Post by Mitch on May 20, 2006 7:41:13 GMT
Well the second round of the ARC started in great fashion. 2 superspecials in the small town of Busselton (Western Australia).
SS1 & 2:
Both were won by tarmac expert Neal Bates in his Corolla (now sponsored by TRD). Simon Evans was next, only 1.0 secs behind his team mate.
Privateer Kevin Shaw was sitting in third in his Group A Evo 6. 2005 championship runner up Dean Herridge fourth (now in a privateer Subaru run by father and past champ Rob Herridge) and Scott Pedder with our very own Glen Weston in 4.9 secs off in the factory Evo 9. Chinese champion Xu Lang was in eighth with 2005 champion navigator Dale Moscatt. Michael Guest's Ford Focus with Mark Stacey back to fill the navigator seat which he will give back to stand in David Green in another few rounds.
Quite a few big names are missing this round including 2005 Privateer top 3 Brad Goldsbrough (Subaru), Steve Glenney (Subaru) and Jack Monkhouse who had to withdraw due to lack of sponsorship money.
SS3: Brumby 1:
Evans sped through, taking the fastest time, 5 seconds on Pedder and Westo in the Evo 9 and they took the early rally lead. Bates fell back to second overall, 6.2 secs behind on stage. Herridge had a subdued performance in fourth place 10.3 secs behind with Darren Windus in a 2006 spec Subaru was fifth and first privateer. Xu Lang was seventh, 23 secs off the pace and Guest lost nearly minute on the ball bearing surface (much like Rally Australia).
SS4: Ferndale
The longest stage of the rally at just over 22kms. Pedder and Weston OUT! in the Evo 9 after a reported "off-road" when they locked up and speared off. Guest broke the exhaust on his Focus “It was so loud I literally couldn’t hear Stace (Mark Stacey) calling the pace notes! At one stage I thought he said flat crest but it was a hairpin and we had to throw the car in sideways to wash off enough speed, it was a scary moment,” exclaimed Guest. Evans opened his lead to 21 secs over teammate Bates, Herridge third but he collected a big branch which went into his engine bay. Amazingly, no damage was done to the engine. Privateer Roman Watkins was fourth in his Subaru, amazing since he was in a new car and his co driver was in his fourth even navigating!
SS5: Ellis
One of the classical stages in the event. Evans once again quickest, now with a advantage of 29 secs over team mate Bates who was fourth on stage. Second on stage was Herridge, now in third after Pedder's misfortune and Windus was third on stage and challenging Shaw for the privateer lead. Guest was still soldiering away in his Focus. Eleventh on stage and eleventh outright. Solid results on a loose surface for a rear wheel drive car.
SS6: Ferndale
Another classic but it was a disaster for leading privateer Kevin Shaw when he crahsed his Evo 6. Co driver John Allen was transported to Busselton for medical attention but the main damage was to the car. A spark engulfed the car in flames. Only Herridge, Bates and Evans could complete the stage without being hindered by the engulfed Evo 6. all other drivers were given a nominal stage time.
FIRST SERVICE BREAK
1. EVANS/EVANS - Toyota 06
2. BATES/TAYLOR - Toyota 06
3. HERRIDGE/HAYES - Subaru 05
4. WINDUS/MORTIMER - Subaru 06
5. WATKINS/MATTHEWS - Subaru 04
5. LANG/MOSCATT - Mitsubishi 9
7. REID/MCLOUGHLIN - Toyota 05
8. ANDERSON/LITHGO - Subaru 05
9. KIPLING/SANDERS - Mitsubishi 5
10.GUEST/STACEY - Ford 06
RETIREMENTS
PEDDER/WESTON - Mitsubishi Evo 9 - Offroad
SHAW/ALLEN - Mitsubishi Evo 6 - Offroad
ANDERSON/TIERNEY - Subaru 05 - Rolled
RAYMOND/RAYMOND - Subaru - Offroad
SS1 & 2:
Both were won by tarmac expert Neal Bates in his Corolla (now sponsored by TRD). Simon Evans was next, only 1.0 secs behind his team mate.
Privateer Kevin Shaw was sitting in third in his Group A Evo 6. 2005 championship runner up Dean Herridge fourth (now in a privateer Subaru run by father and past champ Rob Herridge) and Scott Pedder with our very own Glen Weston in 4.9 secs off in the factory Evo 9. Chinese champion Xu Lang was in eighth with 2005 champion navigator Dale Moscatt. Michael Guest's Ford Focus with Mark Stacey back to fill the navigator seat which he will give back to stand in David Green in another few rounds.
Neal Bates and Coral Taylor - Toyota Corolla
Dean Herridge and Bill Hayes - Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Michael Guest and Mark Stacey - Ford Focus
Simon Evans and Sue Evans- Toyota Corolla
Quite a few big names are missing this round including 2005 Privateer top 3 Brad Goldsbrough (Subaru), Steve Glenney (Subaru) and Jack Monkhouse who had to withdraw due to lack of sponsorship money.
SS3: Brumby 1:
Evans sped through, taking the fastest time, 5 seconds on Pedder and Westo in the Evo 9 and they took the early rally lead. Bates fell back to second overall, 6.2 secs behind on stage. Herridge had a subdued performance in fourth place 10.3 secs behind with Darren Windus in a 2006 spec Subaru was fifth and first privateer. Xu Lang was seventh, 23 secs off the pace and Guest lost nearly minute on the ball bearing surface (much like Rally Australia).
SS4: Ferndale
The longest stage of the rally at just over 22kms. Pedder and Weston OUT! in the Evo 9 after a reported "off-road" when they locked up and speared off. Guest broke the exhaust on his Focus “It was so loud I literally couldn’t hear Stace (Mark Stacey) calling the pace notes! At one stage I thought he said flat crest but it was a hairpin and we had to throw the car in sideways to wash off enough speed, it was a scary moment,” exclaimed Guest. Evans opened his lead to 21 secs over teammate Bates, Herridge third but he collected a big branch which went into his engine bay. Amazingly, no damage was done to the engine. Privateer Roman Watkins was fourth in his Subaru, amazing since he was in a new car and his co driver was in his fourth even navigating!
SS5: Ellis
One of the classical stages in the event. Evans once again quickest, now with a advantage of 29 secs over team mate Bates who was fourth on stage. Second on stage was Herridge, now in third after Pedder's misfortune and Windus was third on stage and challenging Shaw for the privateer lead. Guest was still soldiering away in his Focus. Eleventh on stage and eleventh outright. Solid results on a loose surface for a rear wheel drive car.
SS6: Ferndale
Another classic but it was a disaster for leading privateer Kevin Shaw when he crahsed his Evo 6. Co driver John Allen was transported to Busselton for medical attention but the main damage was to the car. A spark engulfed the car in flames. Only Herridge, Bates and Evans could complete the stage without being hindered by the engulfed Evo 6. all other drivers were given a nominal stage time.
FIRST SERVICE BREAK
1. EVANS/EVANS - Toyota 06
2. BATES/TAYLOR - Toyota 06
3. HERRIDGE/HAYES - Subaru 05
4. WINDUS/MORTIMER - Subaru 06
5. WATKINS/MATTHEWS - Subaru 04
5. LANG/MOSCATT - Mitsubishi 9
7. REID/MCLOUGHLIN - Toyota 05
8. ANDERSON/LITHGO - Subaru 05
9. KIPLING/SANDERS - Mitsubishi 5
10.GUEST/STACEY - Ford 06
RETIREMENTS
PEDDER/WESTON - Mitsubishi Evo 9 - Offroad
SHAW/ALLEN - Mitsubishi Evo 6 - Offroad
ANDERSON/TIERNEY - Subaru 05 - Rolled
RAYMOND/RAYMOND - Subaru - Offroad