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RALLY
NEWS NO.8
Fornenst Youghal-Service-Sunday 1pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 - Inch
1st (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.15.58
2nd (2) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC)
1.17.02
3rd (4) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Celica GT4) 1.17.35
4th (5) Donal O'Donovan/Pat Lordan (Celica GT4) 1.19.02
5th (8) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 1.20.15
6th (19) Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes (Lancer 5 N) 1.21.36
7th (9) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (Subaru) 1.22.28
8th (16) Trevor Cathers/Dessie Wilson (Lancer 5 N) 1.22.42
9th (25) Dickie Curran/Anthony Donnelly (Lancer 6 N)
1.23.32
10th (7) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 1.23.38
11th (23) Aaron MacHale/Elva Roe (Lancer 5 N) 1.23.50
12th (31) Pat White/Aidan Moran (Impreza WRC) 1.24.02
Andrew Nesbitt started day 2 of this Murphy Construction
Cork 20 Rally where he left off yesterday, by setting
fastest time. Eamonn Boland was 2nd fastest, 2s slower than
the Armagh man in front, which pushes the gap from the
overnight 1m2s to 1m4s. Peadar Hurson was 3rd
fastest, his Celica 7s slower than the Impreza of Boland in
front. Hurson commenting "We settled in quickly and
took it handy". Andrew Nesbitt told us "We
picked slightly the wrong Pirelli, too soft a compound,
sliding about a lot". Eamonn Boland echoed
Nesbitt's thoughts when he said "Slippy, despite the
good weather, plenty of gravel". Eamonn went on to say
that the gearbox change which the team effected yesterday
has left the car in perfect shape. Donal O'Donovan in
4th was 14s down on Hurson, and said "A steady run,
yesterday's problem with the smoke is now OK".
Maurice Gass was 3s faster than O'Donovan for the stage,
and reported "We picked too soft a slick tyre and the
rubber started to go off 2 miles from the end of the
stage".
Any one lucky enough to be spectating would have caught a
glimpse of Austin MacHale performing a high speed "OO"
role. Austin commented "We softened the front
suspension slightly more, it's made the car smoother."
Interestingly, although Austin is far from competing this
morning, his time would have been 4th fastest. On last
night's RallyNews we reported on the Irish Sports Council
drug testing team being at parc ferme and taking some
samples. This was an action which the competitors certainly
concur with. This morning there were 10 drivers
selected at random for an alcohol breath test - all were
100 per cent clear.
Further stories from this morning's first stage included -
Roy White, running 17th set 2nd fastest group N time in the
FESP Lancer Evo7, but the car was definitely over-heating
at stage finish, and the Clonmel man could be in trouble.
Fowden was fastest gpN, 15s up on Cathers, Trevor content
to let the Welshman get on with it. Omagh man Cathers is
only interested in Tarmac gpN points. Aaron MacHale
had a good run despite an errant drinks bottle getting
under the pedals. In the Modified class, David James was
fastest on 10.31. Padraig Price on 10.36. Kieran O'Neill
10.42 in the Kit-Kat Kadett. O'Neill may get 30s
added on to his times following a strange stage time
yesterday, which will make the race between the Modifieds
this afternoon even more interesting. Paul Alexander was
13th overnight, 4th gpN, but is hampered this morning with
his Lancer centre diff giving trouble. Ollie O'Donovan, in
with a big chance of scoring well in the 023 Tiles
Championship had brake troubles this morning.
On Le Touquet Rally in France Shaun Gallagher has pushed
his lead up to 35s - Garry Jennings reportedly content to
finish 2nd now. Ford Ireland Focus runners - overnight
leader Brendan Kelly, sidelined jnct.10 stage 9, broken
drive shaft. More later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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