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RALLY
NEWS NO.5
Portumna/Service/Sunday 4pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6
1st (2) Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Impreza WRC) 47.03
2nd (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 47.43
3rd (3) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 48.00
4th (7) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Impreza WRC) 48.09
5th (11) John Spain/Peter Egan (Celica) 48.58
6th (4) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 49.05
7th (14) Sean Gallagher/Francis Kenny (Esc.Cos) 49.19
8th (8) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 49.20
9th (9) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 49.21
10th (25) Anthony O'Halloran/Bob Kelly (Manta) 50.19
(19) Sean Lyons/John Devine
(Escort) 50.19**
**May be subject to 15s road penalties
On stage 5 it was Jim Harrison who was fastest from Eugene Donnelly by 7s
with Niall Maguire and Adrian McElvaney tying for 3rd fastest, a further 3s
behind. Through stage 6 Donnelly re-exerted his authority and was 3s
up on Jim Harrison with McElvaney a further 7 back, Maguire plus 1s.
Eugene commented here at service "Yes we've had a soft brake pedal over
the last couple of stages, the system needs bled, but I've got used to it
now. I'm trying to go hard enough to keep the lead, keep my concentration.
Niall isn't that far away". Jim Harrison said "We had that
straight on in stage 4, but otherwise I'm enjoying it, its going well".
Adrian McElvaney reported "I think we're still settling in after the
accident, that last stage is very technical, quite difficult".
Niall Maguire reported no problems, while Patrick Elliott feels that his
Subaru accelerator, an electronic device, isn't clicking in the way it
should. JJ Fleming in the Circuit of Ireland winning Impreza WRC feels he is
just not in the groove today. Denis Cronin had a half spin in stage 6,
is going well now, very pleased with the engine, but Denis pooh-poohed the
official time given for him for stage 5, which was half a minute quicker
than anyone else. Says his real time was 5m12s …not 4.52.
Further stories include …..Sean Gallagher still having anti roll bar
problems with his Escort Cosworth. In fact the mechanics have now taken the
anti roll bar off altogether. Jaye Jordan had been in the top 10 earlier but
has slipped back, and admits "Too many gremlins. We had the gearbox
trouble, now the spark plugs are away with it". Douglas
Richardson is one of the battling Mk2 Escort men, his total now 52.06. He
says he was slowed through stage 4 when one of his co driving daughter
Paula's apples got stuck under the brake pedal. Anthony O'Halloran was
slowed by a slow puncture on his Manta in stage 6. Peter Clifford's
GpN Impreza stopped for 15s plus on stage 4 when the engine cut out. Aidan
Walsh's Escort suffered a puncture in stage 6. Pat Kelly in the silver
gpN Impreza is going well, has a slight problem with the gearbox jumping out
of 2nd. Thomas McGovern has further gearbox problems with his Escort.
Following earlier 2nd gear trouble it jammed in 4th at the end of stage 6.
In Group N we have James Foley a few seconds ahead of Mark Courtney.
Derrick Jobb 3rd. This is very unofficial as Foley has been blocked on 2
stages, numbers 1 and 4, firstly by Willie Fannin's accident and then by Tom
Halliday's accident. Some further times - John Rooney in the BMW is on
51.04. Aidan Walsh on 51.06. Thomas McGovern 52.16. Kevin Barrett just
outside the top 10 on 50.54. More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON (www.rallynews.net)
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