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| Ulster Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.6 - RALLYNEWS No.6 - Saturday @ 08:52:01 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.6 Antrim/Friday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7 CAIRNCASTLE
WRC
1st (W1) Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 52.31.2
2nd (W2) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 52.31.3
3rd (W4) Aaron MacHale/Eugene O'Donnell (Focus WRC) 54.55.4
4th (W5) Arjen de Koning/Hein Verschuuren (Lancer WRC) 59.29.4
RALLYNI
1st (4) Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts (Fiesta S2000) 53.15.1
2nd (2) Keith Cronin/Barry McNulty (Impreza N) 53.35.0
3rd (1) Gwyndaf Evans/Phil Pugh (Lancer N) 53.44.2
4th (3) Alastair Fisher/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 54.26.5
5th (9) Adam Gould/Craig Drew (Impreza N) 54.51.6
6th (7) Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Citroen DS3 R3) 55.18.7
7th (5) Jonny Greer/Dai Roberts (Lancer N) 55.42.0
8th (28) Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan (Lancer N) 55.45.2
9th (24) Marty McCormack/David Moynihan (Citroen C2R2 Max) 56.43.5
10th (8) Jason Pritchard/Robbie Durant (Impreza N) 56.52.6
On the opening stage this morning Derek McGarrity was fastest of the WRC contenders to close right up on Gareth MacHale while in the RallyNI Gwyndaf Evans was quickest and young Daniel McKenna dropped a couple of minutes through stalling the engine. There is a small question mark over Gareth’s time for that opening stage. We reckon it was 9.42.9 but the computer at HQ is showing 9.49.9. if the latter is ratified it would show McGarrity leading by 7 seconds. Initial times for stage 8 show McGarrity fastest so he will lead the rally coming into service.
In the WRC race Gareth MacHale said at stage finish that he could have gone quicker over the crest and jumps. McGarrity reported a good run but still wasn’t happy about the setup of the chicanes. Aaron MacHale seem to be on a better pace than he was last night and said there were some places where he definitely could have gone quicker. The Dutch driver Arjen de Koning has softened the suspension on his Lancer but is still unsure of how hard to tackle the crests and jumps.
In RallyNI first on the road Craig Breen said: “I was really committed. The car was on the limiter for miles. I suppose I have lost 20 seconds”. The clocks told a different story and Craig was only a couple of seconds down of fastest man Gwyndaf. The Welshman, former winner of this Ulster rally said: “There is not much left”. Keith Cronin shrugged his shoulders at stage finish and said: “There is not much more I can do on a stage like that I was flat out nearly all the way. I’m not that interested in Craig’s times. Its Gwyndaf and the Championship is my main concern.”
Adam Gould was a couple of seconds down on the fastest men and said: “I was a bit messy and lost time behind McKenna at the chicane.” As for the young man from Monaghan who has been quit a sensation on this rally, especially considering it is his first time driving a Lancer – he reported the car stalled on a hairpin right which cost at least 10 seconds. Worse was to follow for Daniel when he stalled again at a chicane and the car wouldn’t restart for at least a minute. When Jonny Greer brought his Lancer in he pointed out that these turbo cars are a real problem to fire up when they are hot. And eavesdropping engineer Gerry McGarrity said: “There is a trick to it. You have to remember to switch of the anti lag.”
French driver Bryan Bouffier in the new Citroen DS3R3 turned in a very solid time, just a few seconds down on the leaders. Marty McCormack struggled a little in the stage as his C2R2 Max burst a power steering pipe and made the car a real handful through the chicanes. Jason Pritchard said at stage finish that he really lacked the confidence for that stage with all his high speed crest and jumps and really needs more time in the car.
On the Ulster National Rally John McLaughlin in his Lancer lead the overnight standings by 11 seconds from Declan McNaughton (Escort). George Robinson in his Subaru was third. Oran Donnelly, Fintan McGrady and Andy Magee in their Escorts were 4th, 5th and 6th.
The Ulster Historic Rally is divided into 3 main categories depending on the age of the cars. Ray Cunningham in his Mini Cooper S lead Dessie Nutt (Porsche 911) from Jonathan Gale (Tiger) this was in the B section for the oldest cars. In category 2 for the post Historics David Stokes in his Escort was 21 seconds from Keith McIvor (Porsche). Jeremy Easson was 3rd and Derek Boyd 4th. Category C for the Classics was lead by Connor Corkhill from the Isle of Man with Will Onions 2nd and Roger Kilty 3rd all in Escorts.
There are 2 Challenge rallies, first of which started last night and John Pritchard lead that from Jamie Brown with Alex Laffey third. All in Fiesta’s.
More news later: BRIAN PATTERSON & MICHAEL PATTERSON & THE GIRLS 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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