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RALLY
NEWS NO.6
Malton Showgrounds/Saturday 5.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 Gale Rigg 2
1st (1) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Focus WRC) 57.18.4
2nd (2) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Impreza WRC) 58.50.3
3rd (6) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 59.22.9
4th (7) Steve Perez/Claire Mole (Focus WRC) 59.54.0
5th (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.00.20.3
6th (8) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 1.00.36.1
7th (12) Chris Mellors/Craig Thorley (Esc.Cos) 1.01.00.7
8th (5) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 1.01.34.6
9th (9) Ryan Champion/Glenn Patterson (Lancer N) 1.03.26.5
10th (18) Tony Thompson/John Dunning (Lancer N) 1.03.39.0
Mark Higgins has been stunningly fast over this afternoon's stages.
On stage 8 he was 21s faster than 2nd placed Jonny Milner and on
stage 9 he was 19 faster. In modern day rally terms that is
pretty enormous. Mark emphasised again that a change of tyres
gave his extra confidence over the last few stages, and despite the
rain and the slippy conditions it had gone really well. Second
placed Jonny Milner commented. "There is no way I'm going to
try and get on Mark's pace, I'm watching the boys behind. The car is
going alright, but I'm not driving that well, making more of the
corners than I should be" Current Pirelli British
Champion Jonny started the rally more or less in the position of no
hope as regards this year's championship, following the retirement
of David Higgins, maybe there is some hope. Having said that,
young Matthew Wilson is going exceptionally well today,, nicely up
into 3rd place, and Austin MacHale is in 5th, so both will be in for
a load of points if they stay in that sort of position.
Steve Perez in 4th also reported a good run through Gale Rigg, his
Vodka Kick Focus giving no cause for concern, Steve also saying
"I'm still learning to drive this car, and in some areas it is
so slippy, especially into some of the square corners".
Steve Petch in 6th and Chris Mellors in 7th are having their own
private battle, Steve's co driver John Richardson calling it The
Battle of the Seniors - all having a ball! Barry Johnson in
8th says he is playing to the crowds. Ryan Champion in 9th is a lot
happier with his Lancer since he changed the rear brake pads. Ryan
now leads the Group N category and said. "I can make the car do
what we want to do now, its worth about a second a mile. I thought
it was me that was just a bit rusty but really it was the car all
along". Tony Thompson holds 2nd gpN and 10th overall.
Tony normally competes on the ANCRO series and is pretty stunned at
the pace here in Yorkshire, but is doing a really good job.
Sebastian Ling is 3rd gpN despite some small differential problem
through stage 9. Interestingly, Sebastian waited for Dorian Rees at
the end of stage 8, Dorian in trouble with a broken drive shaft in
his Subaru, and Seb wanted to see if he could help. As soon as Ling
set off again, his Lancer's differential started to give trouble.
Lorna Smith is 4th in GpN, reports no problems, getting more
accustomed to the slippery conditions.
Leon Pesticcio continues to lead the Super 1600 category, but Barry
Clark is only 11.7s back in his Puma. Leon commented. "We're
taking it very steady, don't know how hard to go, its tricky out
there and it is very important I get the car to the finish and pick
up team points for Suzuki. I could go harder in the morning, we will
see".
John Lloyd is now 11th overall after a good clean run. Jon Ingram is
13th despite his Subaru having the wrong gearing. Damian Cole is
down in 17th. Damian had 30s road penalties this morning and in
stage 9 his Subaru skidded nose first into a ditch and he lost a
minute getting out. Jenni-Lee Hermansson is just inside the top 20
in her 22 Motorsport GpN Impreza. Jenni struggling slightly to come
to grips with the slippery conditions.
In the race for the Pirelli Tarmac title on the Cork 20 Rally, after
7 stages Derek McGarrity is now 22s ahead of Eugene Donnelly and
still all to play for.
More news in the morning. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
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