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RALLY NEWS NO.2
Mitchelstown service/Sunday/Noon
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1
1st (3) Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan (Esc WRC) 7.13
2nd (5) Eamonn Boland/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 7.15
3rd (4) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Celica) 7.27
4th (10) John McCarthy/Dan Maguire (Esc Cos) 7.31
(12) John McKeown/Martin Carey (Sierra Cos) 7.31
6th (7) Niall Driver/Francis Corrigan (Lancer) 7.33
7th (19) James Murphy/Con Mulcahy (Esc Cos) 7.40
8th (22) Pete Willoughby/Greg Shinnors (Lancer) 7.41
(6) Peter McCullagh/Stephen Corey (Esc Cos) 7.41
10th (16) Eddie & Tom Kinirons (Celica) 7.42
Wet and slippy conditions greeted the drivers when they tackled the first
stage, Cambaun, although when they reached the finish of the test most of the
top men remarked that the stage really wasn't too bad, despite the rain and
low cloud. Dominic McNeill felt he damaged something in the rear suspension,
but still set fastest time by 2s from Eamonn Boland, the latter remarking
"Not a bother, it went well". Kevin O'Kane was first on the
road, and we think we may have misheard his time, co driver Stephen Griffiths
giving us 7.56 and Kevin saying "I thought I was going hard enough.
We'll have to check that stage time when the cars reach service".
Eugene Donnelly in the Celica seemed pretty well screwed up at stage finish,
and told us "I'm happy to get that first one over with".
Ollie O'Donovan in the white Legacy found the
Subaru to be very tail happy, but otherwise OK.
Brian McCloskey of KBB Doors reckoned his Escort Cosworth had a slight
misfire but it was still quite a good time. John Donnelly did not
appear at the stage finish. We have an unconfirmed report that a front wheel
bearing collapsed on his Escort Cosworth, and the wheel parted company with
the car. Noel Driver switched from his usual Escort Cosworth to an
Escort Pinto for today and we didn't see him at the stage finish either.
We expected a big battle between Paul Staunton and Jimmy Lambert for best Mk2
Escort honours, but surprisingly it was Liam McGrath who was fastest amongst
the early Mk2s. Liam recording 7.54, Lambert 8.00 and Staunton 8.40. Staunton
was forced to stop on the stage and replace an errant coil lead.
Some other times of interest include...Max McKillen in the Saxo on 8.16.
Kieran Molloy 8.03. Patrick Elliott on his first visit to the forest
and driving the Mitsubishi Lancer with which he won gpN in the national
c/ship a couple of years ago, and has hired back for today, Patrick recored a
very respectable 8.00. John Drislane, home from New York and
driving Trevor Cathers' British C/ship gpN winning Subaru from 1996, set a
very decent time of 8.04 on his first Irish forestry rally. interestingly,
John works in construction in NYC and his company is involved in the
"ground zero" operation. More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ
PATTERSON
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