RALLY NEWS NO.3 Service Oranmore Saturday Noon
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3

1st (2) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 22.56.3
2nd (6) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 23.16.7
3rd (1) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 23.22.1
4th (3) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Fabia WRC) 23.31.9
5th (4) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 23.43.6
6th (8) Peadar Hurson/Glenn Patterson (Impreza WRC) 23.44.9
7th (13) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Octavia WRC) 23.56.5
8th (11) Denis Cronin/Helen O'sullivan (Impreza WRC) 24.11.2
9th (5) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 24.13.9
10th (15) Gareth Machale/Paul Nagle (Corolla WRC) 24.16.9

Eugene Donnelly moved into the lead on stage 3, Ballybuck, when early leader Kevin Lynch spun his Subaru and landed on a grassy boggy patch, the car churning the mud for ages before pulling itself back on to the road. Lynch's accident happened at a square right and he said he was just too quick into it and couldn't find grip. Austin MacHale arrived in here to service and said." The tyres aren't working at all, we can't get heat into them, no use, wrong choice. I should have been on a cut intermediate and I was on a cut slick" Derek McGarrity in 4th has at least pulled back from his 6th position after the first stage where he put his Skoda off the road. On stage 2 he had intercom problems but went fairly well on stage 3, third fastest. Jonny Milner also had intercom troubles, Jonny saying. "Were playing ourselves in a bit, but I am struggling to hear the notes. Nicky is screaming down the intercom, but I'm saying to myself, was that a 2 or was that a 5. The car is very good, on the bumps and jumps it just settles down and gets on with it." Eamonn Boland in 5th is having his usual smooth run. While Peadar Hurson in 5th said he is "taking it steady enough". Denis Cronin in 8th made his usual cautious start, but is now getting into the groove, his stage 3 time was pretty good. Gareth MacHale reckons he was a wee bit slow in stage 3, braking a little early, but overall going very well. Further stories include: Maurice Gass needing a new gear stick in his Impreza, can't get gears at all. JJ Fleming has lost time in his new Focus with a wrong tyre choice. Tony Davies had a spin in his Impreza and then the gear selection seemed to get upset, went out of sync.
In Group N we have, unofficially, Colm Murphy leading and 11th overall. Willie Fannin 2nd and 12th overall. Seamus Leonard 3rd and 13th. Colm Murphy has had a few moments but going well. Willie Fannin reckons his Subaru suspension is too soft. Seamus Leonard's new Lancer seems to have anti lag problems. Just out of the picture is Aaron MacHale, who is suffering from flu. Garry Jennings, still trying to learn the car. Alan Nesbitt also trying to learn his new car. Paul Dempsey has been delayed with a puncture. Roy White has had a massive delay when he hit a wall in stage 3, and a fuse jumped out of the transmission unit, also damaged a steering arm. But he has got the Lancer into service and should be alright for the next loop of stages. Ironically, the Ballybuck stage where it happened is where he went out of the rally last year when leading gpN.
That stage 3 junction caused a few problems. Patrick Elliott also hit the wall and has retired. John Spain thumped the Manta there and is also out. In the National section of the rally, very unofficially, we have Anthony O'Halloran in the Manta leading from Wesley Patterson. Both have incurred small problems. James Cullen is further back, has a vibration under braking in the Porsche and basically finding the 4 wheel drive 911 a real handful on the slippy roads.

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