RALLY
NEWS NO.2 Service Tralee Race Course/Sunday Noon
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Lyndens Wood
1st
(2) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 14.24
2nd
(5) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 14.45
3rd
(7) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 14.46
4th
(4) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 14.48
5th
(8) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 14.54
6th
(1) Niall Maguire/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 14.58
7th
(6) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC) 15.23
8th
(17) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 15.33
9th
(23) Peter Clifford/John Young (Lancer N) 15.41
10th
(9) Noel Redmond/Diarrmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 15.43
(35)
Ian Barrett/Eoin O’Flaherty (Lancer N) 15.43
Jim
Harrison has done it again. On the Mayo Rally he came off the
starting line like a rocket out of Cape Carnaveral. He has done it
again here. On the 11.6 rain sodden miles of the Smearla River test
his Dermot Healy Motors backed Subaru covered the test in 8.43
minutes. It was a remarkable achievement. Next fastest was Kevin
Lynch with a time of 9.01. Ray Breen did a 9.02. Niall Maguire did
a 9.05. The times stabilised somewhat on the 2nd stage
Lyndens Wood with Daniel Doherty equalling Harrison’s time, both
recording 5.41. Kevin Lynch and Ray Breen both recorded 5.44.
Current
Dunlop National Champion, Niall Maguire, was running first on the
road, he pronounced the stages slippy in places. Jim Harrison’s co
driver Harvey Bell joked. “There’ll be a bit of mud on the road for
the cars behind, we were cutting every corner.” Daniel Doherty
reported a vibration through the steering of his Impreza WRC. Kevin
Lynch is trying new tyres today and had a good run. Charlie
Donnelly had wiper and visibility problems with his Corolla WRC.
Ray Breen reckons he lost quite a few seconds when he caught up with
Donnelly, and had to hang back because of the spray. Patrick
Elliott told us he was taking no chances at all but still set good
times. Noel Redmond lost a fair bit of time on the 2nd
stage when he Impreza gear change went faulty on the start line, and
he had to revert to a manual system. Melvyn Evans was off the pace
a bit, the Welshman on a total of 15.56 and reporting no confidence
in his brakes at all. Sean Gallagher’s total is 15.59, Sean
admitting to be “sound asleep” on the first stage.
Kevin
Barrett’s total is 15.46, the Triton Showers man very unsure of the
grip level and being extra canny today. Tommy Graham seemed to be
running slightly late, Tommy’s Subaru suffering a jumping out master
cut out switch.
Moving into
the Group N machinery, Noel McCarrick, running 154 in his new
Lancer, is first on the road, Noel’s total 16.25. The Mayo man told
us that there is a pool of engine oil around his feet, leaking out
of the back of the dash somewhere. Willie Fannin had a great run in
his Impreza despite having to slow in stage 1 when he caught up with
Tommy Graham’s Impreza. Michael Curran was on a total of 15.50,
Michael reporting a fuel cut out problem at 4000 revs. Andrew
Stewart was having his first run in his new Lancer and his total was
15.44. James O’Sullivan’s hastily rebuilt Lancer seemed to be very
loose at the back, costing some time, James’ total 16.04. Young Ian
Barrett had a good run to record 2nd Group N, and that
was despite catching up with Clonakilty man Kevin Kelleher. Kevin
wasn’t at all settled in the wet and had some brake troubles as
well. Kevin O’Donoghue had a spin at the hairpin in stage 1, no
damage, times not too bad.
In the race
for 2 wheel drive honours the picture is still a bit mixed. Anthony
O’Halloran went fairly well despite running slick tyres at the
rear. When Anthony went to change the rear wheels of his Manta a
stud seized and he just had to run the car with what it was on.
Maurice Moffitt would normally be a front runner, but he is far
back. Monaghan man Maurice go a bit scare on the first 3 right
corner of the first stage which took the wind out of his sails, then
he had wiper/visibility troubles. Mick McQuaid is just ahead of
Maurice, his Escort also had wiper troubles. More news later.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
