RALLY NEWS NO.3 Punchestown paddock..Sunday 1.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1

1st (7) Kenny McKinstry/Mark Geraghy (Subaru WRC) 3.07

2nd (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru WRC) 3.08

3rd (5) Frank Meagher/Dermot O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 3.14

4th (3) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Celica) 3.16

5th (17) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Subaru WRC) 3.17

6th (78) Derek McGarrity/Gary Lyons (Subaru WRC) 3.19

(75) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (Legacy) 3.19

8th (8) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Subaru WRC) 3.20

(9) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza) 3.20

(4) Billy Coleman/Paul Kelly (Metro 6R4) 3.20

11th (12) Tim McNulty/Pat Lordan (Impreza) 3.21

It was hot and heavy stuff through the first stage with the lead drivers trying very hard to set a fast time. Many of the world rally cars looked a bit strange as the drivers had taken off the front spoilers and bumpers, to save damage over the bad dip at the bark. First on the road, Andrew Nesbitt, reckoned he had a really good run, the car was fine, Andrew setting the benchmark time of 3.08. Next on the road, McHale, overc\ooked it through the final slalom, got the Celica very sideways and almost stopped, probably accounting for most of the 8s gap between himself and Nesbitt. Billy Coleman was next through, his time of 3.20 reflecting a good smooth run, Billy happy with his progress. Frank Meagher was 4th on the road, the Cloneen man looked to be trying very hard, maybe it was a little surprising that the Focus wasn't just a couple of seconds faster. Eamonn Boland should have been next but his blue Impreza WRC could be glimpsed on the skyline at the bottom of the course, spinning across the grass in the outfield. Eamonn didn't appear then at the finish.

Next through was Kenny McKinstry, and as usual the man from Banbridge put up a stunning time to lead. Kenny, a former Rallycross Champion and 9 times winner of Lurgan Park seems to excel at this type of event. He told us that the car felt really good, no problems at all.

Other stories included...Derek McGarrity having a spin which cost him valuable seconds. Max McKillen had a good run in his Saxo and said at the end "I loved it"J. Max's time was 3.30. Brendan Kelly spun his silver Lancer and although there is no prize for gpN we're keeping a close eye on the showroom times, Brendan certainly blotting his copybook with a time of 3.40. While George Tracey in his gpN Subaru did a 3.27. Frank O'Mahony did not appear at the end of that first proper stage - don't know the reason just yet. Ollie O'Donovan had a good time despite hitting the tyres on the run in to the finish. Douglas Richardson in the Mk2 Escort had a big spin. Stephen Harris damaged the front mudguard of his gpN Subaru hitting it on a square right into the finish complex. Stephen's time was 3.30. Raymond Johnston, with Ivan Fisher in the codriver's seat, recorded 3.25 in his gpN Lancer.

More news after stage 2..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON

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