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| Ulster Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.4 - Ebrington Service - Friday @ 21:22:46 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.4 Friday/Ebrington Service
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Butterlope 2
1st (1) Elfyn Evans/Craig Parry (Fiesta R5) 49.24.8
2nd (3) Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Citroen DS3R5) 49.29.3
3rd (12) Jonny Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Citroen DS3R5) 49.53.9
4th (5) David Bogie/James O’Reilly (Fabia R5) 49.55.1
5th (2) Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble (Fiesta R5) 50.07.8
6th (4) Fredrik Ahlin/Morten Erik Abrahamsson (Fiesta R5) 50.19.1
7th (10) Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Fiesta R5) 50.25.6
8th (7) Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Fabia R5) 50.50.4
9th (6) Josh Moffett/John Rowan (Fiesta R5) 50.55.5
10th (8) Marty McCormack/David Moynihan (Fabia S2000) 51.04.8
As we reported earlier, when the drivers left service after stage 3 it was a fine sunny evening. However, at the start of stage 5 there was heavy and persistent rain which made life difficult for the crews. Elfyn Evans managed to hold on to his lead but told us. ‘It was not great through stages 5 and 6, we were on completely the wrong tyres. We were not expecting the rain. I have done more than fifty per cent of the rally so far on the wrong tyres!’. Second placed Keith Cronin was his usual cool self, the 3 times former British Champion commented. ‘We had a good clean run although the tyres were a compromise. I was on a comfortable pace but was caught on one muddy section. Other than that I was driving within myself.’ Keith went on to say he is not overly concerned about Elfyn Evans in front, his main concern is primarily points in the Clonakilty Blackpudding Tarmac Championship. I
Jonny Greer in 3rd place reported no major problems apart from being on the wrong tyres. David Bogie also seemed happy. When we quizzed Alastair Fisher about the puncture that caused him to drop from 3rd to 5th he told us. ‘I have no recall of hitting anything it was a straight road and the tyre just went down. I had to drive 8km on the puncture. Then I had a spin in stage 5. Stage 6 went OK.’ Alastair is now 43s in arrears of Evans and when he looked at the times he said – ‘And I caught everyone on the hop this morning’. Fredrik Ahlin said. ‘All quite OK, but I am not used to this surface’.
Desi Henry has improved through the evening stages but he commented. ‘I am not totally happy. The times have improved but the car is not to my liking, it is under-steering and I am not comfortable’. Marty McCormack recalled a massive moment when his Skoda stalled at high speed going down a long hill, and with the engine stopped he was very much a passenger until the car came to a halt beside a clump of big bushes which he thought for sure he as going through! We reported earlier that Garry Jennings had brake problems at the end of stage 4. When he arrived into service he said he stopped on a road section and bled the brakes himself so it was slightly better through the last 2 stages. But he was still not a happy man. Tom Cave has slipped well outside the leaderboard having been as high as 5th earlier today. His Fiesta has been in 2wd mode for the last few stages. Young Welsh driver Rhys Yates has set decent times over the last few stages and is on a total of 51.45.9. Joe McGonigle is just outside the leaderboard on 51.51.5. Wesley Patterson has retired his Escort.
More news to follow: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter & Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
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