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RALLY NEWS
NO.16 Carndonagh service..Sunday 3.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 22 MALIN HEAD
1st (3) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 2.32.31
2nd (1) James Cullen/Ellen Morgan (Impreza) 2.35.38
3rd (9) Frank Meagher/Dermot O'Gorman (Escort WRC) 2.37.25
4th (11) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza) 2.37.45
5th (8) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 2.38.55
6th (5) Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Celica) 2.39.31
7th (14) Hugh M Doherty/Mike Gibson (Escort WRC) 2.41.19
8th (24) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Escort) 2.43.32
9th (30) Brendan Kelly/Sean Harris (Lancer N) 2.49.05
10th (64) Seamus Heron/Sean Devlin (Lancer N) 2.49.11
11th (28) Glenn Allen/Adrian Johnston (Escort) 2.49.20
12th (20) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Celica) 2.51.14
13th (19) Sean McArdle/Damien Garvey (Celica) 2.51.31
14th (42) Connie Smith/James Murtagh (Escort Cos) 2.51.38
15th (57) Natalie Barrett/Stella Boyles (lancer N) 2.51.58
Stage 22 Malin Head wasn't kind to Ian Gr eer in the Taranto
de Pol Celica. Dean Beckett on thenotes called a crest into square
right, the Toyota was going just too quick. Dean says they
were "enjoying themselves" and the car slammed into
the ditch. There was no way it would come out on it's own, and
there were no spectators...maybe thankfully. By the time
Dean got out the window, gathered up a few spectators, stopped
the following cars, Doherty hardly got stopped in time...and
the spectators helped Dean push the car out. Then there were
seat belts to get fastened, pace notes scattered on the floor...it
was amazing that they only lost 2 minutes and 30 seconds approximately.
It was almost certainly enough to kiss goodbye to 3rd place,
with only 2 stages remaining.
The battle now is between Frank Meagher and Daniel Doherty on
his local patch. Andrew Nesbitt set fastest time over Malin
with 7.51. Eamonn Boland was 2nd fastest with 8.00. James Cullen
and Daniel Doherty shared 3rd quickest with 8.01. Doherty
may have lost a few seconds when he fluffed the hairpin.
Andrew Nesbitt commented when he got in here to Carndonagh service
"I'm trying very hard to keep my concentration, I feel if
I back off I'm much more likely to make a mistake".
As we talked, the mechanics were fitting new brake pads to the
Cuisine de France backed car and of course there was a new set
of Pirellis under the warmers ready to be fitted.
Other stories included...Glenn Allen slid off the road again
on a square left, Glenn trying to drive on completely worn out
tyres. Eugene Donnelly commented "This is the hardest
thing in the world to do, trying to drive easy". Brendan
Kelly and Seamus Heron had equal times through stage 22 in the
group N race. Owen Lamont is now running just behind the leaders
in his blue Subaru - Owen lost 21 minutes on Friday, his first
visit to Donegal Rally - he is now getting well on the pace.
James Cullen reported no problems at the end of Malin, his Tony
Kelly Cars/4 Lanterns Subaru well settled in 2nd...more later..BRIAN
AND LIZ PATTERSON |
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