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RALLY
NEWS NO.4
Service - Sunday 2.30 www.rallynews.net
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 Drangon
1st (5) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Subaru WRC) 34.00
2nd (2) Niall Maguire/Paul Nagle (Subaru WRC) 34.38
3rd (4) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Esc.Cos) 35.10
4th (15) Mac McKenna/John Loughran (Peugeot rwd) 35.23
5th (16) Roy White/Des Cooney (Lancer N) 35.33
6th (20) Eddie Kinirons/Greg Shinnors (Celica) 36.07
7th (11) Sean Gallagaher/Liam Costello (Esc.Cos) 36.16
8th (28) George Tracey/Elva Rowe (Impreza N) 36.29
9th (7) Hugh Dunne/Derek Brannigan (Subaru WRC) 36.32
10th (17) Aaron McHale/Damien Connolly (Lancer N) 36.36
Stage 4, the first test of the second loop on this
Stonethrowers Rally, and the weather is steadying up, the
roads slightly drier in places, but still a bit patchy.
Michael Barrable was again fastest, but by just 2s this
time over Niall Maguire. David Armstrong was 3rd
fastest, Roy White 4th and quickest of the group N men.
Dunlop Championship leader Niall Maguire has only to finish
in the top half dozen or so today to score enough points to
clinch the championship, even with 2 rounds remaining.
Niall however is not resting on his laurels. Unhappy with
his tyre choice over the first 3 stages, the Monaghan man
went for a slick dry weather tyre, with just a few cuts in
the tread to combat the damp patches. It showed in his
times, and indeed at the end of that 4th stage, outside the
Frank Meagher home place, Niall commented "A lot
better". Michael Barrable said "A quick and
a hard stage". David Armstrong reported his
tyres going off 2 miles from the end, while Hugh Dunne felt
that his confidence was gradually coming back after his
accident earlier in the year.
Patrick Elliott lost well over 2 minutes on the first stage
when he crashed his Subaru and although his times are still
not fantastic, his Impreza not really handling the best,
Patrick is still creeping up towards the back of the
leaderboard on a total of 38.19. Liam McCarthy is on
36.58, Liam feeling his car is now handling a bit better
since he softened the suspension at the first service.
Anthony O'Halloran is on 36.45. Mac McKenna dropped a place
on stage 4, his rear wheel drive Peugeot showing a distinct
lack of brakes towards the finish of the 11.9 mile
stage.Group N leader Roy White is really getting into
the groove now with his new Proflex suspension set up on
his Evo7. In today's Ford
Focus C/ship Colm Murphy was 8s up on Oliver Stanley with
Cathal O'Reilly 3rd at first service. FINLAND-(provisional
results) Gronholm, Burns, Solberg, Sainz, Martin Makinen.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON -thanks to
Martin Walsh.
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