**Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle – disputed time on Molls: Paul reckons that the time is 9s better than shown above. Some drivers stopped on Healy to check that Lynch/Regan were OK. We have used a standard time to keep the leaderboard relevant.
Tim McNulty forged his Pierse backed Subaru into the lead over the Healy Pass stage, 4s faster than Eamonn Boland. Several of the drivers towards the tail end of the top 10 were held up when Kevin Lynch crashed his new Subaru off the road on a right hand bend. Thankfully Kevin and co driver Francis Regan reported to be OK. In Group N Colm Murphy holds a narrow lead over Owen Murphy while in the Modified section James M Stafford his Darrian’s nose just ahead of the Mk2 Escort of Phil Collins.
When the cars came in here to the beautiful but very wet setting of Castletownbere harbour on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean Gareth MacHale told us that apart from the misting up windscreen problem that he had earlier, he was also losing time through choosing cut slick tyres and the rain just poured down on the Tim Healy stage. Gareth then said “Not too bad, 30s down, a long way to go, just like the Circuit!” Eamonn Boland said everything was fine, and then added the rider “Just about”, which probably refers to just how close the top drivers are to the edge in these difficult conditions. Tim McNulty normally has plenty to say but after that Tim Healy stage he was very screwed up. He looked to be wound up like a clock spring and of course he has had some gearbox troubles with this new car.
Derek McGarrity emphasised that he had made the wrong tyre choice this morning while co driver Diarmuid Falvey was cursing this new timing system which he reckons robbed him of 3s at the start of the Tim Healy stage. Donie O’Sullivan said that his puncture on Molls happened just past the old pub on the right hander, that he was being too greedy for road. Donie then had to fit an odd ball tyre for Kilmacilloge and Tim Healy but he said it went fine. Although he was being just a bit conservative as he worried about any damage to the suspension.
Aaron MacHale was trying left foot braking this morning and it was a bit of a struggle. Patrick Elliott was taking it fairly carefully in his new car. Dessie Keenan reckoned the suspension on his Subaru was set too hard and said the “test session” is now over! Kris Meeke said it is great to be back in S1600, that it is “proper driving” while his choice of tyre this morning, slicks all round, meant some “awesome” moments. Co driver Paul Nagle hasn’t stopped laughing sine he started Molls Gap!
Lead Evo Challenge contender Colm Murphy told us he is being very cautious, he doesn’t know the stages down here and it is a long way to go. Kevin Kelleher has some turbo boost problems with his Lancer, it is not pulling uphill. Owen Murphy is going very well indeed, just a fraction down on Colm Murphy, although Owen was slowed on the 2nd half of the Healy as his Lancer broke a manifold just going past the grotto. Alan Ring is in some discomfort, he has a trapped nerve in his neck. Denis Biggerstaff is going OK, passed David McNulty on Molls David not going well. Eoin Doyle has caught a few cars, otherwise OK.
Phil Collins made a wrong tyre choice, or at least he feels he made a wrong tyre choice, got that into his head and then didn’t drive well. Whereas James Stafford had a good run to lead 2 wheel drive. Paul Elliott has gearbox problems plus he spun at a hairpin. Tom Randles did a last minute deal for a Lancer and forgot to switch the car over from gravel settings fro Molls Gap. Jeremy Taylor/Jody Patterson left the engine of their Raymond Mason Lancer ticking over for too long in parc ferme and the engine overheated. Fingers crossed it will all be OK.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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