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RALLY NEWS
NO.9 Sunday...service...1.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 12 CLONKEEN
1st (1) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC) 1.31.03
2nd (4) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Celica)1.32.38
3rd (6) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Escort Cos) 1.34.18
4th (25) John Treacy/John Smithwick (Escort) 1.36.42
5th (24) George Treacy/Alan Treacy (Impreza N) 1.37.42
6th (11) Dominic Loughran/Lisa Mangan (Sierra) 1.38.14
7th (26) Eugene Ferry/John Gallagher (Escort) 1.38.58
8th (175) Peter McCullagh/Greg McCarthy (EscortCos)1.40.40
9th (77) Francis Corrigan/Niall Driver (Lancer N) 1.40.50
10th (162) Trevor Culbert/James Glynn (Escort) 1.41.38
"Wing and a prayer" was Michael Barrable's comment
at the end of stage 12. Although the finish of the stage
was bathed in warm sunshine, most of the 9.48 mile test was bombarded
with a torrential thunderstorm, and the drivers were caught,
almost without exception, on dry weather slick tyres. Michael
Barrable was fastest by 2s from Dominic Loughran, Austin McHale
was 3rd fastest and Peadar Hurson, his Escort Cosworth turbo
now repaired, 4th quickest. Austin McHale said he couldn't believe
how difficult it was as his Corolla arrived into the finish sporting
a hard hot weather slick tyre.
John Treacy continues to set the roads alight in his Mk2 Escort,
John having done the first couple of miles of the stage without
pace notes. Dominic Loughran's Sierra had been suffering
from alternator, clutch and frayed temper problems at service,
but he certainly made up for lost time in that stage 12.
Interestingly, Dominic's Sierra is being serviced by Sean Blake's
crew, headed by Dave Darcy, Dominic's team not showing up yesterday.
Further stories from stage 12 include ...Peter McCullagh's Escort
Cosworth filling up with fumes in the stage. Pat White's Escort
Cosworth, now 11th in the classification, having a broken intercom
for the test. Lloyd Hutchinson in the Mini should have been through
12th on the road, but there was no immediate sign of the leading
Historic machine.
In the Ford Ka Championship - after the spectator stage Liam
Denning led with a time of 1.17 from Trevor Harding with Barry
Barrable 3rd. Barry had a small keyhole type operation this week
and happily is in top form. Remarkably, the fastest Kas set times
in the spectator stage which were as fast as most of the overall
top runners. Finally for now, further news on Patrick Elliott's
stage 12 accident. There are no life threatening injuries and
Patrick has his Lancer back here at service. Just outside the
above leaderboard we have Pat White in 11th then its Fergal Allen
in his Sierra with Martin Boyle next up in his gpN Lancer, despite
damaging the bodywork yesterday in an accident. Douglas Richardson
still leads his class and is in the top 15. Grant Shand is next
up, the cross channel visitor making a comeback to the sport
after a long layoff and co driven by Gareth Lloyd.More news later..BRIAN
& LIZ PATTERSON..with thanks to Martin Walsh..thanks also
to Dougie Hughes & Noel Clarke. |
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