RALLY NEWS NO.4                         End of Parkmore/Saturday 3pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7 PARKMORE
1st (3) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 17.37
2nd (2) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 17.49
3rd (6) Glenn Allen/Damien McCann (Escort WRC) 18.19
4th (14) Raymond Johnson/Richard Bell (Lancer N) 18.31
5th (11) Seamus Donnelly/Billy McCullins (Lancer N) 18.47
6th (5) Denis Biggerstaff/Damien McCann (Impreza WRC) 18.48
7th (12) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 18.59
8th (9) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Kelly (Impreza WRC) 19.00
9th (22) Sean Devine/Killian Duffy (Impreza WRC) 19.04
10th (15) Raymond Mason/Peter Martin (Lancer N) 19.07
11th (29) John McKeown/Mandy McKeown (Esc.Cos) 19.09
12th (16) John McGlaughlin/David McElroy (Lancer N) 19.17

Through stages 7 and 8 Glenariff and Parkmore Kevin Lynch was 3s and 2s faster respectively than Derek McGarrity.  Kieran Shaw is still well down the order and still struggling with some transmission fault in his Subaru.  In NI championship terms Kevin Lynch is looking pretty good, but then there are still 3 stages to go, and anything could happen.  The stage surfaces are starting to cut up, they are pretty muddy and slippery and causing the drivers all sorts of problems.  Andy Magee has just emerged from this Parkmore stage with a front wheel broken clean off his Escort.  Earlier George Robinson emerged from the stage with his Escort WRC suffering a broken front drive shaft, and although he went on up the road we think maybe George has pulled the plug. Kevin O'Kane came out of the stage and his Subaru exhaust was smashed, and needing some immediate attention.

Out at the front of the rally, Derek McGarrity was struggling slightly when he got to the end of the stage, saying that apart from gear selector problems, he has no 1st gear at all.  Kevin Lynch reported no problems whatsoever. Denis Biggerstaff admitted to making a real mess of the chicane in Glenariff and had to reverse.  Maurice Gass reported his car a bit better since service, the mechanics changed the intercooler and found a loose pipe to the turbo.  Pat Norris lost some time in stage 7 when his Subaru suffered a front right puncture, Pat admitting to cutting a corner too tight.  Kieran Graffin in the gpA Lancer, now on a total of 19.58, was off the road for round about 20s in Parkmore.

In Group N Raymond Johnson still holds the upper hand, while Seamus Donnelly and Michael Curran, battling for championship honours, were equal on times through both stages 6 and 7.  Overall Donnelly has 12s in hand over Curran.  Michael is trying so hard to close the gap but it is not going to be easy.  John McKeown dropped from 10th to 11th following after spin in Parkmore. Sean Devine was also off the road briefly in his gpN Subaru, but Sean puts it down purely to the mucky bad conditions.

Eugene Donnelly finished the stage once again in fits of laughter at the antics of his Celica. Craig Bennett's Focus WRC suffered a puncture in Parkmore.

On the Tempest Rally after stage 14 of 18 Mark Higgins still led, David Higgins 2nd.  Austin MacHale has dropped a few seconds to David, so he has it all to do over the last 4 stages if he wants to bring the Pirelli British Championship title back to Dublin. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net