|
RALLY
NEWS NO.2
Oldcastle/Service/Sunday 2pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1
1st (3) Tom Holton/Sean Walsh (Celica) 8.08
2nd (4) Sean & Claire Gallagher (Esc. Cos) 8.13
(5) Sean McArdle/Paul McCann (Celica) 8.13
4th (6) Pat Donegan/Damien Garvey (Escort) 8.16
5th (15) Jack Slater/Michael Courtney (Lancer N) 8.18
6th (9) Dominic Loughran/Elva Roe (Lancer N) 8.20
7th (7) Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Escort) 8.26
8th (10) Michael Curran/Brian Sheridan (Escort) 8.28
(11) Enda Keenan/Laura Keenan (Escort) 8.28
10th (32) Gerry Reilly/John Kellett (Civic) 8.29
First on the road, Paul McCann failed to reach the finish of the first stage,
pulled in at a junction and in fact caused a bit of a stir as he didn't put up
his "OK" board. The stage was stopped for several minutes to ascertain
his whereabouts. Happily it was just a mechanical problem. This left Enfield's
Tom Holton first to emerge from the stage, and as it transpired set fastest
time. Tom commented at stage finish "It went well, although I had a bit of
a moment at the first hairpin and hopefully we'll be quicker next time".
Sean Gallagher had a good run, although he is not really driving to the notes as
his daughter Claire is on her first rally. Sean McArdle had 2 semi stalls at
hairpins, but otherwise went well, and said it was brilliant to be doing a good
fast dry stage after all the Ulster Rally mucky roads yesterday. Pat Donegan in
the Mk2 Escort picked full wet tyres for the stage which was a mistake, and at
one point his Mk2 went up a hedge and incurred some damage to the rear quarter
panel.
Dessie Keenan looked rather shaken at stage finish and told us "Had a
massive moment at a 4 left, hit the bank and the car went up on 2 wheels and it
was only by the grace of God that it came back down again". Gordon
Rogers lost time when his Escort hand brake stuck on. While Paul McEnroe
in the gpN Impreza had an overshoot and lost a few seconds, setting a time of
8.32. Jack Slater was fastest gpN on his first run in his new Lancer Evo8.
Some other gpN times included James Cribben on 8.42. Joe Curran's gpN Impreza
eventually appeared out of the stage in a crab like fashion, having been up a
bank, wrecked 2 wheels and obviously damaged the suspension, judging by
appearances he will hardly be going much further today.
John Carter of A&A Insulations who is sponsoring the RallyNews today,
survived a spin in his Escort to record a 9.02. Arthur Kierans has crashed
at a square left over gravel. John Fitzsimons was slowed with intercom and
broken shock absorber troubles. Michael Maher had a spin in his Escort, lost
little time. Brian McKenna reports a misfire and brake troubles in his Escort,
but still set a time of 8.58. John Kelly in the Civic did 8.55. Mark
McCann in his Escort Cosworth 8.54. Maurice Moffett had a good run to record
8.54. Mervyn Wedlock 8.46. More news after
stage 2. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
|
