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RALLY NEWS
NO.2 End of stage 1 - Sunday 1pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1
1st (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza) 7.29
2nd (8) Hugh Dunne/Mike Gibson (Legacy) 7.45
3rd (6) Donal O'Donovan/Pat Lordan (Celica) 7.47
4th (7) Ray Breen/John Purcell (Impreza) 7.49
5th (3) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 7.54
(14) Tim McNulty/Julian Nangle (Celica) 7.54
7th (2) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza) 7.56
(22) Rory O'Connor/Francis Kenny (Escort Cos) 7.56
(158) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (Escort F2)7.56
10th (9) Johnny O'Sullivan/Jakes Kelly (Escort WRC) 7.59
Niall Maguire was in a league of his own through the first stage,
Bohermore, of this Circuit of Munster Rally. Monaghan man
Maguire reported no problems at stage finish. It was expected
that Paul Harris would be pushing Maguire hard, but Letterkenny
man Paul was shaking his head as his yellow 2 door Subaru hove
into view. Paul reported "The engine just won't rev
out" On the last 2 rallies Paul has had to pullout
because the motor overheated, and this week there has been a
quick rebuild, so hopefully this problem is nothing more than
something out of adjustment. Donal O'Donovan was reasonably
happy with his run in the Toyota, as was Hugh Dunne in his Legacy.
Dunne's run was all the more notable because he has a different
co-driver today in the shape of Mike Gibson. One small problem
for Hugh is that the Subaru is popping out of 6th gear.
Denis Cronin made his usual gentle start, but it really was a
superb run in the 2 wheel drive BMW. George Cullen is in
a left hand drive McKinstry Subaru today, first time in left
hand drive since 1994 for George. He felt that there was
some small problem with the car at stage finish.
Michael Barrable recorded a time of 8.12 and felt that his tyres
were much too hard a compound. Ray Breen reported that first
stage to be tricky enough but he still set a good time, while
Dermot Kelly was looking extremely worried at stage finish, his
Escort Cosworth's temperature gauge off the clock. Tommy Graham
recorded a time of 8.03 and that was despite being off the road
just before the stage finish on a tight slow speed corner. Johnny
O'Sullivan had a good clean run. Anthony O'Halloran's Manta
finished the stage with bits of grass and mud sticking out of
the front right corner, O'Halloran slamming his helmet and gloves
down, and when asked what was wrong, replied "Everything!"
Ollie O'Donovan, running with 158 on the car, but 16th on the
road, and in his F2 Escort not Subaru as stated on the entry
list, was slowed towards stage finish, when he caught up with
Kevin Barrett. Ollie has young David Moynihan co-driving
today, competing on his first proper rally. David is doing
his "leaving cert" on Wednesday but is getting a different
type of education today! Declan Wilmott's Escort landed
on its roof in the stage, holding up the following drivers -
Patrick Elliott, Tom Holton & Micky McArdle. More later.BRIAN
& LIZ PATTERSON |
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