|
|
| |
| Jim Clark Rally 2008 |
| RALLY NEWS No.3 - After SS5 - Wednesday @ 11:31:34 |
| |
|
RALLY NEWS NO.3 Charterhall Service/Saturday 1.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Edrom 1
1st (4) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 36.27.5
2nd (2) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 36.48.9
3rd (14) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 37.22.6
4th (1) Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 37.23.2
5th (6) Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy (Focus WRC) 37.45.1
6th (11) David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza N) 38.25.6
7th (21) Darren Gass/Neil Shanks (Lancer N) 38.57.0
8th (15) Stuart Jones/Andy Bull (MG S2000) 38.59.5
9th (19) James Wozencroft/Chris Ridge (Impreza N) 39.05.2
10th (18) John McGlaughlin/Crawford Henderson (Lancer N) 39.37.7
*The above times are provisional.
There was a major upset when British Rally Champion Guy Wilks was forced to stop in stage 4, Eyemouth, when his Lancer went on fire. Guy knew that the car had a broken prop shaft and thought he would keep going at reduced speed to the stage finish, but unfortunately the damaged shaft punctured the fuel tank and the car caught fire. Guy was lying 3rd at the time but he is out of the rally and the Fire Brigade had to be called in to quench the conflagration. This meant the following drivers having to be re-routed directly to stage 5.
Tim McNulty continues to lead the rally, Tim adamant that he has a bit in reserve, that he is driving at nine tenths. Gareth MacHale had a better run that time, his co-driver Brian Murphy saying that Gareth is not sticking his neck out. It was interesting that Gareth was just o.6 of a second slower than McNulty through stage 5 for fastest time. Eamonn Boland reported no problems but said his tyres are not “scrubbing” enough, but then as he said “Sure it’s the same for everyone”. Aaron MacHale commented “We’re going a lot better, pushing hard and its an enjoyable rally but it is hard to know where the grip is”.
Phillip Morrow was pretty well on the pace through stage 5 but he reckons that the wheel alignment on the Lancer may still be slightly out following the accident and it is making the handling a little difficult. Kevin Kelleher was another to have a good run that that 5th stage. He said that Mark Higgins gave him a little bit of advice at the start of one of the stages and it seems to be working. Mark himself jut commented at stage finish. “Steady away”. John McGlaughlin had a problem getting round the tight hairpin right in stage 5, said the hand brake just didn’t work. Jonny Greet put a rear wheel in a ditch at one point, the rim filled up with mud and then started to vibrate badly. Darren Gass also had problems with a rim filling with mud and causing a severe vibration. Darren’s co driver Neil Shanks Said. “We’re going pretty well although in stage 3 we always felt we were in the wrong gear”. Brian O’Mahony in the Clio reported a broken gearbox mounting at the end of stage 5. He is still going well and lying just outside the leaderboard. James Wozencroft had a good run through the last couple of stages to hold his top 10 position.
After 2 stages George Thomas led the Citroen C2R2s and was 2nd in Class R2 behind Adam Gould in the Clio. Marty McCormack was 2nd of the C2R2s despite a soft brake pedal. Matt Cotton was 3rd in the Citroens, just ahead of Martin Roberts with Martin Laverty 5th despite intercom troubles. Mark Gamble led the Suzuki Swift Cup from Galway man Ross Forde with Niki Bjerg from Denmark 3rd.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
*For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 60066 (UK): Or 53030 (Irl.): Text RALLY ITC OFF to stop. Cost 25p/30c. Provided by stagetimes.com
|
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
|
