RALLY NEWS NO.8
Armagh – Saturday 11am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 11
The Hollow
1st (1) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas
(Focus WRC) 1.06.38.8
2nd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely
(Corolla WRC) 1.07.20.1
3rd (5) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor
(Impreza WRC) 1.07.50.4
4th (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot
O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.07.54.0
5th (9) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan
(Focus WRC) 1.07.55.8
6th (6) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy
(Focus WRC) 1.08.26.8
7th (8) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin
(Focus WRC) 1.08.35.7
8th (7) Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly
(Impreza WRC) 1.08.39.0
9th (10) David Higgins/Daniel Barritt
(Lancer N) 1.11.42.0
10th (18) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh
(Lancer N) 1.11.51.5
Pamela Ballantine of UTV and RPM fame phoned us
from junction 10 of the Hollow stage to say that Andrew Nesbitt’s Subaru had
just let out a bang and a puff of smoke at the junction where they were filming
and had left going very slowly. Sure enough other drivers reported the car
stopped later with Andrew peering disconsolately under the bonnet – end of
rally. Andrew was just 8s behind Mark Higgins starting the stage so this
certainly takes the pressure of the Pirelli British Championship leader who
celebrated by taking fastest time through that 11th stage, 2s up on
Eamonn Boland with Matthew Wilson 3rd fastest, a further 2s back.
Mark set his fastest time despite his Focus
stalling on the start line of the stage which certainly cost in excess of 5s.
Otherwise he had a good run although he did say the stage was a bit gravelly at
the start, after that “a proper stage”. Eugene Donnelly reported some oil on
the stage, for about a quarter of a mile, which would appear to have come from
Nesbitt’s car. Eugene’s Corolla had a spin at the 4th junction, a
hairpin right, but he got away with it, no damage. Eugene was however 14s down
on Higgins in front, and is now 42s back. Derek McGarrity said his Impreza is
handling and stopping very well, just doesn’t seem to have the go that it should
although the engineers have changed the fuel pumps. Tim McNulty had another good
run, was happy enough with his performance and says there is a bit left to
come.
Matthew Wilson was well on the pace, very happy
and really enjoyed the stage. His father Malcolm was at stage finish and
commented. “It is interesting, that’s not just as technical a stage as some of
the others and it allows Matthew to overcome his inexperience with making
notes”. Peadar Hurson had a good clean run and commented. “When it goes well,
we’re never far away from the top times”.
David Higgins continues to lead group N despite
his Lancer finishing that stage with smoke and flames pouring from a front rim.
David saying that the pedal was going right to the floor, really disconcerting,
and he was certainly struggling. Seamus Leonard turned in a fastest gpN time and
is now just 9s behind David Higgins. Alan Nesbitt is holding on to 3rd
gpN but that stage 11 wasn’t kind to the Nesbitts – Alan’s gearbox broke in the
stage, he has lost 5th gear and struggling to get the other ratios.
Garry Jennings reported massive understeer in the stage, was having to go for
the handbrake quite a lot, which co driver Rory Kennedy wasn’t too pleased about
it. Garry thinks that the front tyres were maybe overheating as the ambient
temperatures soared. Aaron MacHale held on to 13th overall and 5th
group N. Barry Clark 14th, 6th gpN. Glenn Wilson was 15th
but lost a little bit of time in the stage, his brother Trevor’s Lancer in the
ditch and incurred a fair bit of body work damage against a gatepost, still
going OK.
In the National Rally Mark Jasper led after stage
10 in his Metro 6R4 despite this being his first trip to Ireland. John Price was
2nd in his 6R4 and closing. Steve Fleck 3rd despite
running no anti lag on his Subaru because the clutch is slipping. Camillus
Bradley was 4th and best 2 wheel drive. Stewart Clarke dropped from
7th to 10th when he slammed the back of his Escort into a
gatepost at a hairpin and then a plug lead fell off on one of the Todds Leap
jumps. George Robinson is speeding up and is now up to 7th despite co
driver Tommy Speers losing his glasses on the road section up to a stage, then
having great difficulty reading the notes.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd and Pamela
Ballantine)
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