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RALLY NEWS NO.5 Skibbereen Service/Sunday 2pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Mount Kid
1st (2) Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Focus WRC) 45.12
2nd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Fabia WRC) 45.54
3rd (3) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 46.16
4th (10) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 46.19
5th (6) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 47.06
6th (20) Keith Cronin/Anthony O'Conaill (Lancer N) 47.36
7th (16) Kevin & Martin Kelleher (Lancer N) 47.53
8th (9) PJ McGrath/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 47.58
9th (11) James O'Sullivan/Brian Duggan (Impreza WRC) 48.36
10th (22) Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Lancer) 49.15
11th (76) Owen Murphy/Don Montgomery (Lancer N) 49.17
12th (35) Jer O’Donovan/Steve O’Donovan (Esc.Cos) 50.00
Through stage 5, Mount Kid, it was Tim McNulty’s turn to tie with Andreas Mikkelsen for fastest time. Eugene Donnelly was just 1s back. Andreas said at service. “On stage 4 we had the intermediate tyres and it was dry. On stage 5 we had the slick tyres and it rained! We took it easy, it was no problem”. Eugene Donnelly reported. “It is getting better on every stage, there is still quite a bit to do to the car but its good”. Tim McNulty was in fine form when he came in, as ever joking and laughing but underneath it all Tim would be anxious enough to get a fastest time instead of a joint fastest!
Denis Cronin lost a few seconds when he got held up by PJ McGrath for a few miles. PJ had an overshoot at the 2nd junction and stalled the engine which cost him a fair bit of time. Kevin Barrett retired his Subaru at the start of stage 5, the power steering pump playing up. James O’Sullivan had some all sideways motoring through that 5th stage. James’ tyres were just worn out and of course the rain was pouring down.
In Group N Keith Cronin dropped a few seconds in stage 5 as he overshot a junction and then caught up with Owen Murphy. For his part Owen also reported an overshoot up an escape road but he tried to spin the car around on the wee narrow road and got it stuck in the ditch. Kevin Kelleher was fastest in group N through that stage, Kevin saying “there’s just no more left”. Eyvind Brynildsen lost a few more seconds through stage 5 as his Lancer’s turbo boost continues to drop. As well as that co driver Damien Connolly told us that Eyvind has made his notes much too simple for the Irish roads, not nearly enough details and it is costing him time.
Kevin O’Donoghue had a reasonably good time through stage 5 despite still having no 3rd gear and he’s on course now for the 023 Tiles Southern 4 championship. Jer O’Donovan continues to have a good run and has his fingers crossed that he can keep it going to the finish, his Escort Cosworth running perfectly so far. Gerry Cassidy completed stage 4 with his Escort stuck in 4th gear and dropped over a minute. He got the problem sorted and had a decent run through stage 5 but still 24s down on Anthony O’Halloran. Anthony’s total now 50.50 and having a good run in his Manta. Phillip Cross had problems with his Escort Cosworth on the Cork 20 when the throttle housing was faulty. He’s got it sorted but is having to learn to the drive the car all over again. Gareth Jones is having a fairly miserable day, his Focus WRC suffering another puncture, this one in stage 5, and he stopped and changed the wheel.
Tommy Doyle has been leading cl.13 all day in his Escort but he is having to change a gearbox here at service. Ken O’Neill in the Puma was slowed with a broken shock absorber on the 2nd stage and then the screen misted up badly in stage 5 also slowing him. Gwyn Thomas in the 4 wheel drive Cosworth Puma has had a good clear run so far. Mark Sheahan in the Clio lost a minute in stage 4 when he spun and got stuck, now the steering is out of line.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net |
