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RALLY NEWS NO.7
Clones – Sunday 11.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 ALTNAPONER
1st
(1) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 43.58.3
2nd
(4) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 44.07.8
3rd
(2) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 44.16.6
4th
(5) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 44.30.6
5th
(7) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 44.43.8
6th
(3) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 45.01.4
7th
(8) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 45.29.0
8th
(16) Sean Devine/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 46.15.0
9th
(57) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 46.40.2
10th
(58) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 47.20.3
The opening Sunday stage, Altnaponer, certainly changed the face of
the rally somewhat. Andrew Nesbitt lost his overnight lead, having
stuck in a chicane and also his Subaru incurring some clutch trouble.
Peadar Hurson crashed his Subaru out of 7th place on a very
bumpy section between junctions 5 and 6. Colm Murphy crashed his
Group N example close by and young Conor McCloskey had a narrow escape
when his Lancer, 18th overnight, hit a bump on the same
section, spun round, punctured, but kept going.
Nesbitt was not one bit happy when he recounted. “The chicane was
shown as 2 square sections, they were actually hairpins and there were
2 great big steel posts on the far side of the bales, very dangerous,
we had to reverse. Not good at all.” Derek McGarrity said “Yes, the
chicanes were bad, we went in about 40mph too quick. Otherwise OK, my
only problem is with the brakes, I’m using them too much!!” Eugene
Donnelly had a good run, and was 2nd fastest, just over a
second down on McGarrity. Eugene now is trying very hard to figure
out the best tyres for the job today. Eamonn Boland as usual said
“not a bother”. Tim McNulty in the Pierse Subaru reckons that he is
now at about 94 per cent on the pace, and there is still plenty to
come, getting better by every stage. Austin MacHale reckons he lost
about 20s at the chican but otherwise OK, Austin is feeling a lot
better today.
Kevin Lynch wasn’t saying much, but we get the feeling he blasted his
way through the chicane. The front of his KPL Impreza was fairly
crumpled looking. Kevin set a 2nd fastest time, and is
charging to make up for an overnight 60s road penalty which dropped
him from 5th to 8th.
Garry Jennings had a good run and continues to lead Group N. Garry
fitted new brake pads this morning and he says the pedal went to the
metal a few times yesterday. Seamus Leonard had a massive overshoot,
lost a little time, but worse still heard a major differential noise
in the car. When he arrived here at service he thought he might be
forced to retire. In an emergency move, preparation supreme Stan
Harper has begged a trip in Paddy White’s helicopter to the workshop
at Anahilt to collect a new diff. Ironically, Stan hates helicopters!
Donagh Kelly is now into 11th and 3rd in gpN
although his Lancer has a misfire and the anti lag waterspray is not
working. Willie Fannin is 12th and no confidence in his gpN
Impreza suspension over the bumps, cannot commit. Paddy White is 13th,
although lost a few seconds when he stalled the car at a junction.
Despite that Paddy said. “The car is great, I’m really on form this
Easter Sunday morning”. Alan Nesbitt is 15th and had his
best stage of the rally so far this morning, but said he reckons the
pace is going up all the time. Aaron MacHale is 15th, is
driving the guts out of his Lancer, but going nowhere fast as the car
seems to be well down on power. Brian O’Mahony is 16th and
leading his class, although he did have an overshoot in his Puma.
Young Peter Wilson is 17th and leading his class, the Billy
Coleman Award runner up having a brilliant run so far.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON ww.rallynews.net
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