RALLY NEWS NO.6                  Killorglin - Sunday  3.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7 CARAGH LAKE

HISTORICS
1st (3) Steve Perez/Peter Scott (Porsche) 1.10.29
2nd (1) Dessie Nutt/Liz Jordan (Porsche) 1.10.44
3rd (17) Mervyn Johnston/Richard Hyland (Mini Cooper S) 1.13.04
4th (9) Adrian Kermode/John Coleman (Porsche) 1.13.18
5th (5) Philip Wylie/Jim Howe (MGB) 1.14.07
6th (19) Chris & Hilary Green (Lotus Cortina) 1.14.18   
POST HISTORICS
1st (7) John & Christy Farrell (Escort RS) 1.08.55
2nd (15) Nick Whale/Kieron Patterson (Porsche) 1.09.07
3rd (53) Steve Loveride/Nigel Dutson (Mini) 1.10.29
4th  (23) Joe & Gareth Connolly (Escort RS) 1.10.36
5th (14) Sean Tracey/Andrew Bushe (BMW Alpina) 1.10.58
6th (16) Mike Doody/Keith Moriarty (Mini) 1.11.32
7th (21) George Tracey/Elva Roe (Escort RS) 1.12.38
CLASSICS
1st (85) John Moynihan/Paul Nagle (Escort) 1.04.34
2nd (89) Jim McRae/Campbell Roy (Porsche) 1.05.59
3rd (95) Kevin O'Donogue/Joe O'Leary (Escort) 1.06.17
4th (87) Kieran O'Neill/Diarmuid Falvey (Kadet) 1.06.30
5th (88) Gareth Lloyd/Ryland James (Escort) 1.07.36
6th (96) Dave Slattery/Ger Somers (Escort) 1.07.46

In the Historic section at the front of rally there has been little change at the top of the leaderboard. Steve Perez and Dessie Nutt tied through stage 6, Perez was 2s faster through stage 7. Nutt's Porsche had some gearbox trouble earlier, it seemed to be better after last service, but he is running into trouble again, 1st gear seems to have disappeared. Ray Cunningham was into the Historic leaderboard, but his Mini has stopped in Ballaghbeama when a suspension arm broke.

In the Post Historics John Farrell has eased back ever so slightly to preserve his lead, and Nick Whale was fastest through stage 7, Caragh Lake, in his Porsche.  We mentioned earlier about Martin Ward being delayed on Molls Gap, it transpires that Martin stopped to help Richard Gower and his co driver Carl Williamson, who had crashed their Porsche on to it's roof in a layby.  The time delay has knocked Martin out of the leaderboard, but it is possible that he will get some time back in compensation.

The Classic section of the rally took a bit of an upset through stages 6 and 7 when both James O'Sullivan who was 2nd and Pat Donegan who was 3rd crashed their respective Escorts.  O'Sullivan managed to get his Escort going and indeed has arrived into service, but the car is badly damaged, and although still driving looks a right mess. Jim McRae was fastest in the Porsche through stage 7 from John Moynihan .  McRae reckons it's a real Porsche stage with very few bumps. Moynihan told us that he is going "perfect".  Kieran O'Neill reports a wee bit of clutch slip and also a misfire. Gareth Lloyd says the harder he's trying the slower he's getting!   Lloyd Hutchinson was slowed when he bent a radius arm on his Mini on one of the Ballaghbeama jumps. John Tully is a small bit outside the leaderboard having lost some time earlier on with a wrong tyre choice.

Further stories from the Historics/Post Historic section - Sean Tracey reports his BMW handling like a dream after changing to softer springs. Barry Duggan's Escort has a wire off the starter and the car is flooding, he hopes to get it sorted at service. Joe Connolly is getting used to his new car and was 29s faster 2nd time over the Gap. Billy & Dorothy Cavanagh are struggling through the stages, their Escort suffering a blown head gasket. Billy climbed down a bank to get some water to keep the yoke going. 

On the Galloway Hills Rally in Scotland, Shaun Gallagher was just pipped at the post by Simon Hughes for overall victory. Shaun was driving one of Davy Greer's Lancers co driven by Rory Kennedy. Simon Hughes was driving a gpA Impreza. Pirelli's Dick Cormack was 3rd in one of McKinstry's Impreza WRCs.

More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON              www.rallynews.net