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| Nenagh Stages Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.3 - After Stage 2 - Sunday @ 11:47:33 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.3 Service/Sunday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2
1st (5) Melvyn Evans/Patrick Walsh (Impreza WRC) 21.11
2nd (3) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 21.21
3rd (2) Niall Maguire/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 21.24
4th (6) Kevin Kelleher/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 21.33
5th (4) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 21.36
6th (9) Aidan Bourke/John Kinahan (Lancer N) 21.51
7th (14) Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett (Escort) 21.52
8th (11) Mike Quinn/Grainne McEnery (Escort) 22.25
9th (31) Tom Flaherty/Patrick Curley (Escort) 22.56
10th (35) Alan O’Callaghan/ Cathal McGrath (Impreza N) 23.05
Kevin Barrett was fastest through the 2nd stage, his Subaru stopped the clock on 11.20. Niall Maguire and Kevin Kelleher were equal 2nd fastest on 11.23. Rally leader Melvyn Evans felt that he could have done with more cuts on his Subaru tyres to counteract the slippy frosty roads. Kevin Barrett on the other hand went for a more conservative tyre choice, and although it was no great advantage on the first stage it gave him better grip on the second. Kevin’s co driver Sean Mullally of RT Communications laughed at the end of the stage when he remarked on his spectacles sliding down his nose as the Subaru banged over the bumps and jumps.
Derek McGarrity lost his 2nd place when his Subaru spun on a narrow gravelly section in stage 2 and got half jammed between two banks. McGarrity is driving the ex Eamonn Boland Impreza WRC S12B this weekend. Although he won the rally at Kirkistown in yesterday, he had never driven the car down a narrow, closed road special stage until this morning, and he didn’t know how it would react over the bumps and jumps. He seems to be managing quite well! Niall Maguire reported the roads of the second stage to be very greasy and slippy but otherwise had no problems.
Kevin Kelleher had a great run through stage 2 and said it was a big improvement on his opening stage where he couldn’t trust the braking distances. Kevin’s closest GpN rival Aidan Bourke felt that his tyres were too hard a compound and he wasn’t getting grip. Mike Quinn lost time on the 2nd stage when his Escort broke a suspension link bar. Mike should be able to get it fixed at service. Manus Kelly continues to lead the Modified category and reported no problems. Trevor Mulligan has crashed his Escort on the 2nd stage, both mike and co driver Sean Hayde are reported to be OK. Washington James in the Darrian is another who is struggling to find grip and he is lying in 14th o/a. Alan O’Callaghan/Cathal McGrath got the hammer down through that 2nd stage and they are delighted to get their Subaru into the top 10. Richard Bukre/John Burke are down in 21st place in their Subaru and leading Cl.15. Daniel McKenna who lost over 7m in stage 1 told us that the problem was down to a broken gear selector lever and he had to stop in the stage and wrestle the car from 1st o 3rd gear, and that is how he finished the stage – in 3rd gear.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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