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RALLY NEWS
NO.3 Service "In" ..Sunday 1.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2
1st (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza) 14.06
2nd (6) Donal O'Donovan/Pat Lordan (Celica) 14.38
3rd (2) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza) 14.40
(7) Ray Breen/John Purcell (Impreza) 14.40
5th (3) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 14.44
6th (14) Tim McNulty/Julian Nangle (Celica) 14.51
7th (22) Rory O'Connor/Francis Kenny (Escort Cos) 14.52
8th (9) Johnny O'Sullivan/Jakes Kelly (Escort WRC) 14.57
9th (11) Tommy Graham/Anthony Nestor (Escort Cos) 15.00
10th (8) Hugh Dunne/Mike Gibson (Legacy) 15.14
Niall Maguire was fastest on stage 2, Clashbane, to add to his
quickest time on stage 1, the Monaghan man already with a substantial
lead. At the moment Paul Harris is offering no serious
challenge to the leader, at the end of stage 2, Paul saying that
his rebuilt engine still is not revving out. Denis Cronin
continues to be just slightly cautious, in many ways it is paying
off as several drivers had mishaps and punctures in stage 2.
Just one driver badly affected was Hugh Dunne. Hugh was
2nd overall after stage 1 but a front left puncture in stage
2 cost the Naas driver the best part of a minute.
Michael Barrable withdrew his Toyota after stage 2, Michael coming
to the conclusion that there is no driver going to the rear wheels,
and the car was completely unstable with front wheel drive only.
George Cullen would appear to have pulled out just before the
end of stage 2, reportedly a driveshaft broken and George did
not want to do any damage to the McKinstry car. Donal O'Donovan
caught Cullen in the stage, but first reports suggest that O'Donovan
might have lost a second or two but nothing really significant.
Ray Breen is still settling in. Johnny O'Sullivan reports
a slight overheating problem with his World Rally Car, while
Dermot Kelly has a continuation of his first stage overheating.
Tommy Graham was being slightly cautious through stage 2 after
kissing the ditch in stage 1. Anthony O'Halloran's tale
of misery continues with a stage 2 puncture. Tim McNulty
reported a slight brake worry in stage 2. Patrick Elliott,
having lost over a minute in stage 1 after stopping at Declan
Wilmott's accident, lost more time in stage 2 when he caught
up with 2 cars. Ollie O'Donovan was inside the top 10 after
stage 1 but slipped back in stage 2 with a mechanical problem,
as yet not identified. Kevin Barrett lost time with a front
left puncture, Micky McArdle caught up with Tom Holton which
cost some time. Tim O'Riordan says he is a bit rusty. Aidan Walsh,
slowed in stage 1 with a misfire in his Escort, had a rear puncture
in stage 2. On yesterday's Red Dragon Rally in S.Wales, Ballyronan's
Seamus Donnelly was best of the Peugeot SuperCup 106 runners,
while Rory Galligan retired SS1 with gearbox/clutch trouble.
More news later..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON..(with thanks to Martin
Walsh)
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