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RALLY NEWS NO.2 Lurgan Park
– Saturday 12.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2
1st (1) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 5.00.9
2nd (3) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 5.06.0
3rd (2) Eugene Donnelly/Andrew Mullan (Corolla WRC)
5.08.2
4th (5) Niall McShea/Willie McKee (Cordoba WRC) 5.12.0
5th (8) Paul Bird/Andy Richardson (Focus WRC) 5.13.4
6th (11) Glenn Allen/Kieran McCracken (Corolla WRC)
5.13.7
7th (6) Denis Biggerstaff/Robin McCandless (6R4) 5.15.4
8th (14) Neale Dougan/Rory Doyle (Escort WRC) 5.17.3
9th (21) Craig Bennett/Christine Bleakley (Focus WRC)
5.18.0
10th (25) Garry Jennings/Pamela Ballantine (Lancer N)
5.18.9
Rally leader Kevin Lynch admitted to a small mistake on that 2nd
stage, but was still fastest, while the pursuing Kenny McKinstry and
Eugene Donnelly said they had good runs, more or less, but still
couldn’t match the KPL Impreza WRC at the front.
Triton Showers man Kevin Barrett was on the leaderboard after the
first run but he had road penalties leaving service so he is out of
the running. Kevin Lynch said when he finished the stage. “I slid
wide going off the tarmac on to the gravel, slid wide on to the grass,
otherwise OK”. Eugene Donnelly said. “The jitters were gone for that
one we had a better run”. Kenny McKinstry commented. “That was dead
on, but I’m still finding it very slippy. I nearly lost it at the
chicane, maybe lost a fraction, but for a second or two it felt like
the Manx accident all over again!”
Niall McShea in 4th is still getting used to the Cordoba
WRC. Niall is delighted to get into a world rally car after driving
group N cars for so long, but he is still finding his feet a little
bit. Niall had a protracted test session yesterday where he damaged a
strut which had to be repaired last night. Today he is still
struggling to get used to the clutch in the car which seems to be
either on or off like a switch. On that 2nd stage Niall
cooked the unit ever so slightly off the start line and had to treat
it with respect for a few corners, not over stressing it.
Paul Bird is going pretty hard now and up to 5th place
in his Focus, but says he is still finding it slippy and being ever so
cautious. Apparently Paul’s girl friend Lindsay and our own Reverend
Mother Ciara put up a banner at the side of the stage this morning
which read “Don’t count your chickens”…and other which said “Come on
Bird”. By the way Paul has millions and millions of chickens!!
Maurice Gass had a good run through the 2nd stage as he
settles into his Skoda and almost equalled Bird’s time. Glenn Allen
was slightly faster than Bird on stage 2 despite clipping the front
left wheel of his Corolla WRC against a bush. Neale Dougan was
another to have a good time on stage 2, his Escort WRC now on full
power following its earlier misfire. Irish National Champion Niall
Maguire is down in 18th place, his 16 year son Shane
managing the notes pretty well, Niall commented. “At least we’re
here”. Ollie O’Donovan is well down the order, Ollie saying. “I feel
really alien in the car, very awkward, I’m hitting my elbow on the
door, I’ve cut my finger, I’m like a bull in a china shop in here.”
Ollie’s co driver for the day is Sonia Mac who is slightly bemused by
the whole thing!
In Group N Garry Jennings still leads, Garry saying he maybe lost a
fraction at the big hairpin as the car got into the ruts. Fastest
group N through stage 2 was Terry McGonigle, although his Lancer seems
to be smoking a wee bit. There is still very little to choose between
Michael Curran and Terry, although John McGlaughlin had a slowish time
after 2 overshoots. Martin Elliott is also right on the pace and he
says his Lancer is pushing it’s nose. Emma McKinstry lost a ball of
time after getting on the grass and having a major overshoot.
Camillus Bradley has moved to the front of the Mk2 Escort Challenge
drivers. David James 2nd and Paul Barrett 3rd.
Wesley Patterson now 4th.
More news after stage 3. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
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