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RALLY NEWS
NO.3(A) Service..Sunday 1.20..updated
2.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD STARTING STAGE 3
1st 2nd (6) Tim McNulty/Greg Shinnors (Celica) 18.53
2nd (3) Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza) 19.00
3rd (9) Hugh M Doherty/Billy McCullins (Escort WRC) 19.01
4th (4) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza) 19.03
5th (7) George Cullen/Dermot O'Gorman (Celica) 19.08
6th (16) Richard Casey/Christina Madden (Escort) 19.13
7th (24) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moyniham (RS2000) 19.16
8th (10) Anthony O'Halloran/Sean Moriarty (Impreza) 19.29
9th (11) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Celica) 19.33
10th (19) Philip Shaw/Bridget Averall (Escort) 19.38
Donal O'Donovan was leading after stage 2 but crashed just into
stage 3, Ruan, caught out on cold tyres. Paul Harris led after
stage 1 of this Clare Stages Rally, but Donal O'Donovan took
over the yellow jersey with a fastest time through stage 2.
The Harris Subaru encountered power steering problems and Paul
struggled. Dunlop championship leader Niall Maguire says
he is going as hard as he wants. The Monaghan man is certainly
keeping it all together, clean tidy and no dramas.
Harris doesn't seem happy with his car at all...he reported overheating
and gearbox problems on stage 1 to add to the stage 2 power steerig
difficulties. Donal O'Donovan told us hre at the service
area.."The car is not handling as well as it did in Clonmel,
it is still sticking the arse out under braking which doesn't
give a lot of confidence". George Cullen said on his
performance so far.."It just doesn't feel right, not clicking".
Hugh Martin Doherty said something similar about his performance.."Not
into the swing yet". It is Hugh Martin's first rally
since Donegal of course and it takes a while to get on the pace
here.
Anthony O'Halloran found his Subaru spluttering for a while after
the start of stage 2 which cost a little time. Local man
Richard Casey, with Christina Madden on the pace notes, has encountered
a little brake trouble with his Escort but is still flying.
Philip Shaw's co driver Bridget Averall freely admits to being
rusty in her efforts to keep up wih the flyig Philip. At
least the stage 1 jammed 4th gear was sorted for stage 2.
Dessie Keenan reckons the back axle in his Escort is bent and
is costing him time. Ollie O'Donovan's RS2000 F2 has a slight
misfire and sky high oil pressure but still stting the times.
Jimmy Lambert is battling to come to grips with his new Escort
6 speed sequential box. Micky McArdle has unfortunately
stopped in stage 2, reortedly the fan belt broke and the engine
ceased.
Pat Casey is by his own standards off the pace, his Escort suffering
electrical troubles. While Pat Mullane has been slowed slightly
with intercom trouble. Willie O'Dwyer in the Metro also having
intermittent intercom difficulties.
Patrick Elliott leads gpN after stage 2, his total 19.55. Jon
Tainton on 20.31. Patrick is still settling after his Rally
Ireland accident last weekend. Jon Tainton was off the road slightly
on stage 1. More news to follow..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON |
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