UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 14 Castle Magner

1^st (4) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC)  1.47.21

2^nd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.47.57

3^RD (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.48.16

4^TH (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 1.48.34

5^TH (7) Pieter Tsjoen/Eddy Chevaillier (Corolla WRC) 1.49.09

6^th (5) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.50.45

7^th (11) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 1.52.47

8^th (18) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.55.03

9^TH (15) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 1.56.17

10^TH (24) Nigel Hicklin/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC) 1.57.47

11^TH (10) Erik Wevers/Michiel Poel (Corolla WRC) 1.58.05

12^TH (31) Stuart Darcy/Diarmuid Falvey (Lancer N) 1.58.26

Eamonn Boland was fastest through stage 13 Johns Bridge by 1s from Tim McNulty while on stage 14 Pieter Tsjoen by quickest by 3s from Eugene Donnelly. That has been the story of the day really, all the top drivers swapping seconds, the pace hot and heavy.  Tim McNulty commented. “We had a very good run on the first stage after service, dropped 4s to Eugene on the short Castle Magner stage, I don’t really mind, I’ve 36s in hand with one stage to go”.  McGarrity said. “Everything’s going well but I’m convinced we had a wrong time in stage 13”.  Eugene Donnelly told us. “I’m pushing hard enough, but I’m happy where we are”. 

Eamonn Boland is worried about his Focus front differential, an oil pipe came adrift and robbed the unit of lubrication. Pieter Tsjoen said after his fastest time in stage 14. “I think I know why some of our times are not so good, the gearbox is too short, and we’re losing out on the fast stuff. The last stage was very technical and that is where we went well”. 

In Group N Colm Murphy is content now to lose a few seconds per stage to Garry Jennings, Colm looking very tired, obviously the shingles and pills are taking their toll.  Jennings is bouncing, in great form, on course for Group N in the Pirelli Tarmac c/ship with just 1 stage to go. Aaron MacHale has unfortunately departed the fray, his Lancer differential crying enough in stage 13. Another top gpN runner to disappear is James O’Sullivan, his Lancer sitting on top of a hedge. Nigel Hicklin had a good run at last, Nigel has had all sorts of mechanical niggles during the day. Paddy White is now 14^th, Paddy worried about the oil pressure on his Impreza WRC.  Kevin Kelleher has turned in some sparkling times to improve to 13^th overall.

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