MacGillivray leads in Mull 11 | 10 | 2014
NINE YEARS AFTER his last victory on home soil, James MacGillivray grabbed an early initiative in the 45th running of the Tunnock's Mull Rally. The Salen farmer conquered the treacherously slippery surfaces, as rain battered a number of the opening stages, and heads into Leg 2 with a 30-second lead over closest rival, fellow islander Calum Duffy.
Fastest through the opening five stages, MacGillivray — who last won the event in 2005 — was delighted with his performance through the opening six stages.
"Yeh, we're pleased with that," MacGillivray, co-driven by Salen's Ian Fraser, admitted, after clambering out of the Subaru he hired after the engine in his Escort failed on an event in June.
"To be honest, the conditions have certainly favoured us, but we've still had to go out and deliver the goods. We've done that tonight, but there's still a long, long way to go.
"We dropped a wee bit of time in the final stage, but we were concentrating on making sure we were here tomorrow. Now we can focus on that."
Related: Scots rally chief backs safety proposals
And while Duffy shaved three-seconds off MacGillivray's advantage in the night's final test, it was last year's winner John MacCrone (pictured) who was quickest through the 10.84-miler Hill Road/Achnadrish test.
"We made a good push on the hill: it's was my only chance really to make full advantage of he wee car, because if it's dry tomorrow the big cars will hit us hard," MacCrone, co-driven by Larkhall's Stuart Loudon in the Tunnock's and Castrol-liveried Ford Fiesta R200, said.
"But I had a big moment as we came into Dervaig: two wheels up on a rock, which was pretty scary. Still, we're still here and we'll mount as big a push tomorrow as we can."
MacCrone though will be kicking himself in bed tonight, despite taking 13s off MacGillivray in the final test.
The 24-year-old, starts tomorrow 3:12 behind the overall leader, but he dropped 2:32 on the opening test when he slid into a ditch.
Fortunately, his mum, dad and friends were literally close-by and all pulled together to get him out and back on the road, though he headed to SS2 in 63rd place.
Related: McRae returns to tackle Mull
Duffy, meanwhile, despite his public air of confidence, will be disappointed to find himself 30s off the lead. His Escort suffered gearbox problems through eh first three stages, before being fixed at service.
There were a couple of notable retirements. One of the pre-event favourites, Carlisle's Peter Taylor suffered water ingress problems with his Fiesta S2400, causing him major visibility problems.
"I could only see through the bottom 3in of the windscreen," a disillusioned Taylor admitted after exiting SS5. "We had to stop twice because we literally couldn't see where we were going."
There was also disappointment and frustration for Jimmy McRae. The veteran five-times British champ had to park-up his MkI Escort after it suffered fuel problems at the end of SS2. He hopes though to be back for tomorrow's stages.
And there as major disappointment for brother and sister crew, Nick and Kelly Mathew from Canada. The duo had to retire their Subaru on the opening stage with mechanical problems. They too aim to return to action for Saturday's tests.
But there was good news for Mull resident Ally Currie, making his debut on the event on his 17th birthday.
Co-driven my Peter MacCrone — John's uncle — the youngster emerged from SS5 60th overall, and ninth in class behind the wheel of his Peugeot 106
45th Tunnock's Mull Rally — Overnight positions after 6 of 20 stages:
1. James MacGillivray (Salen) / Ian Fraser (Salen) Subaru Impreza 51mins 31secs;
2. Calum Duffy (Dervaig) / Iain Duffy (Dervaig) Ford Escort MkII +0:30;
3. Tristan Pye (Bishop Auckland) / Andrew Falconer (Inverness) Subaru Impreza +1:52;
4. John MacCrone (Dervaig) / Stuart Loudon (Larkhall) Ford Fiesta R200 +3:12;
5. Douglas Weir (Ellon) / Linda Brown (Ellon) Ford Escort MkII +3:40;
6. Jonathan Mounsey (Settle) / Richard Wardle (Pickering) Mitsubishi Evo VI +3:41;
7. Tim Stell (Denby Dale) / Mike Yates (Mirfield) Mitsubishi Evo VII +3:48;
8. Shaun Sinclair (Connel) / Chris Hamill (Oban) Mitsubishi Evi VIII +4:12;
9. Derek McGeehan (Draperstown) / Darragh Mullen (Ireland) Mini WRC +4:38;
10. Billy Bird (York) / Plug Pulleyn (York) Vauxhall Chevette +4:50.
SS1 DRIVERS QUOTES AND OVERALL STANDINGS:
No 1 — John MacCrone: "That was total madness. We went off halfway through the stage and went down quite a bit. We dropped about two-and-a-half minutes. Horrendous: no grip. But there's a long, long way to go. Both Calum and Peter passed us, then we caught and got passed Peter. Crazy."
No 2 — Calum Duffy: "Terrible, no grip whatsoever. We fitted slicks, and it was horrible. Plus we had a problem with the gearbox: it kept popping out of gear. Really struggling for grip."
No 3 — ‪PeterTaylor‬ "Horrendous. We were on slicks, and it was dangerous. We gambled on conditions getting better: it got worse."
No9 — James MacGillivray: "Felt quick, but we were on slicks."
No6 — John Cope: "Steamed up windscreen. Struggled to see. We went on inters."
No8 — Daniel Harper: "Broke the exhaust just half a mile into the stage. Not the start we wanted. Conditions terrible."
No11 — Tristan Pye: "Very wet. Got worse as we went on. We went for cut slicks."
No12 — Derek McGeehan: ""Out on cut slicks — very treacherous. I was aquaplaning right through the stage: I just couldn't accelerate."
SS1 Times:
1. MacGillivray 11mins 30secs; 2. Duffy +02s; 3. Pye +28s; 4. McGeechan +30s; 5. Weir +49s; 6. Stell +52s; 7. Ronaldson +53s; 8. MacKenzie +59s; 9. Taylor +1:00; 10. Mounsey 1:03. Others: 63. MacCrone +2:32; 20. McRae +3:00.
SS2 DRIVERS QUOTES AND OVERALL STANDINGS:
No2 — Duffy: "That was hellish at the start of the stage. We're still struggling with the gearbox: having to hold it in gear. We don't have a spare, so we're up against it."
No1 — MacCrone: "Not a good stage again. We're struggling with confidence after the off on SS1. Also there's possibly something broken on the steering: I'm not happy with the front of the car. But there's a long way to go: we're still pretty chilled."
No3 —Taylor: "The last two miles were very god, but now I think we have a cracked disc … plus a steamed up windscreen."
No9 — MacGillivray: "The first stage was really tough, and that was no better. But I think we're having a good run."
No6 — Cope: "The first part was very wet, and I had no confidence. felt better in the second part of the stage. First time really in the car after spending two years rebuilding it."
No8 — Harper: "Broken exhaust: very slip. Had to back off."
No11 — Pye: "Good run through SS2. Sweating a bit, and I think that's contributing to me steaming up the windscreen."
No12 — McGeehan: "Enjoyed that stage. It was wet, but it wasn't raining. Very tricky: firs time out on cut slicks in the wet. It was ok."
No14 — Mounsey: "Nightmare. We had broken driveshaft. Only got 2WD."
No15 — Cressey: "Getting stuck in the water lines when we brake. I had one of the biggest saves of my life in there: in fourth at 80-90mph. But I'm enjoying it: I'm smiling and having fun on Mull. Fantastic."
Overall after SS2:
1. MacGillivray 20mins 46secs; 2. Duffy +10s; 3. Pye +42s; 4. McGeehan +1:06s; 5. Sinclair +1:14s; 6. Weir +1:29s; 7. Chadwick +1:37s; 8. Stell +1:42s; 9. Tayor +1:53s. 10. Bird +1:59s. Others: 20. MacCrone +2:57s.
SS3 DRIVERS QUOTES AND OVERALL STANDINGS:
No2 — Duffy: "Not too bad towards the end, but it's still jumping out of gear … but it's improving. It's only first that's jumping out, but the rest I'm having to shift manually instead of using the paddles. I think we can repair the damage."
No1 — MacCrone: "That was better. We're back on it. We beat the bogey. We just need to forget all about the first stage. We'll make a few changes to the car at service: but we've got the pace. We're feeling much more settled."
No3 —Taylor: "Bad — really bad brake problem."
No9 — MacGillivray: "Slippy stage, but he car is good. I've waited two years for this, and I'm a happy man."
No6 — Cope: "We've got a brake issue. I'm getting so much judder through he car that I thought we had a puncture!"
No8 — Harper: "Wrong tyres, broken exhaust. We've lost the rally already."
No11 — Pye: "Good stage. The start was better, and we have no problem with the car."
No14 — Mounsey: "We've a broken diff: hope the guys can repair the damage at service."
No12 — McGeehan: "We broke a driveshaft on the startling, and basically had to limp through that stage just in the hope we can get the car back to service. Pain, because we fitted new ones before the start of the rally."
No21 — Stell: "We made the right tyre choice, and it's been good going so far."
SS3 Overall:
1. MacGillivray 28:21; 2. Duffy +0:10; 3. Pye +0:47. 4. Weir +1:36; 5. Sinclair +1:50; 6. Chadwick +1:52; 7. Stell +2:04; 8. Taylor +2:15; 9. Bird +2:22. 10. Mounsey +2:29. OThers: 13: MacCrone +2:57s.
SS4/5 DRIVERS QUOTES AND OVERALL STANDINGS:
No2 — Duffy: "Gears seem to be ok: the guys tightened the linkage at service,a nd that seems to have cured it. Still can't get the power down though the way I'd like it: we're really struggling for pace. Conditions very tricky."
No1 — MacCrone: "We're continuing to find our rhythm, but there a huge amount of standing water out there. The car just keeps aquaplaning, and with big walls around, that's not what you want. We went with slicks on the front, which probably wasn't the right choice, with hindsight. The conditions were a lot worse than we thought they'd be. Much more standing water. But we're still here, and fighting."
No9 — MacGillivray: "We had another good run. There's no doubt the weather conditions have played into our hands, but we've been able to maximise our performances. The whole package has been good, and we've had the notes spot-on."
No6 — Cope: "This is my 25th year competing here. So far, this year's certainly been better than last year."
No3 — Taylor: "I could only see through the bottom three inches of the windscreen, it had teamed up so much. I had to stop twice on the stage because I literally couldn't see where I was going."
No8 — Harper: "I'm a little bit happier with the car, and my performance. There's a lot of water, and it's very slippy. I've had a few visibly issues, but the exhaust problem earlier was worse."
No11 — Pye: "Struggling with the standing water: going ok though."
No14 — Mounsey: "The service crew, and an electrician, sorted out the driveshaft problems at service, so hats off to them. A few bits got hot through SS3, but I think we'll be ok now."
No12 — McGeehan: "Happy to get through those stages: I was on cut slicks again. The dark doesn't bother me: I like it."
No15 — Cressey: "I'm always happy: but we haven' decided who's in charge yet — me or the car? But it' all good fun, and it's certainly getting my attention!"
No22 — Weir: "So far, so good really. If I can keep this pace going, I'll be well chuffed. The last stage tonight though is going to be tricky."
No21 — Stell: "Going really well so far. My tyre choices have been good, which has helped. I've stuck with the inters, and that's been the right choice."
SS5 Overall (Top 10):
1. MacGillivray 39:30; 2. Duffy +0:33; 3. Pye +1:44. 4. Weir +2:32; 5. Stell +3:02; 6. Chadwick +3:13; 7. Mounsey +3:14; 8. Sinclair +3:17; 9. MacCrone +3:28; 10. Bird +3:35.
SS6 DRIVERS QUOTES AND OVERALL STANDINGS:
Car2, Duffy: "Best stage so far: the gearbox problems have been sorted. Surface drying out a lot more, so much nicer to drive. I couldn't have done any better tonight in the conditions we've had. We'll give it a blast tomorrow, but I'm suspicious about the weather reports. As an islander, the only forecast I make is when I look out of the window and see the weather."
Car 1, MacCrone: "We made a good push on the hill: it's was my only chance really to make full advantage of he wee car, because if it's dry tomorrow the big cars will hit us hard. I had a big moment as we came into Dervaig: two wheels up on a rock, which was pretty scary. Still, we're still here and we'll mount as big a push tomorrow as we can."
Car 9, MacGillivray: "Yeh, I think the two guys ahead of us took a few seconds out o us, but I'm happy with where we are overall. No major hassles tonight, so now we'll wait and see what the weather does tomorrow."
Car 6, Cope: "Good clean run through there: the best stage of the night. We're fighting back after a slow start. We were a bit too cautious to begin with."
Car 8, Harper: "My views are unrepeatable, to be honest. Really slippy."
Car 11, Pye: "Good run, nice and clean. We'll push as hard as we can tomorrow in the daylight stages."
Car 14, Mounsey: "Enjoyed it: went well."
Car 12, McGeehan: "Enjoyed that. The first section was really narrow, which wasn't good for the Mini, but into Dervaig it was good."
Car 15, Cressey: "That was a lot better. We've taken the anti-roll bar out, and the car's actually handling a lot better now. But the car's still driving like a MkII Escort."
Car 22, Weir: "Still smiling. We're still here, it's just tough. Touch wood, the car's still going well."
Car 21, Stell: "Bit sloppy in there, but we made a bit of a push to try and get ahead of Doug (Weir).
SS6 Overall (Top 10):
1. MacGillivray 51:31; 2. Duffy +0:30; 3. Pye +1:52. 4. MacCrone +3:12; 5. Weir +3:40; 6. Mounsey +3:41; 7. Stell +3:48; 8. Sinclair +4:1; 9. McGeehan +4:38; 10. Bird +4:50.
Jimmy McRae Interview:
Jimmy McRae spoke exclusively to us, and explained the problems which forced him to retire his MkI Escort from tonight's action. But the good news is he plans to return to contest the remainder of the rally tomorrow:
"It's been a disappointing end to the night, after it started so well," Jimmy explained. "We were feeling really good through the first half of the opening stage at Calgary Bay, but suddenly the car started playing up and we thought it was electrical.
"Then on stage 2 at Loch Tuath we stopped twice for about 4-5 minutes. The car then fired up again and ran very well: in fact we were so quick we were catching the cars that had gone passed us when we'd been stopped. So we knew the car had the pace.
"By then we'd identified the fact the car had a fuel-starvation problem. We got through the stage, but then on the road section it stopped again, and we decided it was better to stop and look after the engine.
"The other thing was, we started having problems with our windscreen wipers: basically the 35-year-old wiper motor decided enough was enough, and packed in. Not exactly what you want in the terrible conditions we had, especially on the opening stage.
"Actually, if anyone has a wiper motor for a MkI Escort, then that would be really helpful. But the guys are working on the car and I'm confident we'll be back out tomorrow.
"That's the problem, of course, with old cars. There are new parts you can put on the car, but old things like the wiper motors are still original.
"As for the conditions tonight: they were treacherous. very, very wet through the second half of the opening stage.
"But we're out of the action for tonight. The guys are on the case and working on the car, and we're confident we can get back out again tomorrow. Looking forward to it!"
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Jim McGill
Photo: Copyright of LindsayPhotoSport