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RALLY NEWS NO.4 Glengariff/Saturday 12.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Ardgroom
1st (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 35.33
2nd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 35.55
3rd (5) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC) 36.15
4TH (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 36.18
5TH (6) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Lancer WRC) 36.31
6TH (15) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 37.33
7TH (18) Johnny O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman (Escort WRC) 38.00
8TH (14) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Celica) 38.09
9TH (7) George Treacy/Jakes Kelly (206 WRC) 38.42
10TH (46) Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors (Impreza N) 38.56
11TH (16) George Cullen/Dominic Downey (Impreza WRC) 39.03
12TH (29) Willie Fannin/Michael Courtney (Impreza N) 39.05
Through stages 4 and 5 Derek McGarrity was once again fastest. On stage 4
Eugene Donnelly was 7s slower. On stage 5 it was Tim McNulty who was 2nd fastest,
1s down on McGarrity with Donnelly a further 4 back. Early times from Tim
Healy, not shown above, show McGarrity 2s faster than Donnelly. That seems to
be the pattern of the rally at the moment. Donie O'Sullivan in 3rd place
observed. "My only real problem is the two men in front. Otherwise we are going
fine, but these boys are going very hard, Derek is doing a fantastic job". Eugene
Donnelly said "Same story, can't go any harder, I think the car's
technologically just not up to it. We have a new anti roll bar in the back, hardened the
suspension all round, the car is good". At that Eugene got out of the Corolla
and pointed to the rear quarter panels. He said "Those scars aren't big
moments, its just hard we're going, how hard we're trying".
Austin MacHale looked
slightly down in the dumps when he came in. Austin reckons the car is just
not as sharp as it might be, and also he is really still not totally confident
with the left hand drive, and said "We're not drifting to the full".
Eamonn Boland in 5th is going to have his new Lancer's suspension softened
off a bit, the car is bouncing about on the bumps and jumps. JJ Fleming still
has some problem with his transmission, starting to think possibly a drive shaft
is going. Ollie O'Donovan says he is still feeling like s..t, because of the
broken ribs, also the brakes are not right. Liam McCarthy's Corolla suffered
a puncture on Cods Head and dropped enough time to leave him just outside the
leaderboard. Johnny O'Sullivan is going to get new brake pads fitted here at
service, otherwise OK. George Cullen reports a stage 3 spin which cost 30s.,
and also that his Impreza brakes are not working. Nigel Hicklin is still going
but out of the leaderboard, his Impreza now suffering a broken exhaust
manifold, which is causing all sorts of flames and stuff underneath the bonnet.
George Treacy has been stepping up the pace in his new Peugeot 206 WRC and joked
when he arrived in her to Glengariff "Its an absolute girlies car, the girlies
just love it!"
Alan Ring still leads gpN convincingly from Willie Fannin, although Willie
slowed on the Tim Healy with a broken drive shaft. Garry Jennings is in
trouble with a wonky front wheel bearing which means the car is steering all over
the place. Aaron MacHale's Lancer is suffering warped brake discs, also
clattered over some rocks in Ardgroom. Kieran O'Callaghan was going well in gpN but
on a left hander after 2 mighty Ardgroom jumps, the West Cork man's Lancer
landed in a hedge and has damaged the radiator. Dessie Keenan's Lancer has
differential trouble and may not make it here to Glengarriff. Dessie's problem
happened on Cods Head and there is still no sign of the car. Eoin Doyle is now 3rd
gpN, Aaron MacHale into 4th. Phil Collins continues to lead the 2 wheel
drive brigade. Local 2 wheel drive favourite suffered a puncture in Molls Gap and
lost a lot of time. Finally for now we have a very interesting spectator here
on this Lakes rally….Colin McRae is buzzing about in his helicopter to have a
wee look!
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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