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| Pirelli International Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.8 - After S8 - Saturday @ 14:52:35 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.8 Carlisle Service/Saturday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 PUNDERSHAW
1st (1) Keith Cronin/Barry McNulty (Impreza N) 1.05.26.2
2nd (2) Gwyndaf Evans/Chris Patterson (Lancer N) 1.05.44.8
3rd (3) Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts (Fiesta S2000) 1.05.51.3
4th (5) Dave Weston Jnr/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza N) 1.07.06.0
5th (8) Jonny Greer/Dai Roberts (Lancer N) 1.07.23.6
6th (10) Daniel Sigurdarson/Asta Siguroardottir (Lancer N) 1.08.00.5
7th (24) Owen Murphy/James O’Brien (Lancer N) 1.09.47.6
8th (12) Jason Pritchard/Robbie Durant (Impreza N) 1.10.21.2
9th (16) Jarkko Nikara/Jarno Ottman (Twingo) 1.10.39.4
10th (19) Elfyn Evans/Andrew Edwards (Fiesta ST) 1.12.23.5
With 3 stages to go, approximately 25 competitive miles, and just 18s separating 1st and 2nd, Keith Cronin and Gwyndaf Evans, it is still all to play for on this Pirelli International Rally. That is not to mention of course the fact that Craig Breen in his Fiesta S2000 is only 6.5s behind Gwyndaf and the picture gets really interesting. When rally leader Keith Cronin came into service he took a few seconds out to tell us. “I’m having to push really hard. This car doesn’t seem to have the grunt of the Evo. Tyre wear is a problem and we are carrying 2 spares, swapping tyres around between stages”.
Gwyndaf Evans’ co driver Chris Patterson told us. “We’re working along really well. The stages are quite loose and tyre wear is a problem. We’ve asked the boys to check the tracking and maybe make a small change to see if the car will turn in better on the loose surface”. Craig Breen was in the back of his truck when we caught up with him, his father Ray, a former National and Forestry Champion in Ireland, dishing out the pasta. Craig told us. “I’m not pushing hard at all. The twisty stuff is fine but on the very fast sections I’m still not keeping it in. Fortunately the car is really good on tyres”. Dave Weston Jnr in 4th place looked a little troubled when he came into service and he said. “We clipped a rock with a front right wheel, punctured a tyre and stopped to change it between stages. The steering wheel is crooked now and I’m hoping the rack isn’t bent”.
Jonny Greer in 5th place was well pleased with his time over stage 8, Pundershaw, and he is keeping the pressure on Weston in front, just 18s separating the Impreza from the Lancer. Daniel Sigurdarson was sitting quietly with his team mate Gwyndaf Evans when he told us. “I’m pushing like a mad man without any success. I’m running out of talent”. At that Gwyndaf commented. “Don’t put yourself down Daniel, the pace is very hot out there”. The Icelandic driver then continued. “That last stage was one of the fastest of my life, it is very hard to adjust to the grip on the loose surface”. Cork man Owen Murphy still holds 7th but it is not looking great for him at the moment as his co driver James O’Brien told us. “There is a rattle in the top of the engine and just for good measure we turned the anti lag down on the last stages to try and save it”. As the mechanics prodded and poked under the ed rocker cover of the Mitsubishi James said. “The patient is under the stethoscope!”
Welshman Jason Pritchard has recovered well from the first stage puncture on his Subaru and he said. “I’m getting a better feeling now, we are altering the suspension and it seems to make the car more stable although I am still losing time on the fast crests”. Jarkko Nikara still holds 9th and leads cl.R2. He is still in clutch trouble with his Twingo and also lost time with a stage 7 puncture when a wheel clouted a big stone that was lying on line. Elfyn Evans commented about his 10th o/a and class R3 lead. “No dramas, no pushing terribly hard”. Robert Barrable continues to lead the Citroen C2R2s and has over a minute in hand on Luke Pinder in a similar Citroen with Mark Donnelly 3rd. Molly Taylor is in Super Rally and well down the list but is turning in some good times in her C2R2.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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