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RALLY NEWS NO.6 Finish/Castlebar/Sunday
6.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 (final stage)
1st (2) Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza WRC) 1.04.06
2nd (5) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.04.11
3rd (6) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Impreza) 1.05.48
4th (10) Tommy Graham/Francis Kenny
(Impreza WRC) 1.07.42
5th (32) Dominic McLoughlin/Cyril Conellan (Peugeot rwd) 1.07.59
6th (8) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Escort WRC) 1.08.17
7th (15) Kieran Shaw/Crawford Henderson (Impreza WRC) 1.08.24
8th (22) John Cairns/James Cairns 9Impreza N) 1.08.37
9th (41) Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Starlet) 1.09.18
10th (31) Trevor Lancashire/Noel Hall (Escort) 1.09.42
THE ABOVE TIMES ARE VERY UNOFFICIAL. However, there is little doubt that Niall
Maguire came through to win this Mayo Stages Rally, albeit by just 5s, but that
is what its all about. Niall commented at the finish. "A hard day, we had
some problems with the intercoms of course, and this car is totally different
from the old one. A good event". Kevin Lynch observed. "That's the way
it goes, it was a good race, a fast rally, we'll be back for another go at
Niall". What makes the result even more interesting is that Lynch has
virtually no tarmac experience, whereas Niall is a former National Champion. His
new Subaru, running on Pirelli tyres, mechanically went superbly all day, the
intercom trouble really being down to Niall not knowing enough about the car to
switch from "road mode" to "special stage mode". Seamus
Leonard drove brilliantly to take 3rd overall, in what is basically a group N
car, but running with group A power today. Interestingly, this was a 1-2-3 for
Stan Harper Preparation today.
John Cairns kept pouring oil into his Impreza engine towards the end to
counteract a leaking sump, and he did well to take the group N category from
Adrian Quinn. Adrian brought his Lancer into an unofficial 11th on a total of
1.10.01. Gavin Harris was on a total of 1.10.06 in his hired group N Lancer.
Eoin Doyle 1.10.24. Danny McBride was on 1.10.53, his Impreza jumping out of 1st
and 2nd gear throughout the day. Derrick Jobb put his Lancer into a bog a few
stages ago and couldn't get out. Martin Doherty pulled his Lancer into the side
of the road on the final stage and did not make the finish.
David Armstrong really got on the pace during the afternoon stages to take 5th
overall, just behind Dominic McLoughlin who surprised everyone by putting his
rear engined Peugeot into 4th. Dominic laughed at the finish, and said "At
my age I should have more sense!" Tommy Graham had a great run all day, his
stage times would see him around about 4th overall, but he has many penalties
for hitting the chicane water dividers. Several other top drivers also had
penalties including David McNulty, who finished just outside the top 10, having
been 8th.
Kieran Shaw struggled a fair bit during the day to get used to his new car, but
still managed 6th and that was despite transmission trouble towards the end.
Maurice Moffett surprised himself by getting his newly acquired Starlet into 8th
place. A retirement we didn't mention earlier was James Cullen, his Escort shed
a wheel early on. Finally for now, well done to Sean McHugh and all his team for
laying on such a splendid event. Our thanks to everyone who supported the
RallyNews and thanks as well to Gerry McVeigh…for giving us his pen at a
critical moment!!! BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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