RALLY NEWS NO.4               Service/Sunday 3.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Ruan

1^st (3) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC) 44.22

2^nd (2) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 44.37

3^rd (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza WRC) 45.17

4^th (11) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 46.12

5^th (10) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 46.18

6^th (8) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 46.24

7^th (36) Martin Doherty/Sean Moriarty (Impreza WRC) 47.04

8^th (12) Alan Ring/Derek Brannigan (Impreza N) 47.05

9^th (15) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 47.10

Both Charlie Donnelly in his Corolla and Ray Breen in his Focus WRC beat the “bogey” time through the very fast Ruan stage.  Charlie was actually the faster of the two on a time of 8.46 as against Breen’s 8.49, but the bogey time is 8.55 so that is the time that will appear on the results sheet for both drivers. 

Niall Maguire was 3^rd fastest on 8.55.  Colm Murphy stalled his Group N Impreza but still set fastest group N time by 1s from Willie Fannin with Alan Ring a further 2s back. 

Tommy Graham had another puncture on his Impreza to lose some time in there and has dropped just outside the leaderboard after holding 9^th place. We are still waiting for times for Anthony O’Halloran, but after stage 4 Anthony was on a healthy total of 39.16 despite a puncture on his home Ruan stage.  Anthony’s big rival for 2 wheel honours, Mick Moloney, put his car on it’s roof, but managed to keep going. 

Joe McHugh is having a good run in his Escort Cosworth.  Donegal man Joe was running in class 15 and his total after stage 4 was 38.54, his closest class pursuer in a similar Escort Cosworth, David McNulty, was on 39.27. 

Further stories include – Aaron MacHale running down the list somewhat having damaged the steering of his Lancer, now has the problem rectified and is going well again.  Kenneth MacHale from Mayo is driving an interesting little Toyota Yaris today, but he has only 2 gears left and is just struggling along trying to get the car to the finish.

Some times in from Martin Brady at the end of stage 6 – Derrymore – show Ray Breen on 9.12: Charlie Donnely 9.13: Niall Maguire 9.20: In Group N Colm Murphy was again fastest, Michael Curran 2^nd fastest and Alan Ring 3^rd.

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

(with thanks to Martin Brady and Joan Gallagher and Noel Clark)