RALLY NEWS NO.3
Service In - Sunday 12.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 (LOUGH GHE)
1st (4) Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Impreza WRC) 17.37
2nd (1) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 17.43
3rd (7) Maurice Gass/Ger McMonagle (Impreza WRC) 17.50
4th (2) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 17.52
5th (5) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (Impreza) 18.25
6th (17) Sean Gallagher/Paul Nagle (Esc.Cos) 18.29
7th (16) Nigel Hicklin/Sam McMullan (Impreza) 18.30
8th (9) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 18.42
Top competitor David Armstrong has unfortunately crashed in stage 2 at a
"triple caution 5 right hairpin left" where the road drops away, and
if you don't brake early, you are not going to slow down. Initial reports
are that David and co driver Heribe Blackburn are badly shaken, but hopefully
with no serious injuries, although the ambulance has been called to the scene.
Also retired in that stage is Adrian McElvaney, his Subaru Impreza WRC engine
lapsing on to 3 cylinders, Adrian pulling in at junction 5.
Eugene Donnelly was far and away the fastest on that 2nd stage, the Maghera man
demoralising the opposition with a time of 8.41. Tim McNulty was 8.57. Michael
Barrable and Maurice Gass both on 9.00. Eugene commented "That was a
good run, more like the thing". First on the road, Tim McNulty,
said "Being cautious, the car is good". Michael Barrable
reported "We're getting the confidence back, no problems".
Ollie O'Donovan gave us a wrong time for the first stage, he gave us 9.22 and it
should have been 9.02, which would have put Ollie equal 5th place. It did
not go so well on stage 2 however for the London based Limerick man. A rear left
puncture on the Subaru, 4 miles from the end of the stage, meaning overshoots
and hairy moments up a hedge. Ollie's time for that one was 9.23. Maurice Gass
reported his Impreza's tyres going off in the stage. Liam McCarthy also seems to
be in tyre trouble. His Corolla WRC had a spin in stage 1 and then was "all
over the place" in stage 2. Denis Cronin commented "The car
seems fine, but I'm not flowing with my driving". Garry Jennings in
the Peugeot told us "The car's running out of steam in these fast stages,
we're flat in 6th gear most of the time and as well I missed a couple of
gears". Garry had been saying earlier that the new sequential 6 speed
box that has just been fitted needs a bit of fine-tuning in the linkage
department. As well as that the electronic read out on the dash is not working.
Nigel Hicklin was a bit slower on that one, the Ballymena man saying
"Couldn't get into it". Sean Gallagher, with Paul Nagle on the pace
notes, is having a good run, although Sean is finding the stages fairly slippy.
Anthony O'Halloran has reportedly retired his Manta on stage 2 when the sump
plug fell out and the engine lost its lubricant.
In the Ford Ireland Focus Championship part of the rally Oliver Stanley led
after stage 1 by 6s from John Foley. Gabriel Martin was 3rd a further 13s back.
Series leader Colm Murphy beached his example on a bank and got stuck. While Ken
Lyons admitted to being slow on that first one. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ
PATTERSON
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