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RALLY NEWS NO.10 Climbers Inn/Macgillycuddy's
Reeks/Sun.Noon
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 13 BALLAGHBEAMA
1st (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.46.23.9
2nd (2) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 1.46.26.7
3rd (7) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 1.47.53.3
4th (3) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.49.01.3
5th (8) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 1.50.53.4
6th (167) Trevor Cathers/David Moynihan (Impreza N) 1.50.58.5
7th (4) Eamonn Boland/ Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 1.52.10.5
8th (24) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 1.52.24.7
9th (22) Dickie Curran/Billy McCullins (Lancer N) 1.53.00.8
10th (21) Aaron MacHale/Damien Connolly (Lancer N) 1.54.34.3
11th (15) Johnny O'Sullivan/Jakes Kelly (Escort WRC) 1.55.29.0
12th (29) Michael Curran/Dessie Wilson (Lancer N) 1.55.39.9
Austin MacHale turned in a stunning time over the Ballaghbeama stage, 23s faster
than rally leader Donnelly and 21s faster than Donie O'Sullivan in 3rd. Austin's
co driver Brian Murphy joked "The race is on!" Austin went on to
explain about the spin in Molls Gap, saying it was up at the big rock, he had it
cautioned, but got caught out by a huge puddle of water. Eugene Donnelly
commented about that last stage, Ballaghbeama, "We didn't go well, not
great at all, don't know the stage". Donie O'Sullivan said
"Happy enough to be sitting in 3rd". Derek McGarrity, now in 4th
place, following the retirement of Liam McCarthy's Corolla with a blown
transmission hydraulic oil seal, said "It's a matter of getting it home
now". Derek didn't say much more, but apparently there has been quite
a bit of work done to the car after the accident, one way or another, some of it
a bit temporary.
Group N leader Trevor Cathers said "Taking it easy enough".
Trevor still fastest of all the gpN runners. Michael Curran was faster
through the stage than his father Dickie, a first for the family.
Interesting to see two father and son teams in the top 12. Eamonn Boland
set a 2nd fastest time through that 13th stage and continues to move up the
leaderboard. Tim McNulty was 22 minutes in Molls Gap because of his 2 punctures,
still going and indeed set a decent enough time in Ballaghbeama, a few seconds
up on Maurice Gass.
Denis Cronin reported absolutely no grip for his M3 on Molls, a bit better in
Ballaghbeama, but not great. Just outside the leaderboard Paddy White is
on 1.55.58, a few seconds faster than Johnny O'Sullivan through Ballaghbeama.
Johnny says his Escort WRC just hasn't handled properly, won't turn in, since
yesterday's drive shaft failure. "Not the same car at all"…opined
the Killarney Mazda dealer.
Willie Power is just behind Paddy White with his Chevette, then its Charlie
Mavitty, his Lancer misfiring over 4000 revs. Then its Tom Halliday followed by
Padraig Price, battling for the Escort class. Price was 1s faster than
Halliday through Ballaghbeam but 4 slower through Molls Gap, so there is no big
change there.
In the Ford Ireland Focus Challenge after Molls Gap there is no change at the
top. Colm Murphy still leads from John Foley with Oliver Stanley 3rd. More news
later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
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