RALLY NEWS NO.3            Service/Near Cappoquin/Sunday 11.15am

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 THE VEE

1^st (1) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 9.59

2^nd (3) Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle (Corolla WRC) 10.08

3^rd (4) John McCarthy/M Morrissey (Corolla WRC) 10.23

4^th (21) Brian Lawlor/Peter Kavanagh (Escort) 10.37

5^th (22) Frank Kelly/Liam Brown (Escort) 10.43

6^th (26) John McGlaughlin/David Moynihan (Lancer N) 10.47

The Vee stage caused all sorts of problems for the top drivers. Kevin Lynch, Gareth MacHale and John McCarthy all reported difficulties at the chicanes.  But all got through with no great time loss.

Glenn Allen crashed his car, not at the chicane, but at a hairpin, and damaged a rear wheel.  The Corolla was stopped for approximately 5 minutes.  Glenn managed to get out of the stage but whether he will keep going or not we don’t know as yet.

Sean Devine led Group N after the first stage, but he has crashed his Impreza off the road.  Sean and co driver James Mckee are reportedly OK, but the car is fairly badly damaged.

Stephen Moore has punctured a back wheel on his Impreza.  Stephen came out of the first stage with the back wheel askew and it looks like its going to be a bit crooked for the rest of the day, and he’s going to continue to get punctures.

Brian McGillen was joint fastest GpN on the first stage but he has run into turbo problems on stage 2.  Johnny McKenna seems to be missing at the end of stage 2. We have now just heard that his Lancer suffered rear suspension failure and he has called it a day. Johnny is probably anxious as well to save the car for next weekend’s Sperrins Rally. Dermot Kelly had a small engine fire on stage 2, still going, but dropped perhaps 30s. 

Some more times after stage 2 include – Kevin O’Kane on 10.50.  Pat Norris still struggling with left hand drive on 11.23.  James Murphy in the Escort WRC having a smooth run so far and on 11.01.  Trevor Harding in his new Impreza, we think not running GpN but Group A, is on 10.52.  John McKeown in his new Escort Cosworth 11.04.  Stephen Moore 11.10. 

Brendan Kelly is on 11.07 in his gpN Lancer and Patrick Elliott 11.05 in his GpN Lancer.  As can be seen above Brian Lawlor is the best of the 2 wheel drive contenders from Frank Kelly, but we do not have a time as yet for James Coleman or John Reid in their respective Mk2 Escorts.

More news after stage 3 – many tthanks to Greg Shinnors and Elaine Higgins for the phone call from stage 2.

Further news on Glenn Allen – his Corolla WRC suffered 2 punctures in The Vee and he has withdrawn from the rally.

BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSONU www.rallynews.net