UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Lissardagh

1^st (4) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 8.56

2^nd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 9.04

3^rd (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 9.05

4^th (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 9.07

5^th (7) Pieter Tsjoen/Eddy Chevaillier (Corolla WRC) 9.22

6^th (8) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 9.30

7^th (10) Erik Wevers/Michiel Poel (Corolla WRC) 9.39

8^th (15) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 9.43

It is early days on this Murphy Construction Cork 20 Rally, but it is never too early to start winning which is exactly the way Tim McNulty has started.  Normally McNulty takes a while to get going but he gave the Pierse Construction backed Subaru a real burst through the opening stage to set a stunning time.  Eugene Donnelly in theory should be concentrating on the Pirelli Tarmac Championship, but the Maghera man only knows one way to go and that’s flat out. He said at stage finish “No chances, a clean run”.  Derek McGarrity said. “I just concentrated on getting through that opening stage”. 

Austin MacHale wasn’t so lucky, his Focus suffering a puncture on the first test. Donal O’Donovan lost time at the start line getting his balaclava on properly. Denis Cronin lost time with a spin.  Erik Wevers commented. “Never had so much fun in a long time”. 

Garry Jennings was fastest group N of the early runners, although there are still lots of quick men behind and times to come in.  Garry commented that the car was very different for him, he was braking too early in this Evo 8 instead of his usual Evo 6.  James Foley was just relieved to get his new Evo 9 to the finish line in a time of 9.51. 

Alan Nesbitt’s group N Impreza emerged from the stage smelling of transmission oil and burning clutch.  Only Alan can really deprive Jennings of the gpN Pirelli Tarmac title, but we didn’t get his time he was in such a rush to get to the next stage.

For the record Denis Cronin recorded a time of 9.46. Donal O’Donovan 9.49. Tim Van Parijs 10.08 in the group A Lancer. 

Meanwhile changes to the programme entry list include: Car 3 Kenny McKinstry non starter. Car 9 Peadar Hurson non starter. Car 14 Niall McShea non starter. Donal O’Donovan running with 156 on his Celica is slotted into the back of the top 10.  James Foley has also been re-seeded.  James drives the new Lancer Evo 9 and is slotted in between 15 and 16, Garry Jennings and Alan Nesbitt. 

Peter Wilson is driving a Lancer instead of his original Civic.  He keeps the number 45 but moves up to start behind Kevin Kelleher at 28.  Roy White was in the original entry list to start at 25 but his Evo 9 isn’t ready, Roy instead going for Rally Ireland on the 15^th & 16^th October. PJ McGrath was to start at 30, but hasn’t! 

More news after stage 2. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

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