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RALLY NEWS NO.5 Service/Saturday 4.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 Connagher 2
1st (3) Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Focus WRC) 35.55
2nd (2) Sean Devine/Damien Duffin (Impreza WRC) 36.06
3rd (14) Richard Cathcart/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza N) 36.42
4th (5) Richard Hogg/Mark Hanna (Octavia) 37.14
5th (11) Raymond Mason/Peter Martin (Lancer N) 37.30
6th (17) Seamus Devine/Terry McGonigle (Impreza WRC) 37.39
Following stage 5 Sean Devine had a 6s lead over Stephen Moore but then in the long sixth stage Carrigans Sean Devine’s Subaru suffered a puncture for most of the 8.9 miles to allow Stephen Moore in front. Moore actually completed the stage in 8m03s but the bogey time was 8.16 so he only gained 8s on Devine. In stage 7 Devine was 1s faster, on stage 8 they were equal so with one stage remaining, the 3.2 mile Tullycherry test, Moore has an 11s advantage.
Retirements over the last few stages amongst the top runners included: Garry Jennings, Niall McShea and Howard Clarke. Clarke was well placed in 3rd o/a and leading group N. While Garry Jennings was 5th and 3rd gpN. McShea was just nudging on the top 10 in his rear wheel drive Escort.
In the Fiesta Sporting Trophy Jonny Greer has kept the pressure on Alastair Fisher. Alastair dropped 4s with a puncture in stage 5. In stage 6 Jonny Greer was a straightforward 5s faster. Stage 7 the two were equal and in stage 8 Greer was 2s faster than Fisher, the latter now with a 5s advantage going into the final stage. Conor Harvey is a solid 3rd ahead of Tadgh Buckley, but Conor is almost 30s behind Greer.
Following his stage 6 puncture Sean Devine commented. “We were lucky to get through the stage, the rim is destroyed and we were off the road several times.” Stephen Moore reported that he had a real good run, no problems. Richard Hogg has improved over the last couple of stages and said. “We’ve got the workings of her now”. The Limavady man went on to explain that the Skoda went on fire at one point when the exhaust touched the bodywork and then he said. “All great fun”. Raymond Mason had a clear run and now holds a place in the top 6. Richard Cathcart had a fabulous drive through stage 6 and although he said earlier his tyres didn’t work so well through the Ballintempo stage which was a bit gravelly, once he got on to the harder surface everything worked fine.
Lying just outside the above leaderboard is Kevin O’Kane on 37.40. Ian Cochrane on 37.58 and then we are waiting on times for the top 2 wheel drive competitors such as Adrian Hetherington and Frank Kelly as well as more group N cars. Garth Logan was coming into the top 20 after stage 4 in his Lancer. Gary Rogers was also into the top 20 as was Martin Cairns in his newly acquired group A Impreza.
More news after last stage: BRIAN & LLIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net |
