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| Circuit of Kerry |
| RALLY NEWS No.5 - After stage 6 - Sunday @ 15:21:04 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.5 Service/Tralee/Sunday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Knockagoshel
1st (2) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 54.53
2nd (4) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 55.00
3rd (3) Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 55.18
4th (11) Declan & Brian Boyle (Escort) 56.47
5th (12) Barry Meade/Johnny Hickey (Escort) 56.48
6th (10) Alan Ring/Brian Duggan (Lancer N) 58.26
7th (20) Ed Synan/Denis O'Connell (Escort) 58.28
(138) Paul Purtill/Kaye Shanahan (Escort) 58.28
9th (7) Mark Jasper/Don Wyatt (Accent WRC) 58.30
10th (21) Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Escort) 59.12
With just one stage remaining on this Carlton Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally there is a lot to play for and a lot of very close battles to be resolved. Kevin Barrett has just 7s in hand over Circuit of Ireland winner Derek McGarrity in the race for first place. Declan Boyle and Barry Meade in their Escorts are separated by just 1s in the race to the line for class 14 supremacy. Ed Synan and Paul Purtill in their Escorts are neck and neck, absolutely equal, in their fight for class 13.
When Kevin Barrett brought his Subaru into service he had just recorded fastest time through stage 6 and he raised his eyes slightly skywards and said. “Having a good battle, one stage to go”. Derek McGarrity reported a small problem with his Subaru in that on the downward gear shift a flashing light in the dash board was signalling “failure”. This was disconcerting for Derek to say the least. He also had an edgy run through stage 5 following a puncture and wheel change on the road section meaning he had to start that Mount Eagle test with 3 hot tyres and 1 cold one. Niall Maguire had a few niggly problems through the opening 3 stages but the Monaghan man certainly made up for lost time on the 2nd loop, fastest through SS5 and 2nd fastest through 4 and 6.
Declan Boyle moved into the lead of the Escorts in stage 6 and that was despite his Escort taking a mind of its own by changing gear from 2nd to 5th a few times without Declan asking it to! The Donegal man said. “It was a bit frightening, hopefully we will sort it out at service”. Barry Meade had his Escort’s nose slightly in front of Boyle starting SS6 but a massive spin near the end cost a few seconds.
Alan Ring has improved enormously through the 2nd loop of stages and as well as being 6th o/a, Alan and his co driver Brian Duggan are leading GpN. Niall Maguire’s son Shane and his co driver Paul Kelly are up to 2nd in GpN with their Impreza. Alan Ring has now registered for the Dunlop Championship. Kevin Kelleher/Donnacha O’Callaghan led the GpN category earlier but they retired in stage 4 with a suspected blown head gasket on their Lancer.
Mike Quinn brought his Escort into service with the 2 front wheels well splayed out, having hit a rock in stage 6. Mike is also having electrical problems with the car and is well down the list. Eamonn Daly is another down the list, his Lancer having suffered a puncture in stage 4 and then got stuck behind a crashed car. Eamonn said. "Still, we’re enjoying the day and getting the feel of the car”. Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan have come into the top 10 in their Escort, despite Adrian getting no recce at all and he said. “We’re not doing too bad, plenty of sideways stuff!” Ed Synan reported that he has had a problem with his Escort on virtually every stage and he said. “All bits and bobs including a broken tie bar”. Lloyd Hutchinson/Kevin Flanagan are having a great run in their Mini Cooper to lead cl.9 and in 11th o/a.
Finally for now we have had a report from Aidan Harper in the Spectator Control Range Rover that there are bigger crowds of spectators here today than any National Rally this year and they are all very well behaved.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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