RALLY NEWS NO.3 Mallow/Service/Saturday 5.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Peters Hill

1st (1) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 29.48.2
2nd (5) Robbie McGurk/David Moynihan (Impreza) 30.50.8
3rd (8) Dominic McNeill/Francis Kenny (Escort WRC) 31.30.3
4th (11) John Shanahan/Liam McLoughlin (Impreza N) 31.33.3
5th (4) Dermot Kelly/Greg Shinnors (Escort WRC) 31.59.6
6th (3) Pat Norris/Declan Tumilty (Impreza) 31.59.9
7th (2) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Hanna (Impreza WRC) 32.08.7
8th (17) Pete Willoughby/Paul Nagle (Impreza N) 32.33.3
9th (7) James Murphy/Con Mulcahy (Escort Cos) 32.53.0
10th (10) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Goodman (Impreza) 32.53.6

Through the long 10.1 mile Peters Hill stage Kevin Lynch and his Impreza WRC S9 made the job look so easy, 12s faster than Robbie McGurk with Dermot Kelly a further 10s back. Lynch is really dominating the rally. He commented "We're trying to hit a good steady pace, and I don't want to give these boys behind an inch, then they take a mile!" Second placed Robbie McGurk reported no problems, while Dominic McNeill has really speeded up over the last couple of stages, and has moved from outside the leaderboard to 3rd in 3 stages. Dominic did say he had a brilliant run through the last 2 stages. However the next step up will be a bit more difficult. Also getting the hammer down now is Dermot Kelly. He has moved from 9th to 5th in a few stages, one factor helping his performance is that his power steering is now working a bit better, not perfect but better.

A leading retirement is Paul Barrett. He had his Mk2 Escort up as high as 4th but unfortunately gearbox problems have spelt the end of his rally. Further back Anthony O'Halloran has retired his Escort with a blown engine. Hopes to get a replacement tonight and will do the Sunday run tomorrow.

James Murphy has managed to haul himself into the top 10, but commented. "The dust is atrocious, the chemists should do well next week!" Adrian McElvaney is still struggling with his gearbox, but getting into the way of holding it in gear. Kieran Shaw in the KBB Doors Impreza WRC lost time through stages 4 and 5 when his anti lag system wouldn't work. Kieran's total now 33.00.0.

John Shanahan continues to dominate Group N, although his times were not just so stunning through 4 and 5 as earlier compared to the other gpN runners. Stephen Moore slowed in those 2 stages when his Impreza developed exhaust troubles. Pete Willoughby is nursing his gearbox but still setting good times. James Cribben dropped a few seconds on stage 5, and reports a small fire in the car at stage finish. John McGlaughlin is figuring quite well in GpN, he has got ahead of Cribben and Moore to lie 4th in the category. Patrick Elliott is 3rd. Andrew Kearney has put his Peugeot off in stage 4, reportedly trying too hard! In the Ford Ka championship part of the rally Kieran Daly has got ahead of Gordon Coleman, the latter commenting. "It's a long way to go on this rally, hard on the car".

On the McRae Stages Rally in Perthshire, young Matthew Wilson did win in his Focus WRC, Barry Johnson 2nd, Munro 3rd. Young Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson were 5th overall in a Mk2 Escort. Someone commented…"You couldn't have chiselled the smile off Kris Meeke's face!".

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net