03.11.90TRUCK RACING:- European Truck racing champion Steve Parrish heads for Donington at the weekend needing victories to maintain his bid for the British title. Parrish, in a 6-ton Mercedes Benz 1450, will be battling it out with rival Curt Goransson of Sweden in a Volvo F16 who pipped him at the post last year to take the Donington title.
Germany's Gerd Korber, in a Phoenix MAN and Thomas Hegmann in a Mercedes will be hard on their heels with Swede Slim Borgudd in the West Coast Racing White looking to add to his winning record at Donington Park.
CHARITY RACE:- Three times world champion, American Kenny Roberts, dons his leathers again for the Save the Children Day of Champions at Brands Hatch on Saturday. He lines-up with Randy Mamola, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Niall McKenzie Ron Haslam and many other great stars of the track for a unique charity event - racing starts at 10.45.
LONDON-BRIGHTON RUN:- Over 400 entrants will start the RAC London-Brighton veteran car run on Sunday from Hyde Park. Only cars built before 1905 are eligible for the 57 mile trip where speeds are limited to an average of 20 mph.
F1:- AUSTRALIAN GP - Final practice times: mins secs 1 A Senna Brz McLaren 1:15.671 2 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:16.244 3 N Mansell GB Ferrari 1:16.352 4 A Prost Fr Ferrari 1:16.365 5 J Alesi Fr Tyrrell 1:16.837 6 R Patrese It Williams 1:17.156 7 N Piquet Brz Benetton 1:17.173 8 R Moreno Brz Benetton 1:17.437 9 T Boutsen Bel Williams 1:17.596 10 P Martini It Minardi 1:17.827 11 D Warwick GB Lotus-Lamb 1:18.351 12 N Larini It Ligier 1:18.730 13 S Nakajima Jpn Tyrrell 1:18.738 14 I Capelli It Leyton H 1:18.843 15 A De Cesaris It Dallara 1:18.858 16 M Gugelmin Brz Leyton H 1:18.860 17 S Modena It Brabham 1:18.886 18 J Herbert GB Lotus-Lamb 1:19:185 19 P Alliot Fr Ligier 1:19.202 20 G Morbidelli It Minardi 1:19.347 21 E Pirro It Dallara 1:19.609 22 O Grouillard Fr Osella 1:19.722 23 E Bernard Fr Larrousse 1:19.858 24 A Suzuki Jpn Larrousse 1:19.970 25 D Brabham Aus Brabham 1:20.218 26 G Tarquini It AGS-Ford 1:20.296 DID NOT QUALIFY 27 M Alboreto It Arrows 1:20.545 28 Y Dalmas Fr AGS-Ford 1:20.570 29 A Caffi It Arrows 1:20.609 30 B Gachot Bel Coloni 1:23.135World champion Ayrton Senna clinched pole position for tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide with another display of skill and nerve. The Brazilian clocked 1 min 15.693 sec, an average of 111.709 mph, round the street course, to take the 52nd pole of his Formula One career. Austrian Gerhard Berger was second quickest, ahead of Britain's Nigel Mansell, with arch-rival Alain Prost fourth fastest. Derek Warwick was 11th and Johnny Herbert in 18th place.
Results:- 1) Nelson Piquet Benetton 2) Nigel Mansell Ferrari 3) Alain Prost FerrariHowever, both Senna and Berger spun out and crashed, as did David Brabham and several others.
IVORY COAST RALLY
France's Patrick Tauziac, driving a Mitsubishi Galant, won his first world championship rally. Austrian Rudi Stohl, who moved into second in his Audi 90 Quattro after Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka dropped out on Wednesday, maintained his position to finish just over an hour behind. Last year's winner Alain Oreille was third in a Renault 5 GT Turbo. The final 985-km stage claimed no more victims after 18 of the 32 starters had dropped out during the first two legs.
Final standings after three legs: hrs mins 1 P Tauziac Fr Mitsubishi 4:54 2 R Stohl Aut Audi Quattro 5:56 3 A Oreille Fr Renault 5 6:52 4 A Ambrosino Fr Nissan March 8:09 5 P Servant Fr Toyota Cor 8:25 6 M Moline Fr Toyota Cor 9:35 7 J-P Bernier Fr Toyota Cor 10:35 8 V Evina Cam Totota Cor 11:27 9 P Dionneau Fr Toyota Cel 11:53 10 A Choteau IvC Toyota Cor 12:42RENAULT CAMBRIAN RALLY:- The Renault Cambrian rally brings to a close the BTRDA Gold Star Rally championship on Saturday with the title already sewn up by Andy Sharam. Sharam has lent his Metro 6R4 to Dave Cox for the rally as a gesture of thanks to Cox for maintaining it for him throughout the season. The 110 crews will leave Llandudno at 10 am to tackle the gruelling 200-mile route which contains over 65 miles of prime forestry stages.
15.11.90 - JAGUARJaguarSport have announced an exclusive one-make racing series - for owners of the new œ500,000 Jaguar XJR-15. The three-race series, with a prize fund of $1 million, will support the Monaco Grand Prix in May, the British GP at Silverstone and the Belgian GP. Up to 30 privately-owned cars will take part in the series. The owner of the first car in each of the first two races will win a œ46,000 XJR-S road car. JaguarSport boss Tom Walkinshaw said it would be a chance for fans "to cheer on their heroes past, present and future".
F1:- Belgian Formula 3000 driver Eric Van de Poele will make his Formula One debut next season. The 29-year-old will join Italian Nicola Larini, 26, in the new Modena-Lamborghini team. Van de Poele has signed a one-year contract with an option for the 1992 season. Larini, who was with the Ligier team last season, started his F1 career with Coloni Ford and has ridden in 34 GPs.
16.11.90F.FIRST:- A record six lady drivers will contest round three of the Evening Standard Formula First Championship at Brands Hatch on Sunday.
RALLY:- Louise Aitken-Walker's supporters are demanding an explanation from GM Euro Sport after their decision to pull the plug on the Scottish rally star. Next week's Lombard RAC Rally looks certain to be her last for GM after their shock decision to withdraw from world rallying after three seasons. The Swiss-based European branch of the American giant has given no reason for axing the team. GM Euro Sport's British spokesman Steve Fellows said: "I have written to Switzerland for an official explanation."
22.11.90INDYCAR:- American racing legend AJ Foyt will quit at the end of the 1991 season. The man who has won more Indy car races than any other said that next year's Indianapolis 500 will be his last. Foyt added he would "finish the season and then call it quits". Foyt, who is 54, has been recovering since breaking both his legs in a crash in September at Elkhart Lake circuit. "There comes a time in everybody's life that it's (time to get it) over with," said Foyt, Indy 500 winner four times.
F1:- The Brabham Formula 1 team is in "no hurry" to make a decision on the driver to partner Martin Brundle next year, said managing director Herbie Blash. Talented Brazilian Roberto Moreno and Larrousse driver Aguri Suzuki are said to be in the running for the top drive next year. The team are due to run a car with the new V12 Yamaha engine, for the first time, in December. The test is the start of Yamaha's œ200 million return to Formula One.
MARKKU ALEN ON THE LOMBARD RAC RALLY
Markku Alen, among the best of the 'Flying Finns', has been competing on the world rally circuit for 17 years. He has twice been runner-up for the world crown and is a former winner of the Lombard RAC Rally, taking the honours for Lancia in 1988. After 16 years with the works Lancia team, Alen switched to Subaru at the start of this season and has been helping develop the Legacy RS. Just back from a three-mile training run, on foot this time, he talked to sports editor Annie Briggs about this year's Lombard RAC Rally...
Every day leading up to the Lombard RAC Rally, I must run about three miles. Keeping fit? No, I just find staying in a hotel so boring! Fitness is very important in rallying and this rally can be very difficult, very demanding. I missed it last year and this year I want to go very well.
You never know what conditions you will find - snow, rain, fog, yes even sunshine. It can be different each day and this rally can have it all. Perhaps the mild weather will continue, but no one can be sure. I had a really great time with Lancia and have a lot of happy memories of my years with the team, but now I am a member of the Subaru family. Once you sign a contract, that is it. There is no looking back. It is a young car but in time it will grow into a top rally car. The season has not been bad although we have had some technical problems on the way. I retired while leading the Safari Rally on the first time out with the team, and I also led in the Acropolis and finished fourth in the 1,000 Lakes.
We have spent most of the season developing the Subaru Legacy and it is going to be very competitive next year. A lot of work has been done trying to find more power and we hope to have an extra 20hp in the RAC, up to 300hp. The car has always handled well and, if we have more power, it will be even better. We still lose out on power to the Lancias, Toyotas and Mitsubishis but I am hopeful of a top three finish. The team have worked very hard and a good result next week would give the mechanics a perfect Christmas present.
This year we are using pacenotes for the first time in the Lombard RAC Rally so we have been doing a lot of practice - but I have not enjoyed it very much. We have only been allowed to do three or four stages each day - normally we do about six - and, with so many cars, progress has been slow. It is so boring. I am beginning to think it would have been better left as a 'secret' rally, except for the Sunday spectator stages which are so difficult they should be practised and done with pacenotes. I think it is good to have one 'secret' rally in the World Championship.
There are a lot of good drivers in this rally and I expect a strong challenge from the Lancias, Toyotas and Mitsubishis. Pentti Airikkala in his Ford Sierra will be under extra pressure as the defending champion and this could work in his favour. He drives well in Britain and I hope he will go well here. Carlos Sainz, the new world champion, is definitely the driver of 1990. His Toyota is very good and he has lots of talent. He will be hard to beat. I can only hope for lots of snow and slippery stages - that will help the Subaru to a good result.
Derek Warwick, my team-mate in the Lombard RAC Rally, has been learning fast and seems to be enjoying himself. I have spent a lot of time with him and used him as my navigator in the Kielder Forest while we were testing earlier. He was a very good navigator and I hope I have shown him a lot about rallying. He is a very good Formula One driver but it is his first time in rallying and there is lots to learn. F1 drivers are used to mostly sunny conditions. I know Derek wants a good result and I think he could finish top 20 or even top 10 if he takes things steadily.
The Lombard RAC Rally is one of the most famous events in the world. It is a really important rally to win and I love the challenge of it all. There are some major changes this year with the use of pacenotes throughout. It is also just four days, the early starts are not quite so early - still earlier than I would choose (7am is early enough for me) - and once again there are no stages during the night. The important thing is not to slip up on the first day - those Sunday stages are very tricky - and then we will see.
PACENOTES
The Lombard sets a record as the first event in the 17-year history of the World Championship to have attracted six world champions. They are the 1990 champion Carlos Sainz in a Toyota, Juha Kankkunen (1986/87) in a Lancia, Ari Vatanen (1982) in the Mitsubishi, Timo Salonen (1985) in a Mazda, Miki Biasion (1989) in a Lancia and Hannu Mikkola (1983) in a Mazda. Entries were accepted from 180 drivers after FISA, the sport's ruling body, agreed to raise the limit from 160. Competitors this year include a co-driver from Iceland.
Malcolm Wilson, Russell Brookes and Welshman David Llewellin head this year's British challenge in the event. Llewellin, the only front-running Brit last year before he went out, said the pressure had been enormous. "There were times when I could actually feel the crowd willing me on," he said. "Having Malcolm and Russell up there with me will ease the pressure." Worcestershire driver Brookes has taken part in the event 22 times and has two runner-up finishes. He and Cumbrian star Wilson will both compete in a Ford Sierra while Llewellin drives a Toyota.
Lotus number one driver Derek Warwick becomes the first Grand Prix driver to compete in the rally since 1966. Jim Clark and Graham Hill drove that year. Entries in the four-day rally include drivers from Iceland and Uruguay. Twenty-four different makes of car are expected to leave the start at Harrogate on Sunday - another record for a World Rally Championship round. Eleven works teams will be competing, with a total of 28 cars - estimated to be worth more than œ2 million. Peugeot Talbot Sport have entered five cars, in four of the different classes.
First car off the start ramp will be the Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 driven by last year's winner Pentti Airikkala. Ford last won the event in 1979 with Hannu Mikkola. Youngest competitor will be 19-year-old insurance broker Mark Higgins from Onchan, Isle of Man, in a Suzuki Swift. Tallest entrant is 6ft 4ins co-driver Campbell Roy who sits alongside fellow-Scot Robbie Head in a Honda Civic. The 1990 route offers drivers far less time on the road between stages than in previous years. The 41 stages cover 352 miles and there are 1,113 road miles.
Pacenotes will be in use throughout the four-day rally, for the first time. Most of the stages have been tackled 'blind' in previous years, but this time drivers and co-drivers have been able to recce and practise each one. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to attend Sunday's eight special stages, all of which are sponsored by major corporations. Five times British champion Jimmy McRae will be competing in his 15th Lombard RAC Rally along with eldest son Colin - thanks to a late sponsorship deal with Buyrite Products joining Shell Oils.
THE DAYS AND STAGES FRIDAY 1200-1900 Rally show at the Harrogate Exhibitions Halls, city centre **** SATURDAY 0700-1600 Scrutineering and rally show (6pm finish) located as above **** SUNDAY 0800 Rally start, Swan Road, Harrogate 0815 Stage 1 Luk Rudding Park **** Fast bends and a watersplash greet drivers on the opening gravel parkland stage over 1.43 miles. Two miles SE of Harrogate, approach on A661 leaving A1 at Wetherby. 0838 SS2 Finland Harewood Hill **** Starts downhill on a tricky, narrow unsurfaced track followed by smooth tarmac and a hillclimb finish. From A1, approach through Collingham on A659. 1016 SS3 British Steel Scunthorpe **** Some jumps in the 7.63-mile course around the British Steel complex just north of Scunthorpe - follow signs. 1143 SS4 AutoWindscreens Rother Valley **** Mixed loose and tarmac surfaces around two lakes over 2.52 miles. Six miles south of Rotherham, follow signs via A57 and A618. 1238 SS5 Shell Gemini Chatsworth **** A 5.92-mile mixed surface stage through the Duke of Devonshire's estate, which includes a jump, new watersplash and new series of bends. Special facilities this year for families and the disabled. Nine miles west of Chesterfield, reach via A623 from Manchester or A621 from Sheffield. Disabled spectators should use the Edensor entrance. 1406 SS6 Fina U.S. Adventure **** Tarmac and gravel roads for this 1.65- mile stage around the lake in the American Adventure theme park. Enter car parks from A6007, south of Heanor. 1434 SS7 Q8 Wollaton Park **** Mixed surface statee over 1.44 miles through open parkland. Two miles west of Nottingham, car park off A609. Disabled use Cambridge Road entrance. 1549 SS8 Texaco Clumber Park **** Fast stage with difficult corners over 4.41 miles of tarmac roads. Floodlit for later cars. 0915-1345 Historic rally featuring famous cars of 1950/60s. Four miles south of Worksop, approach from A57 or B6034 and follow signs. 1805 Overnight halt, Harrogate *** Finish ramp in Crescent Gardens MONDAY - DAY TWO 0520 Re-start, Harrogate city centre. 0632 SS9 Boltby 1 * No spectator access to 3.88-mile stage. 0720 SS10 Ingleby * No spectator access to 2.57-mile stage. 0752 SS11 Guisborough * Difficult 4.56-mile stage, often wet. 0903 SS12 Langdale 1 * No spectator access to 11.63-mile stage. 0939 SS13 Dalby 1 *** Long fast straights up and downhill on all-gravel 20.5-mile stage. Five miles northeast of Pickering, signed on A169. 1040 SS14 Wykeham 1 *** Difficult uphill opening section plus tarmac-gravel hairpins, fast finish. Six miles west of Scarborough, approach from A170 by Wykeham one-way system. 1130 SS15 Gale Rigg 1 ** Fast start to interesting 7.33-mile stage, hairpins and twisty gravel section finishing at Gale Hill Rigg. Six miles north of Pickering, approach from A170 in Pickering and follow signs. 1202 SS16 Cropton 1 *** Deceptive bends on 8.65-mile forest stage. Approach from A170 at Wrelton. 1303 SS17 Langdale 2 * Repeat of stage 12, no spectator access. 1408 SS18 Dalby 2 *** Repeat of stage 13, good viewing. 1509 SS19 Wykeham 2 *** Repeat of stage 14, good viewing. 1559 SS20 Gale Rigg 2 ** Repeat of stage 15, difficult access. 1621 SS21 Cropton 2 *** Repeat of stage 16, good viewing. 1730 SS22 Boltby 2 * Repeat of stage 9, no spectator access. 1900 Overnight halt, Harrogate *** TUESDAY - DAY THREE 0500 Re-start Harrogate 0710 SS23 Hamsterley *** Several good viewing points on this popular 16.42-mile stage, located nine miles west of Bishop Auckland. Approach car parks through Hamsterley from A68. 0927 SS24 Pundershaw *** The longest Kielder stage, at 20.33 miles. West of Bellingham, use B6230 from Chollerford, turn left at Wark. 1120 SS25 Broomylinn *** A 16.43-mile stage running almost parallel to the C200 through Kielder. 1246 SS26 Craik ** Fast 9.2-mile stage on a good surface. Car park off B711, from A7 near Hawick. 1355 SS27 Cardrona ** First of three stages in the Tweed Valley, finishing with several very fast corners. Four miles SE of Peebles. 1425 SS28 Elibank ** Longest Tweed Valley stage covering 11.28 miles, over Elibank and Traquair Forests. Three miles SE of Innerleithen. 1513 SS29 Yair * Final Tweed Valley stage over 4.66 miles - no spectator access. 1700 SS30 Falstone *** Back to Kielder for two more long stages, starting with 18.98 miles over roads north of Kielder Water unrallied for many years. Eight miles NW of Bellingham, signed on C200 at Falstone. 1744 SS31 Redesdale *** A mix of the former Redesdale and Raw Hill stages, totalling 16.73 miles. Ten miles north of Bellingham, near Byrness and signposted from A68. 2000 Overnight halt, Newcastle **** Cars clock in at the Civic Centre, north of the city centre, with rally HQ at the Holiday Inn Hotel. WEDNESDAY - DAY FOUR 0500 Re-start, Newcastle ** 0608 SS32 Harwood *** Some distance east of Kielder, but similar in nature, covering 12.9 miles from north to south. Spectators can reach only the middle section, approach from A696 at Knowesgate to B6342. 0735 SS33 Ogre Hill ** Final Kielder test, over 7.34 miles, not used for a number of years. Long walk for spectators to the stage, 11 miles NW of Otterburn on the north side of A68, two miles S of Byrness. 0851 SS34 Newcastleton * An 11.47-mile stage on the fringe of Kershope Forest. No spectator access. 0921 SS35 Kershope ** A wide range of conditions over the 15.89-mile stage which includes several long, bumpy straights and difficult corners. Long walk for spectators. Approach from south only, leaving B6318 near Roadhead and follow one-way system. 1109 SS36 Castle O'er ** High on remote Eskdalemuir, this 4.82-mile stage straddles B723 with SS37. Best viewing near finish. Approach on B723 from S Lockerbie or N eskdalemuir. 1126 SS37 Twiglees *** North of the B723 in an anti-clockwise loop, featuring wide range of corners. 1405 SS38 Wythop ** First Lake District stage covers 2.87 miles overlooking the west side of Bassenthwaite Lake. Finish just after the famous - and daunting - hairpin. Parking off A66, north of Swan Hotel. 1420 SS39 Comb *** Narrow and very difficult in rain or icy conditions. Several hairpins at the eastern end of the stage, near the car parks. Approach from A66 through Braithwaite, car park off B5292. 1545 SS40 West Grizedale *** One of the longest - and perhaps the toughest - stage in the rally, over 17.32 miles. The downfall of many top contenders in the past. Located six miles SW of ambleside, approach on A590 from M6 jn 36 and follow signs after Newby Bridge. One-way through Grizedale. 1624 SS41 East Grizedale *** Final stage for 1990 covers 4.72 miles and lies east of the minor road through the forest. Located six miles SW of Ambleside. Approach as for SS40. 2000 Rally finish, Harrogate **** Finish ramp in Crescent Gardens. *-**** Graded stages for ease of viewing. THE ENTRANTS AND THEIR CARS 1 P Airikkala Fin Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 2 C Sainz Sp Toyota Celica 3 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia Delta 4 A Vatanen Fin Mitsubishi 5 M Alen Fin Subaru Legacy 6 T Salonen Fin Mazda 323 7 M Biasion It Lancia Delta 8 M Wilson GB Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 9 K Eriksson Swe Mitsubishi 10 H Mikkola Fin Mazda 323 11 D Auriol Fr Lancia Delta 12 A Fiorio It Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 14 P Eklund Swe Lancia Delta 15 B Saby Fr Lancia Delta 17 R Droogmans Bel Lancia Delta 18 D Warwick GB Subaru Legacy 19 G Trelles Uru Lancia Delta 20 D Llewellin GB Toyota Celica 21 A Schwarz Ger Toyota Celica 22 R Brookes GB Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 23 M Sundstrom Fin Mazda 323 24 M Rayneri It Lancia Delta 25 J McRae GB Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 26 M Jonsson Swe Toyota Celica 27 C McRae GB Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 28 M Duez Bel Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 29 T Makinen Fin Mitsubishi 30 L A-Walker GB Opel Kadett 31 S Nilsson Swe Mitsubishi 32 G Middleton GB Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 33 J Puras Sp Lancia Delta 34 J Haugland Nor Skoda Favorit 35 G Evans GB Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 36 S Ohba Jap Mitsubishi 37 J M Bardolet Sp Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 38 L Gundler Swe Lancia Delta 39 H Eriksson Swe Peugeot 309 GTi 40 D Metcalfe GB Vauxhall Nova 41 A Wood GB tba 42 S Yamauchi Jap Mitsubishi 43 J Weatherley GB Mazda 323 44 C Birkbeck GB Vauxhall Astra 45 P Frankland GB Peugeot 205 GTi 46 P Wambergue Fr Peugeot 305 GTi 48 D Thompson GB Mitsubishi 49 G Jones GB Toyota Celica 50 D Mann GB Toyota Celica 51 O Stromberg Swe Saab 900 turbo 52 J-M Beuzelin Fr Peugeot 309 GTi 53 T Kaby GB Daihatsu Charade 54 P Sibera Cz Skoda Favorit 55 J Easson GB Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 56 J Milner GB Peugeot 205 GTi 57 B Wiggins GB Opel Kadett 58 G Currie GB Lancia Delta 59 J Morton GB Lancia Delta 60 R Head GB Honda Civic 61 S Schlesack Ger Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 62 P Firkin GB Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 63 S Smith GB Lancia Delta 64 G Cox GB Opel Monza 65 K Furber GB Peugeot 205 Rallye 66 E Price GB Mazda 323 67 V Wetton GB VW Golf G60 Rallye 68 C Payne GB VW Golf G60 Rallye 69 C Blake GB Lancia Delta 70 G Recordati It Lancia Delta 71 S Coupe GB Lancia Delta 72 K Sidmore GB Opel Kadett 73 B Bell GB Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 74 T Cree GB Opel Kadett 75 D Holland GB Mercedes 190E 76 S Chapman GB Vauxhall Nova 77 J McCullagh GB Daihatsu Charade 78 J Joannides GB Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 79 J Williams GB Mazda 323 80 M Jones GB Mitsubishi 81 R Burns GB Peugeot 309 GTi 82 N Vigroux Fr Peugeot 205 GTi 83 S Petch GB Toyota Corolla 84 E Iwashita Jap Nissan March 85 J Barnes GB Peugeot 205 GTi 86 A Elliott GB Audi 200 quattro 87 M Dodd GB VW Golf G60 Rallye 88 P Michaelides GB Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 89 P Stephenson GB Toyota Celica 90 R Menzies GB Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 91 A Gadal Fr Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 92 C Barber GB Opel Kadett 93 M Jaques GB Opel Kadett 94 J Saint GB Toyota Corolla 95 R Gillingham GB Opel Kadett 96 R Moore GB Lancia Delta 97 S Green GB Vauxhall Nova 98 C Golding GB Toyota Corolla 99 D Whitehurst GB Toyota Corolla 100 B Green GB Ford Sierra XR 4x4 101 B Lyall GB Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 102 T Clements GB Peugeot 309 GTi 103 G Waite GB Toyota Corolla 104 C Sisson GB Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 105 T Shield GB Toyota Corolla 106 K Kanao Jap Mazda 323 107 S Teather GB Toyota Corolla 108 C Hewlett GB Peugeot 309 GTi 109 K Curran GB Lancia Delta 110 I Calvin GB Opel Kadett 111 G Stewart GB Vauxhall Nova 112 L Jonsson Swe Suzuki Cultus 113 J-F Favodon Fr Peugeot 205 Rallye 114 P Armstrong GB VW Golf GTi 115 V Berger Cz Skoda Favorit 116 B Hartman Hol Lancia Delta 117 E Zangheri It Lancia Delta 118 G Pugliese It Lancia Delta 119 J Orford GB Toyota Corolla 120 G Taft GB Mazda 323 121 N Kelly GB Mazda 323 122 D Williams GB Vauxhall Nova 123 J Murray GB Peugeot 205 GTi 124 D Beaumont GB Mazda 323 125 R Roberts GB Opel Kadett 126 G Hewitt GB Suzuki Swift 127 M Higgins GB Suzuki Swift 128 P Cooper GB Vauxhall Nova 129 T Ryan GB Toyota Corolla 130 M Pearson GB Vauxhall Nova 131 A Nevitt GB Peugeot 205 GTi 132 S Harington GB Peugeot 205 Rallye 133 A Tordoff GB Peugeot 205 GTi 134 K Ridley GB Ford Sierra XR 4x4 135 R Simpson GB Peugeot 205 GTi 136 R Jude GB Peugeot 205 GTi 137 R Gravestock GB Vauxhall Nova 138 E Mallen Fr Peugeot 205 Rallye 139 K Moss GB Vauxhall Nova 140 C Tilly GB Vauxhall Nova 141 G Samuel GB Suzuki Cultus 142 G Presswell GB Vauxhall Astra 143 M Yamada Jap Isuzu Gemini 144 P Anderson GB Suzuki Swift 145 P Butler GB Suzuki Swift 146 S Cowan GB Honda Civic 147 S Wedgebury GB Skoda Favorit 148 S Gaillard Fr Citroen AX Sport 149 A Donald GB Vauxhall Nova 150 W Brown GB Vauxhall Nova 151 J-L Sauzon Fr Peugeot 205 Rallye 152 S Hall GB Vauxhall Nova 153 G Anderson GB Skoda Favorit 154 M Kernahan Fr Seat Ibiza 155 A Siddall GB Opel Corsa 156 G Mullins GB Peugeot 309 GTi 157 R Hall GB VW Golf GTi 158 S Washio Jap Toyota Corolla 159 J-P Labaune Fr Peugeot 205 Rallye 160 P Gobert Fr Suzuki Swift 161 M Wilson GB Toyota Corolla 162 E Crestani It Opel Corsa 163 J Courmontagne Fr Peugeot 205 GTi 164 R Jackson GB Peugeot 205 GTi 165 C Slaymark GB Toyota Corolla 166 R Moore GB Vauxhall Nova 167 T Godwin GB Fiat Uno 168 R Platts GB Skoda Favorit 169 A Butler GB Toyota Corolla 170 M Guest GB Vauxhall Nova 171 L Andrew GB Skoda 130 172 B Smith GB Vauxhall Astra 173 M Brown GB Peugeot 205 GTi 174 C Child GB Vauxhall Nova 175 A Jackson GB Toyota Celica 176 K Murrell GB Vauxhall Nova 177 S Eccleston GB Toyota Corolla 178 J Curran GB Vauxhall Nova 179 J Leach GB Audi Coupe 180 B Griffiths GB MG Metro 181 N Brook GB Mazda 323 182 S Hall GB Peugeot 205 GTi 183 M Olson GB Vauxhall Astra 184 T Thomas GB Lada Riva 185 D Collyer GB Vauxhall Nova 186 P Lee GB Toyota Corolla 187 C Armstrong GB Peugeot 205 GTi 188 R Barry GB Lada Samara 25.11.90MACAU F3:- Flying Finn Mika Hakkinen threw away victory in the Macau Grand Prix when he crashed while needlessly bidding for the lead on the final leg of the race. Having won the opening race he had only to finish second to Michael Schumacher to become overall victor. But he clipped the German trying to overtake at Lisboa Bend and crashed. As the 22 year-old walked away sobbing Schumacher took overall victory. Finn Mika Salo was second in a Camel Ralt.
Eddie Irvine finished third overall in the Macau Grand Prix to underline his billing as one of Britain's leading young racing drivers. The Marlboro Theodore driver finished second and third in the two legs of the season's hardest Formula 3 race. Leading British F3 challenger Steve Robertson was sixth overall in the Bowman Ralt as the fastest lap of the final leg went to Hakkinen. He set a time 2 mins 20.81 secs as he chased Schumacher.
MACAU F3 GRAND PRIX COMBINED RESULT hrs:mins:secs 1 M Schumacher Ger Reynard 1:11:26.52 2 M Salo Fin Ralt 1:11:41.57 3 E Irvine GB Ralt 1:11:49.79 4 L Aiello Fr Ralt 1:11:54.04 5 R Rydell Swe Ralt 1:12:14.76 6 S Robertson GB Ralt 1:12:47.08 7 A Zanardi It Dallara 1:12:53.45 8 M Mattori Jpn Ralt 1:12:54.79 9 M Weda Jpn Ralt 1:14:01.46 10 J Isler Swi Dallara 1:14:08.58 Fastest lap: M Hakkinen Fin Ralt 2 mins 20.81 secsFORMULA FORD :- Irishman Michael Edgar won the Brands Hatch Formula Ford Winter Challenge with victory in the second of the three-race series. Dino Morelli, in a Reynard, was second.
LOMBARD RAC RALLY:- Markku Alen dominated the opening day, holding off the challenge of his fellow Finns as he clocked fastest times on four of the first eight stages. The Subaru star first went ahead on stage 3, lost out to Juha Kankkunen in a Lancia on the next before regaining control with a stylish display at the testing Shell Gemini Chatsworth stage. Alen headed back to the overnight halt at Harrogate with a three-second lead over Kankkunen. Pentti Airikkala in a Ford was third, 24 seconds off the pace. Britain's Malcolm Wilson was fourth in his Ford, a further six seconds back.
Subaru works driver Markku Alen made a successful bid for the first day lead with a brave drive through thick fog on the third stage of the first day. "It was a big risk for me to go so quickly," admitted the Finn. "It was very slippery...but it paid off." Alen, who feared the Legacy would be no match for the power of the Lancias, Toyotas and Mitsubishis, held on for a three-second lead at the end of the day.
Mitsubishi driver Ari Vatanen took the honours on the first stage of the event but a puncture on stage 4 cost him 35 seconds and he finished in 11th place.
LEADERBOARD - END OF DAY ONE Stage 8 of 41: latest positions Driver Car H M S 1 Alen Fin Subaru 29:46 2 Kankkunen Fin Lancia 29:49 3 Airikkala Fin Ford 30:10 4 Wilson GB Ford 30:16 5 Sainz Sp Toyota 30:18 6 Salonen Fin Mazda 30:22 7 Eriksson Swe Mitsubishi 30:25 8 Jonsson Swe Toyota 30:31 9 Brookes GB Ford 30:44 10 Mikkola Fin Mazda 30:46 11 Vatanen Fin Mitsubishi 30:47 12 Auriol Fr Lancia 30:52Scotsman Jimmy McRae became the first major casualty when he rolled his Ford Sierra Cosworth on to its roof on only the third stage of the first day. McRae, who twice finished third on the Lombard, went out after a similar mishap in his Toyota on stage 2 in 1988. The crew climbed from the upturned vehicle unhurt and made their way on foot to the end of the British Steel sponsored Scunthor pe stage. They were the first official retirement. McRae had been lying joint 19th after stage 2, while son Colin in a similar 4wd car, was in joint 10th place.
Cumbrian driver Malcolm Wilson headed the British challenge on the first day in his Ford Sierra Cosworth as talented Scot Jimmy McRae fell by the wayside. Wilson made steady progress up the leaderboard to share third place with Pentti Airikkala after stage 5. He struck a straw bale on stage 7 at Wollaton Park, slightly damaging the front nearside of his car but losing just a few seconds and, at the end of the first day, was fourth overall. Worcestershire's Russell Brookes was chasing hard in ninth place overall while Welshman David Llewellin was 15th.
Grand Prix driver Derek Warwick made a steady start to his first competitive day behind the wheel of a rally car. Warwick confessed to being "slightly apprehensive" as he tackled the first few spectator stages but by stage 4 reported: "I'm feeling good and the car is handling well. It's very slippery." He finished in 24th place overall in the Group A Subaru Legacy and admitted: "I still can't get over the fact that being in the 20s is a good result." His problems included puncturing a tyre on a rock and he added: "I've also been shouted at for calling this a race."
Toyota works driver Carlos Sainz, the new world champion, suffered an early setback missing a junction on stage 1. The error cost him about 10 seconds and slightly damaged the front of his Toyota but he pulled back steadily throughout the day to fifth overall. Finn Juha Kankkunen, winner in 1987, is hopeful of a good result in his Lancia despite "the strongest competition I have ever seen on the RAC".
Welshman David Llewellin reported a misfire on his Toyota after the watersplash on stage 3 Scunthorpe. He later needed help with a brake problem. Pentti Airikkala, last year's winner, was nursing a sore shoulder as he headed the cars away from the start in Harrogate city centre on Sunday morning. He completed the first three stages and reported that his shoulder was no longer hurting and his only problem had been a slight misfire in the Ford. He had a minor mishap on stage 5, arriving at the end with slight damage to the car but finished the day third.
Aberdeen driver Brian Lyall found he had made a wasted journey. He was unable to start the four-day event when co-driver John Taylor felt unwell. Swede Kenneth Eriksson collided with straw bales on the first stage, causing minor damage to his Mitsubishi. Didier Auriol also left the stage with damage to the front wing of his Lancia. Briton Steven Smith left stage 1 with the engine of his Lancia smoking badly - but he was still running at the end of day one's eight stages.
Charles Golding put up a spectacular display for his Proteus Petroleum team supporters on a hairpin on stage 2, covering 20 yards on two wheels on the tricky downhill section. He then went off on stage 4, after being blinded by low sun, slightly damaging the Toyota. Vauxhall Astra drivers Brian Wiggins, Chris Birkbeck and Terry Cree all found the going tough on stage 2. "Very slippery," was Wiggins' verdict while Birkbeck admitted a wrong tyre choice and said there was "plenty of excitement". Cree hit a gate post and suffered a broken wishbone.
Spectators rescued Soren Nilsson when the Swede rolled his Mitsubishi on stage 3. They righted the car and he continued, losing about two minutes. Vince Wetton's rally came to an abrupt end when the supercharger belt broke on his VW Golf G60 on stage 3.
Colin McRae looked set to follow father Jimmy out of the rally when he ran into a stone gatepost on the Chatsworth stage, badly damaging the rear door and left rear suspension. He lost about 25 seconds on the stage and his Ford needed a new beam axle before returning to the overnight halt at Harrogate.
Gearbox failure sidelined Swede Hakan Eriksson on stage 7 at Wollaton Park. His Peugeot 309 was towed from the stage by another competitor.
26.11.90F3000:- David Brabham is to conduct Ralt's extensive testing programme on the new RT23 Formula 3000 car, starting at Snetterton on Wednesday with further tests in France and Japan. His Grand Prix future still hangs in the balance after a lacklustre season at Brabham. "I'm still not sure of my plans for next year," he said.
TOURING CAR:- British drivers were out of luck in the saloon car race supporting the Macau Grand Prix. Robb Gravett crashed while second, Tim Harvey crashed on lap 18 and Julian Bailey was disqualified from fifth for using an illegal rear wing.
F1:- Rupert Manwaring, team manager of the ailing Lotus team, will replace Joan Villadelprat as team manager at the Tyrrell team. He starts work in December.
LOMBARD RAC RALLY :- Finn Juha Kankkunen was in a class of his own as he closed the gap on leader Carlos Sainz to just five seconds. The Lancia star, fired up after losing the lead with no brakes on stage 13, charged up the leaderboard with eight fastest times over the next nine stages. Sainz in a Toyota took the lead for the first time on stage 18 when a wrong tyre choice by Mitsubishi's Kenneth Eriksson cost him crucial seconds. But the Swede remained in contention at the end of day two, just 13 seconds off the pace in third place, with Finn Timo Salonen in a Mazda close behind.
LEADERBOARD - END OF DAY TWO Stage 22 of 41: latest positions Driver Car H M S 1 Sainz Sp Toyota 2:17:54 2 Kankkunen Fin Lancia 2:17:59 3 Eriksson Swe Mitsubishi 2:18:07 4 Salonen Fin Mazda 2:18:16 5 Wilson GB Ford 2:19:40 6 Biasion It Lancia 2:20:32 7 Jonsson Swe Toyota 2:20:44 8 Auriol Fr Lancia 2:21:05 9 Schwarz Ger Toyota 2:22:01 10 C McRae GB Ford 2:22:38 11 Llewellin GB Toyota 2:22:52 12 Vatanen Fin Mitsubishi 2:23:59First day leader Markku Alen found all his hard work had been in vain when the engine of his Subaru Legacy expired on Monday morning in the Yorkshire forests. Alen enjoyed a fierce battle for the lead with fellow-Finn Juha Kankkunen before he lost 3.5 minutes with turbo failure on stage 13. Alen, winner in 1988, also complained of having only front brakes. He then came to a halt on stage 14 and was pushed 500 metres to the finish by spectators. "Big misfire," he commented. Subaru hopes now rest with rally new boy, GP driver Derek Warwick.
Pentti Airikkala made a spectacular exit from the event, rolling heavily in his Ford Sierra Cosworth at Cropton. Carlos Sainz, lying second, slowed to help but Airikkala and co-driver Ronan McNamee both escaped unhurt. "I came round a bend and car slid out. I kept the power on but hit a bank and the car was thrown into the air. It rolled three or four times." Airikkala, last year's winner, had been lying joint fourth after recovering from a problem with a windscreen wiper which had left him peering through the co-driver's window on stage 13. Pentti Airikkala was philosophical after his dramatic exit from the rally. "These things happen in rallying," said the popular Finn after crashing out while joint fourth. "It was a shame because the car was working very well and we had a very good chance to win."
"The car was doing about 120mph as I was going into a very fast left hander when something on the left collapsed and it started to spin. I didn't react quite quickly enough to catch it. It is too early to say what caused the accident," he added.
Towcester's Terry Kaby damaged his Daihatsu Charade in a minor accident on a narrow road while on his way to Ingleby for stage 10. No one was hurt and he was able to continue. Heavy rain made the morning's Yorkshire forest stages exceptionally slippery. Mazda works driver Timo Salonen spun twice on muddy stage 10. Kenneth Eriksson suffered a cracked windscreen on his Mitsubishi after apparently hitting a pheasant. York driver David Thompson rolled his Mitsubishi at the start of stage 10, causing some damage, but continued.
Daihatsu mechanics were caught out when a marshal at service said Terry Kaby's car sounded as if it was running on only three cylinders. They opened the the bonnet to check - only to remember that the car only has three cylinders. Ari Vatanen lost time with a puncture on stage 13. The Mitsubishi driver slipped from seventh to 12th place. Swede Per Eklund rolled his Lancia on stage 12 but was able to continue. Wetherby's Richard Moore and co-driver John Foster from Rotherham crashed out in their Lancia towards the end of stage 10 but escaped unhurt.
Four times winner Hannu Mikkola was forced out with engine trouble. The 48-year-old Finn, world champion in 1983, was ninth overnight in the works Mazda but slipped to 13th on stage 11 and stopped on the long Langdale stage. Louise Aitken-Walker limped out of stage 15 with a broken driveshaft on her Vauxhall, losing about two minutes. Welshman David Llewellin insists he is "trying like mad" but has been unable to get on to the leaderboard. "I think the problem is my tyres are too large and are overgearing the car," he said, adding that a new gearbox was due to be fitted which could make a difference.
Teenage rally mechanic Paul Galbraith is still in a serious condition in hospital after being badly burned while working on Peter Firkin's Ford Sierra at the Ferrybridge service halt on Sunday. A second mechanic was treated for burns and rejoined the rally. Swede Soren Nilsson has been struggling with steering problems after hitting a tree in his Mitsubishi on stage 16. Welshman Gwyndaf Evans lost third gear on his Ford Sierra on stage 16. He has also been suffering from brake problems.
Paul Frankland damaged the front of his Peugeot when he hit a post on stage 14. Happiest spectator of the day was Alain Oreille, a Renault 5 driver, who was confirmed as the new Group N world champion when Gustavo Trelles and then Tommi Makinen went out of the rally. Trelles rolled his Lancia on stage 13 while Makinen retired after struggling through stage 12 with only fourth gear - leaving Oreille, watching on the forest stages, to open the champagne.
Leading British driver Malcolm Wilson lost two gears on stage 18 and dropped a minute but held onto fifth overall. A flat battery cost Russell Brookes two minutes on stage 18 and he slipped off the leaderboard and had further trouble when he went off on stage 20, Gale Rigg but continued. Derek Warwick picked up a one second penalty on stage 21 after losing second and fourth gears and the team are now changing gearbox and clutch. Colin McRae hit a tree on stage 21 while running 10th and damaged the side of the car, losing a minute. Carlos Sainz, leader at the halfway stage, was reported to have a misfire.
Malcolm Wilson shrugged off a painful stomach and the effect of antibiotics to claim the honours for the second day running as the best of the British. The 34-year-old Cumbrian driver took his Ford Sierra 4x4 into third place after stage 13 and finished the day in fifth, 1 min 44 secs off the pace. He promised to do better on home ground on Tuesday, before being taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up. Wilson survived a high speed spin on his second visit to Langdale and admitted: "I found myself sideways at 125mph more than once - the mud catches you out."
Welshman David Llewellin struggled all day to get on the pace - and was eventually promised a return to his British suspension set-up for day three. "I've been trying like mad but making no impression on the front guys," he complained, blaming overgearing. A new gearbox fitted partway through Monday's stages made the car more competitive but Llewellin was still unhappy: "I'm driving on the rev limiter and could damage the engine." Toyota GB team manager David Ewells agreed. "We will change the suspension tonight to give David more confidence."
Former Grand Prix driver Derek Warwick stepped up his pace on day two climbing nine places to 15th despite two 'offs' and losing second and fourth gears. With team-mate Markku Alen crashing out Warwick has taken up the gauntlet for Subaru despite the lashing rain. As he continued his championship rally debut he said: "I'm happy but still lacking self confidence and hesitating before taking Ronan's advice." After the helter skelter Dalby stage he added:" That stage was unreal. It made my shunt at Monza look tame."
LEADING HOME CONTENDERS after stage 22: Overall position Group H M S 5 M Wilson Ford Sierra A 2:19:40 10 C McRae Ford Sierra A 2:22:38 11 D Llewellin Toyota Celica A 2:22:52 15 D Warwick Subaru Legacy A 2:28:52 16 G Evans Ford Sierra N 2:29:21 18 P Frankland Peugeot 205 A 2:36:42 19 D Metcalfe Vauxhall Nova A 2:36:55 20 R Head Honda Civic N 2:39:41 22 S Smith Lancia Delta N 2:42:03 23 T Kaby Peugeot 205 N 2:42:35 24 L A-Walker Vauxhall A 2:43:07 25 D Mann Toyota Celica N 2:43:22 26 B Bell Ford Sierra A 2:44:19 GROUP N LEADERBOARD after stage 22: Class 1 G Evans Ford Sierra 4 2:29:21 2 R Head Honda Civic 2 2:39:41 3 S Smith Lancia Delta 4 2:42:03 4 T Kaby Daihatsu 3 2:42:35 GROUP A CLASS LEADERS after stage 22 A8 C Sainz Sp Toyota A7 L Aitken-Walker GB Vauxhall A6 P Frankland GB Peugeot 205 A5 K Furber GB Peugeot 205 GROUP N CLASS LEADERS after stage 22 N4 G Evans GB Ford Sierra N3 T Kaby GB Daihatsu N2 R Head GB Honda Civic after stage 20 N1 G Hewitt GB Suzuki 27.11.90 - LOMBARD RACKielder cost Carlos Sainz the lead he had worked so hard to retain when he went off on the day's penultimate stage. The Spanish world champion set fastest times on five of the day's stages in his Toyota to edge 15 seconds clear of Finn Juha Kankkunen in a Lancia. He had led since stage 18 but his off on stage 30 gave him a puncture and cost him 40 seconds. Kankkunen will now be first car away on the final day. Kankkunen led by 24 seconds at the end of day three with 10 stages remaining. Kenneth Eriksson is still just in touch in third place in his Mitsubishi.
The scene is set for a tense final day battle between two of the world's best drivers Juha Kankkunen and Carlos Sainz. Kankkunen, twice world champion and a winner here in 1987, has been superb over the past few days surviving one of Monday's stages without brakes and then setting eight successive fastest times. Sainz held off a ferocious challenge throughout the third day before an off on stage 30 handed Kankkunen the lead. Third-placed Kenneth Eriksson has almost given up hope of catching them. "There are no problems with my car, the others are just going quicker," he said.
LEADERBOARD - END OF DAY THREE Stage 31 of 41: latest positions Driver Car H M S 1 Kankkunen Fin Lancia 4:07:00 2 Sainz Sp Toyota 4:07:24 3 Eriksson Swe Mitsubishi 4:09:20 4 Biasion It Lancia 4:11:58 5 Jonsson Swe Toyota 4:13:06 6 Auriol Fr Lancia 4:14:28 7 C McRae GB Ford 4:15:19 8 Schwarz Ger Toyota 4:17:42 9 Llewellin GB Toyota 4:19:18 10 Fiorio It Ford 4:21:18 11 Droogmans Bel Lancia 4:22:43 12 Evans GB Ford 4:30:21Grand Prix driver Derek Warwick's brave run in his first ever rally came to a sticky end when he met a new racing surface - a bog in the Kielder Forest. The challenge proved too great for the new Subaru star and he was forced to retire due to a broken wishbone having revved through the pack into a very respectable 13th place overall. "We slid off exiting a left-hander and dropped into a ditch. As we tried to get out we hit a concrete culvert which tore off the front suspension." Earlier Warwick had an 'off' into the forest at 100mph - 15ft off the ground.
"This is the most difficult thing I have ever tried to do in motor sport," was Derek Warwick's verdict after his first rally came to an abrupt end. "I'd get to the finish of the stage and think 'that was a good time - nobody could go faster than that'. Then I'd find the top guys had gone 45 seconds quicker. That's a different plane."
"I had a strong respect for these guys when I started the event but it has just got stronger and stronger... I can't get over how professional they are in rallying, but they still have fun. That's what's missing from F1."
Co-driver Ian Bartlett was rescued unhurt from an icy river in Hamsterley Forest after a crash early on Tuesday. Bartlett, a fireman from Witney, was trapped when his car plunged into the Euden Beck. Driver Jeff Orford escaped. But rescue services swiftly arrived on the scene - thanks to a revolutionary yellow flag scheme pioneered by RAC rally organisers which prevented cars from overtaking the rescue vehicle.
"There were six cars behind the rescue vehicle when it arrived at the scene," said a rally spokesman. "The system worked - it probably saved 15 minutes."
Spectators packed into the car parks surrounding the Kielder stage, filling them before midnight on Monday - nine hours before the start of the popular first stage on Tuesday morning. One fan was slightly hurt by flying debris from a car on stage 24. The stage was stopped for about 20 minutes while a medical officer attended but little treatment was needed.
British drivers Andy Elliott and Peter Stephenson failed to make Tuesday's re-start reducing the field to 126 cars. Both competitors ran out of time trying to make repairs to their ailing cars after the second day.
Ari Vatanen set a blistering pace on the opening stage of the day but damaged his Mitsubishi on stage 24 and needed to replace the driveshaft. He was out of the event after going off on stage 30 badly damaging his Mitsubishi. Vatanen had pulled up from 12th place overnight to 8th before the day's penultimate stage. Russell Brookes elected to re-start despite falling to 110th on the road following Monday's problems. Tom Ryan's crew overslept and collected a five minute road penalty for leaving parc ferme late. Germany's Armin Schwarz lost time with a puncture on stage 23 and is also thought to have handling problems.
Swede Kenneth Eriksson slipped from second place to third after a puncture cost him 50 seconds on stage 24. Welshman David Llewellin, moving up the leaderboard, emerged from Hamsterley with damage to the front of his Toyota. He then lost three minutes with a puncture on stage 24. Ford driver Alessandro Fiorio suffered turbo trouble on stage 23 but expected a replacement at service. Terry Kaby's Daihatsu lost 40 seconds on the Hamsterley stage with a puncture but retained a commanding class lead. "No worries," said a team spokeswoman. "The car runs fine on three cylinders - why not on three wheels!"
Lancia driver Massimo Biasion, twice world champion competing in his first Lombard, set the fastest time on stage 26, Craik. He had earlier complained of losing about 1,000rpm with a misfire. Chatsworth topped the spectator table for Sunday's stages with a massive crowd of 23,000. A total of 89,500 fans attended the day's eight-stage action. Robbie Head, comfortably leading his class in the Honda Civic, rolled down a bank about 200 yards from the finish of stage 26 after a bump took the steering wheel out of his hands. The roll bent the rear wishbone, later changed, and cost him about 3.5 minutes.
Finn Timo Salonen was the highest ranked victim of the infamous 'killer' Kielder Forest. The Mazda driver, who won this event in 1986, was lying fourth when he went into the trees after failing to negotiate a high speed bend. Welshman Gwyndaf Evans has been finding it hard to concentrate after building up a commanding class lead in his Ford. Colin McRae starts the final day as the top British driver after Malcolm Wilson's Ford hit a rock. McRae was the fastest Brit in all but one stage, climbing to seventh in his battered Sierra. "My car drives just fine but it looks like a mobile shed."
David Llewellin moved up from 11th to ninth but a puncture cost him three minutes. "With this time loss I really feel I have lost all chance of getting a good result, but I am going for it." Russell Brookes refused to give up after Monday's troubles left him in 110th and ended Tuesday in 60th place. Malcolm Wilson's battle to the head of the British runners came to nothing when he hit the same rock on stage 24 that damaged Alessandro Fiorio's Ford. The Englishman lost a wheel, had a puncture and then stones damaged the engine and destroyed the cam belt - unlike Fiorio who was able to continue. He also needed hospital treatment for a painful stomach. "It wasn't the pain so much as the anti-biotics. I just wanted to be sick all the time."
"My gap behind the leaders was a little too big this morning. A minute I could have made up on the way back," he said.
LEADING HOME CONTENDERS after stage 31: Overall position Group H M S 7 C McRae Ford Sierra A 4:15:19 9 D Llewellin Toyota Celica A 4:19:18 12 G Evans Ford Sierra N 4:30:21 15 D Metcalfe Vauxhall Nova A 4:41:37 16 P Frankland Peugeot 205 A 4:44:15 18 L A-Walker Vauxhall A 4:53:35 19 R Head Honda Civic N 4:54:18 20 T Kaby Daihatsu N 4:54:28 21 S Smith Lancia Delta N 4:56:16 22 D Thompson Mitsubishi N 4:57:44 23 G Cox Opel Monza A 4:59:08 24 B Bell Ford Sierra A 4:59:49 GROUP N LEADERBOARD after stage 31: Class 1 G Evans Ford Sierra 4 4:30:21 2 R Head Honda Civic 2 4:54:18 3 T Kaby Daihatsu 3 4:54:28 4 S Smith Lancia Delta 4 4:56:16 GROUP A CLASS LEADERS after stage 31: A8 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia A7 L Aitken-Walker GB Vauxhall A6 D Metcalfe GB Vauxhall A5 K Further GB Peugeot GROUP N CLASS LEADERS after stage 31: N4 G Evans GB Ford Sierra N3 T Kaby GB Daihatsu N2 R Head GB Honda Civic N1 G Hewitt GB Suzuki 28.11.90 - LOMBARD RAC RALLYSpaniard Carlos Sainz has all but won the rally after surviving turbo trouble and a late mishap in his works Toyota. Sainz triumphed by 102 seconds after 41 fiercely-contested stages over four demanding days. Sweden's Kenneth Eriksson was second in a Mitsubishi with Massimo Biasion third in a Lancia.
The world champion went off on stage 40 bringing back memories of 1989 when he had victory snatched from his grasp - but this time it cost just 22 seconds. Sainz must now complete the 92-mile drive to the finish at Harrogate to be crowned as this year's winner. Dashing Spaniard Carlos Sainz crowned a brilliant season with victory in the final World Championship round of 1990. The 28-year-old from Madrid had already clinched the world title with wins in the Acropolis, New Zealand and 1,000 Lakes and four runner-up places. But t his win on the Lombard RAC Rally was particularly sweet, making up for 1989 when trouble on the last of the Dalby stages had robbed him of victory. His only request to his service crew as he completed the final stage of 1990 was: "Whisky for me and water for the co-driver!"
Kenneth Eriksson ended a torrid season with a morale-boosting runner-up place behind former team-mate Carlos Sainz. The 34-year-old Swedish driver moved to Mitsubishi after last year's Lombard but mechanical trouble with the Galant forced him out of four of the five world rounds he had entered this year. Italy's Massimo Biasion, the double world champion, surprised many with his third place finish in the Lancia. It was his first appearance in Britain and he had made steady progress, lying 14th at the end of day one, sixth on day two and fourth on day three.
The frosty conditions of the opening two stages matched the mood of Spaniard Carlos Sainz as he set off in pursuit of overnight leader Juha Kankkunen. Sainz made a superb start, setting the best times by far on both the Kielder stages - but was heard berating his mechanics for the state of his Toyota. "I am making maximum attack and I need a perfect car. This is not a perfect car. Why do you not give me a perfect car?" he is reported to have asked them. Sainz pressure on Kankkunen finally paid off with the Finn crashing out with just seven stages remaining. Finn Juha Kankkunen crashed heavily while leading, ending his hopes of a second victory in the prestigious event.
Kankkunen, under extreme pressure from Spanish world champion Carlos Sainz, rolled his Lancia several times on the first bend in stage 34 at Newcastleton. Sainz had set fastest times on the first two stages of the day to cut Kankkunen's lead from 24 to 11 seconds. Kankkunen's demise brought to an end the Finnish domination of the event. They had won 11 of the last 12 Lombard RAC rallies - this year no Finn has appeared in the results.
Carlos Sainz, on his way to victory in the event after narrowly missing out last year, survived an anxious time. Sainz suffered from low turbo boost on his Toyota and dropped 28 seconds on stage 36 and 18 on the next, on which rival Kenneth Eriksson was fastest. Eriksson was then less than two minutes adrift and, with four stages remaining, looked set to catch the Spaniard. But repairs solved the problem and Sainz was immediately back on the pace. Sainz had also led on the final day of the 1989 event before propshaft trouble late on robbed him of victory.
Scot Colin McRae took the honours as top British finisher, taking sixth place despite a fraught final day. McRae was in trouble on the opening stage with a jammed gearbox and misfire on the Ford. He drove the 12.9 miles in fourth gear, the gearbox was changed but he earned a 21-second road penalty. His problems were not over. He was left with rear wheel drive only on the icy stage 33 and again on the penultimate stage after front driveshaft trouble. "It's been a troubled rally all the way through," he said. "I'm delighted to get through - it's a great achievement."
Welshman David Llewellin showed nerves of steel when the bonnet of his Toyota lifted as he drove close to a sheer 300ft drop on stage 38, Wythop. He believes scrutineers failed to secure it for him and it blew open as they tore along the infamous Knife Edge. Llewellin continued but with reduced vision, losing over 10 seconds. He eventually finished two places behind Scot Colin McRae, in eighth place.
Essex driver Charles Golding will be well satisfied with a finish after help and hindrance from well-meaning fans. Golding went off near the start of stage 34 and then spun on an 80mph bend on stage 37 ending up stuck in a bog. "We had just passed the spot where Juha Kankkunen skidded off on ice and the spectators told us the ice was thawing. On the next bend we went off on ice..." Spectators helped get them going again. Golding had a scare on Tuesday when a large stag cleared the bonnet of his Group N Toyota. He spent 1.5 days minus a service van after gearbox trouble.
The rally had to be re-routed on the way to stage 34, Newcastleton, after a road accident involving a service vehicle. One person was slightly hurt. The vehicle involved was from the Lancia team who faced further misery when Juha Kankkunen crashed out of the rally at the start of the stage when he had been leading the rally.
Paul Frankland, the Peugeot 205 driver from Darlington who was a re markable 15th after stage 34, drove seven miles with a nearside puncture after going off on the following stage at Kershope. Belgian Robert Droogmans enjoyed the final two stages in Kielder Forest. "I like this, frosty and crisp, more my style," commented the Lancia driver. Welshman Gwyndaf Evans had problems on stage 34 with his brakes overheating.
Dilwyn Williams lost second gear on his Vauxhall Nova on stage 32 while Stuart Hall and Richard Moore, also in Novas, both went off causing minor damage. Paul Armstrong has been considering taking a time penalty to get rid of Russell Brookes, running well down the field after first day problems, who is constantly breathing down his neck. Jeff Orford has now described the crash on day three which ended with his car in a river and his co-driver Ian Bartlett trapped unconscious inside. "We came over a crest into a dip and landed heavily on the right side of the car which was thrown into the air. It rolled four times down a 30ft bank and into a river. The car was destroyed." Bartlett has since recovered.
Robbie Head, comfortably leading his class in a Honda Civic, crashed out at a bridge on stage 37, Twiglees, last of the Scottish stages. He and co-driver Campbell Roy were unhurt but it was some time before the car could be moved.
LEADING HOME CONTENDERS after stage 40: Overall position Group H M S 6 C McRae Ford Sierra A 5:47:25 8 D Llewellin Toyota Celica A 5:50:52 11 G Evans Ford Sierra N 6:05:34 14 D Metcalfe Vauxhall Nova A 6:20:09 16 P Frankland Peugeot 205 A 6:24:44 17 L A-Walker Vauxhall A 6:35:21 18 T Kaby Daihatsu N 6:37:18 19 S Smith Lancia Delta N 6:40:12 20 G Cox Opel Monza A 6:40:13 21 B Bell Ford Sierra A 6:43:13 22 K Furber Peugeot A 6:45:33 23 J Haugland Skoda Favorit A 6:45:55 GROUP N LEADERBOARD after stage 40: Class 1 G Evans Ford Sierra 4 6:05:34 2 T Kaby Daihatsu 3 6:37:18 3 S Smith Lancia Delta 4 6:40:12 4 B Wiggins Vauxhall 3 6:48:33 GROUP A CLASS LEADERS after stage 40: A8 C Sainz Sp Toyota A7 L Aitken-Walker GB Vauxhall A6 D Metcalfe GB Vauxhall A5 K Furber GB Peugeot GROUP N CLASS LEADERS after stage 40: N4 G Evans GB Ford Sierra N3 T Kaby GB Daihatsu N2 T Shields GB Toyota Corolla after stage 39: N1 G Hewitt GB Suzuki Swift PROVISIONAL RESULTS H M S 1 Sainz Sp Toyota 5:43:16 2 Eriksson Swe Mitsubishi 5:44:58 3 Biasion It Lancia 5:47:22 4 Jonsson Swe Toyota 5:49:40 5 Auriol Fr Lancia 5:51:02 6 C McRae GB Ford 5:53:17 7 Schwarz Ger Toyota 5:54:56 8 Llewellin GB Toyota 5:56:43 9 Fiorio It Ford 5:59:22 10 Droogmans Bel Lancia 6:05:31 11 Evans GB Ford 6:11:40 12 Eklund Swe Lancia 6:18:14 13 Gundler Swe Lancia 6:22:31 14 Metcalfe GB Vauxhall 6:26:23 15 Ohba Jap Mitsubishi 6:29:50 16 Frankland GB Peugeot 6:30:55 17 Aitken-Walker GB Vauxhall 6:41:43 18 Kaby GB Daihatsu 6:43:50 19 Cox GB Opel 6:46:40 20 Smith * GB Lancia 6:46:50 21 Thompson * GB Mitsubishi 6:47:11 22 Bell * GB Ford 6:49:50 23 Furber GB Peugeot 6:51:53 24 Haugland Hol Skoda 6:52:22 25 Wiggins * GB Vauxhall 6:55:08 26 Iwashita * Jap Nissan 6:56:50 27 Menzies * GB Ford 7:02:54 28 Burns GB Peugeot 7:03:52 29 Cree * GB Vauxhall 7:04:41 30 Shields * GB Toyota 7:06:53 31 Whitehurst * GB Toyota 7:07:08 32 Beuzelin * Fr Peugeot 7:10:19 33 Waite * GB Toyota 7:11:59 34 Wedgebury GB Skoda 7:13:19 35 S Green * GB Vauxhall 7:14:30 36 Brookes GB Ford 7:14:56 37 Golding GB Toyota 7:17:33 38 Jones * GB Mitsubishi 7:22:19 39 Saint * GB Toyota 7:22:28 40 B Green * GB Ford 7:25:39 41 Firkin GB Ford 7:25:44 42 Armstong * GB Volkswagen 7:30:16 43 Easson GB Ford 7:30:54 * - denotes amateur RETIREMENTS DRIVER CAR STAGE J McRae GB Ford off 3 G Currie GB Lancia stub axle 3 V Wetton GB VW belt 3 J McCullagh GB Daihatsu engine 3 J Williams GB Mazda engine 3 R Roberts GB Vauxhall off 5 H Eriksson Swe Peugeot crownwhl 7 R Moore GB Lancia rolled 10 H Mikkola Fin Mazda engine 12 T Makinen Fin Mitsub'i gearbox 12 I Calvin GB Vauxhall driveshft 12 J Murray GB Peugeot engine 12 G Trelles Urg Lancia rolled 13 P Wambergue Fr Peugeot off 13 E Price GB Mazda diff 13 C Sisson GB Ford suspen'n 13 C Armstrong GB Peugeot gearbox 13 A Wood GB Toyota turbo 13 M Alen Fin Subaru engine 14 M Sundstrom Fin Mazda head 14 D Beaumont GB Mazda engine 14 G Taft GB Mazda diff 15 G Samuel GB Suzuki driveshft 15 P Airikkala Fin Ford rolled 16 M Brown GB Peugeot head 16 G Stewart GB Vauxhall off 20 C Barber GB Vauxhall off 21 A Elliott GB Audi OTL 21 M Higgins GB Suzuki engine 22 D Mann GB Toyota gearbox 22 P Stephenson GB Ford diff 22 D Collyer GB Vauxhall withdrawn 22 K Kanao Jpn Mazda gearbox 23 J Orford GB Toyota off 23 S Coupe GB Lancia wishbone 23 D Holland GB Ford axle 23 R Jude GB Peugeot gearbox 23 T Salonen Fin Mazda off 24 M Wilson GB Ford cambelt 24 S Chapman GB Vauxhall valve 24 R Gillingham GB Vauxhall clutch 24 K Curran GB Lancia gearbox 24 J-F Favodon Fr Peugeot sump 24 D Warwick GB Subaru off 25 M Kernahan GB Seat engine 25 T Godwin GB Fiat stopped 25 R Griffin GB Peugeot off 26 A Tordoff GB Peugeot electrics 28 A Vatanen Fin Mitsub'i off 30 O Stromberg Swe Saab off 30 J Milner GB Peugeot stopped 30 K Skidmore GB Vauxhall whl studs 30 S Petch GB Toyota suspen'n 30 P Cooper GB Vauxhall stub axle 30 S Harington GB Peugeot sump 30 M Yamada Jpn Isuzu rolled 30 S Teather GB Toyota OTL 31 B Smith GB Vauxhall driveshft 32 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia off 34 N Vigroux Fr Peugeot off 35 A Nevitt GB Peugeot off 35 R Head GB Honda off 37 21.12.90 - F1Frenchman Alain Prost, three times world Formula One champion, looks set to race for Ferrari again next season. Prost, who was considering quitting the sport, is said to have extended his contract with the Italian team to 1992. He had been upset over the crash with arch-rival Ayrton Senna in the Japanese GP which cost him the 1990 world title. Prost will team up with newly-signed young Frenchman Jean Alesi next year. Ferrari have not confirmed the report but an announcement is expected shortly.
Italy's Formula One star Alessandro Nannini, badly injured in a helicopter accident towards the end of the season, could make a racing comeback in 1992. Nannini has been told he has a 65 per cent chance of regaining full use of his right arm, severed in the crash. "I will have to wait until March for a clearer idea about my future but I am really confident," said the 31-year-old. Roberto Moreno has taken his place for next season but Benetton have said Nannini will get his job back in 1992 if he proves fit enough.