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RALLY NEWS NO.3 Ennis/Service/Sunday 11am
(UPDATED AT 12 NOON)
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Castlelake
1st (1) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 11.45
2nd (4) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 11.52
3rd (2) Charlie Donnelly/Darren Hayes (Corolla WRC) 11.53
4th (3) Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy (Focus WRC) 11.55
5th (9) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 12.07
6th (14) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Impreza N) 12.13
(15) Willie Fannin/Paddy Robinson (Impreza N) 12.13
8th (10) Jack Sleator/Andrew Purcell (Impreza WRC) 12.15
9th (17) Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Impreza N) 12.17
10th (12) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 12.23
Patrick Elliott still insists he’s driving conservatively and paying due regard to this morning’s wet and slippy conditions. Yet there he is topping the time sheets, although Tim McNulty did set an equal fastest time with Patrick through stage 2.
Charlie Donnelly had been 2nd after stage 1 but failed to adjust himself and his Corolla to the ever wetter conditions through stage 2 and paid the price with two overshoots at junctions and dropped a few seconds. Aaron MacHale picked himself up following a careful start and was just 1s slower than McNulty and Elliot through stage 2. Tim McNulty was a wee bit happier after the 2nd stage but still felt the car was too hard over the bumps and of course tyre choice was very difficult this morning as it was relatively dry going into the first stage but then pretty wet on the second.
Denis Cronin admitted to a total lack of confidence although of course that is something that the West Cork man hopes will come back during the course of the day. Sean Gallagher in the Subaru at No.8 is outside the leaderboard, Sean struggling with his Impreza gear change and also reported no differential pressure. Kevin Barrett has had a good run to hold 4th and said it was getting slippier by the moment on that Castlelake stage.
In Group N Willie Fannin was fastest through stage 2, 5s up on Alan Ring. Michael Curran at last got into his stride and was just 1s down on Ring while Ian Barrett was, by his own admission, a little cautious. Ian’s Impreza was off the road briefly on stage 1 and that shook him just a little.
Brian O’Mahony struggled a little over the opening stages, getting used to a new type of tyre and found the Clio difficult. In the battle for rear wheel drive honours Mike Quinn is on a total of 12.53. Anthony O’Halloran is on 12.54 and said “I can’t remember the roads ever as slippy as this”. Martin McGee is on a total of 13.05. Brian Brogan 13.13. Mick McQuaid 13.29, a good opening stage spoiled when his Escort wipers failed on stage 2. Young Daniel McKenna had a good run in his 1600 Escort to lead class 10.
Further group N times include: Paul Kiely on 12.59. Sean Lyons in his Impreza 12.35. Danny McBride in his new Lancer 13.06. Tom Curley 13.25.
More news later. BRIAN & LLIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net |
