RALLY NEWS NO.10
Killorglin Service/Sunday 4.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 14
1st (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 2.02.51
2nd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 2.03.41
3rd (9) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 2.04.27
4th (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC)
2.05.01
5th (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 2.05.10
6th (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 2.06.11
7th (7) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 2.06.45
8th (8) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 2.09/52
9th (28) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 2.13.07
10th (25) Alan Ring/Paul Nagle (Impreza N) 2.14.10
11th (45) Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher (Lancer N) 2.14.39
12th (35) Tom Randles/Diarmuid Lynch (Celica) 2.14.47
Although he is adamant that his Subaru isn’t going on full power Derek
McGarrity set fastest time of the weekend over the now shortened Molls Gap
stage. This moved Derek and co driver Dermot O’Gorman up from 5th
to 4th ahead of Eamonn Boland. More significantly perhaps for Derek
is it earns him the fabulously prestigious Bertie Fisher Memorial Award.
Derek said after the Molls Gap stage. “The car is down on power still,
it hasn’t changed and there is nothing we can do to fix it here. I’ve just
been taking bigger risks, carrying more speed through the corners, driving
faster than I want to. This car steers well and brakes well, but the data
logger shows that it is nearly 40km per hour slower than it should be at
maximum.” Andrew Nesbitt is still comfortably in the lead of the rally
overall, Andrew saying at Killorglin service before the final 2 stages. “We’re
on a steady pace now, the car feels really good, my only doubts really are
about the weather, will the rain stay away?” Second placed Eugene Donnelly,
still pretty shaky looking after hurting his back so badly on a Ballaghbeama
jump said. “The back is feeling a lot better now, its not hindering me, the
car is fine. Hoping for a good run now to the finish”. Third placed Kevin
Lynch told us. “Using the manual gear change instead of the paddle shift is
about 1s per mile slower. I’m more worried now about a major noise from the
rear differential, she’s definitely sounding a bit on the hoarse side”. Eamonn
Boland and Austin MacHale in 5th and 6th reported no
major problems. Tim McNulty was making a big charge after Austin but over the
last few stages has, if anything, lost a bit of ground, so unless there is an
upset Tim is not going to see the top 6 on this event.
Denis Cronin in 8th is in a little time envelope of his
own, can’t make much impression on the cars in front, fairly safe from attack
behind. Interestingly, Denis’ co driver Helen O’Sullivan told us that both
her and Denis have been suffering from sore and streaming eyes on this rally,
stemming from the fumes of the cars in front.
Colm Murphy in 9th looks to be very safely in charge of the
group N category, Colm even taking the liberty of doing a bit of sideways
showing off with his Impreza in front of the crowds at the top of Molls Gap.
Alan Ring is now 2nd in GpN, 10th overall and highest
placed Kerry crew, well ahead of the next Kerry man Tom Randles. Sandwiched in
between is Clonakilty’s Kevin Kelleher who is 3rd Group N. Tom
Randles is having some problems now with his Celica, the oil temperature
showing over 120 degrees and the water temperature was also off the clock
finishing the Ballaghbeama stage. Also in high temperature troubles is James
O’Sullivan, James trying to get water into his Lancer’s radiator at every
opportunity. The car is still going amazingly well considering it has a blown
head gasket. James is 13th overall 4th GpN. Aaron
MacHale is now 14th overall. Tony Davies 15th. Roy White
at last getting to grips with his new Lancer, 16th. Tadgh Linehan
17th. Terry McGonigle has dropped to 18th following his
stage 12 accident. John Hickey 19th and George Tracey 20th.
Further retirements include – George Cullen, whose Fabia was parked up
in stage 12. Tommy Graham has withdrawn his Impreza WRC with suspected
transmission troubles and Denis Biggerstaff was really on a charge until he
put his Impreza off the road in stage 12, got going and then retired on stage
14 with gearbox trouble.
Class leaders after stage 14: Class 7 -Guy Woodcock in his RS2000 Maxi
just ahead of Dave Randles (Almera). Ken O’Neill has now got his Puma into the
lead of class 6, just ahead of Brian O’Mahony in a similar Puma. Brendan
Cumiskey led cl.3 in his Civic. Peter Wilson leads cl.2 also in a Civic. In
the National part of the rally for Modified cars Phil Collins has extended his
lead to 47s over Dessie Keenan, both in Escorts, with Kieran O’Neill in his
Kadett 3rd.
LATE NEWS JUST COMING IN….no time for Kevin Lynch for stage 15…..co
driver Gordon Noble has just sent us a text to say that the car has blown its
engine….they were a good 3rd overall.
More news after last stage. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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