| RALLY
NEWS NO.8 The Mall/Armagh/Saturday 11.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 10 – Babylon Hill
1st (3) Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 1.06.55.6
2nd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.08.35.8
3rd (5) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.10.27.6
4th (9) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 1.10.53.7
5th (10) Gwyndaf Evans/Huw Lewis (Lancer N) 1.11.23.7
6th (14) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.12.45.7
7th (12) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 1.13.15.2
8th (17) Phillip & Simon Morrow (Lancer N) 1.13.28.8
9th (26) James Cullen/Reba Graham (Lancer N) 1.15.01.5
10th (34) John McGlaughlin/Crawford Henderson (Lancer N) 1.15.12.8
Kris Meeke was fastest through stage 10 but by just over 4s this time
from Eugene Donnelly. Kris felt that although he had a good stage perhaps
he picked too soft a tyre. Eugene Donnelly said that it went “alright”,
Eugene just intent now on getting through the day, conserving his place
and going for points in the Tarmac Championship.
Eamonn Boland was 12s down on Donnelly through the stage, Eamonn reporting
a smooth run. Gwyndaf Evans was a fraction quicker than Mark Higgins,
these two still battling away for group N and British Championship points.
Gwyndaf felt that his car was under steering very slightly following a
differential change at service.
Colm Murphy said that he loved the stage, found it very technical and
challenging, but he was up and down a few banks and hedges. Phillip Morrow
was definitely in a bank – his Lancer under steered on a tight square
right and he has damaged the front of the car, the intercooler is broken
and there is no boost. The episode cost Phillip about 50s. He has one
more stage to do before service so hopefully he gets through. James Cullen
had a clean run through stage 10 but had brain fade in the City Special
where he turned right instead of left. John McGlaughlin is hanging on
to 10th place despite running intermediate tyres on the rear of his Lancer
when he should have been on slicks. Owen Murphy was lying just outside
the top 10 but he seems to be running very late now following the centre
differential trouble. Seamus Leonard is running harder tyres at the front
in an effort to carry more speed through the corners, but reckons his
Lancer has balance shaft broken in the engine which is making it run very
rough.
Julian Reynolds has speeded up well this morning and is 11th o/a just
ahead of Conrad Rautenbach who had a few small brake issues with his Citroen.
We mentioned earlier that David Higgins retired with an engine problem,
it would appear to be more of an electrical problem than engine. James
Wozencroft in the Suzuki has had a good clean run this morning while his
team mate Lorna Smith was held up slightly in stage 8 behind the crashed
Lancer of Hugh Evans. Evans’ TQRED Lancer was on its roof and blocking
the stage. Lorna had trouble squeezing her Suzuki past but managed it.
Toni Kelly in her little Honda Civic was also held up in the Evans incident
but otherwise is going well. Dave Randles has had some problems with his
Nissan cutting out but happy to be still going. The Moynihan sisters broke
a gearbox mounting in their Peugeot, lost some time, now going OK. Dessie
McCartney is running in Super Rally having had clutch release bearing
trouble with his Citroen and went over maximum lateness. John Mulholland
is running standard rear suspension in his Skoda having broken the rally
struts earlier. Magherafelt MC lady extraordinaire Ursula Mullan is celebrating
her birthday today by timekeeping at the stage at Eglish. Happy birthday
Ursula! Maurice Gass has had drive shaft trouble to the rear of his Impreza
WRC. David Bogie has retired his Lancer, reportedly electrical problems.
Neil McCance was running in Super Rally but has crashed out on a square
right junction in stage 7. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
(with thanks to Michael Patterson) www.rallynews.net
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