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RALLY NEWS
NO.2 End of stage 1..Friday 1.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 - LETTERLEAGUE
1st (3) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 9.48
2nd (1) James Cullen/Ellen Morgan (Impreza) 10.02
3rd (2) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla) 10.07
4th (5) Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Celica) 10.10
5th (6) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza) 10.11
6th (9) Frank Meagher/Dermot O'Gorman (Escort WRC) 10.23
7th (14) Hugh M Doherty/Mike Gibson (Escort WRC) 10.24
8th (11) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza) 10.25
9th (24) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Escort) 10.31
10th (10) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Porsche) 10.33
Really, in a rally of his own, that was the only way to describe
Andrew Nesbitt's performance over the first special stage of
this millennium Shell Donegal Rally. That 11.9 mile Letterleague
test would normally be the domain of Letterkenny's James Cullen.
Not this time. Last year's winner James said "We had
a very big moment in there, I scared myself". When
Nesbitt's Pirelli shod Subaru came to a halt at the finish, he
was very cool, and just said "A good run".
None of the top drivers reported any major problems. Derek McGarrity
felt that his tyres were going off towards stage finish.
That could well be a recurring theme in this warm sunny weather.
Stephen Murphy was on a time of 10.40, the Carlow man seemingly
in the habit these days of making a steady start and then speeding
up. Daniel Doherty felt that his anti lag system was not
working properly. Frank Meagher told of the back end of
his World Rally Escort kicking about over the Letterleague bumps
and jumps. Hugh Martin Doherty felt his Escort Cosworth
was slightly down on power although the engine is not long back
from Mountune. Paul Harris was grinning from ear to ear,
as whell as shaking his head slightly when he brought the fearsome
Porsche 911 to a halt after stage finish.
Hugh Dunne in the Legacy lost a few seconds getting past Frank
O'Mahony, Cork man Frank having spun at the hairpin. Sean
McArdle was roasted in the big Taranto de Pol Celica, while Maurice
Gass made a slow start, passed by David Armstrong in the stage,
Maurice out for the first time in a left hand drive Subaru.
Eugene Donnelly, in the Bio Clear Escort G3 had a superb run,
to be highest placed 2 wheel drive Escort. His team mate
Donie O'Sullivan had a nice time of 10.41, the Killarney man
reporting no problems. Cathal Rogers is in one of the McKinstry
Subaru Imprezas and he was knocking on the top 10 with a time
of 10.35. Some more times - Ivan Stewart 10.56. Peadar
Hurson 10.35, the same time as Eamonn Boland in a left hand drive
Prodrive Subaru World Rally Car. More news to follow..BRIAN AND
LIZ PATTERSON |
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