TOUR AUTO 2016. l'Anniversaire 25.

[nikbj68]

It`s that time of year again, the TOUR AUTO runs from the 18th to the 24th of April, from Paris to Cannes, pitting 230+ crew & cars built between 1951-1973 against themselves and the stunning French scenery!
   
   
   
   2016 marks the 25th anniversary of the modern 'Tour de France', and to celebrate this, there will be a night section on the Saturday featuring 2 stages, just in case the drivers and co-drivers wouldn`t be fatigued enough after 5 days and 1,200 miles of competition!
   
   
   
   The main focus of my reports will be Shaun Lynn & Kevin Kivlochan in the Cobra; Bronze last year, Gold in 2014, but what will they take home from the Silver Anniversary Tour Auto? Bookmark this page to follow the action!
   There are 8 Cobras, 5 AC Aces and an Aceca which I will also try to record, but Shaun & Kevin`s main competition comes from 4 GT40s and the usual Jaguar and Lotus crews.
   Please join with me wishing Shaun & Kevin the best of luck, and all the competitors a fun & safe event.
   
   For much more detail, visit the Official Tour Auto website.

[rstainer]

Eight Cobras: Three originals, three replicas and two as yet unidentified: Welford/Gooding & Gutierrez/Dot.
   
   Any ideas?
   
   RS

[rstainer]

Welford/Gooding is probably CSX2055, California registered as YSR 270.
   
   RS

[nikbj68]

   
   Monday sees the 240-strong collection of cars assembling at the Grand Palais in Paris, where scrutineering takes place and numbers are issued.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   A couple of Kevin`s arty B&W photos!
   
   
   
   The competition: CSX2127, Ludovic Caron`s Cobra:
   
   
   
   Champs Elysee:
   
   
   
    This is 'the bible', featuring the route map, and co-drivers` notes for timings:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Even the support vehicles are as cool as it gets!
   
   
   
   
   The Competiton officially starts at 6am from the Chateau de Courances,
   
   
   
    leading to the first Special stage, from Sens to Les Gaillards. This was torture for Kevin, who was suffering severe back pain; not what you want in a stiffly sprung Cobra, on French backroads! It didn`t slow Shaun too much though, as they finished the stage 5th, with the LaJournade/Bouchet E-Type taking the win, Caron/Villaucourt Cobra 2nd, and Porsche 904/ Lotus Elan in 3rd/4th.
   
   
   
   From there the crews head for the lunch break at the Abbaye de Fontenay...
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   ...before the first circuit stage at Dijon-Prenois, a welcome break for Kev as Shaun managed to split the leading pair from Special Stage 1, finishing only 3 seconds behind Ludovic Caron in the Cobra, and 9 seconds ahead of the E-Type! The top five had 4 Cobras in it!
   
   Shaun & Jochen Mass chat before heading out ont the circuit:
   
   
   
   Petrolhead Nirvana!
   
   
   
   
   
   From the circuit the teams make their way to Parc Ferme at Beaune, and the crowds are out in force!
   
   
   
    There are just 2 hours for any repairs & maintenance that may be required.
   
   
   
   Overall standings at the end of Day 1:
   
   1 (201)Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar Type E 3,8L
   2  (202)Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 02 seconds
   3 (203)Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289  + 12 seconds
   4 (214)Thomas LERICHE / Hugo PAYEN FRA/FRA Jaguar Type E 3,8L + 55 seconds
   5 (211)Jean-Marc BUSSOLINI / Patricia BUSSOLINI FRA/FRA Porsche 904 + 57seconds
   8 (208)Frédéric JOUSSET / Paul MILIOTIS FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 1minute 24s
   9 (217)Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 1m27s
   12 (204)Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 1m52s
   16 (207) Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 2m03s
   61 (206) Jean-Marc MERLIN / Sophie MERLIN FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 43m21s
   67 (205) Andrew SMITH / James COTTINGHAM GBR/GBR Ford GT 40  + 1h57m24s
   
   Today was the longest as far as on the road, so just a nice, easy cruise for the rest of the week until the 'double stint' on the final day... maybe not!

[nikbj68]

   
   Day 2. Beaune to Lyon.
   
   Early update!
   After winning the Circuit du Bresse stage, Shaun & Kevin are now joint 1st overall!
   
   1 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 32m13s
   -  (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289                32m13s
   3 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type 32m20s + 07seconds

[TLegate]

Coo! Getting exciting! May the oldest car win :)

[cobham cobra]

Thanks for posting and the great photos :)

[MkIV Lux]

quote:Originally posted by TLegate
   
Coo! Getting exciting! May the oldest car win :)
   

   
   Jean-Pierre Lajournade (201) is a very good friend of mine. Although I like to see a Cobra on the podium, I would rather say: let the best team win [;)][;)]

[nikbj68]

   
   Tour Auto 2016, Day 2.
   
   Around an hour`s drive from the Palais de Congrés, today`s starting point in Beaune:
   
   
   
   the Tour Auto congregates at the Circuit de Bresse,
   
   
   
   
   
   where Shaun records his first victory of the Tour:
   
   
                                                                                   (Wot? No Champagne?!)
   
   Seen here with Cobra 'pilote' Andrew Beverley:
   
   
   
   And giving his Victor`s TV interview:
   
   
   
   1 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289  13m33s
   2 (205) Andrew SMITH / James COTTINGHAM GBR/GBR Ford GT 40     + 8 seconds
   3 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 +10s
   4 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type +19s
   5 (204) Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 24s
   6 (208) Frédéric JOUSSET / Paul MILIOTIS FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 40s
   7 (207) Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 42s
   
   Enjoy an all-too-brief video from the Bresse Circuit on the official TourAuto Optic2000 Youtube channel, including Shaun`s post-win interview!
   
   From the circuit, the teams take a south-westerly tack to the Abbey at Cluny for lunch,
   
   
   (Glad to see Kevin`s back appears to be giving him less trouble)
   
   before heading on to Berze le Chatel for the start of the first of 2 special stages today.
   
   This was definitely not a Cobra stage, with the first 4 places going to a pair of E-Types & a pair of Lotus(Lotii?!) Elans.
   
   1 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type 5m51s
   2 (214) Thomas LERICHE / Hugo PAYEN FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type  + 04s
   3 (234) Nicolas MELIN / Paul-Edouard GONDARD FRA/FRA Lotus Elan + 17s
   4 (212) Damien KOHLER / Sylvie LABOISNE FRA/FRA Lotus Elan + 22s
   5 (217) Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 22s
   7 (207) Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 23s
   10 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 28s
   11 (204) Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 33s
   12 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 34s
   
   
   Before the welcome parc ferme at Lyon, the second special stage runs basically south from Marchampt, and has more straight sections than the earlier stage, much more the Cobra`s territory, although it didn`t bring an improvement in position for Shaun & Kevin; it did, however, see the GT40 of Andrew Smith & James Cottingham back on form & snapping at the heels of the Lajournade Jag, as it had done at the Bresse track, behind Shaun`s Cobra:
   
   1 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar 7m24s
   2 (205) Andrew SMITH / James COTTINGHAM GBR/GBR Ford GT 40 + 14s
   3 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 16s
   4 (204) Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 18s
   8 (208) Frédéric JOUSSET / Paul MILIOTIS FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 27s
   9 (207) Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 30s
   10 (217) Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby Cobra + 30s
   12 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 32s
   
   Arriving at Lyon, the Overall standings look like this:
   
   1 201 Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar 45m35s
   2 202 Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 37s
   3 203 Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 59s
   7 204 Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 2m48s
   9 207 Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 3m19s
   10 208 Frédéric JOUSSET / Paul MILIOTIS FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 3m24s
   29 217 Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby Cobra + 8m36s
   
   We lost the Jean-Marc & Sophie MERLIN Cobra (206) from the event, but let`s hope that tomorrow being one of the longest of the Tour, with 3 special stages and no circuit action, sees our chaps closing the gap to the 1st & 2nd place sitters!

[MkIV Lux]

I like it the way Kevin wears the AC badge!

[nikbj68]

   
   Day 3.
   
   Today`s activities run from Lyon to Valence, and take a slightly different format, with nearly 400 kilometres to cover in total, and 3 special stages, and instead of the lunchbreak at an Abbey, the competitors must make do with just the Château de Gourdan!
   
   
   
   Ludovic had some mechanical trouble with the Cobra at the end of day 2, which meant that they arrived late at Parc Ferme in Lyon, but it appears not late enough to incur a penalty?!
   
   
   
   
   The first stage, 'Rive de Gier', begins at 7:30 am, approximately 16km of idyllic country road following Le Couzon river. The results of this stage mirror the pattern from yesterday`s special stages, one that is to repeat itself for the remainder of the day:
   
   1 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 8m28s
   2 (214) Thomas LERICHE / Hugo PAYEN FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type + 01s
   3 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type + 03s
   4 (205) Andrew SMITH / James COTTINGHAM GBR/GBR Ford GT 40 + 05s
   5 (234) Nicolas MELIN / Paul-Edouard GONDARD FRA/FRA Lotus Elan + 05s
   6 (208) Frédéric JOUSSET / Paul MILIOTIS FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra +07s
   15 (204) Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 38s
   16 (217) Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby Cobra + 43s
   19 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 47s
   
   With the Rive de Gier stage having followed a South-easterly route, the second stage, 'Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid' reverses that, heading predominantly north-west!
   
   1 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type 7m30s
   2 (205) Andrew SMITH / James COTTINGHAM GBR/GBR Ford GT 40 + 04s
   3 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 13s
   4 (214) Thomas LERICHE / Hugo PAYEN FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type + 27s
   12 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 49s
   
   From the second stage, the teams make their way to the Chateau de Gourdan for lunch,
   
   
   
   
   
    after which the final stage of the day, Bouvante en Royans, presents Alpine-style switchbacks and running through the Pionnier Tunnels! I believe the echoes have only just died down now! Congratulations to Andrew Smith & James Cottingham for their first stage victory in the GT40.
   
   1 (205) Andrew SMITH / James COTTINGHAM GBR/GBR Ford GT 40 5m40s
   2 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type + 08s
   3 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 12s
   4 (214) Thomas LERICHE / Hugo PAYEN FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type + 19s
   6 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 30s
   10 (207) Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 41s
   13 (217) Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby Cobra + 46s
   16 (204) Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 49s
   18 (208) Frédéric JOUSSET / Paul MILIOTIS FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 53s
   
   
   Nearly 11 hours after leaving Lyon, the teams arrive at the Esplanade du Champ de Mars in Valence.
   
   
   
   Overall standings show a familiar result, but Shaun & Kevin are inexplicably a lot further back on the road than they should be, as car & crew were in good quick form.
   
   1 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type 1h07m24s
   2 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 51s
   3 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 2m54s
   7 (204) Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 4m45s
   10 (207) Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 5m36s
   21 (217) Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 10m49s (Incl. 5m penalty)
   
   Maybe getting back on the circuit at Ledenon will allow Shaun to close the gap.
   
   Check out video highlights on the Official Tour Auto Youtube feed

[nikbj68]

   
   Day 4. Valence - Marseille
   
   I received this message from Kevin at 5:40 am!
   "Nik,The tour is a tough event by anyone's book, tough on cars and drivers.
   Long days in hot cars with not much sleep.
   There are five plateau's in the Tour,
   The start times are varied to allow for at least a few days, where you don't have to get up silly early.
   Today was one of our lie in days ( ie we get up at 7 and not 5am)
   Today on our lie in day the hotel...
   Fire alarm went off, so the lie in never happened !!!"
   
   Oh well, at least they had a hearty French breakfast to make up for it!
   
   
   
   SO. Not the best start to a 400km+ blast across Southern France with 2 special stages and a circuit race ahead!
   the Cobras don`t seem to mind an early start though:
   
   
   
   Camaradrie, or holding each other up?!
   
   
   
   As they prepare to leave Valence, Kevin & Charles de Villaucourt take a moment to show that despite being rivals, they can still share a smile!
   
   
   
   Not only is today one of the longest on the road, but it starts with the longest Special Stage to date, Le Moulinon.
   This is a fast, flowing stage, punctuated by a couple of hairpin turns at around 2/3 distance, and again Shaun & Kevin lose a little ground against the front runners, with the GT40 of Smith & Cottingham proving a good match for the Lajournade E-Type & Caron`s Cobra, what a shame for them that problems on day 1 have left them so far down the field:
   
   1 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type 12m18s
   2 (205) Andrew SMITH / James COTTINGHAM GBR/GBR Ford GT 40 + 12s
   3 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 21s
   7 (204) Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 1m11s
   9 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 1m17s
   
   After this stage, time for a quick service, courtesy of the Moto Historic Support crew:
   
   
   
   Lunch follows, and after yesterday`s Chateau, today sees a return to the familiar stop at an Abbey, Abbaye de Bouchet.
   
   One thing Cobras don`t like to pass...Petrol Stations!
   
   
   
   At least our chaps don`t seem to be showing the fatigue that early starts and late finishes must be inflicting upon them!
   
   
   
   By comparison to the morning stage, the Saint Victor La Coste stage is polar opposite, lasting little over 4 minutes!
   
   The results, however, look decidedly similar:
   
   1 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type 4m15s
   2 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 04s
   3 (205) Andrew SMITH / James COTTINGHAM GBR/GBR Ford GT 40 + 04s
   4 (217) Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 13s
   10 (208) Frédéric JOUSSET / Paul MILIOTIS FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 24s
   12 (207) Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 26s
   15 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 30s
   
   Ever wondered how they get some of the great footage like THIS?
   
   Well, here`s your answer:
   
   
   
   
   
   One essential part of the team is the chase car... 1973 Porsche RS anyone? Lovely!
   
   
   
   Some of the scenery in this part of the world is stunning:
   
   
   
   The final competitive element of the day takes place at the Ledenon Circuit:
   
   
   
   ...And Oh boy, did Shaun make the most of it!
   
   1 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 13m43s
   2 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 14s
   3 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type + 15s
   4 (208) Frédéric JOUSSET / Paul MILIOTIS FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 31s
   7 (217) Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 + 1m01s
   
   Sadly we were denied the chance to see Andrew Smith in the mix on the circuit, as the GT40, and the Cobras of Martin Freeman & Andrew Beverley, were unable to compete on the circuit, Let`s hope they are all fit for the final Day tomorrow!
   
   As the Tour beds down for the night in Marseille, the Overall Standings remain static for the top 3, it will take something quite dramatic to change that by the end of the final Extra-Special Anniversary night stage which brings the 2016 Tour Auto to a close in the early hours of Sunday morning:
   
   1 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type 1h 37m 55s
   2 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 1m 15s
   3 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 4m 26s
   14 (217) Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby + 13m 25s
   42 (208) Frédéric JOUSSET / Paul MILIOTIS FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 1h 04m 14s
   44 (207) Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra + 1h 09m 27s
   49 (204) Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 2h 01m 47s
   53 (205) Andrew SMITH / James COTTINGHAM GBR/GBR Ford GT 40 + 2h 59m 52s
   
   
   One final message from Kevin:
   "We started at 5am thanks to fire alarm,
   Now 12:30 and just got to hotel, knackered with burnt feet!
   What a great day"
   
   Anyone need a pair of 4-day old racing boots, light signs of wear?!
   
   

[AC Ace Bristol]

.
   .
   All going well...........Looks like a possible podium, for the down at heal pair. Shaun & Kevin
   
   Thank you Kevin & Nik for the regular updates..[;)]
   
   Good Luck on the final stages, keep it on the tarmac.
   
   Look on ebay, Next Week.   Buy Now!!...  One pair of "Racing Boots", only worn for four days, just one event"
   
   Keith..[:)]

[TLegate]

It's fortunate the circuits allow for a more level playing field, so to speak, and give a more accurate reflection of performance. In my opinion :) At least the happy pair can smile about it

[nikbj68]

   
   Day 5.
   Marseille - Cannes
   
   Early update.
   
   After clutch failure ended Day 4 early for the Beverley/Humphreys Cobra, parts were flown out from the UK to have the Cobra ready for today, Good work MotoHistorics!
   
   
   
   Mark Freeman suffered Diff problems too, but should be OK to finish the event now:
   
   
   
   The first stage of the day started early, and saw Shaun & Kevin finish in 9th place, only 36 seconds down:
   
   1 (205) Andrew SMITH / James COTTINGHAM GBR/GBR Ford GT 40 5m49s
   2 (201) Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type + 11s
   3 (202) Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 16s
   5 (217) Ralf HUBER GUTIERREZ / Valérie DOT CHE/FRA Shelby Cobra 289 +33s
   9 (203) Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 36s
   
   With overall standings remaining static:
   
   1 201 Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET FRA/FRA Jaguar E-Type 1h43m55s
   2 202 Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT FRA/FRA Shelby Cobra + 1m20s
   3 203 Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN GBR/GBR Shelby Cobra 289 + 4m51s
   
   And then they moved on to the circuit Paul Ricard.
   Disaster.
   
   
   
   Shaun was leading but after 3 laps, the coil failed, and the Cobra ground to a halt just past the Start/Finish line.
   
   
   
   BOLLOCKS!
   
   That`s done it.
   
   Time & penalties add up to nearly 58 minutes, so at present, Shaun & Kevin are out  of the top 10, and 20.
   
   So cruel, to have a decent finish snatched away in the last miles of such a hard week for man & machine. To say they are emotionally and physically drained doesn`t really cover it, Rotten, rotten luck.
   
   The Cobra is fixed again now, but I wouldn`t blame the Lads for not finishing the night stage...hope they do though!
   
   There will be a wrap-up report on Sunday or Monday, but for now, that`s it.