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| RBS International Manx Rally - Friday 11th & Saturday 12th May 2007 |
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| Monday, 14 May 2007 | |
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STAGE SNIPPETS…. • Former double BRC Champion Jonny Milner did not compete in the rally due to work commitments. He withdrew his entry prior to the event. • Hankook MSA Gravel Championship winners on the RBSI Manx Rally Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield nearly didn’t make it to the event after some shenanigans during their travels on Wednesday. The pair took on a role reversal as Broomfield was driving the car to Liverpool airport, whilst Duckworth navigated; always a mistake and they missed their flight! The navigator blamed the driver for not going fast enough but it was questioned as to whether or not the navigator could find the airport as they were held up in a jam on the M6 after it was closed. They eventually made it though and what a successful weekend they had! • VK 1400 Challenge contender Mark Gamble was spotted trying to hire a car at Ronaldsway airport but with no driving licence, he was, surprisingly, turned away! • Slight indiscretion in the points as we were fumbling around on Saturday night. The current tables are available in full on www.gravelrally.co.uk but for the record should read: 1 Perez: 67, 2 Ling: 50, 3= Dodd, Duckworth, Morrow: 47, 6 Armstrong: 42, 7 Bird: 40, 8 Petch: 36, 9 Reynolds: 33, 10 McCance: 32. • Mitsubishi Evo Challenge winner Neil McCance had all the odds stacked against him in the run-up to his maiden Challenge win. McCance’s regular co-driver had to pull out at the beginning of the week due to bereavement but he managed to secure the services of Ian Windress last minute, it was the first time the pair had sat together but it didn’t end there. McCance had a problem booking boats and flights and only managed half a recce but after getting rid of all the problems before the event, all ran smoothly on it. • Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick, after blowing a turbo on SS8, said they had to drive so slowly that they ended up talking about cake shops and sticky buns… • Duckworth and Broomfield scored three birdies, 2 finches, 1 duck, in altercations during the event. • Jonathon Sparks and Bradley Magnus wrong slotted and ended up 600 yards up a farm track. They thought they should have stopped for tea and buns at the farmhouse after losing so much time. • Mark and David Higgins were caught doing some real work for a change, servicing for their mum and dad (Tony and Christina), last seen arguing over who should drive the chase car! • Alan Cookson and Julian Wilkinson really know how to look after the organisers, bringing a bottle of Plymouth gin and a large bottle of tonic to keep Val and Dilys happy! THEY SAID WHAT….? “It was pish!” some Scottish euphemism for ‘the weather isn’t very good at present’ according to Ian Campbell after the opening stage…. “I thought it was just the fog but then I realised that the windscreen was steamed up as well” Nowt like giving yourself an extra handicap eh Petchy? “It wasn’t too bad. I don’t like the last bit but you just have to dig in, I think it went OK, I’m still laughing so it must be OK!” Neil McCance employs some sort of perverse logic “We’re pleased to be alive and grateful to get through it!” Steve Hendy concurs after SS8. “I’d like to think I can beat Colin McRae.” Never mind the championship, Steve Perez puts the job in perspective… “I don’t know what happened really, I’m 99% certain it wasn’t driver error. It was nobody’s fault, I just don’t know what happened, it was one of those things that just did.” Phil Morrow blames, err, no one, after his exit on SS11. “It’s warm but I’m hot stuff!” Marcus Dodd explains the reason for the temperature inside his car. Yeah, baby… “That went OK but I think I ate too much lunch and I felt a bit sick which wasn’t good.” Perez again, wonder if Birdy picked up the bill for that one… Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge and Cup – by Simon Slade A flawless drive in this weekend's RBS International Manx Rally saw Neil McCance record his first ever victory in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, he and co-driver Ian Windress finishing 25 seconds ahead of second-placed Sebastian Ling and Aled Rees. It was another nail-biting battle in the series for Group N Lancer Evolutions, with Ling leading the Mitsubishi runners for most of the event. But a brief off-road excursion and a determination to score championship points saw the Welshman steady his stance towards the end of the rally, allowing McCance the opportunity to score a maiden win in his fourth season as an Evo Challenge competitor. The event began on Friday evening with five stages held on the closed Isle of Man roads, things made particularly treacherous for the 15 Mitsubishi crews and the event's other 115 competitors by the on-set of rain a couple of hours before the start. Ling acclimatised to the conditions immediately, taking the Evo Challenge lead after the first stage and, following SS2, was an impressive second overall, ahead of many of the more powerful WRC cars. He was followed closely by Julian Reynolds, Connor McCloskey, then McCance and championship leader Phillip Morrow, who had opted for a cautious start. Fog over the hills combined with heavy rain and nightfall meant that the longest stage of the rally, the 21-mile SS3, was a nightmare for many - especially two of the Junior Mitsubishi drivers: David Bogie, who hit a wall and damaged his Evo too much to continue and Errol Clark, who went straight-on at a corner and got stuck in a ditch. As it turned out the stage was also a nightmare for rally organisers, who eventually had to scratch it from the results after problems with time recording in the bad weather. After a further two stages the Evo Challenge leader-board at the overnight halt showed Ling 28 seconds ahead of Morrow, these two pulling away from the rest having embraced the elements. Reynolds, McCloskey and McCance were each over a minute off the Evo Challenge lead, with all Mitsubishi crews reporting dramatic moments in the poor visibility. This included Gordon Cunningham who removed a wheel on a rock just a few miles from the finish of the first leg, giving him little choice but to retire on the spot. With the weather brightening-up for Saturday's ten stages and the roads drying out, is was inevitable that the pace would increase, with crews keen to make up for any time lost the previous evening. One such driver, having been held up by other competitor's accidents, was Nik Elsmore. However, his charge was short-lived when his car slid into a bank at speed, flipped over and skidded down the road on its side halfway through SS6, the debris and spilt oil causing the stage to be stopped while his crumpled Evo was removed. Then, just to make it interesting, both Ling and Morrow went off on stage eight, each losing about a minute in the process. Luckily their cars were not badly damaged, although Ling emerged with a broken rear screen after a spectator had jumped on the back of his car in an attempt to help get it out of a ditch. For Morrow, the damage was restricted to a broken turbo pipe. Their subsequent delays closed-up the front of the Mitsubishi field and, at the first service halt of the day after a loop of four stages, the score sheets showed Ling still ahead, just nine-seconds in front of Morrow, who was now only six-seconds ahead of Reynolds. McCance was a further 26-seconds behind, but delighted to have taken his first ever Evo Challenge fastest stage times on SS6 and SS8. The next loop, this time featuring three stages, was to see more dramas unfold for Mitsubishi competitors. McCloskey was the first to suffer, clipping a kerb on stage ten, the resulting damage disabling his car too much to continue. Daniel Barry spoilt a good run by doing a similar thing on the same stretch of road, but managed to carry-on, albeit with a broken wheel and bent suspension. The dramas continued when the leading positions also changed, Morrow clipping a rock and smashing the front nearside wheel. In order to ensure no other components were damaged beyond repair, the young Ulsterman intuitively stopped at the side of the road and removed the strut, brake disc and caliper. He then slid the car to the end of the stage on three wheels, where his service crew repaired the damage - enough to get the car back to the service halt after SS12, which he drove without brakes! Stage 11 was more unkind to Reynolds, who retired when he lost all drive from the transmission and subsequently coasted to a halt. At about the same time Ling started to become aware of a couple of problems that had been caused by his earlier excursion, a hole in his car's intercooler and a vibration from a front wheel affecting his progress. All this activity meant that McCance was now in the lead by just three seconds, he and Ling, now nearly three minutes ahead of their nearest rival Wayne Sisson, as they left the service halt for the last three-stage loop. Not wanting to throw away the chances of a good points haul, Ling opted for the safe option, whilst McCance, who couldn't put a foot wrong if he tried, continued at his former pace, collecting another batch of fastest Evo Challenge stage times in the process. Pulling out a final margin of 25 seconds, the popular Irishman crossed the line to record his best ever result, which besides his first Evolution Challenge victory, included a win in Group N and an overall finish of 8th. "I was really pleased this morning when I had found out I had posted my first Evo Challenge fastest time, but to take my first win in the series, especially when it's a rally as tough as this, is just fantastic. We had a few problems during the week leading up to the event and, if Ian (Windress) hadn't stepped in at the last minute, I may have had to withdraw with no co-driver, but everything went perfectly during the rally. Now cancel the ferry - there's a few drinks to be had tonight!" Ling came home in second, albeit a little disappointed not to have won having been the top Evo driver for most of the event, but was pleased to have collected ten points. Sisson finished third and, in doing so, posted his best Evo Challenge result so far - not bad as he does not consider tarmac to be his strongest subject. Having overcome a few problems, Stephen Petch ended his rally in fourth place, picking up the PIAA Junior Award in the process, whilst Daniel Barry was second in the under 25 year-old category and relieved to get to the finish in fifth. Although dropping around 20 minutes to the leaders during the day, Morrow returned to Douglas in sixth place and in doing so retained his Championship lead - now just two points ahead of Ling. Jon Sparks delivered another solid performance by finishing seventh, with Wayne Radford pleased with his eighth place, especially as his efforts also rewarded him with his first win in the Evo Cup - his main rival and early leader in the series for nearer-to-standard Mitsubishis, Miles Johnston, retiring on SS12 with gearbox difficulties. It's now back to Gravel for the Evolution Challenge crews, when they head to mid-Wales for the Severn Valley Stages, round four of the championship, which takes place on 2nd June. The Evolution Challenge offers drivers what is widely regarded as the best prize in British rallying - the chance to become a Mitsubishi works driver in the 2008 British Rally Championship. Also included in this year's Mitsubishi championship are the Pirelli and Performance Friction Brakes Cups. The series is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK Ralliart, with support from its associate sponsors: Pirelli, PIAA, Speedline Corse, Sparco, Performance Friction Brakes, Shell Helix and Tesco 99 Octane - suppliers of the controlled fuel for the championship. Results Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Round Three 1 Neil McCance (Coomber)/Ian Windress (Northallerton) - 1:33:44.7 2 Sebastian Ling (Llandysul)/Aled Rees (Crymych) - 1:34:09.5 3 Wayne Sisson (Carnforth)/Daniel Stone (Chesterfield) - 1:38:08.0 4 Stephen Petch (Richmond)/Michael Wilkinson (Tow Law) - 1:41:30.1 5 Daniel Barry (Enniskerry)/Mark Bowens (Cork) - 1:43:13.1 6 Phillip Morrow (Lisburn)/Daniel Barritt (Burnley) - 1:45:03.1 7 Jonathan Sparks (Glastonbury)/Bradley Magnus (Downham Market) - 1:47:24.3 8 Wayne Radford (Dinnington)/Paul Drew (Stroud) - 1:49:34.9 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup 1 Wayne Radford (Dinnington)/Paul Drew (Stroud) - 1:49:34.9 Retirements SS3 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Rob Fagg (Isle of Man) - Accident SS3 Errol Clark (Irvinestown)/Martin McGarrity - Accident SS5 Gordon Cunningham (Galston)/Stuart McManus Accident SS6 Nik Elsmore (Coleford)/Vicky Allen (Denbigh) - Accident SS10 Connor McCloskey (Kilirea)/Robbie Durant (Bicester) - Accident SS11 Julian Reynolds (Narberth)/Patrick Walsh (Aberystwyth) - Transmisson SS12 Miles Johnstone (York)/Ian Bevan (Wrexham) - Transmission Championship positions after Round Three Drivers 1 Phillip Morrow 29 2 Seb Ling 27 3 Stephen Petch 19 4 Julian Reynolds 16 5 Neil McCance 15 6 Wayne Sisson 13 7 Jonny Milner 10 8 Nik Elsmore 9 9 David Bogie 9 10 Daniel Barry 8 Co-drivers 1 Aled Rees 27 2 Simon Morrow 24 3 Ian Windress 22 4 Patrick Walsh 16 5 Michael Wilkinson 16 6 Daniel Stone 13 7 Vicky Allen 9 8 Robert Fagg 9 9 Mark Bowens 8 10 Damien Connelly 6 Evolution Cup Drivers 1 Miles Johnston 24 2 Wayne Radford 22 3 Ferran Font 10 4 Mark I'Anson 8 Subaru Group N Trophy – by Val Thompson & Neil Dodd The picturesque town of Port Erin on the southernmost tip of the Isle of Man was to be the scenic opening stage for this years RBS international Manx Rally. However the Irish Sea had other ideas and threw the worst of its weather onto the assembled competitors at the start line. Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick set the early pace as has become the norm these days, having won the first two rounds, but on SS8 they suffered a turbo failure and so had to also complete SS9 before reaching service and a new turbo. At service later in the day Jock also reported an oil light on his dashboard and thought "we may well be in trouble here!" Alister Thorburn and Paul Mcguire, at afternoon service, reported no problems and that they were just regaining confidence after their Border Counties mishap. They were looking forward to a better run over the last few stages. Still, at this point they were leading the Group N Trophy with Armstrong second. The Tarmac backed Impreza of Roger Chilman and Andrew Sankey from Cross Keys, fell foul of the wet conditions on stage three and lost three minutes with a spin. They spent the rest of the rally chasing the leaders and setting some very respectable stage times. Alan Cookson and Julian Wilkinson, on their first trip to the island, tried their very best to endear themselves to the championship organisers by providing some very nice liquid refreshment supplied by Alan's SparDevon.com supermarket chain. The ever jovial crew were another to be caught out on the slippery SS3 ending up in a field but were able to quickly extricate themselves and carry on. The fuel pump quit on SS4 but they managed to carry on to service. Despite these happenings they still said that they were "going like stink" and really enjoying the stages. Last year’s winner, Rob Smith and Alun Cook come over in their N10 Impreza to sample this years pace but found it altogether too hot when their turbo caught fire. The car was stopped and the fire extinguished but there rally was, sadly, over. But over the last loop of three stages, Jock and Kirsty pulled a remarkable string of times out of the bag to record their 3rd successive Subaru Group N Trophy win in a row. HPM Motorsport 2WD and VK1400 Challenge Round Up Rod Bennett and co driver Henry Richardson continue to lead the HPM Motorsport 2WD Challenge despite having to give second best to Mark Gamble and Stephen Link in their Citroen C2 at the weekend. Gamble, for his part, took maximum points in the VK1400 Challenge after failing to score on the previous Border Counties Rally. |
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