RALLY NEWS NO.2                   End of Molls Gap - Sun day 09.00
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD HISTORIC/POST HISTORIC AFTER STAGE 1
1st (87) Jim McRae/Paul Gullick (Porsche 911) 10.56
2nd (2) Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride (Porsche 911) 11.10
3rd (22) Chris Browne/Ali Cornwell (Escort) 11.12
4th (20) Liam Sheehan/Alan Harrington (Escort) 11.13
5th (4) John Farrell/Billy McCullins (Escort) 11.16
6th (19) Graham Samuel/Clare Samuel (Escort) 11.21
7th (17) Don Moynihan/Tim Moynihan (Escort) 11.29
8th (6) Steve Smith/Phil Spurge (Porsche 911) 11.34
9th (24) Kevin Flanagan/Adrian Parry (Mini) 11.36
10th (5) Joe Connolly/Gareth Connolly (Escort) 11.37

The above times are from the first cars only and consist of both Historic and Post Historic runners.  These results will be split later on into the 2 different categories.
One of the first cars over the Gap was a new Mini Cooper piloted by one other than Paddy Hopkirk, acting in a Rally Observer capacity.  Paddy was in fine form, Molls Gap bringing back some fond memories.  He commented as well "It was a bit wet and murky up there, we saw a few cars parked with their windows misted up…..!"
The first competing car over the Gap was the Porsche of Jim McRae, carrying the number 87, the 7 times Circuit of Ireland winner setting a pretty stunning time of 10.56.  Dessie Nutt did a 10.55 this time last year, but the conditions were a whole lot different, today Nutt recorded 11.10.  McRae commented "That is some wake up call. Very difficult, a misted up windscreen didn't help.  But then I didn't want to see much more anyway!"  Nutt reported "It felt slippy, I don't think I was totally committed.  The car never felt better, it's definitely not the car's fault". 
Third on the road, Frank Cunningham, in the Historic Mini, posted a time of 11.40, and he said. "I found it very slippy at the start, I didn't really get into it for the first 3 or 4 miles, and then I couldn't have gone much harder. But the car doesn't feel absolutely right, maybe the tyre pressure are not right".  John Farrell who was expected to be the Post Historic pace setter, commented. "I found it slippy, I'm not very happy".      Joe Connolly, No.5, said. "I was abysmal, drove like an old woman".  Steve Smith in the Porsche told us that he is having his first run in the car and still getting used to the gearbox.  Expected front runner Mike Doody in the Mini told of a misfire from Ladies View on, the car seemed a bit smoky.  Martin Ward in the Manta was also having a smoky time, a lot of fumes in the car.
Mervyn Johnston, the new Historic Tarmac Champion, went for a cautious run, but wasn't a mile away with a time of 11.47.  Philip Wylie reckoned his MGB suspension was a bit knackered, the fact that he forgot to bring his glasses with him this morning not helping his cause either. Con Ward said he was a bit rusty. George Tracey's RS2000 differential seemed to have gone wonky, and he was very slow.  Barry Duggan pushed his newly acquired Escort down from the finish line of the stage, something wrong with the clutch, and also reckons he has damaged the starter motor trying to fire the car up in gear.  Kevin Flanagan had a good time despite no intercom in his Mini, and also running 2 different tyres at the front.
CLASSICS: Dessie Keenan was fastest on 10.22 in his Escort. Mike Moloney (Escort) 10.24. Kieran O'Neill (Kadett) 10.36. Pat Donegan (Escort) 10.38. Dave Slattery (Escort) 10.50. Kevin O'Donoghue (Escort) 10.53. John Moynihan crashed his Escort off the road just past the old pub. Dave Randles was Ooing in his works Nissan and he has crashed as well. Conditions very slippery. Gareth Lloyd in the Welsh Area Rally Spares Escort was back on 11.04, having made 2 brave a tyre choice, going on slicks.   More news to follow. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net