RALLY NEWS NO.1              Lurgan Park – Saturday  Noon

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1

1^st (1) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 2.28.9

2^nd (3) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 2.32.2

3^rd (2) Eugene Donnelly/Andrew Mullan (Corolla WRC) 2.34.9

4^th (5) Niall McShea/Willie McKee (Cordoba WRC) 2.35.9

5^th (8) Paul Bird/Andy Richardson (Focus WRC) 2.36.0

6^th (11) Glenn Allen/Kieran McCracken (Corolla WRC) 2.37.6

7^th (12) James Gillen/Rodney Johnston (Impreza A) 2.38.5

8^th (7) Kevin Barrett/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 2.38.7

9^th (6) Denis Biggerstaff/Robin McCandless (6R4) 2.38.7

10^th (25) Garry Jennings/Pamela Ballantine (Lancer N) 2.38.9

11^th (14) Neale Dougan/Rory Doyle (Escort WRC) 2.39.7

Kevin Lynch has opened up on this Triton Showers Lurgan Park in the same manner as he finished last year by being fastest.  Kevin looks very determined indeed, reports his car well, but said “You can’t afford one slip up here, and you can slide off on a wet road as well as a dry”.  The reference to the wet roads was early morning showers which had left distinctly damp patches everywhere. Having said that, many of the drivers are reporting a surprising amount of grip and felt they could have gone faster.  Eugene Donnelly said he has been away from the gravel stages for such a long time he nearly forgot how to driver it and virtually stopped on the first corner.  Eugene certainly made up ground towards the end of the stage. 

Ten times Lurgan Park winner Kenny McKinstry had a good run, was glad to get the first stage over, and his co driver Noel Orr reported smelling fumes in the car.  Denis Biggerstaff said he had a messy run. Triton Showers man Kevin Barrett said there were some places there was lots of grip for his Subaru, other places very little.  Maurice Gass was slightly off the pace, no real problems, Maurice down in 14^th place with his Skoda. 

Paul Bird had a good run but would like to be going quicker. Neal Dougan reckons his Escort WRC has a slightly misfire. Adrian McElvaney stalled his Subaru and lost a lot of time as the car refused to re-start.  Ollie O’Donovan also stalled and lost time.        

Despite missing gears a couple of times Garry Jennings was fastest of the group N drivers, co driver Pamela Ballantine had a genuine ear to ear grin on – not her prim and proper UTV smile!  Next on the group N pace was Terry McGonigle on 2.41.6 and then just a couple of seconds covered Michael Curran, John McGlaughlin and Martin Elliott.  Ian Barrett was a bit further back, Ian no experience of gravel stages whatsoever. Emma McKinstry had a clean run on 2.51.1.  Derek McGeehan, who normally builds Eugene Donnelly’s Corolla, is driving a sister Toyota, and he was far from slowest on 2.45.9 and loving his run out in competition. 

Fastest of the Escorts in class 2 was Barry McKenna from Enda Keenan with Paul Barrett 3^rd.

Finally for now, main changes to the programme entry list is that Derek McGarrity has non started due to a change in his holiday flight arrangements. Niall Maguire who recorded a time of 2.44.5 has his son Shane co driving.  More news after stage 2. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net