RALLY NEWS NO.2          Service (In)..Sunday..noon

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1

1st (3) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza) 9.18

2nd (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru WRC) 9.25

3rd (2) Pete Doughty/Tim Sturla (Escort WRC) 9.34

4th (175) George Cullen/Dermot O'Gorman (Subaru Impreza) 9.41

5th (4) Ray Breen/John Purcell (Subaru Impreza) 9.53

6th (16) Rory O'Connor/Francis Kenny (Escort Cos) 9.58

    (17) James Gillen/Shane O'Neill (Escort) 9.58

8th (12) Jim Harrison/Mike Gibson (Escort Cos) 10.01

9th (14) Joe McGurk/Arthur Kierans (Celica) 10.08

10th (15) Sean Gallagher/Liam Costello (Lancer N) 10.16

     (32) Mac McKenna/John Loughran (Peugeot) 10.16

12th (9) Noel McCarrick/John McCafferty (Subaru Impreza) 10.17

Paul Harris set the pace through the first stage of this Downhill Hotel sponsored Ballina event, the Donegal man reporting no problems at stage finish. Interestingly, he was telling us before the start of the rally that he is really just going out this year to enjoy himself, no fancy preparation teams or frills.

Andrew Nesbitt felt at stage finish that although the car was working well, as were the tyres, they still need to do a bit of adjustment to the very sophisticated new type of suspension on his Subaru WRC.  Pete Doughty in 3rd place reported no problems, the Nottingham man seemingly very cool. George Cullen came in from the reserves to set 4th fastest, George feeling very much at home on that narrow first Attymass stage.

Sean Gallagher was the fastest gpN time that we have so far, Sean 1s up on Noel McCarrick.  Michael Shaw recorded 10.42, Joe McHugh 10.21.

Drivers in trouble on that first stage included Alan Nesbitt, his G3 Escort suffering a misfire.  Stephen Carway has just had the engine of his Escort Cosworth overhauled, and apparently the throttle was sticking badly on that first stage, so much so that Stephen may not continue.  Joe McGurk was having trouble with his Celica spark plugs and was running late on the road. Jim Harrison, with Mike Gibson on the notes for the first time, had a spin.  Ray Breen had a good run through the stage in the ex Bruno Thiry Subaru, now converted to rhd, and we have a little question mark over Ray's time on that first stage, he could possibly be a bit faster.  Dunlop Tyres have instigated a new Bonus Scheme for the drivers to coincide with their sponsorship of this National championship.  If the drivers have class success they can accumulate enough points to qualify for 50 percent discount on their competition tyres, which can't be bad! More news to follow..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON..with thanks to Noel Clarke..