RALLY NEWS NO.14                 St Angelo/Monday 3.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 22 LURGANBOY
1st (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 2.32.55.4
2nd (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 2.33.32.0
3rd (9) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC) 2.35.45.2
4th (2) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 2.36.44.0
5th (12) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 2.38.54.0
6th (16) Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Lancer N) 2.45.27.0
7th (15) Aaron MacHale/Ger McMonagle (Lancer N) 2.50.40.5
8th (33) Willie Fannin/Mike Courtney (Impreza N) 2.53.01.4
9th (17) Guy Woodcock/Phil Harrison (Escort Maxi) 2.56.46.2
10th (21) Charlie Mavitty/Nigel Frazer (Lancer N) 3.00.30.7
11th (43) Alan Cathcart/Paddy Flanagan (Integra) 3.02.59.2
12th (29) Dermot Hanafin/Claire Mole (Impreza N) 3.03.24.7

The top drivers on this Circuit of Ireland have just the St Angelo super special stage to go, and as they readied their cars at service up at Irvinestown McGarrity seemed relatively unflustered as he headed for back to back victories. The drivers had eased slightly over the last few stages, but still McGarrity and Donnelly were setting fastest times. Donnelly was quickest through stage 20 by just .9 of a second from McGarrity. Through stage 21 Donnelly was again fastest, and then on stage 22, the last one before St Angelo McGarrity was fastest. Neither driver reported any problems.

Behind them, however, Donie O'Sullivan, although fairly safe in 3rd place, had an anti lag problem on his Focus WRC. Austin MacHale had a smooth run. Daniel Doherty had further electronic problems with his Subaru. The differentials stopped working and Daniel slid the red car into a ditch for nearly a minute. However Daniel kept his 5th place but it has been such a frustrating rally for the Carndonagh man, and someone joked that he might have been better off driving a Massey Ferguson.

In Group N Dessie Keenan was able to keep it all together through that final loop of stages, despite having bent his Lancer's front chassis legs on the big Lurganboy jump.  Aaron MacHale was under pressure in stage 22 when his car stopped for several minutes with a transmission/electronic gremlin.  Still Aaron has managed to hold on to his 2nd place in group N.  Cathal Rogers was heading for a superb top 10 place but his group N Lancer has ground to a halt with clutch troubles. It is not all quite sweetness and light for some of the drivers at the back of the top 10.  After 3 tough days on the road it would seem a simple matter to get a car from Irvinestown to Enniskillen and do 1 short stage.  However Guy Woodcock was having to push his Escort Maxi at Irvinestown as his electrical woes continued. Dermot Hanafin was also pushing his gpN Subaru into service. Here's hoping they make it.

More news after the final St Angelo stage.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON   (with thanks to Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd) www.rallynews.net