The third LEG of Balkan Classic Rallye 2018 was a hard marathon, offering the competitors different types of route, fast straights, u-turns and, of course, tricky navigation. The movement to the last camp in Shkorpilovtsi started around 10 o’clock in the morning, but the big distance was the reason, some of the participants to finish after the sunset…
There were 4 special stages in the menu, but after the start in Dyuni resort, the caravan did not moved parallel to the Black sea coast. The first stage, finished near the city of Karnobat, and we saw Geoff Bell and Matias Adielson (Datsun) with the fastest time. Second time for Patrick De Frahan and Eric Gressens (Porsche), and third for Bertrand Pierrat and Andree Hansen. Bertrand and Andree had to change a tire during the stage, and Jofeph Jobst had broken rim of his Porsche. But the biggest mischance was for father and son Lausberg, who had hit a big rock and damaged the front left wheel and suspension, finished the stage on the recovery truck.
Despite the problems in the first stage, Josef Jobst and Juergen Bertl won the second. Here, Bell and Adielson had problems with the suspension, and had to fix it on the track. After the finish, the mechanics fixed the problem, and the flying Datsun was the fastest car in the 3rd and the last 4th special stage.
But the best overall time for the day was for the other Datsun – those of Andrew Siddal and Gary McElhinney. In the general ranking, we have new leaders – Bertrand Pierrat and Andree Hansen. The second time for the day was enough for them (as well as the problems of Bell) to move on top on the table. Second place is for Patrick De Frahan and Eric Gressens, and top 3 complete Philippe Moortgat and Andre Leyh. Thus, we see Porsche 911 dominating the rally. For the moment…
