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| Manx International Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.3 - After SS3 - Friday @ 13:03:59 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.3 Grandstand/Friday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Ravensdale
1st (2) Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 22.18.5
2nd (1) Mark HIggins/Bryan Thomas (Impreza N) 22.36.0
3rd (3) Alastair Fisher/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 23.23.1
4th (6) Jonny Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Lancer N) 23.27.9
5th (4) Adam Gould/Sebastian Marshal (Impreza N) 23.49.4
6th (11) Steven Quine/Paul McCann (Lancer) 23.56.4
7th (12) Nigel & Michaela Cannell (Lancer N) 24.07.5
8th (5) David Bogie/Kevin Rae (Lancer N) 24.08.9
9th (8) Dave Weston Jnr/Aled Davies (Impreza N) 24.46.6
10th (15) Tom Walster/Tim Sturla (Clio) 24.54.5
Having led the rally after stage 1 Mark Higgins admitted that he got a real shock when Keith Cronin went faster on stage 2 to take the lead. Then on stage 3, up the Druidale section over the cattle grids, Mark put one wheel on his Subaru on the grass on the long right hander and spun. Damage to the car was only superficial but he dropped another 16s to Cronin so that he is now 17.5s in arrears. The next 2 stages are very fast in places so anything can happen in this fascinating struggle for supremacy. Mark said. “I’m going to have to up my game now”. Keith Cronin’s co driver Greg Shinnors told us. “Keith is driving well. We are happy to be started and in the groove. We’re still fine tuning the suspension although you would need a different set up for every stage on this Island!” Alastair Fisher in 3rd said. “We’re going alright but a bit slow on that 3rd stage, no real reason”.
Jonny Greer in 4th reported a good clean so far, apart from hitting the goose on stage 1 that is! Fifth placed Adam Gould’s Pirelli Impreza looked a bit of a mess when it came into the control following contact with a rock on a 90 right after the crossroads in Kella. Adam lost quite a few seconds there and the car was “crabbing” but he still had a good go in stage 3 and despite being in the ditch was 3rd fastest. Steven Quine in 6th place in his GpA Lancer reported a soft brake pedal and the rear tyres going off but otherwise OK. Nigel Cannell in 7th said he had one of his worst runs ever over Druidale, his Lancer not handling at all well. Unfortunately Nigel’s co driving wife Michaela started to feel very unwell through stage 3 so we hope she is going to be alright.
Dave Weston Jnr had a couple of spins in the Curraghs and hit the same rock as Gould. Euan Thorburn’s Subaru came over a crest in stage 2 to find a small rock lying right on his line and he punctured a front wheel, dropping about 30s. He is lying in 11th o/a just ahead of Craig Breen. Young irishman Craig is the best of the Fiestas and said. “We had an exceptionally good run this morning, everything is really good. I may now have a change of plan and just go for the Fiesta points today up to stage 8, and then speed up after that”. Andrew Leece, with Richard Skinner co driving, is in a Fiesta for the first time and he stopped for 2m at Kris Hall’s accident. No doubt Andrew & Richard will get a “notional” time. Kris Hall has reached service with the windscreen of the car badly broken but otherwise no huge damage and said his accident was down to catching a rock at a square left junction in Staarvey. Rory Byrne also lost some time behind Hall’s accident. In the battle of the Citroen Racing Trophy contenders early times show Mark Gamble fastest from Andrew Hockridge. Jason Pritchard 3rd and expected front runner Marty McCormack 4th. Marty had 2 spins in stage 2 and was trying different brake pads, which are not working out.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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