Service problems destroy Richard’s lead

Posted on 03. Oct, 2009 by Dean in Pacific Forest Rally 2009

Pat Richard and Alan Ockwell have lost
almost all of their nearly minute lead at the 2009 Pacific Forest
Rally after taking a penalty leaving service five minutes late.

The crew for the Subaru Rally Team
Canada could not remove a wheel nut on the rear of the car and were
forced to cut the nut off to remove the wheel. The work saw the team
take a 50 second penalty, and dropped their lead from 53 seconds to
just three seconds.

For Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie
Richard, the plan to retain second place and keep an eye on the
championship is now up in the air. The pair could push for a win and
further widen the gap in the points standings.

Two more passes of Helmer special stage
remain, with a distance of nearly 50kms to be contested. Both Richard
and L'Estage will not want to ease off and let the other win, but
neither can fall too far back. The mountain tops have been clouded in
and competitors are reporting that the stage is muddy, making the
largely downhill stage treacherous.