RALLY NEWS NO.3
Service-Saturday- 1.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4
1st (7) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Cellica) 18.46
2nd (4) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Escort) 19.03
3rd (1) Robin Philips/Mike Gibson (Corolla WRC) 19.15
4th (3) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 19.27
5th (6) Gary White/Barry Taggart (Esc.Cos) 19.29
6th (2) Denis Biggerstaff/Damian McCann (Metro 6R4) 19.46
7th (10) George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Esc.Cos) 19.55
(19) Alan Nesbitt/Fabian McShane (Escort G3)
19.55
9th (9) Stevie Whitford/Mark Crowe (Lancer) 20.08
10th (30) Paul Gallagher/Karl Reid (Corolla) 20.34
Eugene Donnelly in the Bio-Clear Celica has been piling on the pressure to
extend his lead over David Armstrong, while Robin Philips is still coming to
grips with David Greer's Corolla WRC to hold on to 3rd. Derek McGarrity
got his Subaru's power steering fixed and has jumped from 9th after stage 3 to
4th after stage 4. Donnelly commented here at service "Yes, we aree
going hard. I was a bit worried over that last stage, Cooley Mountain. I was on
intermediate tyres at the back and a heavily cut slick at the front, and no sign
of water on the road, but the tyres held out although the car was moving around
a bit". David Armstrong said "I thought I was a bit slow on the
last 5 or 6 corners, quite surprised at the time". Robin Philips
remarked "I'm still getting used to the car and I found the chicanes very
tight".
Testimony to how hard McGarrity was trying - his time for Cooley Mountain was
8.50, although Eugene Donnelly did 8.46 - was that Derek's Subaru had a badly
cracked windscreen, so hard was he trying over the big jumps coming into the
junction at the top of the mountain.
Denis Biggerstaff is making no big impression on the leaderboard, Denis having
to lift off on Cooley as his 6R4 ran out of speed. We reported on the last
RallyNews that James Gillen was in centre diff trouble - he has since retired.
Stevie Whitford leads gpN and reports no problems - he says he is "Taking
it cautiously, very relaxed"….which we just don't believe! George
Robinson was slowed on Cooley when his Escort Cosworth had a rear puncture.
More times - Norman Armstrong, recovering from his stage 3indiscretion, now on
21.07. Trevor Lancashire 20.48. Martin Taggart, despite a handbrake jamming on,
20.57. Enda Keenan 21.37. Alistair Cochrane 20.37. Other stories -
Roger Kennedy forced to pull out with gearbox trouble, getting beaten by his son
Marshall anyway!! More news later..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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