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RALLY
NEWS NO.9 Still
fornenst Youghal/Sunday/2pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 10 KILLEAGH
1st (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.23.37
2nd (2) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC)
1.24.41
3rd (4) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Celica GT4) 1.25.25
4th (5) Donal O'Donovan/Pat Lordan (Celica GT4) 1.26.59
5th (8) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 1.28.00
6th (19) Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes (Lancer 5 N) 1.29.40
7th (9) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (Subaru) 1.30.39
8th (16) Trevor Cathers/Dessie Wilson (Lancer 5 N) 1.30.56
9th (25) Dickie Curran/Anthony Donnelly (Lancer 6 N)
1.31.46
10th (7) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 1.31.57
11th (23) Aaron MacHale/Elva Roe (Lancer 5 N) 1.32.04
12th (31) Pat White/Aidan Moran (Impreza WRC) 1.32.17
Eamonn Boland tied with Andrew Nesbitt on the 8.9 mile
Killeagh stage, both Imprezas stopping the clocks on 7.39.
Maurice Gass was 3rd fastest on 7.35, then it was Peadar
Hurson on 7.50 with Donal O'Donovan 7.57. In reality, such
are the gaps between the leading cars, that there is not
much sign of change looming unless someone has a problem.
Stage 11 is not going to run, there is a problem with too
many spectators at ne of the junctions, so there are really
just 3 stages left before the finish at the Rochestown Park
Hotel in Cork.
Andrew Nesbitt commented here at service "Keeping it
steady, trying different Pirelli tyres". Peadar Hurson
commented "We're consolidating our position now".
Donal O'Donovan reported "We've big fumes in the car
again, its unreal". Ollie O'Donovan's earlier brake
problems are related to centre differential faults, Ollie
wants the unit changed but it takes 30mins. Liam McCarthy
reckons his earlier noise is just simply a stone in the
brake disc. Paul Alexander needs the pump to his active
differential changed.
In Group N Bob Fowden is looking ever more secure - Trevor
Cathers was 10s slower than the Welshman through stage 10,
and in fact 2nd fastest in the gpN times was Roy White.
We mentioned earlier that Roy's FESP Lancer was having some
overheating problems, happily it seems to be hanging on.
Aaron MacHale is having a nice run this morning, equal 3rd
fastest in gpN in stage 10 with Cathers and Dickie Curran
all on 8.14. Just outside the leaderboard, Paul Alexander
is 12th and setting a very respectable gpN pace
despite centre differential problems. Nigel Hicklin
recorded equal 6th time through SS10 and is lying 14th o/a.
Nigel's time have been improving since he softened up his
Impreza suspension, and in fact Nigel is another very much
in contention for the 023 Tiles C/ship. In the Ford
Ireland Focus category Cathal O'Reilly now leads from Colm
Murphy following Brendan Kelly's retirement. Murphy was
very fast on the first stage this morning but spun on the
2nd. David Lyons leads the Kas from Cathal Greaney, Martin
Laverty, running in a new engine, 3rd.
News of a further retirement is that Kieran O'Neill's
Kadett has stopped in stage 10 after a wishbone broke when
overshooting a square right junction. Co-driver Diarmuid
Falvey phoned us to let us know what had happened, Kit Kat
man Diarmuid adding "We're taking a break in the pub.
Don't expect to see us too soon". There was an
accident in stage 10 involving one of the middle runners.
The stage was stopped and the medical people attended to
the crew. Happily, we are told there are no serious
injuries.
The Le Touquet event has just finished, with Letterkenny
man Shaun Gallagher coming out best of the Peugeot 206
Super Cup runners, 45s ahead of Garry Jennings. Gareth
MacHale was 5th in France. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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