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RALLY NEWS NO.4
Portumna/Service/Sunday2.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4
1st (2) Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Impreza WRC) 32.44
2nd (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 33.10
3rd (3) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 33.28
4th (7) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Impreza WRC) 33.31
5th (6) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Escort WRC) 33.41
6th (11) John Spain/Peter Egan (Celica) 34.05
7th (8) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 34.17
8th (14) Sean Gallagher/Francis Kenny (Esc.Cos) 34.18
9th (9) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 34.37
10th (25) Anthony O'Halloran/Bob Kelly (Manta) 34.49
Dunlop National Champion, Niall Maguire, set fastest time through stage 4,
Tiraranscragh, Niall's Triton Showers backed Subaru covering the 10 plus
miles stage in 9m12s. Eugene Donnelly was 2nd fastest with 9.17 and Adrian
McElvaney 3rd fastest on 9.22. On the first run through that stage Jim
Harrison had been fastest to take the lead. This time the English visitor
set a time of 9.25, his Subaru having been off the road briefly.
Maguire made little comment at stage finish, but gave a large smile,
probably pleased to be back on the pace after what has been a
stop-start season for the Monaghan man. Eugene Donnelly reported a spongy
brake pedal in his older model Impreza WRC. Adrian McElvaney felt that the
stage was "wild slippy".
Jim Harrison's co driver Harvey Bell said of their stage …"We were
setting a good pace, controllable, but we went off for about 20
seconds". David Armstrong reported a loose exhaust in his ex
Melvyn Evans Escort WRC. Patrick Elliott said he took no chances in the
stage. John Spain knocked the spoiler off his Celica and lost about
15s. Aidan Walsh felt that he was much too cautious in the stage. Aidan's
big rival for the GRP4 Fabrications 500 Euro prize for best Mk2, Tom
Halliday, is apparently off the road in stage 4. Stephen Bird has
possibly retired, his Subaru having had power steering problems in that 4th
stage, which then developed into a small fire. We hear that he has
emerged from the end of the stage, happily no big damage.
We are still awaiting times for top Group N runner James Foley, but in the
meantime Derrick Jobb set a time of 9.49 to give him a total of 35.17. Mark
Courtney did 9.50 to give him a total of 35.16. On the interesting facets of
this Galway Summer is a team of 3 Minis backed by Addidas, and with a strong
USA connection. The team has taken a bit of a battering with Frank
Cunningham having retired his example, reason unknown as yet. While Boston
based Martin Allen/Stuart Allen were forced to a halt 9 corners into stage 1
when their Mini Cooper lost all sparks from the ignition.
Young Stuart Dempsey had a lucky escape in stage 1 when he crashed his Swift
into a pole - lost a bit of time but that may be negated under the
interrupted stage ruling. Stuart, on his first rally, explained that the car
got sideways on gravel and just got away from him!
Some further times from the top ….Jim Harrison is now on 34.50 and at the
rate he is going will be back into the top 10 before the day is out. Kevin
Barrett is on 35.32. No time for Jaye Jordan who had been having gearbox
trouble. Sean Lyons is on 35.04 but may have a 15s penalty to add. Douglas
Richardson is on 36.16. John Rooney in the BMW M3 is on 35.30. Aidan Walsh
35.31. We don't have times for Aidan Bourke who is running way down
the field, but we hear that he has his Civic into a strong class leading
position and is creeping up towards the top 20. More news later. BRIAN
& LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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