RALLY: Network Q Rally of GB: McRae Retires at End of Leg 2
25 November 1998
COLIN MCRAE RETIRES....After battling with Richard Burns all day, Colin McRae has retired from the Network Q Rally of GB while leading.
C.McRae won SS19, but then retired from the rally during service due to an engine problem. He had reported a loss of power during the stage.
Richard Burns now comfortably leads the rally from Alister McRae. Sainz is in 4th.
Unofficial results and of Leg 2: 1 Burns/Reid Mit Carisma 2:13:41,2 2 A.McRae/Senior Subaru 2:14:56,9 3 Kankkunen/Repo Escort 2:15:27,3 4 Sainz/Moya Corolla 2:15:42,9 5 Thiry/Prevot Escort 2:16:42,3 6 De Mevius/Marc Fortin Subaru 2:18:07,9 7 Lindholm/Aho Escort 2:18:19,8 8 Schwarz/Hiemer Escort 2:19:49,5 9 Holowczyc/Wislawski Subaru 2:20:04,7 10 Rovanper/Pietilinen Seat WRC 2:20:28,3 Formula 2: 1 Laukkanen/Lindstrm Renault Meg. 2:26:07,8 2 Gardemeister/Lukander Seat Ibiza 2:26:20,5 3 Kytolehto/Kapanen Vauxhall 2:26:23,9 Group N: 1 Stohl/Mller Mit Lancer 2:25:21,6 2 Higgins/Wood Subaru 2:25:54,8 3 Al-Wahaibi/Harryman Mit Lancer 2:27:40,7
Headlines:
- Sainz drops to 4th postion, but is still 1 minute in front of 5th place Bruno Thiry. If he maintains this postion, Sainz will become the new world champion.
- there is a superb battle in Formula 2. At the end of the 2nd leg, only 15 seconds seperate the top three competitors who represent three different car manufacturers but only one nationality: Finland.
- In Group N, Manfred Stohl maintained his lead, but local David Higgins has moved up into 2nd.
- Didier Auriol exited the rally after SS20 with clutch failure
- SS19 was delayed for almost 1/2 hour due to spectator problems
- Gwyndaf Evans (Seat WRC) retired after SS17 when the gearbox became stuck in first gear
- Kenneth Eriksson in the Hyundai Coupe went off in SS16 and retired
- Martin Rowe (Renault Megane) retired today with suspension failure
- Ari Vatanen crashed out on the first stage this morning
Weather:
High: 7 deg C
Low : 3 deg C
There was overnight rain, now drying, light fog, heavy in some places in valleys
Mostly cloudy
LEG 2 - Cheltenham-Cheltenham (732.08 km) Monday 23, November
05.00 Start from from Cheltenham
SS14 Radnor 23.85 km (14.67 miles)
SS15 Myherin 1 16.86 km (10.37 miles)
SS16 Tywi 19.87 km (12.23 miles)
SS17 Esgair Dafydd 8.70 km (5.35 miles)
SS18 Crychan 21.98 km (13.53 miles)
SS19 Cefn 9.16 km (5.63 miles)
SS20 Sweet Lamb 25.70 km (15.72 miles)
SS21 Myherin 2 16.86 km (10.37 miles)
21.48 Arrival in Cheltenham
Stage Winners:
SS14 - Burns, SS15 - Burns, SS16 - Burns, SS17 - C.McRae,
SS18 - C.McRae, SS19 - C.McRae, SS20 - Burns, SS21 - Burns
SS 14 Radnor 23.85 km (14.67 miles)
Notes:
- Vatanen: had a spin, went off road; retired.
Stage Pos/ Driver/ Car/ Stage Time:
1 Burns/Reid Carisma 11.58,7
2 C.McRae/Grist Subaru 11.59,6
3 Auriol/Giraudet Corolla 12.12,6
4 A.McRae/Senior Subaru 12.17,1
5 Kankkunen/Repo Escort 12.20,6
SS 15 Myherin 1 16.86 km (10.37 miles)
Notes:
- Lundgaard: stopped in stage; retired.
- Holowczyc: hit a rock and arrived at the stage end with
damaged front suspension.
Stage Pos/ Driver/ Car/ Stage Time:
1 Burns/Reid Carisma 9.51,5
2 C.McRae/Grist Subaru 9.51,8
3 Auriol/Giraudet Corolla 9.54,7
4 Sainz/Moya Corolla 9.59,8
5 A.McRae/Senior Subaru 10.02,9
SS 16 Tywi 19.87 km (12.23 miles)
Notes:
- C. McRae: spun twice in this stage.
- Eriksson: retired; mechanical problem.
Stage Pos/ Driver/ Car/ Stage Time:
1 Burns/Reid Carisma 12.18,1
2 Auriol/Giraudet Corolla 12.19,8
3 Sainz/Moya Corolla 12.24,6
4 A.McRae/Senior Subaru 12.25,7
5 C.McRae/Grist Subaru 12.36,7
SS 17 Esgair Dafydd 8.70 km (5.35 miles)
Notes:
- C. McRae: had a puncture.
- Auriol: went off, lost small amount of time.
- A. McRae: loose turbo pipe led to loss of engine power.
Stage Pos/ Driver/ Car/ Stage Time:
1 C.McRae/Grist Subaru 5.24,0
2 Sainz/Moya Corolla 5.29,4
3 Burns/Reid Carisma 5.31,3
4 Kankkunen/Repo Escort 5.35,9
5 Thiry/Prevot Escort 5.39,9
SS 18 Crychan 21.98 km (13.53 miles)
Notes:
- Evans (Seat): stuck in first gear, transmission damaged; retired.
Stage Pos/ Driver/ Car/ Stage Time:
1 C.McRae/Grist Subaru 13.04,5
2 Burns/Reid Carisma 13.10,9
3 Sainz/Moya Corolla 13.17,2
4 A.McRae/Senior Subaru 13.19,7
5 Auriol/Giraudet Corolla 13.21,5
SS 19 Cefn 9.16 km (5.63 miles)
Notes:
- Stage 19 stopped after six cars because of too many spectators.
Resumed after 27 minute gap.
- C. McRae: finished stage reporting loss of engine power,
now waiting to go into service for engine check; retired after stage.
Stage Pos/ Driver/ Car/ Stage Time:
1 C.McRae/Grist Subaru 5.37,7
2 Burns/Reid Carisma 5.41,2
3 Sainz/Moya Corolla 5.43,9
4 A.McRae/Senior Subaru 5.46,1
5 Kankkunen/Repo Escort 5.46,6
SS 20 Sweet Lamb 25.70 km (15.72 miles)
Notes:
- Sainz: slid off at a junction, no damage.
- Auriol: badly slipping clutch.
Stage Pos/ Driver/ Car/ Stage Time:
1 Burns/Reid Carisma 16.35,4
2 A.McRae/Senior Subaru 16.48,9
3 Kankkunen/Repo Escort 16.58,9
4 Thiry/Prevot Escort 17.11,7
5 De Mevius/Marc Fortin Subaru 17.12,1
SS 21 Myherin 2 16.86 km (10.37 miles)
Notes:
Stage Pos/ Driver/ Car/ Stage Time:
1 Burns/Reid Carisma 10.24,7
2 Kankkunen/Repo Escort 10.32,4
3 A.McRae/Senior Subaru 10.35,2
4 De Mevius/Marc Fortin Subaru 10.45,2
5 Thiry/Prevot Escort 10.47,9
LEG 3 - Cheltenham-Cheltenham (589,95 km) Tuesday 24, November
05.00 Start from Cheltenham
SS22 St Gwynno 13.81 km (8.54 miles)
SS23 Tyle 10.65 km (6.59 miles)
SS24 Rhondda 36.28 km (22.56 miles)
SS25 Resolfen 44.58 km (27.34 miles)
SS26 Rheola 24.89 km (15.47 miles)
SS27 Argoed 9.04 km (5.59 miles)
SS28 Margam 27.08 km (16.81 miles)
16.58 Finish of the rally in Cheltenham
