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RALLY
NEWS NO.8 Glengarriff in the
Kingdom of Kerry/Sunday 11.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 12 TIM HEALY PASS
1st (3) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza WRC)
1.38.26
2nd (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.39.11
3rd (4) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 1.39.19
4th (7) Liam O'Callaghan/David Hogan (Impreza WRC) 1.39.34
5th (5) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRc) 1.40.35
6th (2) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC) 1.41.21
7th (16) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 1.43.38
8th (11) Trevor Cathers/Francis Regan (Lancer N) 1.44.24
9th (12) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Impreza N) 1.44.40
10th (18) Seamus Leonard/Kevin O'Brien (Impreza N) 1.46.25
11th (21) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW) 1.47.04
12th (17) Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes (Lancer N) 1.47.06
Temperatures are soaring on the stages now and the drivers
are all remarking on tyres overheating and losing their
grip. The one man who is passing little remark on the
tyres is Andrew Nesbitt. He is just getting on with
the job, happy enough with his Pirellis and setting fastest
time after fastest time. Following that stunning
record time over Molls Gap of 9.22, Andrew recorded 5.14
through Kilmacilloge as against Eamonn Boland on 5.21.
Derek McGarrity on 5.22 and Liam O'Callaghan on 5.24.
Through the fabulous twists, turns and hairpins of
Tim Healy, Nesbitt stopped the clock on 5.50. McGarrity
5.54. Boland 5.57. Andrew commented here at service
in control "Everything's fine, the car is good,
requires no real service at all". McGarrity said
"The tyres just seem to be too soft, we're getting
little grip in places". Daniel Doherty echoed
those sentiments while Eamonn Boland told us
"Everything is OK, a small oil leak from a
transmission pipe, but not a bother". Austin
McHale continues to set times just inside the top 6 - close
but not close enough for the 5 times Tarmac Champion, and
he told us "It's the left hand drive, psychologically
it's slowing me".
JJ Fleming is comfortably placed in 7th and reports no
problems.
Trevor Cathers continues to lead gpN, but Donie O'Sullivan
is nibbling away at the gap, and Trevor joked here at
service "It's time to pull out the choke again".
Third in gpN Seamus Leonard was a few seconds slower
than the showroom cars in front over the today's 3 stages,
Seamus saying "I seem to be making the wrong tyre
choices. It's a matter now of keeping position and trying
to get some points". Bob Fowden is now getting
on to Leonard's pace but the 4th in gpN man is 40s in
arrears.
Denis Cronin continues to set the roads alight and lead the
2 wheel drive in his BMW M3. Denis saying that although it
is going well, his throttle control switch keeps breaking
down and he is losing time on the tight stuff. Liam
McCarthy is now 13th overall, but reports "An awful
racket through the transmission"…going on to say
that he is driving on low boost to try to get the car to
the finish. Next up is Peter Doughty - he's had his
Impreza's ECU changed and his times have improved today.
Latest news is that Johnny O'Sullivan has retired his
Escort WRC on Tim Healy because of clutch troubles. While
James O'Sullivan in the 023 Tiles Escort has lost time with
2 punctures. More later..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
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