RALLY NEWS NO.3 Glenariff – Saturday 1.30

1^st (3) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 12.21

2^nd (2) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 12.28

3^rd (6) Glenn Allen/Damien McCann (Escort WRC) 12.57

4^th (14) Raymond Johnson/Richard Bell (Lancer N) 13.02

5^th (5) Denis Biggerstaff/Damien McCann (Impreza WRC) 13.11

6^th (11) Seamus Donnelly/Billy McCullins (Lancer N) 13.16

7^th (22) Sean Devine/Killian Duffy (Impreza N) 13.26

8^th (9) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Kelly (Impreza WRC) 13.27

9^th (12) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 13.28

10^th (29) John McKeown/Mandy McKeown (Esc.Cos) 13.31

11^th (15) Raymond Mason/Peter Martin (Lancer N) 13.32

Slieveanorra has been the acid test of this morning’s rally, bad visibility and streaming roads making the stage even more difficult than usual. Kevin Lynch was fastest over the 5.3 mile test, Derek McGarrity was 2^nd fastest and Raymond Johnson in his gpN Lancer 3^rd quickest from Glenn Allen. In NI Championship terms Kevin Lynch looks to be on course for the title, but of course it is still a long way to go, and he still has to finish. Points leader starting the rally, Kieran Shaw, is still going, but his Subaru is in transmission trouble, Kieran’s total 13.42, and the KBB Doors man commented. "It’s a travelling accident, even at slow speed. I haven’t a clue what’s wrong with it, and if there isn’t an engineer here who can fix it there is no point in going on". Kevin Lynch commented. "We can go harder if we have to". In truth the KPL man certainly isn’t hanging about. Derek McGarrity is struggling for gears on his P2000 Impreza WRC, the dash read out is still up the left, and as Derek said. "There’s no engineer here, I ain’t getting it fixed". Denis Biggerstaff joked when he came into service. "You learn something every day". Denis had completed the Slieveanorra stage with his Subaru windscreen completely misted over, and then he found the button to clear it!!

Glenn Allen felt he had a good run over Slieveanorra and was pretty stunned when he saw the top times. Pat Norris was slowed on that 5^th stage when he Subaru reverted to rear wheel drive only, a front drive shaft had broken. Adrian McElvaney is doing surprisingly well, Adrian saying "The car is working now, on the Bulldog Rally a couple of weeks ago it was worse than rear wheel drive only, it transpired that the active transmission just wasn’t working". Maurice Gass has dropped outside the top 10, Maurice’s Subaru well down on power, no anti lag working, very little boost.

In Group N Raymond Johnson is setting the pace, but in NI championship terms Michael Curran has at last woken up and equalled Seamus Donnelly over Slieveanorra, both setting really good times. Michael is now 12s behind Seamus, so its all to play for this afternoon. Sean Devine is also going well in gpN. Kevin O’Kane slowed over Slieveanorra, just not happy about the conditions at all. His total now is 14.01. George Robinson is on 13.45 and going well. John McKeown in 10^th place is getting a bit of stick from his co driving wife Mandy, who told him to get his foot off the brakes a few times over Slieveanorra! Raymond Mason stalled at a hairpin in Slieveanorra and lost a few seconds. James Murphy managed to fix his Escort WRC electrical fault after stage 2 and has set respectable times through 4 and 5, but of course is pretty far back. Eugene Donnelly, co driven by Meteor man John Conway, is on a total of 14.13, both having a ball in brother Charlie’s Celica, but with the suspension that is in the car, well off the pace. Craig Bennett was horrified at the conditions in Slieveanorra, but didn’t go so bad, and is on a total of 13.52.

Looking back a couple of stages – in the race for 2 wheel drive honours Alistair Cochrane led class 7 from Seamus O’Connell. Alistair in 20^th place. In class 6 Trevor Moore led from Mervyn Williamson. Ian Kidd, also in an Escort, led cl.5. Bryce Hetherington led cl.4 in his Corsa from Derek Crossan in his Avenger.

On the Tempest Rally Mark Higgins leads after 11 stages with brother David 2^nd. Austin MacHale is in 3^rd, 5s back. We said earlier that Austin could win the championship, yes he can, but he has to finish ahead of David Higgins.

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