Nesbitt increases lead in Scotland
Andrew Nesbitt today stretched his lead in the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland.
Although Eugene Donnelly (Toyota Corolla WRC) closed the gap to just 2.1 seconds after today’s opening loop of three stages, a further three stages has seen rally leader Andrew Nesbitt stretch his advantage to 17.3 seconds.
With the fastest time on SS 14, the Armagh driver has opened up a 19.2 second lead over his great rival.
Tyre choice is again the key element. Both drivers have admitted to choosing the wrong options for some stages as rain showers make their task more difficult.
Nesbitt damaged a front rim on one stage but he was lucky and didn’t lose any time.
In third place, over a minute and 27 seconds adrift, is the Subaru of Derek McGarrity, his mechanics softened the suspension and it has made difference to the handling of the car.
David Higgins (Hyundai) has moved into fourth at the expense of Dougi Hall (Focus) and Jonny Milner (Subaru), who fitted a new differential and has moved ahead of Austin MacHale into fifth.
Behind MacHale is Dougi Hall and the top 10 also features Barry Johnson (Subaru WRC), Guy Wilks (Suzuki Ignis) and Paul Bird (Ford Focus WRC).
Paul Wedgbury leads Group N from Seb Ling and Meath’s Rory Galligan. All three are driving Mitsubishi’s.
Times to end of SS 14:
A. Nesbitt/J. O’Brien (Subaru) 1h. 33. 51.9s.
E. Donnelly/P. Kiely (Toyota Corolla) 1h. 34m. 11.1s.
D. McGarrity/D. O’Gorman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 35m. 39.0s.
D. Higgins/D. Barritt (Hyundai Accent WRC) 1h. 36m. 50.9s.
J. Milner/N. Beech (Subaru WRC) 1h. 37m. 20.6.
A. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 37. 31.1s.
D. Hall/S. Egglestone (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 37m. 32.1s.
