RALLY NEWS NO.1 Clonmel Race Track/Service/Sunday 11.30
UNOFFICAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Lisnamuck
1st (1) Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 18.57
2nd (7) Jack Sleator/Andrew Purcell (Impreza WRC) 19.24
3rd (4) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 19.35
4th (5) PJ McGrath/Killian Duffy (Impreza WRC) 19.40
5th (9) Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Impreza N) 19.46
6th (6) David James/Jim Crowe (Focus WRC) 19.54
7th (11) James M Stafford/Frank Dwyer (Darrian) 19.59
8th (15) Owen Murphy/Paul Williams (Lancer N) 20.00
9th (31) Gwyn Thomas/Anthony O'Connell (Puma) 20.10
10th (14) James Coleman/Michael Haley (Escort) 20.30
Gareth MacHale, with Brian Murphy on the pace notes in his Focus WRC, made light work of the first 2 stages on this Tipperary Stonethrowers to hold a 27s lead over Jack Sleator in his Impreza WRC. For Gareth the name of the game today is to clock up some competitive miles, just to make sure that his Focus, rebuilt since its Sardinia accident, is up to scratch.
Gareth seemed very relaxed when he came into service and reported all well, no pressure. Kevin Barrett, 2nd on the road behind MacHale, lost a little bit of time with an intercom problem in his Subaru WRC. PJ McGrath, 3rd on the road, reported that he is still settling in following his lay off from the sport. Interestingly PJ’s first stage was nothing special, but he was well on the pace through stage 2. David James is 4th on the road in his Focus WRC and he was off the road briefly in the 2nd stage and lost a few seconds. Jack Sleator in his Impreza WRC S12 running with No.7 on the side had a good run through the first stage, maybe not quite so brilliant on the 2nd but still holds 2nd o/a.
In Group N it looks like Ian Barrett is going to be the man to beat today, Maynooth man Ian setting a good pace through the opening stages and reporting his Subaru to be “A1”. Just behind Ian is Owen Murphy and he admitted that he is generally a slow starter and also that his Lancer is handling a bit strangely at the front end, otherwise the Billy Coleman Award winner seems happy enough.
James M Stafford was another to set a cracking time on the opening stage but then fell away on stage 2 when his Darrian ran low on fuel and James had to back off. Washington James was also in a Darrian and running just behind Stafford’s example but Washington reportedly finished stage 2, but hasn’t appeared here at service. We can only presume he had mechanical problems. James Coleman had a few “moments” in stage 2 in his Escort but still seems well on the pace. James was another to remark that although the roads were dry they were surprisingly greasy and slippy.
Trevor & Kenny Bustard, down all the way from Donegal for the rally, reported their Lancer to be down on turbo boost which is a bit disappointing for them. Eamonn Murphy in the white Escort Cosworth at No.16 was slowed through stage 2 by a small accident which incurred frontal body work damage but still going strong. Liam Wall spun his Escort twice on stage 2, no damage, his total 20.40. Gwyn Thomas in the Ford Puma set a scorching time on the opening stage, just a second down on Kevin Barrett, but then lost time in stage 2 when his Puma developed sequential gear change problems.
Further stories include – Stephen Cullen at 25 has ongoing gearbox troubles in his white Subaru Impreza. Tom Curley & Mike Carty were up and down a few hedges in their Lancer through stage 2 but got away with it, their total now 21.01. David Parle hasn’t had his Lancer out for a while and the hand brake was sticking on which cost a bit of time. Andrew Fanning bought another Puma, this one from Tommy Doyle, so that he could do his home rally then promptly put the car in the ditch, almost outside his home front door!! Derek Brennan in his white Mk1 Escort was off briefly on the first stage.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net |
