RALLY NEWS NO.5 End of stage 6/Saturday 3pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Slieveanorra
1st (6) Sean Devine/Damien Duffy (Impreza WRC) 29.58
2nd (2) Raymond Johnson/Richard Bell (Impreza WRC) 30.17
3rd (1) Craig & Rodger Bennett (Focus WRC) 30.23
4th (23) Trevor Moore/Glenn Campbell (Escort) 30.35
5th (9) John McGlaughlin/David McElroy (Lancer N) 30.50
(3) Kieran Shaw/Crawford Henderson (Lancer WRC) 30.50
7th (11) Peter McCullagh/Alan Dolan (Lancer N) 30.52
8th (8) Neil McCance/Sean Ferris (Lancer N) 30.57
9th (17) John Donnelly/Oran Donnelly (Escort WRC) 31.13
10th (10) Martin Elliott/Brian Crawford (Lancer N) 31.17

When the top cars left service Sean Devine had a 4s lead over Craig Bennett. On this fabulous Slieveanorra stage Devine flew over the top of the mountain while Bennett was just a little bit cautious. Devine’s time was 8m16s. Bennet did 8.37. This changed the picture at the top of the leaderboard with Devine looking a little more secure in the lead, Raymond Johnson shot through into 2nd with a time of 8.21 and Kieran Shaw improved as well, his time 8.24.

Sean Devine told us that everything had just gone well, the car is behaving itself, the surface in the stage is pretty good. Raymond Johnson reckoned that he had been on the wrong tyres this morning and that is what made the difference this afternoon, switching rubber. Raymond’s co driver Richard Bell put their lacklustre performance over the opening stage today more down to “a deficiency in tea!” Craig Bennett is running first on the road so wasn’t aware at the time of how fast the cars behind were going, but he certainly passed no untoward remarks about the stage. He felt he had a decent run, although maybe not fantastic.

Kieran Shaw felt that the problem he had been having all morning with this button on the gear stick and the engine cutting out seemed to have got better since service, and as he said himself “At least we didn’t park it this time”.

In Group N Neil McCance lost his lead on that 6th stage, not so much because he made any mistake, rather that his chief opposition in the shape of John McGlaughlin and Peter McCullagh turned up the wick, both recorded a pretty stunning time of 8.27, whereas McCance was on 8.38. Martin Elliott 8.43. McGlaughlin reported that his Lancer was “totally different since service, a lot better”. Just to recap, John had smashed a chicane on that opening stage this morning which deranged the suspension somewhat and he had to drive the following stages with the car slightly out of line. Peter McCullagh is really opening a few eyes with his driving, he’s going really well. Overall though in Group N terms Neil McCance is still very much on course to take the title, 4th or better will do in group N.

In the battle for the Mk2 Escorts Trevor Moore is still the quickest despite his example having no 5th gear and being on the rev limiter through the long straights in Slieveanorra. Moore’s time was 8.33 while Andy Magee had a time of 8.42. Andy was having a problem earlier with the throttle catching the brake balance bar, that seems to be resolved and he is going hard again. Mark Barnett is going well and had a time of 8.47 while Seamus O’Connell was on 8.54. Alistair Cochrane has eased back. He is on line to take the class in the championship since James Kennedy crashed out, but Alistair and co driver Pam Norris do have to get the car to the finish. Magee’s total is 31.22 just outside the leaderboard. While Mark Barnett is on 31.44. Alistair Cochrane 32.00. Seamus O’Connell 32.29.

Further stories include – John Donnelly reports about his Escort Cosworth “There’s a wee miss in her now, coming and going!” John McKeown despite having lost 3 mins on the first stage is going pretty hard in his Escort Cosworth and when asked about his pace he said. “Noo steeking oor neack oot hey” (sorry about that – it’s the closest thing to Ulster-Scots we can type!)

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