RALLY NEWS NO.4
Near Glenflesk/Service/Saturday 1pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 QUARRY CROSS
1st (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 36.19
2nd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 36.50
3rd (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 36.51
4th (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 36.59
5th (9) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 37.04
6th (5) Peadar Hurson/Glenn Patterson (Impreza WRC) 37.16
7th (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 37.31
8th (7) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 37.47
9th (26) Garry Jennings/James McKee (Lancer N) 38.51
10th (8) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 38.52
Stage by stage Andrew Nesbitt is increasing his
advantage over the following cars. Derek McGarrity was pushing hard but
through stages 3 and 4 his new Impreza S10 lost some turbo boost and he
dropped a few seconds. Eugene Donnelly went hard through stages 3 and 4,
trying to make up some time lost in stage 2. Eugene was 3s slower than
Nesbitt in stage 3 and 6s down in stage 4. Peadar Hurson was 2nd
fastest on stage 4, 1s ahead of Eugene. Andrew Nesbitt commented as he waited
to go into service. “We’re taking it very steady really, being easy on the
clutch off the start line of each stage. The engineers are going to look at
the clutch now and see if it needs changed. Otherwise OK.” Derek McGarrity
was pretty down in the dumps about his lack of turbo boost, hopefully the
engineers will change the unit now and it could be a different story after
lunch. Eugene Donnelly said. “I’m going well now, but really I felt so
comfortable in Molls Gap and then in Gortnagane it was awful. The car had no
feeling, the mechanics have turned the suspension a couple of notches and it
feels great again. Its such a fine line, but when its not right it gives me a
real sick feeling. Never had this before”.
Eamonn Boland in 4th said. “No problems at all”. Kevin
Lynch in 5th looked very relaxed in his Subaru, Kevin said. “I’m
just learning all about these Killarney roads, there’s no point in getting
excited”. Peadar Hurson is still kicking himself over his stage 1 misfire and
time loss, saying “Isn’t that always the way with me, there’s always
something”. Austin MacHale in 7th seemed a bit disappointed about
this performance so far, and said. “Certainly I picked the wrong tyres earlier
but I was OK there, but the car feels very dead, maybe it’s the brakes
sticking, I don’t know. It won’t rev out, won’t go over 200ks, I feel as if
I’m going nowhere, just sitting there on the straights”. Tim McNulty in 8th
place pointed to the smashed passenger side of his Pierse backed Subaru and
said. “A real lucky escape, I was flat out coming down to the chicane in
Quarry Cross, on the limit, put my foot on the brake and the pedal went to the
floor. We were full chat, I completely missed my braking point then, not
good.” Tony Davies is outside the leaderboard on 41.09 and he’s trying
to get his confidence back after losing his brakes earlier. Denis Cronin is
another in confidence troubles, Denis saying that since the drive shaft broke
in Molls Gap he has lost his commitment.
Further stories include – Denis Biggerstaff, on a total of 40.42, put
his Impreza off the road at a stage 3 junction, then stalled the engine. Lost
a bit of time but had a good run in stage 4. George Cullen another just
outside leaderboard on 39.46, George saying he has no suspension set up for
the wet roads. Tommy Graham has had a few delays behind other cars but going
rightly, his total 39.26. John Cope is going slowly in his Subaru, well down
the order, his transmission leaking fluid and upsetting the balance.
In Group N Garry Jennings continues to set the
pace, unofficially we have Colm Murphy 2nd gpN on 39.30. Seamus
Leonard 3rd despite ongoing gearbox troubles on 39.45. Alan Ring
next up on 40.00, having put his Subaru off the road briefly in stage 3.
James O’Sullivan is on 40.05. Aaron MacHale 40.22. Roy White 40.56. No total
for Willie Fannin. He’s still going but his Impreza has been in the wars and
in fact knocked down a big pole in stage 3 which James O’Sullivan then scraped
under with his Lancer, and was lucky not to have major damage. Tom Randles
then stopped to see if he could help with the pole and then stopped at the
radio point to report it, so he has lost a bit of time. Reportedly Dermot
Healy is doing a great job in the helicopter, Dermot was able to land at the
scene of the pole incident, get things sorted and radio the control telling
them to keep the stage running.
In the 2 wheel drive category Phil Collins and co driver Diarmuid
Falvey are flying, on a total of 39.04. Dessie Keenan on 39.57. We didn’t get
Colin’s times for those 2 stages, but did manage to speak to him and he said
that the gearbox seems better, otherwise the car is good and the new Proflex
suspension is working a dream.
In Sardinia Loeb leading overall from Solberg,
Rovanpera 3rd. Martin 4th Gardemeister 5th.
Chris Atkinson has retired his Subaru after hitting a rock. Galli out with
fuel pressure trouble. Kris Meeke & Chris Patterson have moved into the lead
of the Junior WRC in their Citroen C2 with Aava 2nd in his Suzuki,
Sordo 3rd in the second Citroen. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ
PATTERSONU www.rallynews.net
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