RALLY NEWS NO.3 Service Near Slieveroe - Sunday 12.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Glenmore

1st (11) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 18.24
2nd (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 18.47
3rd (6) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 18.50
4th (2) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 18.53
5th (3) Cathal Arthurs/Jakes Kelly (Accent WRC) 19.02
6th (4) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Impreza WRC) 19.03
7th (15) Richie Curran/Gerry English (Esc.Cos) 19.09
8th (7) Melvyn Evans/Aled Davies (Impreza WRC) 19.10
9th (36) Don Butler/David Doyle (Sieraa) 19.32
10th (14) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 19.35
11th (17) Noel Redmond/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 19.42
(27) Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors (Impreza N) 19.42

Kevin Lynch left the opposition trailing in his wake through stage 2, setting a time of 9.04 against Patrick Elliott on 9.16, Niall Maguire and Jim Harrison on 9.21. Lynch is on top form, the fact that he did 3 days of the Donegal International last weekend, standing him in good stead, also driving his Impreza world rally car just like he is in the forests. Kevin said that he had lots of sideways action through that very slippy 2nd stage, loved every minute of it. Maguire just shrugged his shoulders when he saw Lynch's time, Niall saying "I feel like I've a lot of lose, leading the points in the Dunlop championship. The rain was very heavy, I'm braking early, I reckon push too hard and I could lose all". Jim Harrison is having problems with his Subaru gear selection mechanism, Jim having to switch on to a manual system, which is not helping his times. Patrick Elliott said "Its hard to judge the pace, but we were pushing hard in stage 2". Ray Breen reported no grip at all. While Kevin Barrett said "It was a lottery in there". Welsh visitor Melvyn Evans admitted to a wrong tyre choice but otherwise OK. Richie Curran is right on the pace in his Escort Cosworth, but said "I'm just trying to keep up, the back of the car was up 2 banks in stage 2, I don't think I will try and keep that pace". Johnny O'Sullivan lost time on the first couple of stages with a severe misfire in his Escort WRC, Killarney man Johnny discovered a broken inter cooler at service and the mechanics now have it changed.

Denis Cronin in the Celica had a big spin in stage 2, no intercom as well, by his own high standard not doing so well. The front of John McCarthy's Corolla WRC was showing signs of contact with a wall on a square right corner in stage 2, but nothing too serious.

In Group N Alan Ring is the pace setter, Welsh visitor Sebastian Ling, seeded at 59 is just 6s back on 19.48. Some other gpN times include - James O'Sullivan on 20.05. Willie Fannin on 20.08 and Gabriel Martin 20.10. Willie Fannin leads the points in the gpN category of the Dunlop National series and he lost time in stage 2 with a massive spin, but his times are still fairly good. By our unofficial reckoning we have Kieran O'Callaghan 3rd gpN on 19.57.

In the battle for 2 wheel drive class honours Eamonn Murphy is on a total of 20.30 in his Escort. Paul Mulcahy in his Starlet is on 20.38. James Coleman in the Suirway Forklifts Escort is on 20.39. David James 20.40 in his Escort. David Long is determined to try and win the 2 wheel drive category in his Sierra, but he lost about 40s in the 2nd stage when a relay came adrift, his total now 20.44.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net