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RALLY
NEWS NO.8
Climbers Inn, Glencar/Sunday 12 noon
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 13 BALLAGHBEAMA
1st (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.38.41
2nd (5) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC) 1.39.52
3rd (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.40.25
4th (6) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (LancerWRC) 1.41.22
5th (15) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 1.44.03
6th (14) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Celica) 1.44.38
7th (18) Johnny O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman (Escort WRC) 1.44.57
8th (10) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 1.45.58
9th (11) Pete Doughty/Allan Whittaker (Escort WRC) 1.46.35
10th (7) George Treacy/Jakes Kelly (206 WRC) 1.46.51
The disappointment news for the fans on this Killarney Rally
of the Lakes is that Eugene Donnelly's Corolla has had turbo
charger problems on the Molls Gap and there is still no sign
of the car here at the end of Ballaghbeama.
Derek McGarrity was fastest on the opening stage of the day,
Molls Gap, with a time of 8m12s. Donie O'Sullivan and Austin
MacHale tied for 2nd fastest on 8.17. Through stage 13,
Ballaghbeama, MacHale was way fastest on 9.21. O'Sullivan was
on 9.32 and McGarrity 9.34.
McGarrity commented "I pushed hard through the Gap, but
there's no point in going stupid now. I don't care if if win
by 1 second or 1 minute". His co driver Dermot
O'Gorman observed "We'll drive by the head, not by the
balls". MacHale reported "No mad chances in
Ballaghbeama, I didn't think I went that well, I went better
on Molls, but I lost 4 or 5 seconds when I caught Donnelly, it
was on a fast bit and I lost the line". Donie
O'Sullivan had a good run but did lose a few seconds at the
start of Molls Gap when he stalled his Focus. Eamonn Boland
had his Lancer's gearbox changed at service this morning to
try to give him slightly higher ratios, but the new box
doesn't seem to be working quite right. The mechanism that
interrupts the revs to allow seamless changes doesn't seem to
be working properly. Denis Cronin did not have a particularly
good time through Ballaghbeama, the West Cork man still having
some trouble with his Celica gearbox. At one of the
hairpins the Celica was more or less stopped before Denis
could get it into gear.
Although 18th overnight, Tim McNulty got a restart time this
morning in the top 10, Tim going well, but not crazy and
hoping to get into top 10 before the day is out. Pete
Doughty had a spin at Molls Gap and lost perhaps 15s. Phil
Collins continues to lead the National Rally and he has been
given a restart time amongst the leaders of the main rally,
probably on safety grounds as he was catching other cars
yesterday.
Alan Ring continues to lead group N and had 2 smooth times
this morning, although not fastest in gpN, he was only a few
seconds away. Eoin Doyle was fastest gpN on Molls, but he
slowed a little in Ballaghbeama when a vibration came into his
Impreza, possibly a tyre flat spotted. Aaron MacHale was
fastest gpN through Ballaghbeama. Alan Ring is now 11th
overall. Colm Murphy 12th, Colm saying he needs a few more
horses, especially at the junctions because of the way the car
is geared. When it was suggested he took a couple of horses
from Killarney town centre, he laughed and said "I would
really like some red bulls!" James Foley slipped
ahead of Doyle on Ballaghbeama and is now 13th. Eoin 14th.
Garry Jennings is going well again, he is lying slightly
further back, as is James O'Sullivan in his gpN Lancer, but
the 023 Tiles man James is very frustrated with the lack of go
in his car.
In the Formula 2 race Glen Wilson has got ahead of Guy
Woodcock again, Glen had been in front yesterday but put his
Escort off the road for about 20s. Late news is that Paddy
White has put his Impreza WRC off the road in Ballaghbeama,
crew OK but the car is stuck. More news later. BRIAN
& LLIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
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