UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Lissardagh 2

1^st (4) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 26.54

2^nd (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 27.16

3^rd (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 27.23

4^th (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 27.24

5^th (7) Pieter Tsjoen/Eddy Chevaillier (Corolla WRC) 27.52

6^th (8) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 28.16

7^th (5) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 28.31

8^th (11) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 28.37

9^th (18) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 29.00

10^th (15) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 29.08

Stage 3 was again wet and fairly cold, meaning wet weather tyres for the drivers and difficult conditions.  The stage was actually a re-run of stage 1.  Tim McNulty was again fastest although 4s slower than his first time through. Following his brake troubles on the 2^nd stage McNulty said that the Pierse backed car was better in stage 3 but he still wasn’t totally happy with the brakes. Derek McGarrity was 2^nd fastest and said he found it very slippery.  Eugene Donnelly was trying extra cuts in his Corolla tyres and was really going for it, but then had a spin at a junction.  It was at a 5 right into hairpin left round island, and Eugene lost quite a few seconds.  Otherwise the Pirelli Tarmac Champion elect said the car was handling better than the first loop.

Eamonn Boland continues to turn in very solid times as his 3^rd position shows, Eamonn said at stage finish. “Not a bother” ….now there’s a thing!      Belgian Pieter Tsjoen said he is settling down to the Irish roads now, and really he has to be commended for such a good performance so far on his first visit here.  But then you don’t win the Belgian Championship 3 times and not be a really good driver. 

Liam McCarthy 6^th and on home territory reports no troubles.  While Austin MacHale has improved over the last couple of stages to move up to 7^th following his first stage puncture. Austin was actually 8^th after the 2^nd stage but we initially missed him off the after stage 2 leaderboard. Denis Cronin in 8^th has been doing adjustments to his Subaru and feels it is turning in better now. 

Colm Murphy in 9^th continues to lead group N but was 3s slower than Jennings through that 3^rd stage.  Aaron MacHale isn’t hanging about and he is just outside the top 10. He was 14^th after stage 2, his total now 29.38 after stage 3.

Tim Van Parijs in the group A Lancer is on 29.41, Erik Wevers in the Corolla WRC on 29.09 which would put him in 11^th place. The Dutchman doesn’t really have roads like ours at home, so he’s not doing so bad.  We mentioned earlier that the Maurice Gass Skoda had stopped, this transpires to have been a fuel sensor problem. Maurice has the Fabia fixed and is running at the back of the field. Mark Nangle at 68 has rolled his Evo. 

Strange but true Owen Murphyh’s Lancer front diff came loose, dropped down and hit the ground, and the car nose dived off the road. In the Ka Motions part of the rally Sharon Power continues to impress and leads Mark Buckley by 22s with Colm Forde a further 22 back. John Dalton led the National part of the rally after the first 2 stages in his Darrian.  While Brian O’Mahony led the S1600 in his Puma. Brendan Cumiskey led cl.3 in his Civic. John Murphy led cl.5 in his Puma.

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

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