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RALLY NEWS NO.3
Service/Belcoo/Saturday/Noon
UNOFFICIAL INT. LEADERBOARD/AFTER STAGE 2
1st (4) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza
WRC) 8.14.2
2nd (1) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza
WRC) 8.14.5
3rd (2) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla
WRC) 8.16.4
4th (5) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza
WRC) 8.21.5
5th (15) Gareth Jones/Craig Parry (Impreza
WRC) 8.29.8
6th (8) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza
WRC) 8.32.0
7th (3) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus
WRC) 8.32.9
8th (7) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza
WRC) 8.35.0
9th (6) Peadar Hurson/Glenn Patterson (Impreza
WRC) 8.37.7
10th (57) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy
(Lancer N) 8.48.8
11th (16) Sean Devine/James McKee (Impreza
WRC) 8.50.0
12th (12) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza
N) 8.55.2
Stage 2, Drumscollop, consisted of ultra quick roads,
well ultra quick to the top Circuit of Ireland drivers. Eugene
Donnelly covered the 8.5 miles in 6m48.6s, just a split second outside
the bogey time, 1.5s faster than Andrew Nesbitt and 3s quicker than
Derek McGarrity. Donnelly commented. “It was a bit damp near the end
past the church, but that’s as hard as I would want to be going.”
Co-driver Paul Kiely said. “Apart from one straight I never got my
head lifted from the notes”. Derek McGarrity commented. “I was a bit
timid towards the end, the tyres felt right at the start of the stage,
but not so good towards the end”. Andrew Nesbitt felt that he slowed
just a fraction too early at the finish line, saying “My fault, I was
sort of free wheeling over the finish, thought it was sooner”. Austin
MacHale felt he had been too tidy, too cautious”. Tim McNulty stalled
his car at the hairpin. Kevin Lynch felt he was being steady enough.
Young Welsh driver Gareth Jones had a great run on his first trip in a
Subaru WRC.
In Group N there was big disappointment for Roy White
and Greg Shinnors. Their new FESP backed Lancer arriving into service
on a tow rope having jammed in 5th gear during the stage.
Roy got the car out of the stage, but couldn’t get it up the road
section. Interestingly Roy wouldn’t normally de-clutch going down the
box, and Seamus Leonard explained to him before the start that he
would have to de-clutch or it would jam in 5th gear…..oh
dear. Seamus himself had a good run but lost confidence in the brakes
on that 2nd stage. Colm Murphy also had some brake
problems. Garry Jennings had a brilliant run to score fastest group N
time, co driver Rory Kennedy saying. “This is definitely a young man’s
game”.
Sean Devine has a total of 8.50.0, Sean getting used to
a new car. Alan Nesbitt’s total 9.16.6, Alan reporting a blown
exhaust. Willie Fannin is on 9.11.8. Aaron MacHale 9.34.4 as he gets
used to his new Lancer. Frank O’Mahony told us his Impreza WRC is
jumping out of 2nd and 4th gear, but Frank is
enjoying the run and of course delighted to be doing something to help
the Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Paddy White was planning to
travel up from his hotel in Drumshanbo to the start of the rally in
his helicopter, but low cloud precluded that. However he is flying low
now, his Subaru WRC on full song despite a vibration in the steering,
Paddy’s total 9.30.4. Donagh Kelly had a good run to record a total
of 9.12.0 in his Lancer.
EASTER STAGES: We reported
earlier that Glenn Allen was leading and that No.1 seed Kieran Shaw
was struggling with his Lancer’s engine roaring its head off. We hear
that Kieran has since retired following stage 3. Kieran told us that
Glenn Allen had a good run through the stage and he presumes is still
leading.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (with
thanks to Michael Patterson & Zoe Tood): www.rallynews.net
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