RALLY NEWS NO.7      Killarney parc ferme..Saturday 6.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 - end of day 1
1st (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru) 1.03.18
2nd (5) Stephen Finlay/Rory Kennedy (Focus WRC)1.04.02
3rd (6) James Cullen/Ellen Morgan (Subaru) 1.04.34
4th (8) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Sub.WRC)1.04.54
5th (7) Stephen Murphy/MJ Morrissey (Subaru)1.05.09
6th (1) Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Celica) 1.05.36
7th (4) Frank Meagher/Pat Moloughney (Escort WRC)1.05.37
8th (18) Donie & Tim O'Sullivan (Escort Cos) 1.07.54
9th (28) Hugh Dunne/Greg Shinnors (Legacy) 1.08.22
10th (23) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Escort)1.08.26
11th (19) Johnny O'Sullivan/S.Moriarty(Esc.WRC)1.09.10
     (16) Pete Doughty/Tim Sturla (Escort WRC) 1.09.10
13th (20) Wesley Patterson/Bob Kelly (Sierra Cos)1.09.15
14th (29) Mark Fisher/Gordon Noble (Impreza N) 1.09.23
15th (14) Davy Greer/Michael Reid (Celica) 1.09.27

Rally leader Andrew Nesbitt had a fairly lucky escape when he had a huge spin within sight of the start of the last stage, Kilgobnet.  Andrew had forgotten to release the handbrake mechanism properly, and of course the rear wheels just locked up when he braked for the first corner. Unbelievably Cross Refrigeration man Andrew set 2nd fastest time, with James Cullen fastest and Stephen Finlay 3rd fastest, just 3s covering the three. Nesbitt commented at the end "A great day."  Stephen Finlay tells us that he is going to have a big suspension change at first service in the morning. The car needs lowered, and he is losing time of the fast stuff.  James Cullen feels that the slight misfire early in the day upset his concentration, and that basically he is trying to beat the latest world rally cars in last year's machinery!
Tarmac Champion Ian Greer improved somewhat late on today, and said of his performance "I can't put my finger on it, not going quick enough, maybe it's a bit of me and a bit of the car. The oil light flashed on and off a couple of times in Caragh Lake, it's maybe only a sensor, but it upset my concentration".

The lovely Hertz backed Focus of Andrew Boland is out of the rally - Caragh Lake once again proving Eamonn's downfall, with an accident.  Also in trouble is Frank Meagher - he was forced to slow over the last couple of stages, suspects head gasket trouble, may not be going much further on the event. 

Derek Daly leads the Ford Pumas - 16s in front of Maugher with Chadwick a couple of minutes further back.

Mark Fisher has had a great run to lead group N, Mark well pleased with his day's rallying, and just loves his Prodrive machine!  Hugh Dunne had a couple of spins at the end which knocked him back slightly. Davy Greer still has anti lag problems. Hugh Martin Doherty reports not enough top end speed. Eugene Donnelly leads the modifieds. Kieran O'Neill retired with a broken axle. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON