RallyNews Live from The Circuit of Kerry Rally 2003

RALLY NEWS NO.4 Tralee-Service-Sunday 4.30
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UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Desmonds Grave
1st (2) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 47.02
2nd (4) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRc) 47.12
3rd (5) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Impreza WRC) 48.00
4th (18) Noel Redmond/David Doyle (Impreza WRC) 48.53
5th (44) Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Impreza WRC) 49.23
6th (15) Gareth Jones/Ryland James (Impreza) 49.47
7th (17) Paddy White/Frank Sweeney (Impreza) 50.14
8th (12) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 50.17
9th (31) Aidan Walsh/Jim Casey (Escort) 50.36
10th (26) Tony Kearns/Billy McCullins (Lancer N) 50.55

There was a small part of stage 6, Desmonds Grave, that looked like a Mk2 Escort scrapyard with John Rooney, Richard Casey and James O'Sullivan all having crashed their Escorts out of the rally. So fast and furious is the pace that the top cars are pulling loose gravel out on to the road and that is probably what caused the accidents. No such dramas though for rally leader Austin MacHale who arrived into service and commented "Getting well used to the car now, and remembering to turn on all the switches as well now!" Tim McNulty was making a bit of a charge but put his new Impreza briefly into a bank at the square right square left through the quarry at the end of Desmonds Grave. Patrick Elliott said "We're keeping the pace up, enjoying the day, want to bring the car home". Fourth placed Noel Redmond reports a small bit of clutch slip, which is pretty surprising considering the car got a new clutch before the rally. Kevin Lynch is 5th is battling hard to close the gap between himself and Redmond but to little effect. Kevin had a poor enough time through stage 5 and reported a long brake pedal. Gareth Jones rounds off the top 6 and is doing remarkably well for a young man who has never rallied in Ireland before.

Pat White has battled back well from his earlier puncture to hold 7th. Roy White in 8th continues to lead group N. Roy said here at service in "Everything is working well, the car is good and I'm trying pretty hard, but I thought our times would be a bit better than what they are". Tony Kearns was just a couple of seconds slower than White in stages 5 and 6 but Tony has come up well to 2nd in gpN. Aidan Walsh is the best of the 2 wheel drive cars in 9th, Aidan commenting "The pressure is off us a bit following the other 3 Escorts going out in stage 6. They all looked OK which is the main thing". In class 6 Dominic Naughton continues to lead in his 106, Alan Ring is 2nd in another Peugeot. Shane McCarthy has just gone off the road.

In the Ford Ireland Ka series Martin Laverty was still leading after stage 4 from Mark Kane with Ian Chadwick rapidly improving in 3rd place. News of further retirements include John Spain in the Manta and Eoin Doyle's Subaru has stopped with fuel pump problems. Keith Colton's Puma ground to a halt with low fuel pressure just a mile from the service area. More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON

Other Useful Links

Kerry Motor Club Website