N.Z. driver out of rally

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33092, 6 December 1972, Page 34

N.Z. driver out of rally

CN.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) YORK.

The only New Zealand entrant in the R.A.C. international rally, M. Marshall, crashed into a stone wall in Wales and retired after only five stages. He was taken to hospital for observation, but his codriver, A. McWatt, is not hurt.

Things did not go right from the start for the New Zealand pair. Their Woolmark New Zealand Ford Escort RSIBOO developed

trouble in the clutch slave cylinder on the first stage through Bramham. Marshall managed to drive the car through to the start of the second stage at Harewood House, where they removed the slave cylinder completely and limped through the next stage still without a clutch. After managing to get parts for the car they completed stage four and repaired the slave cylinder at the side of the road before stage five. Unfortunately the adjustment was not correct, and starting the fifth stage the car stalled. After a push start the car headed into the stage,

but coming into a tight, lefthand bend in torrential rain the car slid across the tarmac surface and hit the stone wall. The impact damaged the car severely, and the righthand front wheel was almost tom off. Marshall was taken back to the start of the stage and then to Llandudno Hospital for overnight observation. Later he was reported to be better, although the hospital was to make an X-ray examination. R. Clark, of Britain, increased his lead yesterday after the completion of seven special stages. Clark, in a works Ford Escort, is seek-

ing Britain’s first rally success for 13 years. Last year’s winner, S. Blomqvist, in a Saab, held on to second place, while a fellow Swede, A. Kullang, in an Opel, took over third position. Kullang was leading a powerful challenge by the West German Opels for the manufacturers* team award. A Fall (Britain), Datsun, was fourth, H. Kallstrom (Sweden), Lancia, fifth, P. Eklund (Sweden), Saab, sixth, S. Lampinen (Finland), Lancia, seventh, O. Eriksson (Sweden), Opel, eighth, L. B. Nasenious (Sweden), Opel, ninth, and G. Blomqvist (Sweden), Opel, tenth.