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RALLY NEWS NO.3 Lurgan Park – Saturday 1.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3
1st (1) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 7.30.5
2nd (3) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 7.37.5
3rd (2) Eugene Donnelly/Andrew Mullan (Corolla WRC)
7.38.7
4th (11) Glenn Allen/Kieran McCracken (Corolla WRC)
7.46.1
5th (8) Paul Bird/Andy Richardson (Focus WRC) 7.46.6
6th (5) Niall McShea/Willie McKee (Cordoba WRC) 7.50.2
7th (14) Neale Dougan/Rory Doyle (Escort WRC) 7.53.8
8th (10) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Fabia WRC) 7.54.5
9th (25) Garry Jennings/Pamela Ballantine (Lancer N)
7.56.0
10th (9) Cathal Arthurs/Vincent Fergus (Accent WRC)
7.56.9
Impressively fast was Kevin Lynch on that third stage, quickest
overall and just under a second up on Donnelly for the stage and 2
seconds on McKinstry. In truth there is no one outside these 3
threatening the lead. Lynch commented after stage 3. “We were steady
enough, some corners are still pretty slippy, there is no relaxing
here, but then if you came to Lurgan Park to relax you’d be coming to
the wrong place!” Eugene Donnelly said. “We had a great run on that
one but then I cocked up the last chicane, its as well there is no in
car camera, there were plenty of f’s and b’s as I crossed the finish
line!”
Kenny McKinstry said he was having no problems, a good run. When
10 times Lurgan Park winner Kenny was asked about the drivers in front
and that wee difference, just an edge, in the times, he said. “I guess
its because I’m just not taking the risks”. Niall McShea dropped out
of the reckoning somewhat on that one, Niall stalling the Cordoba. He
said. “We were having a really great run, it felt quick, and then I
had to go and do something stupid”. A few minutes later co driver
Willie McKee came back to the control as the engineers started to
check over the Cordoba, and said. “The on board computer is showing
the engine stopped for 5.5 seconds and you can take it there was
another second or two either side of that, so our time of 2.38 for the
stage wasn’t so bad”. Denis Biggerstaff was next in, Denis looking
pretty mad, and when he waved a broken off throttle pedal through the
window of his Metro 6R4 the reason for that was fairly apparent.
Former NI Rally Champion Denis had lost over 20s when struggling the
Metro to the finish of the stage with the broken throttle. Denis had
been 7th, but so close is the competition here in Lurgan
Park that any chance of a good result is now gone for the Kinallen
man.
Paul Bird had another good run, improving every stage. But then
others are improving also. Glenn Allen was really quick, 4th
fastest and moves up to 4th. Glenn reckons he should have
changed tyres for that stage, but he’ll change now. Kevin Barrett
had a good run, Kevin knocked well back with his earlier road penalty.
Cathal Arthurs is having lots of un in his Accent. Maurice Gass made a
slow start but each stage is improving by leaps and bounds, the Armagh
oil distribution expert commenting. “Its going well now, we’re like
the oul bull, we walk down the field and then we do the business”.
We mentioned on the last Rallynews about Ollie O’Donovan having a
miserable time to start off, he has had his Red Bull now, the
sunglasses are on and the times are improving. Fermanagh man Raymond
Johnson is another stepping up the pace, but Raymond is still
struggling a little to get used to world rally car technology. For
example he said he thought he had braked early for the square left on
the stage but then nearly massed it up! Further stories include –
Martin Doherty had an overshoot. Craig Bennett in the Focus WRC had a
big spin and dropped off the leaderboard. Nigel Hicklin set a good
time, getting a bit more respectable in his Octavia. Mark Doyle is
seeded at 23 and driving one of McKinstry’s f2 door Impreza WRCs, and
on his first run in this type of car, and although appearing to be
slightly bemused by all the technology he is really getting on the
pace.
Garry Jennings still leads the group N category although John
McGlaughlin set a time a fraction quicker on stage 3. Terry McGonigle
is 2nd group N but the side of his Lancer is showing
evidence of contact with a chicane. Michael Curran, less than 2s
behind McGonigle, says he wouldn’t like to be going much harder.
Best of the Mk2 Escorts on the overall leaderboard after stage 3
was Camillus Bradley, although fastest in the stage was Enniskillen
drapery man Stewart Clarke. David James is currently 2nd
of the Escorts, Clarke 3rd then Wesley Patterson. Rodney
White is going well in his Sunbeam and he is running class 2 in the
midst of the Escorts, and he is 5th Barry Mckenna 6th.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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