|
|
|
|
|
|
RALLY NEWS
NO.9 Regroup beside Cranford Bay..Sat.11.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 10 - ATLANTIC DRIVE
1st (3) Andrew Nesbitt/James
O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.15.49
2nd (1) James Cullen/Ellen Morgan (Impreza) 1.17.42
3rd (2) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla) 1.17.52
4th (5) Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Celica) 1.18.06
5th (9) Frank Meagher/Dermot O'Gorman (Escort WRC) 1.18.43
6th (11) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza) 1.19.05
7th (8) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 1.19.42
8th (14) Hugh M Doherty/Mike Gibson (Escort WRC) 1.20.00
9th (7) Stephen Murphy/MJ Morrissey (Imreza) 1.20.29
10th (24) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Escort) 1.21.18
11th (35) Phillip Shaw/Nigel Frazer (Escort) 1.22.13
12th (25) Donie & Tim O'Sullivan (Escort Cos) 1.22.20
"Three wheels
on my wagon"....was the name of the game for Derek McGarrity
over Atlantic Drive spelling the end of a fine drive from the
Glengormley man. Andrew Nesbitt was fastest over Atlantic
with a time of 7.30 - McHale was 7.35 - Cullen 7.36. McHale
and Cullen reported no problems and there was just nothing more
they could do on the stage. "King of Donegal" has become
Andrew Nesbitt's nickname and he is certainly reinforcing it
here. When drivers of the calibre of Cullen and McHale
can do nothing about Andrew and his world rally car, it says
it all!. Ian Greer was 5s slower than Cullen with Frank
Meagher and Daniel Doherty just 1s bacik.
Derek McGarrity's co-driver Chris Patterson phoned us to say
that they were just coming up to a third gear crest when the
front right hand wheel parted company with the Subaru and they
decided to stop rather than wreck the car trying to get to the
finish. Chris ran back down the road but couldn't find the wheel,
or nuts, studs or anything. Obviously they had all flown
into the fields.
Peadar Hurson, lying 11th overnight, also retired in Atlantic
Drive reportedly having spun backwards into a wall. As
we reported earlier Cathal Rogers retired on the way into Atlantic
and we hear from some of the drivers that there are quite a few
cars stopped or crashed in the stage. Daniel Doherty clipped
a front wheel just before the end of the test, bent a track control
arm but lost little time, although he finished the stage with
the front wheels of the Subaru splayed out. The mechanics have
fixed the damage before the 2nd run at Glen, but Daniel told
us that the front alignment is set by eye, they didn't even have
a bit of string! Seamus Heron continues to lead gpN although
a spin on Atlantic nearly saw his Lancer land into famous McClatchey
garage! Brendan Kelly has now got ahead for Natalie Barratt for
2nd in gpN but has a long way to go to catch Heron. Donal Bowens
also in gpN is starting to set good times despite a dodgy clutch.
Willie John Dolan is also speeding up in gpN having found the
right settings for his Subaru. Max McKillen in the Peugeot has
been having a good race with Seamus Gallagher for the class lead,
but we hear Seamus has had trouble on Atlantic. Max was another
to clip the chicane and his Peugeot was nearly into McClatchey's
garage! BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON |
|
|
|
|
