RALLY NEWS NO.4            Glenamaddy-Service-Sat. noon
www.rallynews.net

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 (SS3 did not run)
1st (3) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Celica) 21.50
2nd (1) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC) 22.12
3rd (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 22.14
4th (10) Seamus Leonard/Kevin O'Brien (Subaru N) 22.32
5th (9) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 22.33
6th (8) Trevor Cathers/Dessie Wilson (Lancer N) 22.42
7th (6) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 22.45
8th (18) Dominic Loughran/Lisa Roe (Lancer N) 23.28
9th (31) Gerry McVeigh/Padraig Dineen (Lancer N) 23.45
10th (19) Sean McArdle/Ger McMonagle (Celica) 23.49
No times yet for Tom Holton…he was in the top 10, we hopefully will have the times for the next RallyNews.

Eugene Donnelly was fastest through stage 4, Horse Leap, by 2s from Peadar Hurson. Austin MacHale was a further 11 down.  This was a repeat run of the first stage, conditions have not got a whole lot better but the drivers perhaps have got more used to the conditions. Only top car to hit a spot of bother was Maurice Gass, whose Subaru WRC was briefly in and out of a field. Maurice dropping 24s to the fastest time.

Roy White was fastest of the group N contenders on 7.26 (just 4s slower than MacHale). Trevor Cathers was 1s slower than Tipperary man White, with Seamus Leonard a further 2 back.

Looking back to the end of stage 2, it would appear that the main rally is split into 2 categories, with the modified cars running in a National event, rather than the International. Fergal Allen led the Nationals in his BMW M3 from Tom Halliday, with  John Reddington 3rd. The latter 2 in Escorts.

In the main rally Dessie Keenan led class 6, putting up a stunning performance which sees him in 15th overall, 16s up on Glen Wilson with Alan Ring a further 4s back - all in Peugeots. Alan McMahon/Benny Grainger who have already won their class in the Tarmac C/ship in their Honda Integra, are lying 32nd overall, 5s behind the Civic of Ian Hynes/Martin Mahon.

Ford Ireland Focus championship after SS4 - Colm Murphy leads on a total of 24.46, Oliver Stanley has recovered from his first stage dramas, set fastest Focus time through stage 4, and is now 2nd on 25.30. John Foley is 3rd, Hamilton Bell 4th. Brendan Kelly was leading the Focus contenders after stage 2, but he went sliding on at the very famous Nesbitt junction, went off the road and lost some time. Managed to get going but is back in 5th.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
(with thanks to Ian Beasant & Sir Adrian Dangerous!)