RALLY NEWS NO.5 Canford
Arena Service/Saturday 4pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 12 STAPEHILL
1st (7) Craig Middleton/Robin Hernaman (Accent
WRC)47.52.9
2nd (5) Steve Perez/Neil Dashfield (Focus WRC)
48.03.1
3rd (2) Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC)
48.12.9
4th (4) Paul Bird/Ian Windress (Impreza WRC)
48.19,0
5th (14) Richard Gower/Aled Davies (Accent WRC)
50.44.3
6th (16) John Lloyd/Pauline Gullick (Impreza WRC)
51.02.1
7th (12) Steve Hendy/Mark Milton (Escort WRC)
51.18.8
8th (9) Steve Fleck/Anthony Ettlinger (Impreza
WRC) 51.31.7
9th (20) Alistair Tough/Alistair MacKay (Impreza
N) 51.53.4
10th (32) Anthony Wilmington/Andy White (Lancer
N) 51.54.5
Just a handful of seconds separate the top 4 cars on this
Rallye Sunseeker with 3 stages remaining, one of them being the 10.9
mile Plumley Wood test. Craig Middleton has been piling on the
pressure and setting scintillating times this afternoon, although
his charge was dented somewhat when the power steering on his
Hyundai gave trouble on stage 12. It was Steve Perez who was
fastest through that stage 12, 2s up on Middleton. Paul Bird is
right in the hunt and indeed there is a query over 10s on one of
Bird’s times which could put him ahead of Barry Johnson. Barry led
the rally earlier today, but a collision with a series of straw
bales has left his Subaru damaged around the front and he is having
to drive very hard to stay in touch with the lead. Adding to
Johnson’s misery there is a certain amount of smoke coming into the
Subaru and now his fuel pressure read out is starting to behave a
bit oddly. Barry also had an overshoot in stage 12 which cost quite
a few seconds.
Steve Perez is on a charge, has put on a new set of Pirelli
tyres at each service this afternoon and is really going for it.
Steve knows himself that he is braking just a little early for some
of the corners, but he is certainly trying for victory, his Vodka
Kick Focus WRC in top nick. Richard Gower had a good run through
stages 10, 11 and 12 to hold on to 5th place and equally
John Lloyd put in a good performance to remain 6th.
Steve Hendy is struggling to keep on the pace in his Escort
WRC, Steve’s co driver Mark Milton saying. “We’re really struggling
in some of the ruts, to keep the pace up, our aim now is to survive
with a reasonable finish, not to try and win”. The ruts have caused
quite a few drivers some problems. One in particular is Ollie
O’Donovan, his Subaru suffering a broken drive shaft at junction 7
in stage 12 when the car was banging through the ruts. Shannon
Holdings man Ollie had been up to 10th overall, having
improved from 13th over the previous 2 stages.
Alistair Tough has now taken the lead in Group N from
Anthony Wilmington. Rob Smith has dropped to 3rd gpN and
11th overall following an off road excursion in stage 10
which cost at least 25s. Rob’s car is also down on power slightly.
Stuart Larbey in the Metro 6R4 is lying just outside the top 20,
says the Metro is struggling for traction and he’s had a little bit
of alternator trouble, but overall going well. Tony Thompson
dropped some time when his Group N Lancer suffered a broken gear
linkage when clattering through the ruts in stage 11. The car was
fortunately in 2nd gear at the time and he was able to
finish the stage, albeit revving the engine flat out all the way.
Some class leaders include Neil Weaver leading class
B9 and lying 26th overall in his 1400cc Corsa. After
stage 11 Jamie Hickland, running at 73 in his Peugeot, led class A6
by 0.7 of a second from Declan Magee in a similar Peugeot. More news
later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
