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RALLY
NEWS NO.4
Glenflesk/Saturday
3pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 KILGOBNET
1st (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 45.16
2nd (3) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza WRC) 45.32
3rd (7) Liam O'Callaghan/David Hogan (Impreza WRC) 45.57
4th (4) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 46.03
5th (5) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRc) 46.26
6th (2) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC) 46.48
7th (16) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 48.06
8th (11) Trevor Cathers/Francis Regan (Lancer N) 48.22
9th (12) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Impreza N) 48.33
10th (18) Seamus Leonard/Kevin O'Brien (Impreza N) 48.45
Through stages 4 and 5, Caragh Lake and Kilgobnet, Andrew
Nesbitt has kept the pressure on and inched away from the
opposition, remarking here at service "We had a nice
clean run, there was a bit of loose gravel on that last
stage which wasn't there when we were making the notes, but
otherwise OK". Through stage 4 McGarrity was
within 4s of Nesbitt but then on stage 5 dropped 11s.
Derek told us "We gave the tyres too much work
to do, too many stages, and we still haven't had a chance
to do anything about the rear tracking". Liam
O'Callaghan was within a few seconds of McGarrity and
Nesbitt through stage 4, Caragh Lake, but dropped a few on
stage 5 and told us "I made the cardinal sin, stalled
the car on the start line. But I'm enjoying it!"
4th placed Eamonn Boland reports no problems, while Daniel
Doherty in 5th reported "We're sort of OK. I burst a
front right tyre in Kilgobnet and a front left in Caragh
Lake, I guess I'm still learning the left hand drive, but
I'm 90 per cent there".
Austin McHale rounds off the top half dozen, the former 5
times Tarmac Champion telling us that the car is fine, but
he is still fighting to regain his confidence after last
weekend's mishap. Johnny O'Sullivan has dropped out of the
top 10 following another puncture.
In Group N Trevor Cathers is showing all his old flair as
he settles in to the job in hand, and has moved ahead of
his younger rivals. Cathers admitted that it is a
"fast pace". Donie O'Sullivan said
"I'm trying hard to keep an eye on this old guy in
front". Seamus Leonard told us "The car's
fine, it's just myself". Roy White is close to
the top gpN people, now on a time of 49.53 and admitted
"I had a huge moment in that last stage, on a double
jump I hit the 2nd one all wrong and went sideways into the
scenery". Bob Fowden is on 49.40 now, again
close to the gpN pace but said "I'm getting too old
for this!"
Denis Cronin leads the battle for best 2 wheel drive car,
although Denis admits that his BMW has developed a slight
misfire. Tom Randles would be next up and that is
despite his bright orange Escort now minus a boot lid and
the rear corner smashed in. Tom saying "We missed a
gear going into Kilgobnet village and went into the ditch.
Lost a bit of time afterwards worrying about the rear
wheel. But the car is fine". More to
follow..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Diarmuid
Falvey)
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