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RALLY NEWS
NO.3 Service..Friday 2.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD
AFTER STAGE 2 TRUSK LOUGH
1st (3) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 19.51
2nd (1) James Cullen/Ellen Moran (Impreza) 20.17
3rd (6) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza) 20.18
4th (2) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla) 20.25
5th (5) Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Celica) 20.27
6th (11) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza) 20.38
7th (9) Frank Meagher/Dermot O'Gorman (Escort WRC) 20.47
8th (8) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 20.58
9th (14) Hugh M Doherty/Mike Gibson (Escort WRC) 21.08
10th (24) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Escort) 21.11
The race is definitely
on at the front of the Shell Donegal Rally with Nesbitt fastest
on stage 2 to add to his stage 1 winning performance. Derek McGarrity
piled the coals on through that second stage, Trusk Lough, to
be just 4s slower than the similar Subaru world rally car at
the front. Daniel Doherty has speeded up to record 3rd
fastest through Trusk Lough. Nesbitt commented here at
service beside the lovely Lough Mourne "Steady run, no problems".
Derek McGarrity said "We're getting there, I like that stage".
Daniel Doherty reported "We'd a good run on stage 2 but
we were very rusty and sleepy on the first one, not even switching
the anti lag on".
James Cullen observed "We're taking no chances, I'm afraid
to stick my neck out until I find out the capability of the car
over the bumps. I suppose I'm still settling after the accident
as well". Fourth placed McHale reckons he he needs
to soften his Corolla World Rally Car's suspension. Ian
Greer felt the same - the reigning Tarmac Champion saying "We
need to go a bit harder, the suspension is very hard over
the bumps I think there's another second a mile in it".
Eamonn Boland is settling in to his Impreza World Rally Car and
had a good time through stage 2. Frank Meagher who is suffering
from a sore back reckons now that the car bouncing about at the
rear end on the first stage was more down to hard tyres than
suspension difficulty. Frank going on to say "I lost
my confidence a little but started to get the feel back towards
the end of that 2nd stage". Paul Harris in the Porsche
said "It's a long time since I had so much fun in a rally
car, mind you she doesn't like the corners now, I think something's
broke, but it was mighty over the big jumps in Letterleague".
Hugh Martin Doherty lost time in stage 2 when his Escort WRC
broke a driveshaft. Hugh Dunne spun and stalled the Legacy in
stage 2. Peadar Hurson says he is still getting settled in. Frank
O'Mahony reckons his engine is 100 horse power down. Eugene Donnelly
had another brilliant run in stage 2, his Bio Clear team mate
Donie O'Sullivan said he had a good clean run as well and wants
to finish this one. Killarney man Donie joked "We even had
to get the map out to find Donegal!" - this is his first
visit! Cathal Rogers had a 100 mph overshoot. Brendan Kelly
dropped several minutes in stage 1 when a fuse fell out of his
gpN Lancer, then a water bottle got under his feet in stage 2.
More later.BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON |
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