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RALLY NEWS NO.1
Service/Glenflesk/Saturday
10.30am
UNOFFICIAL LEADEROARD AFTER STAGE 1 - MOLLS GAP
1st (3) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza WRC) 9.33
2nd (4) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 9.49
3rd (6) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Celica) 9.50
4th (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 9.51
5th (2) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC) 9.52
6th (7) Liam O'Callaghan/David Hogan (Impreza WRC) 9.54
7th (5) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRc) 10.07
8th (15) Johnny O'Sullivan/PatCashman (Escort WRC) 10.13
9th (18) Seamus Leonard/Kevin O'Brien (Impreza N) 10.17
10th (12) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Impreza N) 10.21
(16) JJ
Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 10.21
Derek McGarrity said before the start of this Killarney
Rally of the Lakes that his new Impreza was pretty awesome,
so much better than the Circuit car, gave him a lot of
confidence. The times for the first special stage,
Molls Gap, certainly seem to have reinforced the
Glengormley man's sentiments and he commented at stage
finish "There's a bit more to come. In places, far
enough, we were borderline, Fisher's bridge being one of
them, but other places we could have been slightly faster.
I felt as well that I could have used a slightly harder
tyre. The bottom line is though that the car is
awesome". The late Bertie Fisher held the record
for Molls Gap at just under 10 minutes. The stage has
now been re-surfaced of course for the first few miles, so
it is not the same. However, quite a time by
McGarrity.
Andrew Nesbitt was expected to be the front runner, but he
forgot to switch on one of the many turbo related switches
in the car, hence 18s slower than McGarrity. McHale
said "I was a bit nervous at the start, a bit
cautious, but happy enough towards the end. The car's fine
after the Pirelli accident". Daniel Doherty in
the red Impreza WRC told us "It was our first time on
the Gap, the intercom gave some trouble halfway through, so
we're happy enough". Hurson reported his Celica
to be bouncing about a bit. It was Liam O'Callaghan's first
run in a world rally car so he was happy enough with 6th
fastest.
As anticipated, the group N race is fairly hectic - Seamus
Leonard very pleased to be fastest in his new Seamless
Aluminium Subaru, Donie O'Sullivan just a few seconds
behind in a similar car. Expected front runner Trevor
Cathers was on 10.27 in his Lancer, Trevor still settling
down with new co driver Francis Regan. Brendan Kelly
was on the pace with 10.22, Bob Fowden was hampered by
bouncy suspension and recorded 10.40. Roy White was
very disappointed with his 10.43, felt the stage had gone
well. Stephen Harris was on 11.04 and George Tracey
11.06, both felt they were a bit rusty.
In the 2 wheel drive category Denis Cronin recorded 10.30,
Denis still finding his feet with the car following the
major rebuild. Tom Randles was on 10.52. More
news later..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
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