RALLY NEWS NO.8              Castlelyons - service - Sunday 12.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 Inch
1st (3) Eamonn Boland/Damian Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 1.13.59
2nd (1) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.14.29
3rd (2) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 1.14.35
4th (11) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 1.15.26
5th (7) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 1.16.08
6th (8) Melvyn Evans/Marc Jones (Impreza WRC) 1.16.10
7th (6) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 1.16.38
8th (10) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 1.17.04
9th (15) Tommy Graham/Bob Kelly (Impreza WRC) 1.17.33
10th (12) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 1.17.50
11th (17) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 1.17.53
12th (22) JJ Fleming/Jakes Kelly (Impreza WRC) 1.18.01

Four times Cork 20 winner Austin MacHale was fastest through today's opening stage, the Dubliner powering his Impreza through that Inch test in 8m34s.  Tim McNulty and Derek McGarrity both stopping the clock on 8.35 and rally leader Eamonn Boland was 8.36. Conditions were cold, dry and fast for the drivers, speeds very high. Derek McGarrity was reporting oil fumes/smoke coming into the cabin of the car yesterday. This was believed to be from a gearbox oil breather.  Apparently the mechanics have changed the box at the 45m service this morning.

There was a further adjustment to the overnight results, which moved McGarrity back 10s.  This gave Eamonn Boland further breathing space at the front, but closed MacHale right up to McGarrity, just 6s between them now in the fight for 2nd place.

Liam McCarthy had a slowish time through the stage, 9.09.  Ray Breen did not re-start this morning.  We think this is part of his ongoing concern for James Kent, who was co-driving in the Ka at No.100 yesterday and crashed on stage 2. Jamie did a lot of work for Ray's company in Waterford.  Jamie's condition remains critical.

Eoin Doyle was lying 4th in group N overnight behind Aaron MacHale, no sign of Eoin this morning. Seamus Leonard was fastest in gpN on a time of 9.10. Roy White has decided to back off and his time was 9.21, the Clonmel man intent on preserving his FESP backed Lancer to get to the finish and clinch the category in the Tarmac Championship.  Aaron MacHale recorded 9.23. Willie Fannin 9.27. 

Denis Cronin set a scorching time in his BMW M3 this morning to jump 3 places on the leaderboard. Just outside the above top 12 - Roy White is 13th. Guy Woodcock in his Escort Maxi 14th and leading class 7.  Barry Coleman is 15th. Aaron MacHale 16th. John Moynihan, 2nd in class to Cronin, 17th. 023 Tiles man James O'Sullivan 18th and leading his class.  Welsh visitor Peter Lloyd 19th in his Impreza WRC.  Willie Fannin 20th in the gpN Lancer.
More news after stage 10 Ballynoe. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON   www.rallynews.net