The rally started perfectly on time, car 1 left at 9:00 am sharp and we, as car 6, left shortly thereafter. The first stage, Orange Hill to Four Hills, was quite loose with a variety of cane trash, dried mud (very dusty) and in one case a short stretch of tarmac under some trees before 4 hills that was wet and somewhat loose with gravel and leaves. That was surprising, but it disappeared after the first run as the cars swept the road clean in that section - the "Orange Hill S" as it is known remained dusty and loose for the remainder of the Rally.

Diamond Corner was also slippery, but not because of dust... the Tarmac itself was offering little grip presumably because of how smooth it is in most places, and as usual with our roads the residues of engine oil and other dripping fluids from public transport and other regular traffic build up and create a slick surface. When the rain falls on a road that has not been "cleaned" for some time, these residues turn into oil slicks that are the main cause of our treacherous wet tarmac.

Dark Hole, or "Iceland" as it has affectionately been nick-named, needs no further explanation... thank goodness no rain fell on Sunday or there could have been accidents in what was an otherwise very safe rally.

From my perspective as a competitor, I did not have a completely trouble free day - to begin with Mikey Hassell was matching me time for time, and at the end of the first 6 stages was leading me by roughly 1 second. The competition between us was very good, and it would have been interesting to see the outcome at the end of the rally - who would have come in 1st in Group N. Unfortunately, Mikey broke his front Differential after trying to fly over the Diamond Corner jump flat in 5th, and at the finish line of stage #6 the car refused to move off to go to service. My car was not however completely obedient, it was understeering very slightly and causing me to lose some time in tight corners... and after lunch, on the way to Dark Hole downhill, one of the locator pins that keep the brake pads inside the calliper on the front left wheel fell out - leaving me doubtful as to whether or not I would be bale to even make the next service point! Luckily Dark Hole was cancelled, and my brake pads stayed inside the calliper with only one of two pins still there... some wrapping wire in place of a pin fixed the issue very quickly, many thanks to the Simpson motors service crew as usual. A worn right front ball joint was also creating a bit of feedback in the steering wheel over bumpy sections and there was the worry that it would fail, leaving me with no control of the front right wheel (Read: no steering and possibly no wheel!) Luckily it lasted the duration of the rally.

By the last leg of 3 stages (Dark Hole downhill, Diamond Corner reverse, Four Hills to Orange Hill) I was comfortably ahead of the next P4 car and not really taking any big risks; then, I discovered that Barry Mayers had sneaked up on me and was now leading me by 1 second! I tried to pull back some time for the last 3 stages, but Mayers was intent on keeping his 4th place overall... (to turn into 3rd when Paul Bourne ran out of fuel and got a DNF for the last stage) so he was driving in a rather possessed manner. All I could do was match times with him, and he deservedly held onto 3rd overall, 1.6 seconds ahead of me.

I think the Rally was well managed by the Marshals and Officials, I would like to congratulate and thank all those who spent their day in the sun waving flags and keeping spectators safely out of harms way. All of the competitors appreciated the effort, and all have remarked on the fine job that was done.

Thanks again to Simpson Motors Rally Team, the Simpson Motors Mechanics (especially my service manager, Sean! "What are you doing tightening wheel nuts? Don't you know you have to be relaxed for the driving? Leave the mechanical stuff to the professionals, man!") and to Jim & Eddie who are consistently there to help in whatever way they can. Thanks Guys! Also, appreciation to the sponsors who pay for the Team to do what we do... without their backing, there could be NO Simpson Motors Rally team.

Barry Gale
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6, Gp. N (Production Class 4)