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RALLY NEWS NO.2
Service/Sunday/11.30
www.rallynews.net
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Kilmore
1st (3) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 11.38
2nd (2) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 11.56
3rd (10) Noel Redmond/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 12.05
4th (12) Richie Curran/Gerry English (Esc.Cos) 12.06
5th (7) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza) 12.11
6th (18) Gabriel Martin/Mark Kane (Lancer N) 12.15
7th (17) Willie Fannin/Richard Price (Impreza N) 12.16
8th (20) Kieran Molloy/Brian Boland (Lancer N) 12.17
9th (8) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 12.22
10th (19) James O'Sullivan/Rebecca Walsh (Lancer N) 12.34
There was certainly a dramatic start to this Stonethrowers Rally
with 3 of the top 5 seeds sidelined in the first 2 stages.
Dunlop Championship leader Niall Maguire crashed his Subaru off
the road in stage 1, Graigue. The Impreza apparently slid
wide on a medium type corner at the end of a long straight and
went into the ditch. Driver and co driver reportedly OK.
Cahal Arthurs burned the clutch out of his Hyundai on the start
line of stage 2, struggled on but parked the Accent at junction 4.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Kevin Lynch spun his Subaru on
stage 2, and then pulled in with an unspecified mechanical
problem. A poor reward after travelling down during the
night having won the Dogleap Rally yesterday. Another
retirement would appear to be Joe McHugh, the Donegal man's Escort
Cosworth perched on top of a bank at the square right bridge
square left, just before the finish of stage 1.
All these dramas are fairly demonstrative of the type of
conditions that the drivers are facing. The tail end of
Hurricane Alex struck Clonmel at dawn this morning and although
the rain has eased off, the roads are saturated and very slippy.
One man who does seem to be happy is rally leader Jim Harrison.
The Macclesfield man commented here at service in control.
"Yes, it is very slippy, but I'm enjoying it, I'm happy to be
back behind the wheel of a rally car" Jim didn't seem quite
so happy when he arrived in Clonmel in Friday night, many wide
yawns a reminder of his sleepless nights with new baby Stan!
Patrick Elliott damaged a front left wheel on his Subaru on stage
1, otherwise OK. Third placed Noel Redmond reported no
problems. Richie Curran in 4th tried a very brave tyre on
the back of his Escort Cosworth, a cut slick, and it seems to be
working. Richie also has a new turbo fitted to the car and
it has given it a bit more pep. Sean Gallagher lost perhaps
a couple of seconds getting past Kevin Lynch's Subaru, but
otherwise Sean is going well, and happy to be in 5th.
Gabriel Martin rounds off the top 6, and with some brave driving
is leading the Group N Production category from Willie Fannin.
Alan Ring was expected to be right at the front, but his total is
12.43 following a half spin. Jack Sleator is on 12.55 having
caught Trevor Harding's Puma, Harding another to spin at a 4th
gear junction. Mark Courtney was delayed when his Celica
suffered a puncture and dropped around 2 minutes.
In the battle for 2 wheel drive supremacy David James' total was
12.39. James Coleman 12.42. Enda Keenan 12.58. Liam Wall
13.02.
Finally for now, just had a text message from Rory Kennedy who has
just crossed the finish line of the Rally of Finland last stage.
He and driver Alistair Ginley are a brilliant 15th overall on the
world's fastest gravel rally. (Although there's probably more grip
there than there is here on the Tipperary tarmac this morning!).
More news to follow. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
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