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| Jim Clark Rally 2008 |
| RALLY NEWS No.5 - After SS9 - Wednesday @ 11:32:51 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.5 Charterhall Service/Saturday 4.20
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 – FOGO 2
1st (4) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 58.13.2
2nd (2) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 58.39.1
3rd (1) Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 59.31.1
4th (14) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 1.00.06.0
5th (6) Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy (Focus WRC) 1.00.32.9
6th (11) David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza N) 1.01.12.2
7th (15) Stuart Jones/Andy Bull (MG S2000) 1.01.54.7
8th (19) James Wozencroft/Chris Ridge (Impreza N) 1.02.13.4
9th (21) Darren Gass/Neil Shanks (Lancer N) 1.02.17.8
10th (16) Jonny Greer/Jonny Hart (Lancer N) 1.02.36.0
Through stages 8 and 9, Langton and Fogo, Tim McNulty was again fastest from Eamonn Boland. It is just a second here and a second there, but as McNulty said earlier “Just chipping away”. Tim reported no problems while Eamonn Boland felt that one of his Subaru front brake discs was warping, but he said that it didn’t cost him any time. Gareth MacHale again had no problems while his brother Aaron reckons he lost a few seconds with his Focus anti lag not working. At least Aaron was able to get the car going at Duns following his ECU troubles.
David Higgins was slowed through that stage 9, his Subaru suffering a broken radiator, which had been cracked over a jump in the Langton stage. Mark Higgins had a clean run through stages 8 and 9, and was fastest of all the group N runners. He has had several delays today behind other people’s problems, but he is in a strong position now as regards the Tesco 99 Octane British Championship points. Stuart Jones is having a quiet rally by his standards but became a big more aggressive with the MG through the last few stages and his times are improving. He now holds 3rd in the British points behind David Higgins. James Wozencroft is another who is going well and reported no problems here at service.
Not so happy was Wyn Humphreys. He dropped over 3 minutes in stage 9, Fogo, his radiator having been damaged in Langton. Karl Simmons was slowed through Fogo, the air filter in his Subaru damaged by the impact of the water at Langton and his Impreza would only rev to 5000. Karl said. “I drove like a nutter then I was so angry”. Darren Gass was another to lose time in Fogo, although no so much, possibly 40s. His Pirelli Lancer suffered a broken shaft on the start line of the stage. When he got here Darren shrugged his shoulders and said. “this rallying is a torture!”
Another big story from that Fogo stage is that John McGlaughlin’s Lancer has slid off the road on a fast section and would appear to be stuck. John and co driver Crawford Henderson are OK but it looks like their Jim Clark Rally is over and their lead in the Tarmac Championship GpN category could be gone. Kevin Kelleher is now the man to watch in that department and Kevin is going like a train at the moment. Rob Swann is starting to step up the pace in his new Impreza N14 and he is delighted with the new car. London based Greek Cypriot Melis Charalambous had bits of mud and grass sticking to the front of his GpN Impreza when he reached service. Melis related. “I had found my pace, but then through the water splash I did not appreciate how little friction the brakes would have and I hit a tree which moved. There was no real damage. I got through the stage very nicely, I’m finding this very exciting and I am very fond of the tarmac stages. I am very happy to be here on my 2nd BRC event!”
Adam Gould is now up to 12th o/a and leading class 2 in his Clio. George Thomas is 2nd in that class and leading the Citroen C2R2 Cup contenders. George told us that he has had a very clean run so far. Marty McCormack is still 2nd C2R2 Cup contender. In Class R1 Martin O’Donnell from Dungloe in Co. Donegal led after stage 7 despite putting his Civic off the road briefly in stage 1 and smashing the head lamp and bumper. Mark Gamble was 2nd in the class and led the Suzuki Cup contenders from Galway’s Ross Forde. Ross is pulling out all the stops now to try and pull up with Gamble, the gap between the two 28s.
In the National Rally David Kynaston in the Audi led after stage 8 by 56s from Andy Fenwick in his Octavia WRC. Ewan Thorborn was 3rd in his Impreza. David Mann 4th in his Impreza WRC. Alastair Thorborn was 5th in yet another Subaru and Tristan Pye was 6th.
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
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