RALLY
NEWS NO.3 Tralee Race Course/Service/Sunday 2.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 kILFLYNN
1st
(2) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 28.37
2nd
(5) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 29.00
3rd
(7) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 29.16
4th
(4) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 29.23
5TH
(8) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 29.33
6TH
(1) Niall Maguire/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 29.43
7TH
(9) Noel Redmond/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 30.09
8TH
(17) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 30.26
9TH
(12) Melvyn Evans/Aled Davies (Impreza WRC) 30.32
10th
(15) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 30.34
11TH
(22) Gabriel Martin/Mark Kane (Impreza N) 30.43
12th
(23) Peter Clifford/John Young (Lancer N) 30.45
There has
been a major upset in stage 4 when front runner Charlie Donnelly
crashed his brother Eugene’s Corolla WRC. Happily Charlie and co
driver Paddy Toner are reportedly unhurt. Charlie has just set
equal fastest time through stage 3 with Kevin Lynch when it all went
wrong on a slippy 5 left on cold tyres and a wet road. First
reports suggest that there is a fair bit of damage to the car.
Out at the
front of the rally Jim Harrison is still the man to beat. He admits
himself he was a bit sleepy on that third stage, but on stage 4 he
set fastest time of 5.47. Kevin Lynch was 2nd fastest on
5.55. Kevin says he is going steady enough, a reasonable pace,
taking no risks, bedding in with his new tyres. Third placed Ray
Breen was also a bit slow in stage 3, and he says he just didn’t get
into the groove. Niall Maguire reports no problems at all, but
admits to being well off the pace and just doesn’t understand why.
Niall said his notes are good, Paul sitting beside him is really
god, the car is fine, the times just are not flowing. Daniel
Doherty reported a transmission vibration towards the end of stage
3, otherwise OK. Kevin Barrett in the Tiriton Showers Impreza WRC
speeded up through stage 3 after a cautious start.
James
O’Sullivan stopped in stage 3, his Lancer turbo pipe coming adrift.
James did get going again. Noel McCarrick also stopped in that
stage, unknown mechanical problem. Noel Redmond went off the road
in stage 4, hasn’t lost time because that was the interrupted stage,
but there is a bit of damage to the front of his Impreza, and he is
not absolutely sure if he can keep going. Noel is the current leader
of the Top Park West Coast Championship. Melvyn Evans has stepped
up the pace, his brakes seem better and his confidence is getting
up.
Willie
Fannin continues to lead Group N from Gabriel Martin with Peter
Clifford 3rd. Andrew Stewart is just a second behind
Clifford. Ian Barrett is well in the picture with 30.50 but was
slowed slightly in stage 3 when he lost confidence, not able to
judge the grip level. Kevin Kelleher has speeded up in his Lancer,
his brakes somewhat better than the first 2 stages where he lost a
mountain of time. Alan Ring isn’t so far out of the gpN picture on
31.05 in his Impreza. Michael Curran is on 30.55 and feels the car
still has that misfire around about the 4000 rev mark. Bio-Tech man
Tadgh Linehan & Brian Duggan were forced to withdraw his GpN Impreza
at the start of stage 3 when the gear stick/linkage came adrift.
Further
snippets include: Joe McHugh leading cl.15 in their Escort Cosworth.
Anthony O’Halloran is still best of the 2 wheel drive brigade in his
Manta, but Maurice Moffett is speeding up now that the roads are
drying. Tom Randles in the Celica is on 41.41. Tommy Graham
struggling to get on the pace in his Impreza is on 31.53. In the
Ford Focus championship David Delaney was 20s up on Oliver Stanley
after the first 2 stages. Keith Lyons off the road but still going.
Finally for
now, a very Happy Birthday to young Tiernan McGuckin of Micro-Cam –
wouldn’t it be great to be 14 again!! More news later. BRIAN &
LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
