RALLY NEWS NO.5 Omagh Service/Saturday 2.45
No.5A – updated @ 3.15

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 Balix Hill
1st (2) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 38.57.3
2nd (4) Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 39.04.4
3rd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 39.12.2
4th (5) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 39.25.6
5th (9) Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Focus WRC) 39.43.2
6th (6) Kevin Lynch/David Moynihan (Focus WRC) 39.51.7
7th (3) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 40.07.4
8th (10) Stephen Murphy/MJ Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 40.21.9
9th (7) Peadar Hurson/Michael Orr (Impreza WRC) 40.36.9
10th (12) Sean Devine/Paul McGlaughlin (Impreza WRC) 40.54.5

Mark Higgins set a superb time through stage 4, but Kris Meeke wasn’t that far away while Eugene Donnelly was a disappointing 11s back on the rally leader. British Champion Mark commented at stage finish. “That was very good, we got the right tyres and everything clicked”. Dick Cormack of Pirelli was at stage finish and he said. “Mark was the smart one, he moved to the harder compound”.

Kris Meeke’s co driver Paul Nagle said as he got his time “We went OK but the car didn’t seem to have the power out of the junctions”. A Prodrive engineer standing nearby said “The computer says there is nothing wrong with that car!” Eugene Donnelly said. “We stalled at a hairpin, I don’t understand it, we did everything the same as the first time through, but I’m struggling, its just not flowing”. Peadar Hurson said “We’re getting there” Andreas Mikkelsen’s co driver Ola Floene commented “It went all OK, but I was driving this time!” …this was a little joke about the accident earlier. Stephen Murphy had problems with his Impreza’s paddle shift. Hugh M Doherty’s car stopped at road side on the way to the stage, possible fuel pump problems.

Kevin Lynch said “We’re getting there, tweaking the car all the time, maybe the car is good enough it’s the driver needs tweaked now!” Denis Biggerstaff stalled at a square left and lost a few seconds. Terry McGonigle lost 3mins, a front brake disc shattered on the Seamus Devine WRC. Emma McKinstry is having a good clean run, Emma said “Everything 100 per cent”. PJ McDermott is still going strong in his Impreza WRC, PJ joking “This is a culture shock, my longest rally in 2 years, I’ve done 4 stages”. Tony Kelly’s daughter, young Toni, has retired her Honda Civic, the transmission broke following a crest jump.

In Group N Seamus Leonard still leads although his co driver Gerry McVeigh said about stage 4 “A good run, not tidy though, all over the road, a lot of stuff on the surface”. Seamus’ time was 1s slower than his first run over the stage and he felt he was going harder. Colm Murphy continues to hold 2nd GpN with Roy White 3rd. John McGlaughlin has set some good times and reported as well that a grass bank was on fire halfway through the stage. Connor McCloskey had a slow start to the rally but then was 3rd fastest on the last couple of stages in GpN, Connor getting tuned up for the Manx National and is driving the ex Rory Galligan works car.

Kevin Kelleher is struggling with the handling on his Lancer, needs the centre diff changed but the service time is not long enough. Co driver Martin said “WE’re entertaining the spectators, very sideways, we had an awful moment on that last stage but I suppose its better than being at home!” Cathal Rogers was off the road in his Lancer, too fast into a bridge and then a 6 left, lost nearly a minute. Going well now.

In the National Rally – Glenn Allen still led after stage 3 from Raymond Johnston with Stephen Moore 3rd. Neil McCance was 4th despite 2 punctures. Richard Cathcart was 5th despite banging a rear wheel and the car crabbing. Seamus Heron was 6th although he had put his Focus WRC up a bank briefly. Glenn Allen suffered a puncture on his Corolla a couple of miles from the end of stage 3 although didn’t lose too much time. Raymond Johnston was fastest through stage 3 but this was nullified by losing 20s in road penalties with a broken drive shaft.

Finally for now, it was good to see John Conway of Meteor Electrical spectating here on the Easter Rally. John commented here at service. “It is good to be here, great to see a good safe rally”.

More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (thanks to Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd)

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