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RALLY NEWS NO.7 End of stage 9/Fornenst Liscarrol/Sunday/Noon
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 CHURCHTOWN
1st (1) Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (C4 WRC) 1.25.24.6
2nd (3) Dani Sordo/Mark Marti (Xsara WRC) 1.27.04.2
3rd (5) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 1.29.39.8
4th (7) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.30.03.8
5th (9) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.32.19.2
6th (2) Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (Focus WRC) 1.32.24.6
7th (8) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 1.32.46.6
8th (12) Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy (Focus WRC) 1.33.55.2
9th (14) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 1.35.20.9
10th (23) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.35.47.8
World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb brought his Citroen to a halt at the end of stage 9, the opening test of Day 2 of this Murphy Construction Cork 20 Rally, and said. “Very fast, good.” A grazed passenger door and mud in the back wheel was evidence that Loeb is still trying hard. He was 10s faster than his team mate, Dani Sordo, 14s up on a very hard trying Mark Higgins. Sordo said. “Very difficult to see the colours of the road, to judge grip”. (It was bright autumnal sunshine). Mikko Hirvonen wasn’t quite as quick as his world championship rivals and said. “It was a little bit slippy. On one junction I ran very wide, very sideways all the way”. Mark Higgins seemed to be completely pumped up at stage finish and said that he cracked a rear wheel on a little cu/bump over the flying finish. Eugene Donnelly was a full 19s down on Higgins but said. “I’m happy enough”. It would appear that Eugene is thinking very much about the Global Group Tarmac Championship, he can afford to finish 3 registered places behind Mark and still take the title.
Other stories from the top runners included: Tim McNulty crunched the front of his Pierse backed Subaru when he left his braking too late on a left into square left. Kevin O’Donoghue was reportedly going very slowly mid stage with the hazard lights blinking. Kevin is the points leader in the 023 Tiles Southern 4 Championship and with Denis Cronin also retired following gearbox troubles it will be interesting to see how the points stand tonight. Gareth MacHale reported that he had no great confidence on the greasy parts of the stage and backed off slightly. Aaron MacHale has a minute buffer in front and behind so he’s playing it safe. Michael Barrable reported a soft brake pedal and Hugh Martin Doherty a clutch problem with his Subaru S12.
Kevin Kelleher had a gearbox change on his Lancer this morning. Stan Harper’s men did a brilliant job in 25 minutes and Kevin celebrated with a fastest GpN time, 4s up on Colm Murphy. Overall Colm still leads and Owen Murphy was just 0.1 of a second down at the end of that stage 9, Owen driving the door handles off his Lancer.
The Ford Fiesta Trophy contenders joined in this morning and Jonny Greer was fastest by 4s from Alastair Fisher with Tadgh Buckley a further 3s back. Interestingly even with the Bulldog Rally remaining young Jonny Greer & co driver Jonny Hart have clinched the UK Fiesta championship following their win on the McRae Stages yesterday.
Overnight class leaders included the 2 works Suzukis of James Wozencroft and Lorna Smith at the front of Class 2 and heading for honours in the Global Group Tarmac Championship as well. Class 3 was led by Billy Hayes from Ian Hynes both in Civics. Class 4 for the big GpN cars saw Colm Murphy leading in his Impreza from Owen Murphy and Kevin Kelleher, both in Lancers. Interestingly Kevin clocked up a fastest GpN time on the penultimate stage yesterday which would show that he is getting to grips with his new Lancer. Class 6 was led by Ted O’Riordan in his Proton from Ian Roche in his Peugeot. Dave Randles led cl.7 in his ex works Nissan Almera.
Young Toni Kelly retired from that class 7 her new Honda breaking a drive shaft. However it looks as if Letterkenny girl Toni has done enough to take the class in the Tarmac c/ship on a tie break, this has to be confirmed. Aiden Dunlea was 2nd in cl.7 and Kieran Marshall 3rd. In the heat of the battle Kieran was very indebted to Tony Kelly for giving him his spare speedo sensor, the small electrical device part of the engine management system. Phil Collins/Derek Brannigan led the National Rally with Terence O’Shaughnessy/Eugene McGrath 2nd o/a and leading his class despite losing the brakes when the big bolt came out of the end of the drive shaft on their 1600 Corolla. Barry Meade/Colin Fitzgerald were 3rd in their Escort.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
*For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 53030 (Irl): 60066 (UK): Cost 30c/25p: Text RALLY STOP to stop. Provided by stagetimes.com
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