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| ALMC Stages Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.4 - After SS4 - Sunday @ 14:29:20 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.4 End of SS4/Sunday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 KENTSTOWN
1st (1) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 31.40
2nd (30) Viv Hamill/Paul Hamill (Escort) 32.41
3rd (5) Neil McCance/Sean Ferris (Lancer N) 32.42
4th (3) Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Escort) 32.46
5th (141) Brian Brogan/Mac Walsh (Escort) 32.57
6th (4) John McGlaughlin/Crawford Henderson (Lancer N) 33.12
7th (8) Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont (Lancer N) 33.16
8th (2) Mart Courtney/Mick Courtney (Celica) 33.17
9th (7) Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt (Metro 6R4) 33.20
10th (15) Terence O'Shaughnessy/Eugene McGrath (Corolla GT) 33.21
Fastest through stage 4 was Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman in their Focus WRC and the real surprise package of the rally, Viv & Paul Hamill, were 2nd fastest in their Escort. The lead drivers had a difficult tyre choice to make leaving service as dark clouds on the horizon threatened rain. Michael Barrable went for an intermediate tyre but the stage was bone dry and he said his Focus WRC was moving about on the road. Alan Carmichael was running 10th car on the road in his Lancer and he rep9orted rain at the start and dry conditions the rest of the way. It was almost a no win situation. Mark Courtney in the Celica was pretty despondent at stage finish reporting his Celica had inexplicably switched itself on to safe mode mid stage.
John McGlaughlin had the tiniest hint of an overshoot at one junction and dropped a couple of seconds but otherwise had a good run and said it was his best stage so far. Neil McCance also reported a half spin, his at a hairpin, but he continues to lead the Evo Challenge contenders. Trevor Mulligan had a brilliant time and said that he was using the first 3 stages just to settle and didn’t want a repeat of his big Carlow accident. Similarly Terence O’Shaughnessy was well settled for that 4th stage and set a good time. Visiting UK crew Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt had a much better time through stage 4 and they reckoned that the suspension adjustments that the crew made to the 6R4 at service had made all the difference. Simon Kehoe, who crashed his Astra out on the Ravens Rock Rally, said he really woke up in stage 4 and his time was pretty respectable. Michael Curran started the stage in front of Simon but hasn’t appeared at the finish so we can only presume has pulled off somewhere. Tomas O’Rourke picked a wet weather type tyre and although he felt he had lost time he really had a good run and was 4s faster than young Damien McCarthy. Damien led the Honda Cup runners after 3 stages with O’Rourke 2nd and Martin Cunningham 3rd a further 20s back. Peter O’Kane has retired his Honda in stage 3.
In the Citroen Racing Trophy Barry Evans and Sam Moffett were tying for the lead leaving service with Adrian McElhinney 3rd five seconds back. Normal front runner McElhinney reckoned that his car was set a little too stiff and he also thought he had a puncture on the first stage, which he hadn’t, but it knocked him off his stride. Adrian Quinn has retired his Lancer at service because of gearbox troubles. Rory Byrne was trying to adjust the rear suspension of his Lancer and said it was like driving a Mk2 Escort. Aidan O’Connor has retired his Nova with a broken drive shaft. Paul Coke had an unfortunate experience on the 2nd stage when some person threw a stone through the windscreen of his Satria. This was extremely dangerous and happened on stage 2 between junctions 3 and 4.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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