| RALLY NEWS NO.5 Service/Armagh/Friday 10.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 – End of Leg 1
1st (3) Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 37.02.1
2ND (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 37.39.0
3RD (6) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 38.39.8
4th (10) Gwyndaf Evans/Huw Lewis (Lancer N) 39.02.2
5th (5) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 39.10.4
6th (9) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 39.13.5
7th (4) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 39.25.9
8th (14) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 40.13.5
9th (17) Phillip & Simon Morrow (Lancer N) 40.16.3
10th (15) David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas (Corolla S2000) 40.27.4
11th (12) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 40.34.2
12th (8) Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Lancer N) 41.38.0
Eugene Donnelly was fastest by half a second over Kris Meeke on the 2nd run over the Ivy Hill stage to conclude the first leg of the rally. Gwyndaf Evans and Mark Higgins tied for fastest in group N, Welshman Evans the highest placed overnight of the Tesco 99 British C/ship contenders. Kris Meeke, happy with his 37s lead, said as he steered his Pirelli Subaru into the service park. “I didn’t want to throw everything away before bedtime. So often in the past the finger has been pointed at me for not controlling the lead and anything can happen in the dark. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, the car, the tyres, everything is fine”. Eugene Donnelly said. “I enjoyed that, but it was too much too late. I made too many boobies today. But that’s life, at least I’ve got a good lead over the others”.
Andrew Nesbitt again lost time when his Subaru stalled a couple of times. Tim McNulty lost a little of his earlier momentum and said “Although it was damp the stage was OK but difficult in the dark”. Mark Higgins is just a few seconds behind Gwyndaf in the fight for top British c/ship points and he said. “The car is handling better, we will try again in the morning, I think it is there. I’m not absolutely on the door handles like on the Manx, there’s more to come”. Gwyndaf Evans told us that he was pleased to have gone so well in the dark, that he thought Mark would have had time off him, that his old eyesight isn’t so good at night any more!! Guy Wilks felt that he was struggling to find rhythm, and said “I was killing the car in junctions, first gear too much but still the car’s quite good. As well the light pod wasn’t set right, my fault, didn’t have enough distance”.
Seamus Leonard told us that although his Lancer suspension is sorted the engine doesn’t seem quite right, Seamus feeling that perhaps the timing has jumped or a shaft is damaged. He said also “Earlier I couldn’t keep it out of the ditches!” Colm Murphy on the other hand is really pleased now with the way his Subaru is going, Colm very well placed as top Tarmac GpN contender here. David Higgins is having problems with his Corolla S2000 steering rack. When he goes hard left to hard right the rack seems to stiffen up and then free which is all a bit iffy. The team is going to fit a new rack here at service. While waiting to go into service control Wyn Humphreys was lying under his Impreza frantically undoing bolts in preparation for a gearbox change. Phillip Morrow had a good run through the final stage to hold a handy position for tomorrow. Denis Biggerstaff was going to change the gearbox on his Impreza. Sean McArdle spun his Corolla WRC twice on stage 6. Sean told us he got new glasses to help see in the darkness but said “They’re not that great, just have to eat more carrots!” Conrad Rautenbach caught 2 cars in stage 6 and lost a few seconds. Maurice Gass admitted to having a poor run through the darkness. Kevin O’Donoghue arrived into service with the reserve fuel light on his Lancer burning brightly, the Killarney man said “There were a few long miles there!” Seb Ling put his Lancer into a field in stage 6 and knocked off all the lights, still going. Rob Swann admitted to really struggling in the dark whereas James Cullen absolutely loved the dark stages. More news in the morning. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Michael Patterson): www.rallynews.net
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