RALLY NEWS NO.5                       Service/Sunday 4.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7 Morgan’s Lake

1^st (2) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 1.02.20

2^nd (3) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC) 1.03.08

3^rd (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza WRC) 1.03.17

4^th (10) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 1.04.48

5^th  (8) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.04.53

6^th (11) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.05.24

7^th (12) Alan Ring/Derek Brannigan (Impreza N) 1.05.37

8^th (15) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 1.05.51

9^th (36) Martin Doherty/Sean Moriarty (Impreza WRC) 1.05.47

10^th (133) Noel McCarrick/Eugene O’Donnell (Impreza WRC) 1.06.38

Although Charlie Donnelly has been fastest through the stages today, it has come to light that he has a 4 minute road penalty for being late into stage 4.  This translates into 1 stage minute, so instead of being 12s ahead of Ray Breen he is now 48s behind him.  Charlie’s lateness occurred when he was stopped by a Gardai patrol for a licence check and he did not have his driving licence in the rally car.  Ironically Ray Breen has been driving a cat and mouse event, driving just hard enough, as he says himself “a happy medium” to stay in touch with Donnelly, in front of Maguire, and just going for Dunlop championship points. Interestingly Breen was fastest through stage 6, by 1s from Donnelly and then again on stage 7 where he was 2s faster.   Donnelly does have the right to appeal his penalty tonight with the rally organisers, and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the penalty will be removed.  For the minute however it is there, and that is that.

Niall Maguire in 3^rd place has been setting scintillating times this afternoon, not as fast as the two drivers in front, but well on the pace.  Niall said. “I’m not pushing that hard, just enjoying it and very pleased to be back on the pace”.  Following an adjustment of some times Michael Curran is now showing in 4^th place and leading group N comfortably from Colm Murphy with Alan Ring 3^rd. Willie Fannin is 14s back on Ring and said after stage 7. “I’ve nothing left. I don’t know if the car’s down on power, but I’m just not getting the times in there”.  Ring really charged through stage 7 and said. “I was flat out”.  Michael Curran commented. “No problems, very comfortable now, just trying to get it home”. 

Further back Paul Kiely’s new Lancer has broken a drive shaft in stage 6 and Eddie Donaghy who has Brian Duggan co driving, also stopped in stage 6 with drive shaft trouble on his Lancer. Maurice Gass has retired his Skoda with fuel starvation trouble. Tommy Graham’s Impreza has gone out with gear selection problems.

Just outside the top 10 Joe McHugh is having a great run and a good battle with David McNulty for class 15 supremacy, McHugh’s Escort Cosworth now with its nose firmly in front.  Anthony O’Halloran’s Manta is well up the time sheets, despite a couple of punctures, but we have no times for other drives in class 13.

More news after final stage at approximately 6pm

BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (our thanks to Carmle for the tea and also to the Promax team for the coffee!)