RALLY NEWS NO.2 End of stage 1 - Sunday Noon

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Ladies Brae

1st (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 8.26
2nd (5) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 8.34
3rd (3) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 8.37
4th (4) Cahal Arthurs/Jakes Kelly (Accent WRC) 8.38
5th (152) Sean Devine/Brendan Connor (Impreza WRC) 8.52
6th (10) David Armstrong/Bob Kelly (Escort WRC) 8.55
7th (19) Willie Fannin/Richard Price (Impreza N) 8.58
8th (8) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Focus WRC) 9.03
9th (16) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 9.04
10th (22) Pat Donegan/Damien Garvey (Escort) 9.11

There were no major upsets amongst the front runners on the opening Ladies Brae stage, with low cloud and a slight drizzle making the roads damp but not really wet. Many of the drivers felt they had been a little conservation in there tyre choice, but certainly the 4 wheel drive cars were getting some grip, 2 wheel drive competitors reporting some wheel spin. Niall Maguire was first on the road, and fastest. He seemed to have a clean run. Patrick Elliott felt that he should have been on a slightly softer compound tyre. Cahal Arthurs reported "Damp but more grip than you would think". Fourth on the road Kevin Lynch came off the stage with his exhaust clattering the ground, probably as a result of the massive jump on top of the moor. Ravens Rock winner Kevin reporting "Tyre choice maybe not that bright". Glen Allen, out for the first time in a left hand drive Focus told of a half spin. David Armstrong looked slightly bemused at stage finish and said. "Hard to know the speed, the pace".

George Tracey recorded a time of 9.23 in his Peugeot 206 WRC and indicated that it had been a bit of a disastrous stage with the back brakes locking and the Peugeot all over the road. Sean Gallagher in his recently acquired red Impreza WRC said "I think its all over the clutch is slipping"j. Kevin Barrett was being cautious, while Sean Devine said that he was just getting the feel of his Impreza, not having been out for a while.

Willie Fannin was the fastest of the early Group N runners, Willie saying that he found the stage pretty deceptive, the crests were coming thick and fast. Noel McCarrick in the gpN Subaru had a bit of an overshoot at one of the bales. While Gabriel Martin reckoned his Lancer engine was cutting out in places. James O'Sullivan, another top gpN competitor, had a spin in his 023 Tiles Lancer and lost at least 10s. O'Sullivan's time was 9.29. McCarrick 9.28. Gabriel Martin 9.18. Danny McBride also in a gpN Impreza 9.38.

Pat Donegan was the fastest of the 2 wheel drive cars so far in his Escort and as can be seen above made the top 10. Dominic McLaughlin recorded 9.14. Mac McKenna 9.13. Maurice Moffett, getting no grip at all, 9.31. Enda Keenan, with grass sticking out of his Escort's door, 9.26.

Some further times - George Robinson 9.26 in his Escort WRC. Joe McHugh 9.12, co driver Dermot saying. "The anti lag isn't working, this car is nothing but trouble, we're going to burn the effing thing!"

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