RALLY NEWS NO.2                        Malton Showgrounds/Saturday 11.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Cropton
1st (3) David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Accent WRC) 9.07.6
2nd (1) Mark Higgins/Brian Thomas (Focus WRC) 9.12.7
3rd (2) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 9.23.3
4TH (6) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 9.25.7
5th (7) Steve Perez/Claire Mole (Focus WRC) 9.30.2
6th (5) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 9.32.4
7th (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 9.35.0
8th (8) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 9.35.8
9th (12) Chris Mellors/Craig Thorley (Esc.Cos) 9.47.0
10th (9) Ryan Champion/Glenn Patterson (Lancer N) 10.00.6

Having led after stage 1 Mark Higgins had a frustrating start to stage 2 when he stalled his Focus WRC a couple of times at the beginning of the stage, and reckons he dropped at least 10s.  Otherwise he had a good run, but David Higgins was fastest through the stage to move into the lead of the rally, although David felt that his Accent was under steering slightly, but not too bad.  Jonny Milner dropped a few seconds when his Impreza overshot.  Matthew Wilson had a good smooth run on his way to 4th. Steve Perez in the Vodka Kick Focus also setting a good time.  Barry Johnson felt that he wasn't listening hard enough to the notes through the stage, but is still 6th overall.  Austin MacHale had some gremlin in his Sanyo Aircon backed Focus WRC's electronic gear change, which is affecting 2 changes at once instead of one.  Steve Petch stalled his Accent at a chicane and dropped a few seconds, but still in the top 10. 

Ryan Champion continues to lead group N although complaining that his Lancer isn't turning in too well.  Dorian Rees is 2nd GpN in his Subaru, Simon Hughes 3rd in another Impreza. Lorna Smith dropped back a little when her gpN Impreza clipped a bank and damaged the left-hand side slightly.

In Super 1600 Gareth Jones moves into the lead on stage 2 ahead of Leon Pesticcio, Leon very happy with the Ignis but feels that he needs to soften the front suspension slightly to counteract the soft conditions.  Stuart Jones is 3rd Super 1600 in his Proton (we mistakenly said on our last RallyNews it was a Peugeot!).  Barry Clark 4th.  Jonnie Wigmore has dropped out of the S1600 picture; his Puma suffering broken rear suspension and he lost over 4 minutes.

In Sardinia on the WRC Solberg led in his Impreza after leg 1 from Gronholm, Loeb 3rd, Sainz 4th, Martin 5th.
More news to follow: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON  www.rallynews.net
(with thanks to Andrew Kellitt)