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RALLY NEWS NO.2
End of Molls Gap/Saturday 08.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 MOLLS GAP
1st (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 8.24
2nd (5) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC) 8.25
3rd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 8.28
4th (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 8.33
(6) Eamonn Boland/Damien
Morrissey (LancerWRC) 8.33
6th (15) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 8.44
7th (18) Johnny O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman (Escort WRC) 8.50
8th (10) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 8.54
9th (14) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Celica) 9.02
10th (16) George Cullen/Dominic Downey (Impreza WRC) 9.04
Molls Gap, the classic opening stage of this Killarney
Rally of the Lakes, is a bit shorter this year due to road
works so it is impossible to compare the times from
previous years. Derek McGarrity, however, was pretty
quick, the Tarmac Champion driving a new Impreza for this
rally, and despite not really being settled into the car
still looks like the man to beat. Derek commented at
stage finish "I touched a stone with a front right
tyre and was a bit worried about a puncture, so I was a
bit timid for the last few miles. The suspension feels too
hard, I will soften it later, but otherwise OK".
Second on the road, Eugene Donnelly, admitted to stalling
the engine at stage start. Remarkably Austin MacHale did
the same thing. Austin also selecting a wrong gear.
Second fastest, Donie O'Sullivan, on his home patch here
on Molls Gap, was just 1s slower than McGarrity, and said
"Perfect".
There was some doubt about Eamonn Boland being able to
make the start in his new Lancer following engine damage
at a test session on Thursday night. Preparation supremo
Dom Buckley and his team worked minor miracles to get the
engine sorted out. It seemed to be on full song and Eamonn
commented "No problems". George Treacy was to be
next up in his new Peugeot 206 WRC, but he elected to run
a few cars back, eventually arriving at stage finish
approximately 12th on the road, and said "It went
well but I'm still driving it a bit like the group N
car".
Further stories include - Tim McNulty losing time with a
puncture. Pete Doughty's Escort WRC broke a flange
off the rear diff and was slow, caught by Denis Cronin.
Ollie O'Donovan, as well as cracked ribs, was struggling
with brake pedal going to the floor. Barry Coleman
admitted to being slow off the mark, his time 9.29.
Johnny O'Sullivan lost a few seconds when he caught
Coleman. Aaron MacHale had some problems with his gpN
Lancer's hand brake. Fastest Group N time we have so
far is Dessie Keenan on 9.11. Kieran O'Callaghan did 9.16.
James Foley 9.17. Garry Jennings on 9.21 and talking of
warped front brake discs. Aaron MacHale's time was
9.22.
Interestingly, Phil Collins in the Mk2 Escort recorded a
scorching time of 9.02. Paddy White forgot to switch his
Impreza WRC electronic differential on and his time
suffered to the tune of 9.54. Nigel Hicklin had a
reasonable run and recorded a time of 9.16 in his Impreza
WRC. Kevin O'Donoghue emerged from the stage with
the front tyre missing from his gpN Lancer, driving
merrily away on the screeching rim. More news later.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
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