UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 City Special
1st (1) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas
(Focus WRC) 20.53.7
2nd (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien
(Impreza WRC) 21.08.4
3rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot
O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 21.11.6
4th (9) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan
(Focus WRC) 21.12.7
5th (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely
(Corolla WRC) 21.16.5
6th (8) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin
(Focus WRC) 21.22.1
7th (5) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell
(Impreza WRC) 21.29.9
8th (6) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy
(Focus WRC) 21.37.0
The above times are from the first few cars only
as there was a hold up at the spectator stage when Rory Galligan unfortunately
crashed the works Lancer. First on the scene was Justin Dale in the Fiesta,
Justin saying that it looked as if Rory had caught the inside bank of the square
right at the end of the fast straight past the spectators. The Lancer had gone
up on 2 wheels, shot across the road into a tree and then the car fell on to its
roof. Happily Rory and co driver Greg Shinnors were uninjured, but that was the
end of their rally. As well as Justin stopping at the accident to make sure
everything was OK, a rescue Ford Transit then arrived and scraped the back
corner of Justin’s immaculate M-Sport Fiesta. Mr. Dale was not best pleased!
Out at the front of the rally Andrew Nesbitt lost
the lead to Mark Higgins when he had an overshoot and stall in stage 3. Andrew
commented. “We went down towards the barrier, then I had to let the engine
settle, go slowly through the gears, thought I had reverse but it was 1st,
so all in all 16s were gone. We were having a good run, but there we go”. Mark
Higgins said. “I don’t have a good feeling with the car, on the high speed
straights the car is wallowing a little, coming out of the junctions we’re
getting very sideways, I’m having to work hard.” Eugene Donnelly said. “We
drove hard enough over the first few stages, thought the times would have been
better, but then Paul pointed out that if I had got the new glasses it might
have been OK.” Eugene went on to explain that he used to wear glasses years ago
but then didn’t really need them, but now his right eye has faded a small bit.
He went and got tested for the new glasses on Monday of this week and when he
went to collect them this morning, it was the wrong prescription! Oh dear!
Derek McGarrity told us of his exploits over the
last few stages. “We’re going alright, but there was a big noise in the car. It
turned out to be a fuel pump and we went on to the spare, so it’s dead on. I’m
not doing anything stupid, although on stage 2 there was a big rock pulled out
and I couldn’t do anything but hit it with the rear wheel and I thought to
myself – here we go again”.
Further stories include – Austin MacHale’s
earlier intercom problem now solved. Peadar Hurson said his Impreza suspension
is still too soft and on the spectator stage he had an overshoot. Eamonn Boland
in the Focus and Matthew Wilson in his similar machine reported no major
problems at all. Further back David Higgins had a good run to lead Group N.
Justin Dale reports his Fiesta feels better on every stage, quite often he is on
the rev limiter in 6th gear and spinning the wheels out of junctions.
The car is quite wide and often the tyres are on the gravel at the sides of the
narrow roads. Colm Murphy was 2nd in group N but lost a fraction in
stage 4 when his Impreza lost turbo boost. Garry Jennings’ Lancer has broken a
rear left brake disc so he has had brake troubles from the start. Seamus Leonard
is also in all sorts of gear troubles with his lancer. Aaron MacHale is having
a smooth run as is Alan Nesbitt although Alan had the onset of a slight shower
of rain for his 2nd run through the City Special stage and was a
little slower than his first run, whereas most people were fastest on their 2nd
run. Glenn Wilson is settling in to his Lancer and is improving by the stage,
but still not quite up with the top guys. Finally for now best 37th
Birthday wishes to Eamonn Boland’s co driver Francis Regan – the party in the
Glens of Antrim will have to wait until tomorrow night…! More news later.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
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