MullMurmurs – Chapter 3
Leading Cars’ Times after SS2 (of 19)
1 Neil MacKinnon/Daniel Barritt (Subaru Impreza WRC) 20 Minutes 02 Seconds
2 Paul MacKinnon/Andrew Roughhead (Subaru Impreza) 20m 39s
3 John Cope/Robert Fagg (Subaru Impreza WRC) 20m 39s
4 Calum Duffy/Iain Duffy (Ford Escort Mk2) 20m 33s
5 Dougi Hall/Andy Richardson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) 20m 35s
6 Paul Kirtley/Jim Kitson (Subaru Impreza) 20m 54s
7 James MacGillivray/Ian Fraser (Ford Escort Mk2) 21m 10s
8 David Miller/Andrew Bailey (Subaru Impreza) 21m 43s
9 Denis Biggerstaff/Graham Thomson (Subaru Impreza WRC) 21m 43s
10 Tony Bardy/Reg Smith (Hyundai Accent WRC) 22m 04s
(Please Note: These are not ‘Results’ it’s just the leading cars’ times after the first two stages, other cars running later may set faster times, but at least this gives you something to go on!)
Top seed Neil MacKinnon set off from Tobermory earlier this evening at the start of this 38th Tunnock’s Tour of Mull Rally – and struck trouble on the start line of the first stage!
“I stalled it on the start line,” admitted the 11 times winner, “then I forgot to switch on the anti-lag system so I did the whole Lochs stage with no anti-lag!” Things were better on SS2 for MacKinnonn in the unfamiliar car, “It was OK, but it was slippy in places.”
Dougi Hall had the wrong tyres for SS1 but changed before going into SS2, “there were lots of damp patches down Tuath,” he said.
Calum Duffy was struggling too, “I’ve got the hardest Dunlops I culd get on the rear,” said Calum, “and they still went off in the first one, but now I’ve got an ignition problem, the alternator is not charging.”
Paul Kirtley was on the wrong tyres and having to back off because he was in danger of making contact with the scenery while James MacGillivray was another concerned about the right tyre choice but please with his new engine.
Tony Bardy was relieved just to get the notoriously difficult Hyundai off the start line but John Cope puncture a front wheel in SS2. Paul MacKinnon is on a charge, catching Bardy before the stage finish and Eddie O’Donnell’s engine cut out and stopped dead for 3 or 4 minutes in SS2 although it’s going again.
That’s yer lot for now,.
Yer auld pal, Jaggy Bunnet, Salen Hotel 9.30 pm, Friday
Full Stage Time Listing for Printing