|
|
| |
| Bulldog International Rally of North Wales |
| RALLY NEWS No.7 - After Stage 8 - Saturday @ 19:08:02 |
| |
|
RALLY NEWS NO.7 Service/Welshpool/Saturday 19.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 – FINAL STAGE
1st (1) Keith Cronin/Barry McNulty (Impreza N) 1.40.03.0
2nd (6) Dave Weston Jnr/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza N) 1.42.04.7
3rd (37) Adam Gould/Craig Drew (Impreza N) 1.42.31.6
4th (8) Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton (Impreza N) 1.42.47.1
5th (3) Jonny Greer/Dai Roberts (Lancer N) 1.43.04.5
6th (4) David Bogie/Kevin Rae (Lancer N) 1.44.16.7
7th (9) Darren Gass/Neil Shanks (Impreza N) 1.44.59.5
8th (10) Jason Pritchard/Robbie Durant (Impreza N) 1.45.28.8
9th (38) Daniel Sigurdarson/A.Sigurdardottir (Lancer N) 1.46.00.4
10th (18) Elfyn Evans/Andrew Edwards (Fiesta) 1.50.30.5
West Cork man Keith Cronin, this season with Barry McNulty co-driving, gave a very strong endorsement on this Bulldog Rally today as to why he is the British Rally Champion. Driving his Pirelli backed Subaru through the Welsh forests today his winning margin was over 2m on Dave Weston Jnr. Alastair Fisher did turn in a couple of fastest times but then his Lancer was sidelined when a stone went through the rear diff and all the oil leaked out. On those 2 stages where Fisher was fastest Cronin stated that he was trying to conserve his car. It was a brilliant start for Keith in his championship defence. It was further evidence as to just what a special talent Keith Cronin is. Dave Weston Jnr/Ieuan Thomas also had a great run today in their Subaru to claim 2nd place. For Adam Gould/Craig Drew today’s rally was on the tightest of tight budges so to get a podium place was very special.
When Keith Cronin emerged from his Subaru here at the finish he commented. “That was one of the toughest rallies I have ever won. It is much easier when you are fighting rather than try and pick a pace when you hear every little noise in the car. I felt I backed off too much in stages 3 and 4, so then I pushed hard towards the end. On the first 2 stages the car handled brilliant, but I put an extra spare wheel in for stages 3 and 4 and it changed the handling a small bit. But the car was very good”. Co-driver Barry McNulty had a genuine ear to ear grin on his face and when it was remarked “No wonder you are smiling” he replied. “I don’t know when I’ll ever stop”.
Elfyn Evans/Andrew Edwards had a great run in their Fiesta to get into the top 10. Mark Donnelly/Paddy Robinson finished best of the Citroen C2R2 Max contenders and won class R2. Robert Barrable was 2nd in the Citroen Racing Trophy category. Australian Molly Taylor turned in some competitive times this afternoon in the Marty McCormack Citroen C2R2 Max on her first run through the Welsh forests. Jarkko Nikara was 2nd in Cl.R2 sandwiched between the Citroens of Donnelly & Barrable.
A late retirement was Finnish driver Matti Rantanen whose Twingo succumbed to mechanical problems a couple of stages from the end. Two further retirements were Andrew Hockridge and Richard Sykes.
Finally for now, very well done to all the hard working team for a splendid job in organising such a complex and successful rally so well. Many thanks to all who helped and supported the Rally News service.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
|
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
|
