RALLY NEWS NO.4      Quinns...Saturday 1.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3
1st(11)Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson(Impreza)16.30.0
2nd (15) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza) 16.47.6
3rd (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC)16.49.1
4th (3) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC)_16.52.0
5th (24) Mark Fisher/Gordon Noble (Lancer N) 17.03.3
6th (6) Stig Blomqvist/Mark Crowe (Impreza) 17.03.4
7th (18) David Greer/Michael Reid (Celica) 17.12.8
8th (4) Hannu & Juha Mikkola (Impreza WRC) 17.25.1
9th (10) Stephen Murphy/MJ Morrissey (Impreza)17.31.4
10th (23) Trevor Cathers/Gary Lyons (Lancer N)17.34.7

The above times are unofficial.  Andrew Nesbitt is listed as 6th at the moment in the organiser's results sheets - but it looks more and more as if Andrew received a incorrect time for stage 1.  On his time card it shows 5.40.6, but on the unofficial check sheets from the flying finish, it would appear that his time was 15.6 seconds less.  Ian Greer is still showing 1m.30s penalty, without that his total would be 16.43.5, good enough for 2nd place. 

Derek McGarrity remarked when he came off stage 3, "I think there's a lot left to come, tyre choice is now critical, I'll talk to Pirelli and see what's available".  Daniel Doherty was just 0.8 of a second slower than Derek through the stage, Daniel reckoning as well he could have been faster except his tyres went off.  Andrew Nesbitt was one of the few drivers to choose a slick racing tyre for that stage, and of course sod's law being what it is, the rain arrived just as he approached the stage start.  Andrew was 12s slower than McGarrity through that one.  Austin McHale felt he had a good run over the top of the hill, but then was slightly slow through the cement factory complex.  All the drivers reported the factory roads to be very polished, very slippery.

Hannu Mikkola was sitting in a pool of sweat at stage finish, obviously the former world champion has lost none of his competitive edge, his time for that stage faster than Nesbitt, and just over a second slower than McHale. Again, if Hannu did not have his road penalty he would be right up the leaderboard.  Considering Frank Meagher had that major accident in stage 1, and game enough to keep going, his stage 3 time was really good, 6.01.6, right up with the leaders.  Stephen Murphy has speeded up a bit, but Murphy along with several members of his team, was unwell this morning. Frank O'Mahony is now well outside the top 10, the Cork man asking for his turbo to be changed at service. James Gillen and Hugh Dunne both had spins in that stage.

Trevor Cathers set a good time, but 10s slower than Mark Fisher, who is driving in his usual smoothly brilliant way.  Robert Woodside has speeded up in the Barretts car but is having handbrake troubles, and nearly knocked the elbow off himself trying to get the big lever to produce some action! Sean McArdle in the 2nd Taranto de Pol car had a big spin and lost a lot of time getting the car turned. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON