RALLY NEWS NO.3           Glenamaddy-service-Sat. 10.45
www.rallynews.net
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Doo Lake
1st (3) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Celica) 14.39
2nd (1) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC) 14.50
3rd (10) Seamus Leonard/Kevin O'Brien (Subaru N) 15.03
4th (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 15.05
5th (9) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 15.07
6th (6) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 15.10
7th (8) Trevor Cathers/Dessie Wilson (Lancer N) 15.15
8th (18) Dominic Loughran/Lisa Roe (Lancer N) 15.48
9th (20) Tom Holton/Andrew Cullen (Celica) 15.53
10th (19) Sean McArdle/Ger McMonagle (Celica) 15.55

Peadar Hurson was fastest through the first stage, 2nd fastest in stage 2. . However, in the wet and slippery conditions prevailing here in Galway, Peadar admits to having quite a few moments and sliding wide on corners and junctions. His D&S Roe backed Celica quite a handful over the saturated roads, but happily so far unscathed. Austin MacHale reported that his Corolla WRC was suffering a water injection problem in stage 2 - as if there wasn't enough moisture about, whenever he switched it on it soaked co driver Brian Murphy.  No water injection also means no "response", but then maybe in these conditions that's not such a bad thing!
Seamus Leonard has surged into 3rd place in his gpN Subaru with Eugene Donnelly back up into 4th following his first stage puncture. Eugene did not lose as much time as we thought with the flat wheel, and was fastest through stage 2, the Maghera man reporting "We're taking no chances, made no mistakes in that one. The first stage puncture was when I clipped a stone on a 3 right just after the start of the stage".  Roy White in 5th place slid his red FESP Lancer into a field on the first stage, no damage and little time loss. Maurice Gass has slipped from 3rd to 6th having stalled his Impreza WRC in stage 2. 

Other stories include - Kevin Barrett getting held up in stage 1 behind John Spain's accident. Kenny McKinstry seemed to get his Subaru fixed after it's first stage accident, but decided not to continue. Stuart Darcy has put his Lancer off the road in stage 2. Seamus Leonard had a small anti lag problem in stage 2. Anthony O'Halloran stopped and changed a puncture in stage 1.  Tom Holton spun on the first stage and had to reverse.."My stupidity" recounted the Enfield man.  Tom Halliday's comment "Can't be brave today" Tom's total 16.03. Wesley Patterson 16.15. Raymond Drury 16.30.
Ford Ireland Focus contenders - Colm Murphy leads on 16.28. Brendan Kelly on 16.48. John Foley 3rd. One of the title favourites Oliver Stanley was off on the first stage for a minute, still going.

Some more times - Dan McCartan 16.09. Seamus Heron, on a learning curve in the Donnelly Celica 15.57. Willie Fannin, down on power in the Lancer, 16.18. Gene Meegan on 16.10. Fergal Allen, a hero in the BMW M3, 16.00. Pat White 16.37. Gerry McVeigh, another on a learning curve in the Richard Hogg Lancer, 16.03. Stage 3 not set up, will run as stage 6. More later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON