RALLY NEWS NO.2             End of stage 1 - Saturday - noon

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1  Ring
1st (3) Ken McKinstry/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 9.01.7
2nd (7) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 9.01.9
3rd (8) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 9.05.0
4th (2) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 9.07.4
5th (4) Donal O'Donovan/Pat Lordan (Celica) 9.13.3
6th (1) Melvyn Evans/Marc Jones (Impreza WRC) 9.15.5
7th (15) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 9.20.7
8th (6) Steve Fleck/Mark Aspinall (Impreza WRC) 9.20.8
9th (11) Phil Collins/Howard Davies (Escort) 9.22.1
     (16) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Escort WRC) 9.22.1

The times for the first stage of this West Cork Rally tell their own story.  After 11.4 miles of that fast flowing Ring test just a hair's breadth separated the Subarus of Kenny McKinstry and Michael Barrable. Liam McCarthy's Toyota is less than 4s back, the West Cork man showing plenty of his old flair and remarking that his Corolla WRC is going so much better than last year.  McKinstry said "Brilliant stage, car going well. "  Barrable was equally ecstatic, although co driver Dermot O'Gorman was holding his stomach, looking slightly green, a reminder of a bad meal on Thursday that caused food poisoning. 

Those not so happy at stage finish included Ollie O'Donovan whose Subaru stopped for several minutes when a coil cable went astray.  Ollie passing several cars on the remainder of the stage after he fixed the problem and got his Impreza back on its flat four cylinders. Donie O'Sullivan was equally frustrated at stage finish; his BMW M3 jammed in 3rd gear for several miles of the stage. 

Further times and stories included: Denis Cronin on 9.33.4 and admitting to his usual slow start. Tommy Graham had 9.33.1. Tony Davies in the Metro 6R4 9.31.8.  JJ Fleming recorded 9.37.6 in his Subaru and reported the gears hard to get. Nigel Hicklin did 9.36.4. Barry Coleman 9.58.4 following a spin. Richie Curran also had a spin but didn't lose quite so much, his time 9.43.9.  We have a report that Kieran O'Neill's Kadett has stopped in the stage, fuel pump problems the reason why.   Damien Cole, with Nicky Grist on the notes, posted a 9.36.0 in his Darrian. Damien quite nervous before the start.  Mark Morgan in the gpN Lancer had 9.53.5, a long way behind Fowden's 9.32.2.  As can be seen above, Phil Collins is obviously the pace setter in class 14, Derek Smith was back 9.52.5 and could hardly believe the times of the cars in front. David James recorded 9.33, Gareth Lloyd is the 2 litre Escort 9.53.8. Noel Redmond is having his first run in an Impreza WRC, his time 9.44.

Early news from stage 2 - Timoleague - is that Kenny McKinstry was 3s faster than Michael Barrable, none of the lead drivers reporting any major dramas, although Maurice Gass' Impreza WRC is still showing a blank read out screen in the dash.  Finally for now, Noel Clark, the Safety Officer, reported all the junctions on stage 1 to be well set up, the spectators well behaved.  More news after stage 4 - here at Clonakilty service. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON  (with thanks 
to Ciara)