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(www.rallynews.net)
RALLY NEWS NO.7 End of Stage 9 - Sunday
12.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9
1st (1) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Subaru WRC)49.17
2nd (9) Jon Mercer/Lyn Jenkins (Metro 6R4) 51.23
3rd (8) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Escort) 51.47
4th (16) Steve Fleck/Tim Neal (Subaru) 51.48
5th (155) Steve Hendy/Vanessa Cann (Escort Cos) 52.29
6th (12) Phil Henderson/Aled Davies (Metro 6R4) 52.49
(11) Johnny O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman (Escort WRC)
52.49
8th (24) William Carroll/Jason Mernagh (Escort) 53.24
9th (62) Jon Stangle/Paul Nagle (Darrian) 53.29
10th (46) Jon Tainton/Aled Davies (Lancer N) 53.32
11th (10) Derek Smith/Darragh Cafferty (Escort) 53.38
12th (102) Trevor Culbert/James Glynn (Escort) 53.49
The onset of rain on the first stage of this 2nd day of the Wexford
Rally brought the drivers a few anxious moments. It was bone
dry leaving Rosslare and indeed the first little bit of this
Galbally test was also dry, but there was driving rain for a
large part of the 6.35 mile stage, allied to shiny tar.
Jon Mercer set fastest time on 5.47 while Eamonn Boland could
afford to take it a little cautiously, and recorded 5.48.
Next fastest was David Armstrong on 5.52 so he moved ahead of
Steve Fleck in the overnight positions, Fleck in his Subaru stopping
the clocks with 5.54. Jimmy Lambert is running 23rd on
the road in his Mk2 Escort following yesterday's road penalties,
and he set a pretty stunning 5.53 in the 2 wheel drive car.
Happily there were no major incidents amongst the top drivers.
David James in the G3 Escort had a big spin at a junction and
lost a few seconds. Trevor Culbert got one right hand bend wrong
and collected a bit of scenery in the front left corner of his
Mk2 Escort, losing about 20s and dropping one place on the leaderboard.
In the group N category John Sheehan put his Subaru's traction
and handling to good use, setting fastest time in the category
with 6.05 as against Jon Tainton's 6.09. Tainton still leads
gpN by quite a long way from Sheehan with Nigel Hickland 3rd.
Jon Stangle in the Darrian had a good time, but he was pretty
shell shocked looking at the end of the stage and commented "The
car was tying itself in knots" while co driver Paul Nagle
gave a tight laugh and said "Sideways everywhere!"
Just outside the top 12 - Guy Woodcock moved up to 13th with
a very good time. Gareth Lloyd is 14th. Dave Turnbull 15th.
Still running is Kieran & Philomena Marshall from Kilarney
- they had a problem with their Civic at scrutineering on Friday
evening - went back home to Co.Kerry and Jimmy White very kindly
lent him his Civic so Kieran & Philomena were able to rush
back and start the rally on time. More news later. BRIAN &
LIZ PATTERSON..(our thanks to Dougie Hughes & Tom Nolan) |
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