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UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4
1st (3) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza) 36.13
2nd (13) Wesley Patterson/Bob Kelly (Sierra Cos) 36.28
3rd (5) Michael Barrable/MJ Morrissey (Celica) 36.39
4th (6) Pete Doughty/Tim Sturla (Escort WRC) 36.46
5th (14) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Lancer N) 36.49
6th (12) Tommy Graham/Anthony Nestor (Escort WRC) 37.05
7th (10) Frank & Emily O'Mahony (Impreza) 37.30
8th (32) Steve Fleck/Tim Neal (Subaru) 37.31
9th (15) Roy White/Des Cooney (Lancer N) 37.35
10th (9) Donie & Timmy O'Sullivan (Escort Cos) 37.45
Stage 3, Carran Lake, really was a lake for the drivers, running
water, standing water and floods all hazards in the 11 mile test.
Paul Harris' co-driver Eugene O'Donnell described it as "para
hydroing" going on to say that there was one particular
crossroads they were just full sideways as the car stood up on
the floods. Tim McNulty decided to call it a day at the
end of stage 3, there was nearly more water in the car and outside
it, and he just couldn't see through the windscreen. Anthony
O'Halloran had been 2nd after stage 2, but he crashed his Manta
off the road in stage 3, he suspects maybe a rear brake pipe
pulled out with the force of the water. The Ruan man also
commented "Just lucky, it was slow speed into a square corner,
if it had been high speed and no foot brake it could have been
bad". Liam McCarthy had been going very slowly through
stage 3, indeed held up several drivers, did not appear at the
end of stage 4 and may well have pulled in somewhere.
Other stories include...Pete Doughty reckoning he's got water
in his Escort WRC's intercooler, and the boost has fallen away.
Michael Barrable described the conditions as "lethal".
Donie O'Sullivan observed "It is a bit damp, we caught McCarthy
and it was like a parade down Patrick Street!" Ray
Breen has started to get on the pace, his time for stage 4 was
6.02, Michael Barrable and Pete Doughty setting equal fastest
with 5.57. Wesley Patterson was on 6.00, Paul Harris 6.03.
Although Paul is still going hard, his number one priority is
of course the Dunlop National Championship.
Tommy Graham emerged from stage 4 with some good times under
his belt but also a broken driveshaft in his Escort Cosworth.
Kevin Barrett had a broken driveshaft earlier and suffered accordingly,
well off the leaderboard. Ollie O'Donovan was looking good in
F2 but the floods got into his RS2000's electrics in stage 3
and the car stopped for over 2 minutes. Patrick Elliott continues
to lead gpN, still being chased by Roy White but Roy has had
a couple of huge sideways moments and doesn't want to do anything
silly in today's awful conditions. More news after stage 6..BRIAN
AND LIZ PATTERSON |
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