RALLY NEWS NO.2                   End of stage 1 - Sunday 11.30am

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 TORY HILL
1st (11) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 9.20
2nd (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 9.26
3rd (4) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Impreza WRC) 9.31
4th (2) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 9.32
5th (6) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 9.33
6th (3) Cathal Arthurs/Jakes Kelly (Accent WRC) 9.35
7th (15) Richie Curran/Gerry English (Esc.Cos) 9.44
8th (7) Melvyn Evans/Aled Davies (Impreza WRC) 9.45
9th (14) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 9.55
10th (9) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Celica) 9.57
(27) Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors (Impreza N) 9.57

Kevin Lynch appeared very cool when his Subaru appeared at the end of the first stage, showing a fastest time, and that was despite having to pass a slower car.  First on the road Niall Maguire jumped out of his Subaru straight away to check a front wheel, bits of stone or wood trapped between the tyre and rim telling its own story of Niall having a very close shave.  Niall also reported the stage to be very slippy.  It was dry where we were, but there was a slight hint of dampness near the start.  Jim Harrison felt he was on the wrong tyres. While Ray Breen reported a very big moment. Melvyn Evans was another to thought he had picked a wrong tyre, as did Kevin Barrett.  023 Tiles leadeer Johnny O'Sullivan reported a very bad misfire in his Escort WRC, and his time suffered accordingly, 10.19.  Denis Cronin in the Celica commented that it just wasn't flowing for him yet, that he felt slow enough.

Alan Ring was the fastest of the early runners in the Group N category, Alan reporting a few minor moments.  Willie Fannin was just 1s slower, Willie feeling that his Impreza suspension was set just a little too soft.  Kieran O'Callaghan had a big overshoot and he was 11s down on Ring, 2 ahead of Gabriel Martin.  James O'Sullivan was on 10.14, 17s down on Ring. 

There was no sign of John McGaffin and his ex Colin McRae Legacy at stage finish.  Some further times from the front runners included - Noel Redmond just off the leaderboard on 9.58. David McNulty 10.25.  Tom Holton 10.10.  John McCarthy 10.06. 

We reported on RallyNews No.1 about some non starters - another one that we have heard of is Kevin Kelleher, his wife Yvonne gave birth to a baby girl at 8 o'clock this morning. Both well, not surprising really that Kevin didn't start the rally!

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON     www.rallynews.net