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RALLY
NEWS NO.14 Irvinestown/Monday/1.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 19 FAIRY WATER
1st (2) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza WRC) 1.56.42.5
2nd (7) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.57.28.5
3rd (3) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 1.59.02.6
4th (1) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 1.59.19.1
5th (9) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 2.00.19.2
6th (11) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 2.04.25.9
7th (17) Shaun Gallagher/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 2.05.06.7
8th (12) Dickie Curran/Anthony Donnelly (Lancer N) 2.06.00.1
9th (18) Raymond Johnston/Richard Bell (Lancer N) 2.07.45.5
10th (16) Aaron MacHale/Damien Connolly (Lancer N) 2.08.29.7
11th (15) Glyn Jones/Paul Goodman (Impreza) 2.08.37.7
12th (27) Michael Curran/Dessie Wilson (Lancer N) 2.10.23.8
13th (31) Cathal Rogers/John McElhinney (Escort G3) 2.10.42.2
14th (103) Keith McIvor/David Burns (Lancer N) 2.11.04.0
Stage 18 was cancelled due to lack of manpower, so the drivers only had stage
19 on that second loop this morning. The stage, Fairy Water, was slightly
shortened, Nesbitt was fastest on 4.58.0. Maurice Gass was 2nd fastest on
4.58.7 and Derek McGarrity 3rd fastest on 4.59.7. Derek said "We cruised
it really, we were all caught on slick tyres and it was damp to wet, very
slippy". Nesbitt commented "Just keeping it at a pace, losing stage
18 and shortening stages 17 and 19 is working against me as regards catching
Derek". Eamonn Boland had a clean run to move ahead of MacHale for 3rd
place. Austin damaged the steering rack/suspension on the big crossroads jump
early in the stage, had a spin later. The Subaru's handling has been affected
by the jump damage. Maurice Gass said after stage 17 that he was going to take
it easy, just hold his position. When asked about his 2nd fastest time through
stage 19, just laughed and said "It's my first time in the wet in the
car, but you can never underestimate a bald man anyway".
In Group Shaun Gallagher took 6s off Roy White. White's Lancer suffering
severe vibrations from warped front brake discs. Cathal Rogers continues to
lead his class and the 2 wheel drive category, but nearly threw it all away on
stage 16 when he put his G3 Escort up a bank on a square left tightens.
"Sleeping in" was the Limavady man's comment.
On the Easter Stages the picture is somewhat confused. Gary White has crashed
heavily on the 2nd of today's stages, blocking the road. News is that Gary and
co driver Barry Taggart are OK. Times after the first stage would show Eugene
Donnelly fastest - Eugene retired from the main rally yesterday and took
brother Charlie's entry today, using his own old Celica. James Gillen was 2nd
fastest despite an off road excursion. Glenn Allen 3rd fastest. Then Richard
Hogg, Denis Biggerstaff despite intercom troubles. Then George Robinson. Paul
Crossen has retired his father's Subaru with a blown turbo. Trevor Moore's
Escort Cosworth has stopped with mechanical trouble. More news later. BRIAN
& LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Michael Patterson and Zoe Todd)
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