Unofficial Leaderboard After
Stage 8
1st
(1) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 32.39
2nd
(4) Glen Allen/Damien Connolly (Escort WRC) 33.41
3rd
(3) Kieran Shaw/Crawford Henderson (Impreza WRC) 33.50
4th
(11) Kevin OâKane/Martin Hanna (Impreza WRC) 34.07
5th
(5) Denis Biggerstaff/Derek Brannigan (Impreza WRC) 34.10
6th
(7) Richard Hogg/Mark Hanna (Lancer N) 34.14
7th
(10) Dermott Kelly/Greg Shinnors (Escort WRC) 34.30
8th
(18) James Murphy/Mark Bowens (Escort COS) 35.08*
=
(97) Eamon McErlean/R Scullion (EVO VI) 35.08
10th
(12) Brendan OâHagan/Paul Hone(Escort WRC) 35.17
11th
(17) John McGlaughlin/David McElroy (Lancer N) 35.26
12th
(16) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 35.34
*Not Including Road Penalties
Rally leader Kevin Lynch was
in buoyant mood here at the Limavady service area. The KPL man
had just extended his lead to one minute and two seconds and joked
about his make shift gear lever, but Kevin went onto say "we
will take it easy now ö the vice grips are working well ö but
it is very important for me to score NI championship points".
Second placed Glen Allen could be subject to a ten second road
penalty when he was deemed to have been late into the control
for stage four, but Glen insists he wasnât. Allen has no chance
of fixing sixth gear but said "these next two stages are
more twisty, so we should not need sixth, and whether we get the
penalty or not will give Kieran a fight". The Kieran he refers
to is third placed Kieran Shaw who is now really enjoying his
run in his RHD Impreza.
Richard Hogg reckons he is
getting used to his GpN Lancer on hire from Martin Howley but
reports some strange noises coming from the back of the car. Kevin
OâKane absolutely flew through stage seven with second fastest
time, which jumped him up the leaderboard to fourth, Kevin saying
"I just got it right". James Murphy is still struggling
with no brakes in his Escort Cosworth and the Limerick driver
is mystified as to 40 seconds in road penalties that have been
applied in the official results, and if they do appear to be true
this would drop James right off the leaderboard.
Keith White seems to have
retired from the lead of the 2wd race, his Escort beached on a
square right corner in stage seven ö Springwell. Also not appearing
here at service was Alistair Cochrane who was second in the 2wd
race who didnât come out of stage seven either. Stephen Moore
had just turned in fastest GpN time in stage six but he is another
who has disappeared in his down on power Impreza. Eamon McErlean
has moved into the lead of GpN and is 18 seconds up on John McGlaughlin
after his earlier overshoot, Michael Curran is next up on 35.34
with Seamus Donnelly just behind on 35.35. More News Later ··
Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd
