RALLY NEWS NO.1 Mallow/Service/Saturday 2.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Peter's Hill

1st (1) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 12.49.8
2nd (5) Robbie McGurk/David Moynihan (Impreza) 13.27.4
3rd (11) John Shanahan/Liam McLoughlin (Impreza N) 13.28.3
4th (15) Paul Barrett/Dermot Colgan (Escort) 13.32.3
5th (18) Brian Lawlor/Peter Kavanagh (Escort) 13.47.7
6th (2) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Hanna (Impreza WRC) 13.48.2
7th (3) Pat Norris/Declan Tumilty (Impreza) 13.50.4
8th (17) Pete Willoughby/Paul Nagle (Impreza N) 14.01.0
9th (4) Dermot Kelly/Greg Shinnors (Escort WRC) 14.05.9
10th (20) James Cribben/Bob Kelly (Lancer N) 14.07.3

Kevin Lynch set a scorching pace through the first 2 stages here on this Cork Forestry Rally, throwing down the gauntlet to the local drivers in no uncertain fashion. Lynch was non-committal when he came into service, reporting all well with the car, stages good, no problems. Second and third on the road, Kevin O'Kane and Pat Norris, reported the forest tracks surfaces to be like ball bearings with the cars slipping about. Pat Norris overshot a 6 right, just after the start of stage 1, he put it down to brain fade, but several other drivers overshot as well.

Dermot Kelly reported a stall in the first stage, then he stalled his Escort WRC again on the 2nd, said he just felt very rusty. Robbie McGurk was another to have a couple of overshoots, Robbie settling in to the Brian Murphy Subaru, and reckoning that dust could be a problem under the trees later on today. James Murphy had a race against time to get his Escort Cosworth ready for the start of the rally, the front differential only arrived on Thursday night. Anyway, he made it and despite a stall on the first stage has got off to a reasonable start and is lying 11th overall. Adrian McElvaney reports his Subaru to be jumping out of gear, also held up behind Glen Allen's struggling Escort WRC in stage 2. Several drivers were held up, Glen's car having broken a rear suspension arm just after the start line of the 10 mile Peters Hill stage. Dominic McNeill had a puncture in the 2nd stage, was very fast on the first, less than 2s slower than Kevin Lynch.

John Shanahan, very much on local ground on today's stages, was the sensation of Group N, a lot faster than his rivals. Stephen Moore is normally his closest challenger, but his Impreza had intercom problems on the first stage. Pete Willoughby is still learning his Lancer, but well in the hunt. Paul Barrett had a brilliant run in his 2 wheel drive Escort to hold 4th overall. Brian Lawlor also went well.

Paul Mulcahy in the Starlet recorded a time of 14.10. Some other times included: Kieran Shaw on 14.22.0. Kieran another held up behind Glen Allen. Stephen Moore is on 14.16.5. Patrick Elliott 14.18.0 after a smooth run. Andy Mackarel in the Ascona had a total of 14.33.5. Michael O'Sullivan retired his Escort (No.39) with a blown frost plug. Over on the McRae Stages Rally in Scotland Matthew Wilson was leading from Barry Johnson after stage 2. Young Kris Meeke is in 7th.

More news to follow. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

 

 

 

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