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RALLY NEWS NO.3
Service/Sunday 3.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2
1st (2) David James/Ron Guha (Escort BDX) 21.13
(6) Jimmy Lambert/James Coleman (Escort) 21.13
3rd (17) Philip Shaw/Derek Brennigan (Escort) 21.16
4th (5) John Nolan/John Smithwick (Escort) 21.35
5th (16) Willie Fannin/Brian Duggan (Lancer N) 21.51
6th (39) Thomas O'Rourke/John O'Rourke (Astra) 21.53
7th (7) Tom Randles/Diarmuid Lynch (Escort) 21.55
8th (14) James & Ann Foley (Civic) 22.03
9th (29) James M & James F Stafford (Nova) 22.05**
10th (135) Garry Jennings/James O'Brien (Peugeot) 22.08
**Provisional time for Staffords on their first stage, 10.59 rather than
10.29 - still good enough to lead the 1300 modified class ahead of Noel
Lappin.
Out at the front of the rally we are heading for a cliff hanger final
stage - Jimmy Lambert stood the clocks on their head when he recorded a
10.29 for stage 2, a full 8s faster than both David James and Philip
Shaw who tied on 10.37. Many of the drivers felt that although
they had gone better on stage 2, their times were fractionally slower.
Not so Lambert and co driver James Coleman, they picked a mixture of
Michelin TA double zeros on the back and
Dunlop X16 on the front, a sort of combination cut slick, to combat the
greasy conditions. James commented "We felt quicker, felt
good and smooth, but the clocks said slower". Shaw said "We
will push a bit harder on the last stage, but I'm happy enough with this
against the local men". Fourth placed John Nolan recounted
"I thought we had a great time, even though we made a slight
mistake at 2 junctions, but we were 5s slower". Willie Fannin
in 5th
place said "Could have been a bit better, we caught an Escort and
were stuck behind him for miles".
Tom Randles in 6th said "I'm getting to know the stage a bit
better, but you know I lost my confidence with the overshoots on the
first stage". Eamonn Murphy was into 6th after stage 1 but he
did not stop at the control into service, so it looks like he has
retired. John Shanahan has also retired - he was flying low in his Civic
but a driveshaft cv joint wound itself up and
broke on a square left. Paddy O'Reilly told us that his clutch
problem is getting worse. Padraig Price was well up after the
first stage, but slowed on stage 2 when the Ford's power steering
started to give trouble. David Percy had a big spin in the middle
of that 2nd stage and lost some time.
Garry Jennings was disappointed in his time, could not understand why he
was 10s slower. The reason for Willie O'Dwyer's retirement was
that his 6R4's engine seized. Noel O'Reilly put his BMW M3 on it's
roof on the way to the first stage. Tom Lawless, home from New
York, is lying just outside the leaderboard on 22.27. Ollie O'Reilly is
not so far away on 22.39. Pat Bolger in the Chevette is 22.53. John
Hennessy, disappointed to be on 22.51, thought
he was going a whole lot better..More news after stage 3..BRIAN AND LIZ
PATTERSON
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