| RALLY NEWS NO.5 Parc Ferme/Saturday/6.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 (End of Leg 1)
1st (5) Keith Cronin/Anthony O'Conaill (Lancer N) 41.35.0
2nd (2) Brian McGillin/David Doherty (Hyundai WRC) 41.49.1
3rd (1) Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Focus WRC) 41.55.3
4th (14) Colin Britton/Arthur Kierans (Lancer N) 43.28.7
5th (42) Damien Tourish/Charlie McLudy (Lancer N) 43.31.7
6th (8) James Murphy/John Brennan (Escort WRC) 43.35.9
7th (4) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Brady (Impreza WRC) 43.39.3
8th (21) Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Impreza WRC) 43.54.4
9th (26) Enda McNulty/Mark Bowens (Lancer N) 44.11.5
10th (46) Alwyn Jobb/Thomas Nugent (Lancer N) 44.13.4
11th (16) Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) 44.14.8
12th (17) Seamus O'Connell/Brian Duggan (Escort) 44.15.1
Following the tough rigours of the Ballyvourney stages it was back to Bweeng and Mount Hilary for the final 2 stages of the day and the drivers loved them. Brian McGillin was fastest through stage 7 and Stephen Moore quickest through stage 8 so it is still pretty tight at the top. Keith Cronin was leading by almost 20s when he left his home Mullaghanish stage and that advantage has been cut to an overnight 13s. As regards Day 2 Keith Cronin seemed a little apprehensive and said. “I think the world rally cars will have a bigger advantage tomorrow, there is still a long way to go”. Long way or not, Keith’s performance today was exemplary and to be ahead of the world rally cars with his group N machine was an exceptional achievement. He finished off by saying “I really enjoyed the day”.
Championship leader Stephen Moore had some small problems with his Focus WRC through stage 7 when the hand brake switch started to play up and of course this affects the electronic differential mechanisms making the car somewhat unpredictable. Moore did have a great run though through the final test. Brian McGillin reported all OK.
In the battle for two wheel drive cars there were several leadership swaps through stages 5, 6, 7 and 8. Adrian Hetherington was the early pace setter but he had a time consuming spin which opened the door for Frank Kelly. Frank had been ill earlier in the day but then was showing flashes of his old brilliance through the afternoon stages. Seamus O’Connell/Brian Duggan also hit the high notes this afternoon and they are just 0.3s behind Frank Kelly in the race for 2 wheel drive honours.
Ballyjamesduff man Connie Smith had a brake trouble on his famous black Sierra and lost 2 minutes which knocked him down the order. Mark Murphy/William Kiely in the silver Subaru at No.32 lost some time when their sump guard got knocked off in Mullaghanish. Their resourceful service crew fashioned some sort of guard out of a sheet of metal cannibalised from the rear o their jeep which kept Mark on the road! Colm McBride was another in sump guard trouble his Lancer finishing Mullaghanish making the most horrendous scraping noises. It didn’t seem to slow the car any but Colm said. “I’m not really enjoying today”. Brian Lawlor had troubles with his Escort engine this afternoon it wouldn’t rev over five thousand. John Reid is out for the first time in the ex Liam McCarthy Corolla WRC and he was getting more on the pace as the day progressed. News of a further retirement – Shane Cullen/Sean Duggan retired their Escort on Mullaghanish with a broken gearbox – it was the engine last year – maybe 3rd time lucky!
More news in the morning: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (Thanks to Greg Shinnors) |
