RALLY NEWS NO.2 End of stage 1 – Saturday 2.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Rockfield
1st (3) Todd Falvey/Dan Barry (Porsche 911) 5.58
2nd (16) Mike Doody/Jonathan Doody (Mini Cooper) 6.06
3rd (6) Nick Whale/Sally Woods (Porsche 911) 6.09
(91) Tom Randles/Sean Duggan (Escort) 6.09
5th (8) Denis & Dan Moynihan (Escort) 6.14
6th (1) Ray Cunningham/Richard Hyland (Mini Cooper) 6.19

The above times are from the first few Historic and Post Historic crews only which makes it a very provisional leaderboard. Last year’s winner Ray Cunningham was first on the road in his Mini Cooper S and said. “It is a bit unsettling running first on the road, but it went OK, the stage was slippy, I could have gone harder”.

Former multiple winner Dessie Nutt was next up in his yellow Porsche 911, Dessie reinforcing the view that the damp roads were slippy and said. “We were very cautious”. Dessie’s time was 6.35.

Todd Falvey was right on Dessie’s bumper at stage finish and provisionally he seems to have set the fastest time.

Belgian driver Marc Duez concentrated on just settling in to his Porsche, his time 6.28. Nick Whale was caught off guard when the flag dropped and he lost a few seconds getting going, but he certainly made up for lost time and was pretty fast in his Porsche towards stage finish.

Joe Connolly with his son Gareth co driving had a rotten stage, their Escort’s gear lever breaking off right down at the bottom and they finished the stage with a pair of mole grips clamped on to the little gear stick stub and they lost over a minute. Also not in a happy mood was Frank Cunningham, his Escort engine misfiring and going off a cylinder. Tom Randles is driving an ex Russell Brookes Escort in the “D classification” running on road tyres and he had a great time, 14s up on Martin Freestone who is in the same category.

On Rally GB after stage 9 Gronholm led by over a minute from Solberg, Stohl 3rd and Latvala 4th. Matthew Wilson was 11th and Gareth MacHale 14th. Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy 13th o/a having been 8th yesterday. Markko Alen’s son led group N and was 15th o/a. Ryan Champion 18th o/a and 4th gpN. Niall McShea/Greg Shinnors were 19th and 5th gpN. Guy Wilks leading Juniors. Kris Meeke 8th Junior having led earlier.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net