RALLY NEWS NO.5 End of stage 5/Sunday 2.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Shandrum
1st (2) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 49.19
2nd (3) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 49.33
3rd (7) Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 50.34
4th (5) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Impreza WRC) 50.53
5th (1) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC0 51.25
6th (11) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 52.03
7th (10) Nigel Hicklin/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC) 52.20
8th (6) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 52.55

The Shandrum stage was streaming with water when the top cars came through, Ray Breen now first on the road and his Focus WRC shooting up a bow waves of spray, leaves and gravel. The conditions are really tough for the drivers and it was thought that it would suit Cronin best, but it was Breen who was fastest by a long way, even though he caught and passed the struggling Jim Harrison in the stage. Denis Cronin’s co driver Helen O’Sullivan seemed to be in a real strop at stage finish, Helen not at all satisfied that her finish time was correct. But that is what it said on the card, Breen’s time for the 10.19 mile stage was 9.53. Cronin was on 10.06. Patrick Elliott went well and recorded 10.12. Melvyn Evans 10.18 despite the Welsh man’s Subaru trailing some sort of gearbox link arm on the road at stage finish. Jim Harrison’s time was slow enough at 10.35, the Macclesfield man normally an absolute front runner completely out of kilter today and with no confidence at all. He muttered something about not knowing the stages and it was dangerous, but really it’s the same for everyone.

Ray Breen, apart from being annoyed at having caught Harrison, was also furious at his intercoms breaking a few miles from the end of the stage. Kevin Barrett’s Subaru lost a wiper blade during the stage, Kevin still intent on getting to the finish. Nigel Hicklin had a good run at the stage and said he enjoyed it despite the weather.

Michael Curran set a stunning time in his Group N Lancer and when Willie Fannin came in behind him and saw his time the current Group N Champion could only shake his head, and said. “I’ve no answer to that”. James O’Sullivan had wet weather tyres on his Lancer and he set a good time, 2nd fastest in group N. Kevin Kelleher was slightly off the pace, having cracked a rock with the front right wheel of his Lancer and deranged the steering somewhat. We mentioned earlier that Kieran O’Callaghan was missing. He did have a mechanical problem with his Lancer, has it fixed and is acting as course car. Kevin Kelleher does still hold 2nd group N but Dickie Curran has closed to within 4s of him so it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that we could have a father and son 1st and 2nd in Group N.

More news after stage 8. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
Associate rally sponsor – Irish Yogorts

 
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