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RALLY NEWS NO.2
Millstreet/Service/Saturday 09.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Molls Gap
1st (7) Kris Meeke/Jonas Andersson (Impreza WRC) 8.55.5
2nd (4) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 8.57.7
3rd (5) Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Focus WRC) 9.00.1
4th (1) Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC) 9.06.5
5th (3) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 9.09.6
6th (9) Kevin Lynch/David Moynihan (Focus WRC) 9.16.9
7th (2) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 9.18.7
8th (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 9.23.6
The above times are for the first few cars through the stage only, some
more times coming in, not in order, include: Austin MacHale 9.27.8. Melvyn
Evans 9.47.8. Stephen Murphy 9.26.6. Patrick Elliott 9.28.5. Aaron MacHale
9.39.6.
Early morning mist over the Kerry mountains cleared as the sun shone through
and speeds were high over the opening Molls Gap stage. The record
for the stage was 9m15s set by Derek McGarrity last year on the Sunday
morning (Tim McNulty was fastest on the Saturday morning with 9.20). As
can be seen above that record is well broken.
Gareth MacHale said at stage finish. “That was trickier than I thought
it would be”. Mark Higgins’ Subaru seemed to be suffering
from a front puncture and Mark was in a hurry to get down the road to
get the wheel changed.
Tim McNulty reported no problems. Eugene Donnelly also had a good
start as did young Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen.
Eamonn Boland felt his tyres went to pieces a little but otherwise OK.
The sensational Kris Meeke just said. “Tricky stage”.
Austin MacHale had an intercom problem and also there were chunks out
of a front rim which indicated some hairy moments in the stage.
Melvyn Evans was off the pace and reckoned he needed a harder compound
tyre. Aaron MacHale lost a few seconds when he caught and passed Denis
Cronin in the stage.
Group N times coming in……James Cullen and Colm Murphy both
on 9.46. Alan Ring in the Munster Joinery Impreza had a 9.59.1.
Kevin Kelleher who said he needed more commitment had a time of 10.05.1.
Garry Jennings 10.07.5. Willie Fannin 10.14.7.
Johnny O’Sullivan is running his Escort WRC in the National part
of the rally and his time was 9.56.5 with David McNulty also in the nationals
in his Subaru 10.23.9.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Padraig
Reddington)
www.rallynews.net
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