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RALLY NEWS NO.7
Ballinacarriga-Sunday 1.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 10-Ballinacarriga
1st (3) Melvyn Evans/Alun Davies (Escort WRC) 1.15.59
2nd (18) Steve Fleck/Mark Aspinall (Subaru Impreza) 1.16.12
3rd (4) Pete Doughty/Tim Sturla (Subaru Impreza) 1.16.53
(6) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell
(Subaru Imp.WRC) 1.16.53
5th (1) John Price/Caroline Price (6R4) 1.17.41
6th (8) Tommy Graham/Sean Mullally (Subaru Imp.WRC) 1.18.36
7th (14) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Subaru Imp.WRC) 1.19.21
8th (46) Mark Morgan/Tony Fisher (Lancer N) 1.19.32
9th (20) Phil Collins/Howard Davies (Escort) 1.19.34
10th (19) Derek Smith/Daragh Cafferky (Escort) 1.20.18
11th (37) Barry Coleman/Alan Russell (Impreza) 1.20.41
12th (32) Sean Keenan/Michael O'Riordan (Celica) 1.20.53
There were dramas aplenty on the first 2 stages after the
overnight halt with Ollie O'Donovan and Tony Davies
retiring, while Melvyn Evans made a slow start and Steve
Fleck managed to close the gap somewhat on the leader.
Heavy rain made the going difficult for the drivers and
Ollie O'Donovan paid a heavy price when he put his lovely
Legacy on it's roof. Happily Ollie and co driver
David Moynihan are reportedly unhurt. Tony Davies, who was
lying 9th overnight, but having serious brake problems with
his 6R4 is parked up at the side of the road in stage 9.
Melvyn Evans was fastest through stage 9 but then on stage
10 slowed down quite a bit when his Escort WRC windscreen
misted up, and he couldn't see a thing. Steve Fleck
was then fastest through stage 10 and commented "Very
tricky, a lot of water". Pete Doughty wasn't
happy at all, he came into service, has a feeling that
perhaps his Impreza's centre differential is sending out
the wrong messages. Jim Harrison's co driver Harvey Bell
said about their performance "Jim's not really on it,
hasn't been since the start, he's not driving nearly as
well as he did in Mayo. Thankfully though, the clutch
change has been a success". John Price's co
driver Caroline said "John's having problems this
morning, he reckons we're only on half throttle, the pedal
just won't go to the floor".
Other stories include - Derek Smith reckons his Escort's
rear axle has gone, doesn't know if he will have time to
change it. Phil Collins still leads the 2 wheel drive
category ahead of Derek, and commented "Steady away
now, I don't want to get sucked into a top 10 overall
battle". Group N leader Mark Morgan had a big
straight on a one point when the car aquaplaned. Second
in gpN Andrew Hadden wasn't so lucky, he left his braking
to the very last moment at the end of a very long straight,
and the car ploughed into a wall. Andrew is still going,
but the Lancer is rather the worse for wear. Some other
times - Lloyd 1.21.06: Hadden 1.21.16: Max McKillen
1.21.16: John Cope 1.21.24. More news later..BRIAN
& LIZ PATTERSON
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