|
RALLY
NEWS NO.7
Ballymena/Finish/Saturday 5.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 10 - LAST STAGE
1st (3) Robbie McGurk/David Moynihan (Impreza) 40.46
2nd (1) Trevor Moore/Philip McCrea (Impreza WRC) 40.47
3rd (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 40.59
4th (16) David Greer/Brian Crawford (Corolla WRC) 42.16
5th (10) Maurice Gass/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 42.40
6th (8) Dermot Kelly/John Brennan (Escort WRC) 43.04
7th (12) Raymond Johnston/Richard Bell (Evo 6 N) 43.11
8th (11) Richard Hogg/Mark Hanna (Evo 6 N) 43.28
9th (15) Raymond Mason/Peter Martin (Impreza N) 43.38
10th (17) Sean Devine/Damien Duffin (Impreza N) 43.40
Robbie McGurk pulled out all the stops on the final stage of this Toshiba
Mid Antrim Rally to win by just 1s from Trevor Moore, with Derek McGarrity
3rd. Trevor Moore had led for most of the day, but McGurk moved on to
narrower tyres for stage 8 and managed to get ahead. Moore responded
on stage 9 and he was 2s faster than McGurk to lead the rally going into
the short final Glenariff stage. The stage was only 1.73 miles long
and Omagh man McGurk thought there was no way he could get ahead on such a
short test. However he drove completely on the door handles to take the
win. What made the feat all the more remarkable was that the clutch pedal
was inoperative, Robbie was just slamming the gearstick into 1st at stage
starts, and hoping the motor wouldn't stall. There was further
drama when the cars arrived back here at the County Hall finish just
opposite the Tullyglass Hotel. McGurk was slightly late, held up by
an accident on the Ballymena ring road, but Clerk of the Course Michael
Johnston was on the scene and cleared the time as other cars were arriving
late as well. It was a case of force majeure. Robbie, co
driven today by young Cork man David Moynihan in Kenny McKinstry's group A
Impreza, Robbie said "We enjoyed the day immensely, the
narrower tyres transformed the car over the last 4 stages. It was very
much a case of its just a pity someone has to come second".
Trevor Moore said "A fantastic day, fair does to Robbie. I know
there was the lateness controversy at the finish but I wouldn't want to
win the rally under those circumstances". Third placed Derek
McGarrity observed at the end "To be honest the 8 or 9s I lost
earlier in the day was just too much to pull back. As well as that the
stages were so rough towards the end I was worried in case I would burst
something in the car. I want to sell it on Monday!"
Davy Greer had a good run into 4th place in his Corolla WRC. Maurice Gass
switched back on to the gravel stages with great success to take 5th.
Dermot Kelly went brilliantly through the afternoon stages to end up 6th
after being 10th earlier.
Raymond Johnston in 7th wins the gpN category, Fermanagh man Raymond, one
of the coolest and quietest men in the game, said with complete
under-statement "We had a good run, the first stage was the
decider." Raymond went on to say that he eased back on the
Ballypatrick stage because it was so rough, but still didn't think he
would drop 9s to Raymond Mason.
The results are going to be subject to road penalties so it is too early
to say who has won the 2 wheel drive battle. Andy Magee was leading but
hit a bale in Ballypatrick and punctured a wheel, lost maybe 50s.
Mark Barnett spun and stalled in the same stage and lost some time. Keith
White had a good run all day but he could well be subject to road
penalties. Keith will almost certainly however win the Mid Antrim club
championship, as his main rivals Colm McFall and John Donnelly retired.
Finally for now, many thanks to Michael Johnston and his team from the Mid
Antrim MC - another brilliant day's rallying! Thanks also to Richard
Hogg, Willie McKee, Keith & Rodney White for supporting the RallyNews.
BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
|
