|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RALLY NEWS
NO.2 End of stage 1..Sat.10.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1
1st (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru WRC) 9.01
2nd (1) Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Corolla WRC) 9.08
3rd (4) Frank Meagher/Dermot O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 9.14
4th (5) Kenny McKinstry/Sean Mullally (Subaru WRC) 9.25
5th (6) Donal O'Donovan/MJ Morrissey (Celica) 9.26
6th (14) Niall McShea/Michael Orr (Saxo) 9.42
7th (24) Roy White/Des Cooney (Lancer N) 9.49
8th (18) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Escort G3) 9.51
9th (9) Frank O'Mahony/Hugh McPhillips (Subaru) 9.52
10th (31) John Dempsey/Adrian Foley (Subaru) 9.57
Slightly damp conditions greeted the drivers as they started
the first stage of this Cork 20. That opening test, Skahanagh,
was 11.9 miles of very fast tarmac. All the lead drivers
were discussing tyres at the stage finish. Some had picked
slick rubber and thought they should have been on intermediates,
some had intermediates and thought they should have been on slicks!!
One of the few who seemed to be perfectly happy was Kenny McKinstry.
As his ex Russian Champion's gold coloured Subaru WRC cruised
to a halt at the passage control he told us "A good run,
but there is a lot left in the car and a lot left in me. We were
on a soft slick and it was fine". First on the road,
Ian Greer, making his debut in his Taranto de Pol Corolla WRC
said "I felt a wee bit nervous, cautious over the bumps
and I was in the wrong gears for some of the corners".
Andrew Nesbitt said "We went well, steady, slippy where
it was slippy, dry where it was dry!"
Not so happy was Austin McHale, the 5 times Tarmac Champion saying
"The clutch is slipping like mad, don't know if we can adjust
it". Frank Meagher in the new Focus told us "I've
no confidence just yet, but it went well, really I would have
preferred intermediate tyres". Donal O'Donovan on
his first outing since his Clare accident, told us "We're
settling in, we've got brakes this time alright".
Frank O'Mahony told us that he was sliding about all over the
place. Sean McArdle's Toyota has a flickering oil light.
Johnny O'Sullivan's Escort WRC has a serious misfire. John
Dempsey had a 360 degree spin. Tom Randles said he was
very cautious. Michael Walsh - very rusty. Some further
times include...McArdle 10.22. O'Sullivan 10.02. Randles
10.37. Michael Walsh 11.01. Greg McCorkack, moved up the start
list from 39, had 10.10. Seamus Heron 10.05, a long way
behind gpN leader Roy White, Seamus has not been out for a while
and made a cautious start.
More news to follow...BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
|
|
|
|
|
