RALLY NEWS NO.4
Service-Tralee Rd - Sunday 3pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 Dromtrasna
1st (4) Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Impreza WRC) 35.36
2nd (1) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 36.24
3rd (7) Maurice Gass/Ger McMonagle (Impreza WRC) 36.26
4th (2) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 36.28
5th (5) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (Impreza) 37.38
6th (16) Nigel Hicklin/Sam McMullan (Impreza) 37.42
7th (9) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 38.08
8th (156) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRc) 38.09
9th (17) Sean Gallagher/Paul Nagle (Esc.Cos) 38.32
10th (14) Garry Jennings/Derek Brannigan (Peugoet 106) 38.37
Through stages 3 and 4, Sugar Hill and Dromtrasna, Eugene Donnelly continued to
set the pace on this Circuit of Munster Rally, his speed really phenomenal.
On stage 3 Eugene's time was 8.32, Tim McNulty and Maurice Gass tied for 2nd
fastest on 8.56. On stage 4 Eugene recorded 9.27, Barrable was 9.36, Gass 9.40.
Donnelly reported at service "The car is good, we're going fairly hard
OK". McNulty reported a spin and having to reverse in stage 4. While
Barrable had a major overshoot in stage 3. Ollie O'Donovan said the water
injection in his gpA car wasn't working, but basically he feels he needs a World
Rally Car to compete at this level and that he is over driving his own car.
Maurice Gass dropped a few minutes in stage 4 when he caught up with Ollie and
couldn't see the road for dust. Liam McCarthy had a spin at a gravel
junction in stage 4 and reckoned his wayward handling trouble was down to anti
roll bar problems.
Denis Cronin in the M3 felt that he backed off too much on the gravel sections.
Nigel Hicklin continues to impress here today, even though he is using second
hand tyres from his trip to the Manx National. Sean Gallagher dropped
several places on the leaderboard as his Escort Cosworth appears to be losing
power. Garry Jennings is still having problems with his new 6 speed
sequential box. When he arrived here at service he was on the radio to the
engineers to prepare for a gear box oil change.
023 Tiles man James O'Sullivan has made up for his slow start and moved into the
lead of group N by just 2s from Willie Fannin. Eoin Doye was 3rd in gpN
after 2 stages with his new Subaru, we are awaiting the Waterford man's times
after stages 3 and 4. Aidan Walsh is running a few cars out of order having
damaged the oil cooler on his red Escort, but we reckon Aidan is best of the Mk2
Escorts on a total of 39.02. Wesley Patterson is on 40.07 following plug lead
trouble on stage 4. John Rooney has lost time having burst the bell housing of
his Escort on stage 2 and then broke a brake pipe on a big stage 3 jump. Frank
O'Mahony has crashed his Ooing Metro 6R4. Hal Lewis crashed his Escort Cosworth
out a few 100 yards further on. Willie Kenneally reports fuel starvation
problems with his car. James Doherty joked when he came off stage 2 "The
car is lacking a few horses and I've too many years!".
David Randles dropped 13 minutes when his Nissan Sunny ECU failed. Emily
O'Mahony in the Ford Ka lost time when she caught some slower cars.
Charleville's Michael O'Sullivan has oil pressure problems in his Escort. Peter
Cummins in the Darrian has been setting some quick times despite intercom
problems. More news after stage 6. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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