RALLY NEWS NO.2
Sunday/Service/10.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Coolquill Castle
1st (2) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 7.18
2nd (1)Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC)
7.24
3rd (3) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC)
7.43
4th (5) Noel Redmond/Killian Duffy (Impreza WRC)
7.49
5th (15) Alan Ring/Derek Brannigan (Impreza N)
7.50
6th (7) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC)
7.56
(19) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 7.56
Ray Breen looked very cool, calm and collected when he
reached the end of the first stage totally betraying the fact of
setting fastest time on the opening stage of this Stonethrowers
Rally, his Focus WRC covering the 8.10 miles in 7m18s.
First on the road Jim Harrison wasn’t as cool, Jim and co
driver Harvey Bell looking hot and flustered, gear oil whooshing
through the centre tunnel not helping their cause, the pair looking
very worried indeed. As we said in the last RallyNews, today’s event
could be critical in Dunlop Championship terms and this was not the
start that Harrison wanted. Normally the Englishman is quickest out
of the starting blocks, not this time.
Third on the road Charlie Donnelly looked pretty grim as
well. Charlie reported no particular problems, did say the roads
were slippy, he was taking no chances and that there was a long way
to go in this rally. Noel Redmond looked slightly disappointed with
his time but he definitely found the road slippy, as did Kevin
Barrett in the Triton Showers Subaru. Kevin picked a slick tyre but
reckoned the roads were too damp for his tyre choice.
In Group N Alan Ring set the pace, his Impreza looking
pretty impressive. Michael Curran had a good run to record 8.04 but
found it very slippy. Young Ian Barrett was on 8.09. More group N
times to follow…
Further times from stage 1 – Richie Curran had a time of
8.04, his Escort Cosworth sporting a rebuilt front differential this
morning. Willie Fannin’s group N Impreza was on 8.14.
Of special interest today is that Letterkenny man Shaun
Gallagher is driving one of the 00 cars, using his Peugeot 206 Super
Cup machine. Dunlop Registrar Joan Gallagher acting as co driver –
a role she performed with aplomb some years ago.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
