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| Ulster Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.3 - RALLYNEWS No.3 - Friday @ 17:49:06 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.3 Antrim/Friday @
RALLYNEWS NO.3
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3
WRC
1st (W1) Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 21.31.3
2nd (W2) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 21.31.6
3rd (W4) Aaron MacHale/Eugene O'Donnell (Focus WRC) 22.50.5
RALLYNI
1st (4) Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts (Fiesta S2000) 21.54.6
2nd (1) Gwyndaf Evans/Phil Pugh (Lancer N) 22.06.8
3rd (2) Keith Cronin/Barry McNulty (Impreza N) 22.19.4
4th (28) Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan (Lancer N) 22.30.4
5th (3) Alastair Fisher/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 22.30.4
6th (9) Adam Gould/Craig Drew (Impreza N) 22.33.1
7th (7) Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Citroen DS3 R3) 22.55.8
8th (5) Jonny Greer/Dai Roberts (Lancer N) 23.02.7
9th (24) Marty McCormack/David Moynihan (Citroen C2R2 Max) 23.05.0
10th (8) Jason Pritchard/Robbie Durant (Impreza N) 23.09.6
On the Torr Head stage Gareth MacHale managed to get his Focus WRC ahead of Derek McGarrity in the Impreza to lead the WRC of this Ulster Rally.
In the NI Rally Keith Cronin set the fastest time for Torr Head but Craig Breen retains the overall lead. When the cars came in to service here at Antrim Gareth MacHale remarked: “We are pushing hard, but safe.” When asked about his earlier reversed gear trouble, Gareth said: “It was a bit of a glitch. We have reset the electronics and it is ok.” When asked about loosing the lead of the WRC Derek McGarrity told us “I have the differentials set very tight for the fast sections, but then it is hard to get the car around the hairpins. There were 2 places I had to get on to the grass.” Aaron MacHale in 3rd admitted “That was my first time over Torr Head and all the crests and jumps were very difficult.” It was even more difficult for visiting Dutch driver Arjen De Koning who said “This is my first time in Ireland. I have never seen such bumps. We have loosened the suspension, but I can’t keep my foot on the gas. It is crazy jumping quit challenging. I know if I really push for sure I will be off the road.
Gwyndaf Evans lead the RallyNI initially and he said after Torr Head: “We decided to have a tidy run. There is a bit left. We accept chicanes as part of the job, but why are they so tight on Glendun?” New rally leader Craig Breen said “We’ve settled in now and very happy.” British Champion Keith Cronin told us “We had a good first and third stage, but on the 2nd we hit the chicane, then knocked a wall down at the last square left and stalled the engine.”
Current Tarmac Championship leader Alistair Fisher lost a little bit of time when his Lancer suffered a broken shock absorber. The damage was probably caused at the big jump at the end of stage 2. When Bryan Bouffier stepped out of his new Citroen DS3R3 he said “This Torr Head stage is fantastique” Jason Pritchard reckons his Impreza suspension is the same as the Manx but too soft for here. Adam Gould has had some power steering, fuel surge and intercom problems, so his 6th place is pretty good. Daniel Sigurdarson is down in 19th. The Icelandic driver lost some time when he came upon Dave Weston’s accident and also this is his first time on dry tarmac with slick tyres.
Alan Ring has lost some time as his Lancer seems to be down in power. A leaking turbo pipe is probably the culprit. Andrew Bushe can’t get his C2 S1600 to work over the jumps. Tommy Doyle reckons he needs new pads and a change of brake fluid on his Clio. He is losing the brakes towards the end of the stages.
Marty McCormack reckons he was a bit slow out of the blocks but he is certainly going brilliantly now to lead class R2 from Robert Barrable. Robert got a bit exuberant and knocked the front spoiler of his Citroen C2R2 Max. Marc Donnelly is second in the Citroen Racing Trophy and is driving well within himself.
Daniel McKenna is having to adjust his notes for the different pace of his hired Mitsubishi as against his usual Mk2 Escort. However Daniel is doing a brilliant job to be equal with Alistair Fisher on stagetimes.
Stanley Ballantine’s Lancer is a bit soft in the suspension department, Stanley saying “She’s lifting the inside wheel and I’m scared to give her too much dixies!”
More news later: BRIAN PATTERSON & CHRISTEL DEBERDT www.rallynews.net
*For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 53030 (Irl) or RALLY ITC to 60066 (UK). Text STOP to switch off. Cost 30c/25p. Provided by stagetimes.com
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