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| Ulster Rally 2017 |
| RALLY NEWS No.5 - Ebrinton Service - Saturday @ 08:59:15 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.5 Ebrington Service Saturday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7 – Slievekirk
1st (5) Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Fiesta R5) 55.24.4
2nd (4) Osian Pryce/Dale Furness (Fiesta R5) 55.41.8
3rd (1) Fredrik Ahlin/Torstein Eriksen (Fabia R5) 55.54.9
4th (8) Jonny Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Citroen DS3R5) 57.10.3
5th (3) Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Fiesta R5) 57.14.7
6th (7) Marty McCormack/David Moynihan (Fabia R5) 57.20.9
7th (9) Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Fabia R5) 58.04.6
8th (11) Joe McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Fabia R5) 58.47.5
9th (10) Stephen Wright/Arthur Kierans (Fiesta R5) 59.17.7
10th (15) Alex Laffey/Patrick Walsh (Fiesta R5) 59.24.8
Having held the lead of just 1.1 second starting today’s leg Keith Cronin pulled out all the stops to set a sizzling time through stage seven Slievekirk. Keith was twelve seconds up on the next quickest man Fredrik Ahlin and fourteen faster than third quickest Desi Henry. Keith told us “we were on the limit of the tyres – we picked an extra soft tyre to cope with the damp conditions but I struggled to get the rubber up to temperature. The next loop starts with a slippy stage and then we are onto the abrasive roads of Barnes Gap so tyre choice is difficult”. Osian Pryce holds his second place despite a bit of drama on that opening Saturday stage. Osian could not get his Fiesta slowed enough for a 2L corner and the rear of the car smacked a wall and a post. Damage is mostly cosmetic and the suspension seems okay but the car’s exhaust was flattened. Everything though should be well for the Welshman on the next loop. Fredrik Alhin in third place commented “I am not really getting the confidence on these roads, and it is still quite wet”. Jonny Greer in fourth says he gambled on tyres this morning and the stage road was more damp than he anticipated, but he got through it well. Sam Moffett holds fifth but was a few seconds quicker than Jonny Greer through that seventh stage so is closing in on fourth place. Sam relaxed maybe too much yesterday following Alistair Fisher’s retirement, Sam’s main aim being tarmac points. However the Monaghan man has turned the lag on his Fiesta up a little this morning and has speeded up. Marty McCormack said after his run through the stage “that was better, I am happy with the grip level, but I need to commit more”.
Desi Henry in seventh said “I was third quickest in there and indeed I have been consistency third fastest except when we get a puncture which has been often!”. Joe McGonigle reported an overshoot on the second junction in that stage seven – it was a 3L into a turn SQR and Joe admitted to “braked far too late, it was 7am brain fade!”. Alex Laffey had a steady run this morning. Stephen Wright also had a decent time although he was caught out slightly as the stage was shortened by several miles at the finish and he hesitated at the new control. Matt Edwards has at last seems to have his Fiesta misfire sorted and it certainly showed in his time this morning. In the race for R2 honours William Creighton’s grip on the lead slipped slightly with an overshoot and an untidy stage seven. Callum Devine on the other had was really flying and took 13 seconds back. Marty Gallagher is third in the category but he is struggling with his Peugeot’s gear box – it is going up and down cogs of its own accord and when the mechanics changed the oil last night there were filings in the gearbox oil. Marty said “we will just try and nip her through”. Coming into the R2 picture is James Wilson in his Peugeot. Keady man James, a grandson of James and Hilary set a really good time through stage seven and said “we took a nice steady approach and will try and hold our own through the day.
Camillus Brady continues to lead the national category from Eugene Meegan. Having lost the lead last night Alan Carnmichael is on a comeback charge and despite a stage seven spin which damaged the front of his McGeehan Mini WRC Carnmichael still took 20 plus seconds off Bradley’s time.
Brian, Liz, Michael & Zoe Patterson www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter & Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
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