UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Molls Gap
1st (2) Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 8.25
2nd (6) Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Impreza WRC) 8.39
3rd (1) Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Impreza WRC) 8.44
4th (9) Barry Meade/Alan Whyte (Escort) 9.00
5th (23) Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Lancer N) 9.04
(18) Vincent O'Shea/Brian Hickey (Esc.Cos) 9.04
7th (8) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 9.07
(15) Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Escort) 9.07
9th (10) Fergus O'Meara/Liam Brennan (Escort) 9.10
The above times are from the first few cars only and are showing the International and Modified categories together.
It was a beautiful morning up at Molls Gap for the first stage of the rally, the early morning mist over the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks cleared nicely just before the start time. We even saw a deer running across the road outside Kenmare (also a red squirrel!). This idyllic tranquillity was shattered somewhat with the arrival of Denis Cronin’s gleaming blue World Rally Car. Denis, who won the rally here last year, has not competed since the Fastnet Rally and he said. “I was a bit nervous and felt a bit rusty at the start but then it went well”. Denis’ car has been completely rebuilt and he set much the same time as he did on Molls Gap last year, so everything must be screwed together fairly well.
When Tim McNulty arrived at stage finish he said that his Subaru seemed a bit too soft in the rear suspension department. Third on the road, Kevin Barrett, didn’t have a great time, the Triton Showers man admitting that it just didn’t flow for him and also that he felt the car was a bit soft. Daragh O’Riordan had a good run, the Cork man said that all was well. Alan Ring was the next up in his Munster Joinery Lancer, Alan not over enamoured with his time and he said. “The car just doesn’t feel quick. I felt I was driving well”. Indeed Thomas Fitzmaurice was 3s faster in his GpN Lancer, the Tralee man admitting to feeling very stressed over the daunting Molls Gap road.
Fastest of the Mk2 Escorts was Barry Meade. Barry said before the start. “The car is fine but I need to get my mature brain in”. Fergus O’Meara was 10s down on Barry’s time. Fergus has had a lot of work done to his Escort, revamped suspension and so forth and he still felt the car was a little soft at the rear end. Mk2 Escort men not so happy included Martin McGee whose example blew a head gasket at the start of the stage. John Hickey’s Lancer seemed to blow up mid stage and Eoin Doyle in his Subaru WRC got held up slightly in the ensuing smoke screen.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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