Wilks said "We lowered the back slightly, the car is a bit better but not 100 per cent yet. I only have one spare wheel, I'll maybe carry two tomorrow, it should help to balance the car". When Pesticcio checked his time against Wilks, 10s slower, he frowned and said. "I thought we went better, but I'm not happy, the back end is scooting away under power, and in 5th and 6th gear there is no margin for error". Aki Teiskonen in the Saxo put in a really good time, 1s faster than Pesticcio, as the Finn fights to claw back his earlier road penalty. Barry Clark had a good run but was 14s down on Pesticcio. Gareth Jones was just 5 down. Simon Hughes a further 1.3s back, both Clio drivers reasonably happy with the way their cars are going.

In Group N Sebastian Ling turned in a fastest gpN time, well ahead of the closest opposition. Robert Gough was very fast on the Ae stage first time through, but was 30s slower on the 2nd run, not happy in the dark and with the lights. Lorna Smith was 0.1 of a second faster than her team mate Jennie-Lee Hermansson, although Jennie-Lee is determined to finish this Scottish Rally. Aaron MacHale had a massive 5th gear moment on a big jump into a long right 3, but got away with it.

In the Fiat Stilo Cup William Bonniewell has moved into a 5s lead over Chris Davies. Davies had been off the road for a few seconds. Paul Tod is 3rd. Tom Metcalfe 4th ahead of Spanish driver Joan Roca. Shaun Woffinden put his Stilo off the road and is stuck in a ditch. More news in the morning. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net