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RALLY NEWS NO.3
Clonakilty-Saturday
2pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADEROARD AFTER STAGE 4-Quarry Cross
1st (3) Melvyn Evans/Alun Davies (Escort WRC) 30.34
2nd (6) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Subaru Imp.WRC) 30.56
3rd (18) Steve Fleck/Mark Aspinall (Subaru Impreza) 30.57
4th (4) Pete Doughty/Tim Sturla (Subaru Impreza) 31.06
5th (1) John Price/Caroline Price (6R4) 31.08
6th (9) Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes (Lancer) 31.11
7th (12) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (Subaru Legacy)
31.25
8th (7) Tony Davies/Brian Hardie (6R4) 31.38
9th (10) Johnny O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman (Escort WRC) 31.39
10th (8) Tommy Graham/Sean Mullally (Subaru Imp.WRC) 31.40
the pace is pretty hectic at the front of the rally, with
Melvyn Evans managing to hold on to his lead despite a few
dramas including the spare wheel coming loose, moving
forward on to the rear of the seat belts, and nearly
strangling Melvyn! Steve Fleck set a fastest time
through stage 2 and was 2nd fastest through stage 3, but
lost a few valuable seconds in the 4th test when his Subaru
spun at a hairpin left near the start of the test. Jim
Harrison has also been right on the pace, but the English
driver had a big moment in stage 4, co-driver Harvey Bell
admits that the pace notes went to pieces for a while, and
again the few valuable seconds were lost that would have
made the difference in challenging for the lead.
We carried a story earlier that Liam McCarthy was unhappy
with his tyre choice at the end of the first stage. It
transpired then that the mechanics found a broken shaft to
the rear differential, which would have caused the wayward
handling, and also meant retirement for the top local crew.
Also out of the rally is John Dalton and Jon Stangle,
both in Darrians, Stangle's problem down to a recalcitrant
fuel pump.
Fourth placed Pete Doughty reckons he would leading the
rally if he would stop making little mistakes in the car.
John Price in 5th reports no problems at all, John very
cool, still getting used to his new Metro 6R4. Sixth
placed Bob Fowden still leads gpN, and is having a good
run, while Ollie O'Donovan in 7th admits that he is not
overly happy on the high speed stuff, that his Legacy had
stopped out a few times and given him a few worrying
moments. Tony Davies in 8th still has brake pedal troubles.
While Johnny O'Sullivan in 9th reckons his engine is down
on power, the temperature is up, and the Killarney man has
switched off the anti lag system. Tommy Graham had a
big spin at the hairpin in stage 4, Tommy not too certain
about the handling of his new Subaru, and is still finding
his feet.
Phil Collins leads the battle of the Mk2 Escorts, his total
32.05, Derek Smith 32.19, Martin Daly, down on power and on
34.17. Kieran O'Neill 32.34, Willie McCarthy on 32.22.
More news later.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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