UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 Kilmurry

1^st (4) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 35.56

2^nd (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC)  36.17

3^rd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 36.23

4^th (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 36.32

5^th (7) Pieter Tsjoen/Eddy Chevaillier (Corolla WRC) 37.03

6^th (8) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 37.30

7^th (5) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 37.48

8^th (11) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 37.55

9^th (18) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 38.26

10^th (15) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 38.48

11^th (24) Nigel Hicklin/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC) 38.58

12^th (10) Erik Wevers/Michiel Poel (Corolla WRC) 39.00

Eugene Donnelly turned in his first fastest time of the rally through stage 4, his Corolla WRC stopping the clocks on 8.59.  Derek McGarrity recorded a 9.01 and Tim McNulty a 9.02.  Eugene commented afterwards. “We had a real good run, it went well”.  Derek McGarrity reported a very small overshoot, not even quite an overshoot but just ran that wee bit wide on a junction and lost his momentum. Tim McNulty again said the brakes on his Impreza were not inspiring his confidence. Austin MacHale seems to have settled down after his earlier puncture and the Dubliner is recording decent times.  Eamonn Boland, Pieter Tsjoen and Liam McCarthy all had good runs through that 4^th stage.  Denis Cronin in 8^th place feels the confidence his building, but at the same time his brake pedal is kicking back, or hopping as Denis puts it.

Erik Wevers also had a good run, but is off the pace of the top cars. As is Beligan driver Tim Van Parijs. 

Colm Murphy turned in a stunning time on that stage to re-exert his authority in Group N – as a comparison Murphy, who says he had a real cut at that one recorded a 9.26. Garry Jennings did 9.40. James Foley 9.44. Aaron MacHale 9.45. Kevin Kelleher and Stuart Darcy both on 9.51 and James O’sullivan 10.03. Alan Nesbitt is still well off the pace as his gpN Impreza clutch is still getting oil from the transfer box. Garry Jennings feels he has a lot to learn about this latest breed of group N car trying to get used to the active differentials. James Foley looked a bit worried when he arrived into service, his new Evo 9 having some problem with the sensor for the differential. Aaron MacHale reports no problems.

Kevin Kelleher has banged the rear of his Lancer which has flattened the exhaust.  This has cost Clonakilty man Kevin some time. Earlier he changed the brake discs and pads. Peter Wilson was off on stage 3, reckoned he got caught on oil in the same place that Willie Fannin’s Impreza slid off at a hairpin and got beached. Peter has lost a couple of minutes but is still going. Willie’s Impreza is stuck.  Stuart Darcy made a slow enough start but has softened the suspension on his Lancer and things are getting better.

We reported earlier about Mark Nangle having rolled his car – we said it was a Lancer – it is an fact an N10 Impreza and he has got going.

Paddy White’s Impreza WRC is now running well, although Paddy finds the roads very slippy and his total is now 39.45. Nigel Hicklin is settling in to his hired Redmond Impreza WRC, and finding the car really enjoyable to drive, although he says he will not make any decisions until after the Fastnet as regards sticking with the Skoda or changing to an Impreza.

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