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RALLY
NEWS NO.3
Service/Sunday/1.45 www.rallynews.net
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 Ballyluskey
1st (3) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 25.08
2nd (2) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 25.28
3rd (10) Noel Redmond/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 25.43
4th (18) Gabriel Martin/Mark Kane (Lancer N) 26.12
5th (17) Willie Fannin/Richard Price (Impreza N) 26.19
6th (8) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 26.20
7th (7) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza) 26.23
8th (20) Kieran Molloy/Brian Boland (Lancer N) 26.28
9th (28) Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors (Impreza N) 26.36
10th (19) James O'Sullivan/Rebecca Walsh (Lancer N) 26.40
Although Jim Harrison seemed to build up a comfortable lead on the
first 2 stages, particularly with regard to the retirement of
Niall Maguire, Cahal Arthurs and Kevin Lynch, Macclesfield man Jim
is now struggling with a damaged transmission system on his
Subaru. There are still 2 stages to go before the cars
receive any proper service. Harrison has had to resort to
the manual gear change. The centre differential is not
working, hydraulic pressure is down and this affects the braking.
Although the rain has now stopped the roads are still wet and
greasy so Harrison is under some pressure. Having said that,
2nd placed Patrick Elliott told us that he is definitely taking it
very cautiously, no chances, after busting a rim on the first
stage he reckons discretion is still the better part of valour on
the slippy roads. The man who is really making a charge of
it is Noel Redmond, fastest through stage 4, bits of grass
sticking out of one of his Subaru rims testimony to cutting
corners.
Gabriel Martin leads Group N and is also 4th overall, with both
Willie Fannin and Alan Ring closing in. Before the day is
out this promises to be a massive battle.
In the tussle for 2 wheel drive honours David James is now on a
total of 27.07. James Coleman is on 27.20. Liam Wall and Enda
Keenan tying on 27.52. Mick McQuaid is also coming into this
equation but we don't have his times just yet.
Further stories include: Sean Gallagher spinning his Subaru in
stage 3 and having to reverse dropping a bit of time. Kevin
Barrett is another in transmission trouble with his Subaru and
also having to run without the anti lag. David James had a
5th gear spin between big walls, somehow his Escort didn't hit
anything and he was able to flick the car back on course with
virtually no time loss. Richie Curran was up to 4th after
the first 2 stages, but he has dropped right out of the reckoning,
his Escort Cosworth suffering a broken drive shaft through stages
3 and 4. Adrian Quinn dropped a small bit of time in stage 4
when he cut a corner too tight, his Lancer banging into the bank.
Kieran Molloy overshot a junction despite being on his home patch.
Alan Ring made a sleepy enough start by his own admission, and is
now getting his Subaru into gear. Trevor Harding spun his Puma
again, and his total is 29.11.
More news to follow. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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