UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 17 Coolcross
1st (1) Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 2.06.38.2
2nd (6) Alastair Fisher/Rory Kennedy (Fiesta S2000) 2.07.56.4
3rd (3) Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Impreza WRC) 2.09.24.1
4th (149) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 2.10.40.0
5th (14) Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan (Escort) 2.12.42.5
6th (20) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian) 2.14.04.7
7th (4) Garry Jennings/David Moynihan (Lancer N) 2.14.08.3
8th (24) Seamus Heron/Gerry McVeigh (Corolla WRC) 2.14.54.7
9th (10) Phillip Morrow/Jonny Hart (Lancer N) 2.15.21.6
10th (8) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 2.16.14.0
The above times are for International & National Rallies run together just for interest sake. We will split them on the next RallyNews.
Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely were first on the road this morning in their Subaru and Tim reported at the finish of stage 17 outside Carndonagh that it was very slippery indeed in this morning’s rain. He had an overshoot which cost a few seconds. Daragh O’Riordan was on wet weather tyres and he set fastest time, 4s up on McNulty. Kevin Barrett was 3rd fastest and Alastair Fisher 4th. Alastair did have a good clean run but was taking no chances and braking early.
Daniel McKenna continues to lead the National section from John Dalton and indeed was 18s up on the Darrian driver over that 12.6km Coolcross test. Daniel fitted new brake pads to his Escort for today and they took a while to bed in. He found the balance of the car was not right for the first part of the stage but it settled down towards the end. John Dalton also had some troubles as his Darrian throttle jammed closed which was a lot better than being stuck open! Brian Brogan is 3rd in the National category and he lost a little time on this morning’s opening stage when the inside of his Escort’s windscreen misted up badly.
Phillips Morrow was the highest placed conventional GpN car in the overnight standings but he lost a lot of time in stage 17 this morning when his Lancer stuck in 2nd gear. Both John Dalton and Garry Jennings passed Phillip in the stage. Garry Jennings reported a major moment in the slippy conditions. We have no times as yet for Scott McElhinney who was leading the Citroen Racing Trophy contenders this morning. Normal front runner Mark Sheahan is doing Super Rally today and has changed the ECU in the C2R2 Max as he feels the car was not its usual sharp self.
On the WRC Acropolis Rally in Greece after stage 17 Ogier leads from Loeb who is 10s back. Behind the Citroen top 2 Hirvonen in the Fiesta WRC is 13 down in 3rd and Petter Solberg/Chris Patterson are 37s off the lead in 4th. Petter reckons his car is well down on power now. Just the final “power stage” to go.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Michael Patterson) www.rallynews.net
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