IRISH RALLY DRIVER FINISHES 4th IN FRANCE

Posted: May 9, 2003 6:23 PM

Shaun and co-driver Richard Pashley found it difficult to adjust to the French conditions and suffered on the opening stages. The stages are a mixture of gravel, grass and tarmac with deep tracks running down the middle of each section. Shaun was also suffering from set up problems and his Peugeot 206 was jumping out of these tracks. Brake and tyre problems also hampered the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award Winner during the first day and he was lying 5th overnight.

The Mullen Express Transport backed crew concentrated on solving their set up problems on Saturdays opening stages and following the first service of leg two Shaun was a lot happier with the handling of the car. Having lost some places earlier in morning he then upped his pace and was setting times inside the top five. By the end of day two Shaun had clawed his way back to 5th overall.

Shaun remained at this speed for day three and set fourth and second fastest times on the days opening two stages and moved into 3rd place. Third fastest on the penultimate stage of the rally saw Shaun hold his 3rd position and there was just 2.2 seconds between Shaun and 4th place Chatillon with one stage remaining. He set second fastest time on the last stage but it was not enough and he finished 4th by just 0.1seconds.

“I am happy with the result as it was my first gravel event in France but it was a little disappointing to loose out by such a close margin. It was a difficult weekend, we had a lot of problems and the conditions were a lot rougher than I expected but I am learning more and more on each event, that’s what’s important” commented Shaun

The third round of the French Peugeot 206 Cup is another gravel event in just two weeks time.