RALLY NEWS NO.5
Dolgellau/Sunday Noon
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8
TALIESIN
1st (2) Austin
MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.46.21.1
2nd (5) Sebastian
Ling/Ian Allsop (Accent WRC) 1.48.38.8
3rd (6) Jon
Ingram/Shaun O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 1.48.47.3
4th (8) Rory
Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 1.48.56.0
5th (7) Gareth
MacHale/Paul Nagle (Corolla WRC) 1.49.50.9
6th (14) Stuart
Jones/Ross Butler (Lancer N) 1.50.18.9
7th (11) Paul
Wedgbury/Gemma Price (Impreza N) 1.50.35.2
8th (15) Richard
Gower/Aled Davies (Accent WRC) 1.51.03.7
9th (21) Lorna
Smith/Dave Robson (Impreza N) 1.54.05.4
10th (19) Barry
Clark/Neil Shanks (Impreza N) 1.54.21.5
Dubliner Austin MacHale doesn’t do a
lot of smiling – but he certainly had a grin on when he brought
his Focus WRC to a halt here at service in Dolgellau. For Austin
and co driver Brian Murphy this is their first British
Championship victory, and it is the first major forest rally has
Austin has won. There was quite a battle for 2nd and 3rd
at the finish. Sebastian Ling just nipping ahead of Jon Ingram on
the final stage. Making it a red letter day for the Irish, Rory
Galligan steered his Lancer into 4th and Group N
victory. His team mate David Higgins retired at the end of stage
7, his Lancer suffering some damage following a puncture.
Austin MacHale commented here at
service. “We were able to settle down over the last few stages.
The roads dried out so maybe we were on too soft a compound tyre.
I was careful yesterday not to get into a dog fight with Mark
Higgins, he’s a professional and was setting a very quick pace.
Then Matthew Wilson had his accident, and maybe two people in
hospital, Matthew and Scott, makes it a slightly hollow victory.
But I’m still well pleased, enjoyed the rally, the Welsh stages
were good as usual. Over the whole weekend I was being reasonably
cautious, careful with the car, I want it right for Killarney next
weekend.” Austin continued. “I’m well pleased for the boys as
well, Gareth had an excellent run, his first time in a WRC car in
the British forests, a top 5 result, it was a calculated drive”.
Sebastian Ling was delighted with his 2nd place and
said. “We had problems all weekend, but it came good in the end,
we really drove hard on the last stage”. Jon Ingram was a bit
disappointed to lose 2nd, but as he said himself “We
probably lost it in Sweet Lamb this morning when the car misted up
in the water splash. We took some time out of Sebastian in
Myherin, and I thought I only had to keep it clean through the
final stage, but he must have been going really hard.”
Rory Galligan said. “I’m
delighted to get 4th, it’s a great start to the
championship. We had a bit of a shaky start to the rally when we
got the puncture, and then of course we had gearbox troubles, no 6th
gear the whole rally. It came good in the end.” Gareth MacHale
looked slightly sheepish when he climbed out of his Corolla WRC, a
damaged front guard evidence of a bit of trouble. He told us “I
got confused at a little lane in stage 7, tried to go the wrong
way and was off the road briefly for about 10s. The pace is quick
here, but with the calibre of drivers and cars I’m delighted to
get 5th. Before the rally I would have settled for any
place within the top 10. I’m looking forward now to the next
round of the Irish Forestry down in the Middleton”.
Young Stuart Jones makes up
the top 6, Stuart 2nd in Group N. He said. “I’m very
happy. Indeed I’m lucky to be here at all. We were off the road
on the Myherin stage, there was a boulder in the middle of the
road and I had to change my line, and went into the ditch.
Luckily she bounced out again and here we are. As regards the rest
of the British championship, I just don’t know. We’d need extra
funding”.
Paul Wedgbury came into 3rd
group N in the Prodrive Impreza N11. Richard Gower dropped a
place when his Accent suffered a puncture in Myherin. Lorna Smith
did well to come into 9th and Barry Clark makes up the
top 10. Just outside the leaderboard, Aaron MacHale was 11th
and James Edwards was 12th. Iwan Rees 13th.
Conrad Rautenbach 14th in the Citroen C2. Robert Swann
15th. Just 25 cars finished the rally. Finally for now
many thanks to all who supported and helped with the Rally News.
Well done to everyone involved in the rally for laying on such a
good event. We wish a speedy recovery to Matthew Wilson and Scott
Martin. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
