RALLY NEWS NO.2 Lurgan Park/Saturday/12.30

1^st (2) Mark Higgins/Michael Gibson (Accent WRC) 2.58.9

2^nd (6) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 3.00.2

3^rd (1) Jonny Milner/Shelley Rogerson (Octavia WRC) 3.00.9

4^th (14) Kevin Barrett/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 3.02.5

5^th (20) James Gillen/Rodney Johnston (Impreza WRC) 3.03.6

6^th (15) Daniel Doherty/Kevin McGowan (Impreza WRC) 3.04.0

7^th (10) Denis Biggerstaff/Robin McCandless (Metro 6R4) 3.04.6

8^th (8) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 3.05.7

9^th (11) Glenn Allen/Kieran McCracken (Escort WRC) 3.06.0

10^th (22) Ollie O'Donovan/Ed Synan (Impreza WRC) 3.07.0

Close would be an understatement looking at the times at the front of this Triton Showers Lurgan Park Rally. Mark Higgins has been fastest on the first 2 stages but there is so little in it, the smallest slip will see a change in the order. This was emphasised by Kevin Lynch’s remark when he saw the times, the Dungiven man saying "He who makes the first mistake, there’s a fair bit of pressure on already!" Mark Higgins said. "We have the window problem sorted, the boys diverted a cooling pipe from underneath the windscreen, now we are moving on to the first of the gravel sections, I don’t know what to do about tyres, its very close". Jonny Milner said "We felt a lot better on the second run, there’s still a little bit of laziness on the throttle but I have to try to drive around the problem. Yes, it is close, we’ll have to try and drive a bit harder!" Jonny went on to say that the replacement part of the turbo boost operation, which was flown in this morning, doesn’t fit!

Looking on down the leaderboard – Kevin Barrett, with Rory Kennedy in the hot seat today, is going really well. As is James Gillen and Daniel Doherty. Sixth placed Daniel reflected the mood of many of the drivers in the carnival atmosphere here in Craigavon Borough Council’s Lurgan Park, by saying. "This is fabulous, I’ve got away from rallying a bit, I don’t know why when I look around me today".

In Group N Michael Curran has moved into the leader from his from his father Dickie, although Dickie was slightly faster on that 2^nd stage. Garry Jennings is into 3^rd in his hired Impreza, Garry and co driver Pamela Ballantine in stitches of laughter at stage finish after discovering the hand brake was half on during the stage.

Keith White continues to lead the rear wheel drive contingent despite a few problems under braking with his Escort. Dessie Keenan is 2^nd rear wheel drive but 3^rd in class. Mark Doyle 2^nd in the class and best front wheel drive. Camillus Bradley isn’t too far off the pace in his beautiful Escort, with Rodney White in close attendance in his Sunbeam. Kenny McKinstry is back a fair bit as he comes to grip with his Hannu Mikkola replica Mk2 Escort.

Neale Dougan was right into the top 6 after the first stage, but he has been knocked back by a jump start penalty of 1 minute, which is pretty tough as the electronic timing shows he jumped by just one hundredth of a second. Further stories include – Martin Elliott having a worrying moment in his beautiful 4 wheel drive Corsa when the throttle stuck. Raymond Johnson lost his place at the front of gpN when his new Evo 8.5 lost its power steering. Sean McArdle had an overshoot at the end of the straight into the square left and dropped from 15^th to 16^th. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net