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RALLY
NEWS NO.5
Near
Castlemaine/Saturday 4.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7 ROCKFIELD
1st (3) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza WRC)
1.01.54
2nd (7) Liam O'Callaghan/David Hogan (Impreza WRC) 1.02.32
3rd (4) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC)
1.02.42
4th (5) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRc) 1.03.10
5th (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.03.36
6th (2) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC) 1.03.44
7th (16) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 1.05.28
8th (11) Trevor Cathers/Francis Regan (Lancer N) 1.05.47
9th (12) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Impreza N) 1.05.54
10th (18) Seamus Leonard/Kevin O'Brien (Impreza N) 1.06.09
There were all sorts of dramas at the start of stage 7,
Rockfield, when Andrew Nesbitt's Impreza had a mechanical
problem, thought to centre on the front right driveshaft.
Andrew had reinforced his lead through stage 6 with
another fastest time, 11.05 for that Knocknacullig test as
against Derek McGarrity's 11.10, with Liam O'Callaghan
closest to the two gladiators at the front on 11.22. The
whole complexion of the rally changed however with
Nesbitt's mechanical trouble at the start of stage 7. His
actual stage time is believed to be 7.15. Andrew was late
starting the stage and came through approximately 15th car
on the road. Interestingly Derek McGarrity and Eamonn
Boland tied for fastest on Rockfield (7) on 5.12 with Liam
O'Callaghan 5.13. McGarrity commented at stage finish
"Everything's fine, but I'm just not going fast
enough." Boland said "That stage went well
but we had a poor time on the previous one and I don't
really know why". O'Callaghan said "Fine,
no problems". Fourth placed Daniel Doherty said
"It was nearly all over on stage 6, we hit the front
and back on the same junction that Derek clipped the car on
earlier. The car seems fine, handling OK, damage not
too bad".
Looking further down the leaderboard to the gpN battle -
Donie O'Sullivan tied with Trevor Cathers through stage 6
and pulled 4s back through stage 7 to leave the gap at just
7s between the Cathers' Lancer and O'Sullivan's Subaru.
Seamus Leonard is gradually getting back on to the
pace having lost his way a little following Brendan Kelly's
accident. Seamus tying with O'Sullivan for fastest gpN
through stage 7. Roy White is making no impression on the
gpN men in front - we reported Roy having a huge moment on
a Caragh Lake jump. It transpired that he had damaged a
front strut and is now running with a 45mm unit on one side
and a 50mm unit on the other. Bob Fowden is trying
his hardest to get on to the full gpN pace but he is still
those few seconds in arrears, his total time now 1.07.26.
Further stories include…Johnny O'Sullivan sustaining yet
another puncture. The Killarney Mazda dealer told us
"I just can't understand it, I haven't touched a blade
of grass today, always on the tarmac". Maurice Gass is
gradually building up steam and he is now inching towards
the leaderboard on a time of 1.06.31 as he gets used to the
car which has of course been converted from left to right
hand drive for this rally. Denis Cronin is still
fastest 2 wheel drive and said "The car's fine, can't
get the driving flowing"..more later..BRIAN & LIZ
PATTERSON (thanks to Diarmuid Falvey)
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