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RALLY NEWS NO.4
Service/Sunday/2.45 www.rallynews.net
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Kilmore
1st (3) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 36.26
2nd (2) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 36.43
3rd (10) Noel Redmond/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 37.09
4th (7) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza) 37.55
5th (18) Gabriel Martin/Mark Kane (Lancer N) 37.56
6th (8) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 38.06
7th (20) Kieran Molloy/Brian Boland (Lancer N) 38.26
8th (28) Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors (Impreza N) 38.31
9th (19) James O'Sullivan/Rebecca Walsh (Lancer N) 38.38
10th (11) David McNulty/Andrew Purcell (Esc.Cos) 38.59
Patrick Elliott set fastest time through stage 5, Graigue, to
close to within 12s of leader Jim Harrison. On stage 6,
Kilmore, Harrison, despite ongoing problems with his Subaru centre
differential, pulled out all the stops to set fastest time, 5s up
on Elliott, and extend his lead to 17s. With 2 stages to go
the rally is far from over, but having said that, the Man Direct
backed Harrison Subaru is going to be hard to beat.
Third placed Noel Redmond wasn't just as quick as he has been
through stage 5, no real reason given. On stage 6 he was
back in the groove and 2nd fastest, 3s down on Harrison 2 up on
Elliott. Many of the drivers were on a wet weather type tyre
to last 2 stages and of course the roads are drying fast now.
Harrison for example was saying that through stage 5 the tyres
really lost their grip when they overheated, the shorter stage 6
wasn't too bad, but at the same time they had big drifts through
many corners. Elliott's comment when he saw the times for stage 6
- "I'm not going hard enough".
In Group N there has been a change of emphasis with the news that
Willie Fannin has parked his Subaru at a stage 6 junction, close
to where Kevin Lynch stopped on the first loop. This will
open up the Group N situation on the Dunlop National Championship
and give Gabriel Martin every chance of getting his Lancer's nose
in front for the Patterson RallyNews Group N Award.
In the battle for 2 wheel drive honours David James is still the
man to beat on a total of 39.03. James Coleman is going very
hard on 39.24. Enda Keenan 39.58. Liam Wall 40.04.
Still some times to come, such as Mick McQuaid.
Further stories include - Gabriel Martin's Lancer having some 5th
gear problems. David James reports his Escort differential
whining, and also said there is nothing left in the car, he is
flat out. Alan Ring slammed his Impreza into 1st instead of
3rd coming into the bridge at the end of stage 6, and has his
fingers crossed that there is no damage done to the engine. Trevor
Harding was 30s faster through the Kilmore stage on the second
loop, the drying roads suiting his Puma, his total now 41.55.
Richie Curran got his Escort Cosworth's drive shaft fixed and had
a good run through stages 5 and 6, back on the pace, just a few
seconds slower than the leaders, but in overall terms he is
outside the leaderboard on a total of 40.40. Kevin
O'Donoghue has retired his Lancer with ignition trouble.
Eddie Garry is going along nicely, having a steady run and
concentrating on the Triton Showers South East Championship
points. James Coleman told us that he has got some WRC type
intermediate tyres, the first time they have been produced for an
Escort. He is well impressed, and obviously his times show they
work.
Looking back a bit - there was an accident on stage 3 when car 76
Adrian Foley/Trevor Cassidy went off the road, they were taken to
hospital purely for precautionary measures.
Our thanks to Charlie & Timo and all the MicroCam team for the
refreshments!
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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