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| Nenagh Stages Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.2 - After Stage 1 - Sunday @ 11:14:50 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.2 End of stage 1 Latteragh/Sunday 1115
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1
1st (5) Melvyn Evans/Patrick Walsh (Impreza WRC) 9.47
2nd (4) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 9.55
3rd (14) Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett (Escort) 9.57
4th (2) Niall Maguire/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 10.01
(3) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 10.01
6th (6) Kevin Kelleher/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 10.10
7th (12) Trevor Mulligan/Sean Hayde (Escort) 10.12
8th (9) Aidan Bourke/John Kinahan (Lancer N) 10.13
9th (11) Mike Quinn/Grainne McEnery (Escort) 10.27
10th (31) Tom Flaherty/Patrick Curley (Escort) 10.38
Frost and greasy roads over the top of the mountains made the going difficult for the drivers on the opening stage. Although the sun was out there wasn’t enough heat to warm roads or the tyres and it was a real struggle. Interestingly Derek McGarrity said he reckoned that, although it was off-putting, there was more grip than what first appeared.
Melvyn Evans had a great run through the fast middle section of the stage which resulted in his quickest time, 8s up on Derek McGarrity. Donegal man Manus Kelly had a brilliant time in his Mk2 Escort to be fastest of the Modified cars. There was no sign of Daniel McKenna’s Escort at stage finish. We did hear unconfirmed reports that Daniel overshot a junction early in the stage, and then the gearbox gave trouble somewhere in the middle of the stage.
Kevin Kelleher was fastest group N and the Clonakilty man said it was difficult to judge the braking distances in the slippy conditions. His closest rival Aidan Bourke lost some time when his Lancer overshot a junction. Mike Quinn was down a few seconds on the other top Escorts on that opening test, and he said that he is trying a new tyre this morning and it was almost like a test session for him.
We are getting a time in now for young Daniel McKenna but it is over 7m off the pace. So he must have got the car going. There was no sign of David Percy’s Escort F2 at stage finish. David worked night and day along with his father, George, and the boys in the garage to get the car ready for the rally, so hopefully he is still going. David Guest had a good run through stage 1 in his Civic to lead Cl.11. Neil Pierce led Cl.2 in his Civic. Eoin Duffin led cl.12 in his Escort G4.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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