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which was
frustrating so early on in the event but there is still a long way
to go yet, the guys will get it sorted for tomorrow”
Saturday morning
dawned drier on the stages and brighter in the TEG Sport camp. The
exhaust problem was fixed and the pair were hopeful of moving into
the top ten.
The push almost
came to naught early though, with a big moment about a mile into the
first run of the day, Shanks, providing a Saturday morning wake up
call.
“We came up to a
quick left hander over a crest and as we carried the speed over the
car went light” explained Rob. “The momentum carried us towards the
ditch at the edge of the road but Wyn kept his foot in and got us on
track again. Credit to him
because it could
have been a monster roll had he not.”
With the next
stage cancelled after an incident to another crew in the Historic
event, the two had time to consider tactics, and opted to complete
the next set of tests without worrying about others, simply ensuring
they made it through to service, and putting miles under their belt
and time together in the car.
The
approach worked,
as they closed in on the tenth place crew with two stages left
before the final service halt, the gap down to just seven seconds.
On stage 10 of the
14, Arthurs Seat, they pushed again, only to hit tyre problems, as
the fronts wore away quickly. On the following Glen Dhu test it was
the rear’s that went ‘off’, leaving no grip at the rear. Despite the
drama’s they achieved their aim however, moving into the top ten...
…and they improved
that to ninth over the last three stages despite taking a steady
approach after feeling something loose and the Subaru developing a
worrying noise at the back.
It was very much
objective achieved for the pair, a solid run after a long time out
of the car and the partnership falling into place. Wyn was quick to
pay tribute to the team at the Carlisle finish on Saturday evening.
“It’s been a tough
event for the car and the team have done an excellent job keeping it
going on such a rough rally” commented Wyn. “I am happy to get
points on the board and of course the vital time in the car with Rob
enabling us to start gelling in the car. We will go away now and
look to improve the car for the next round.”
With team-mates
Patrik Flodin and Goran Bergsten finishing in fifth place, it was
also a strong start in the Teams Championship for the squad.
The next round of
the Tesco 99 Ocatane British Rally Championship is the Jim Clark
Memorial Rally over Bank Holiday weekend, 24th & 25th
May.
For 2008 Wyn is also supported by Compomotive Wheels, Radio Cymru,
Penrhos Garage and SCHROTH
Racing. Rob is supported by the Isle of Man Sports Aid Foundation (www.sportsaid.im),
C Tarleton Hodgson, Manx Telecom,
Robert Graham & Co
Quantity Surveyors,
www.Mexperience.com,
the Isle of Man Institute of Sport and Nicky Grist Motorsport (www.nickygrist.com).
Media
23/04/2008
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