RALLY NEWS NO.2
End of stage 1 – Sunday 11.20am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER
STAGE 1 Ballyleane
1st (3) Jim
Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 5.41
2nd (1) Niall
Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 5.55
3rd (6)
Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 5.57
(12) Noel Redmond/Diarmuid
Falvey (Impreza WRC) 5.57
5th (7)
Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC) 6.00
6th (2)
Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 6.02
7th (11)
Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 6.04
8th (10) Sean
Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 6.07
(21) Sean
Devine/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 6.07
10th (8)
Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 6.08
The shock early news
from stage 1 is that one of the pre-event favourites, Kevin
Lynch, has not appeared at stage finish. Other drivers told
us that Kevin’s Impreza WRC is parked up in the middle of the
stage. There is no obvious sign of damage so we can only
presume that there has been a mechanical problem.
Fastest through the
stage, Jim Harrison, quipped at stage end. “That’s definitely
some way to get rid of a cold and a headache! The car is
going well, no problem”. Other stories from the stage
included – Niall Maguire got slightly distracted when some
children moved at the side of the road, just over a crest,
otherwise OK. Patrick Elliott felt that his Impreza WRC,
having had a new engine fitted this week, wasn’t quite right
in the gear selection department.
Donegal man Daniel Doherty was
wondering at stage finish if his Subaru had a drive shaft
problem. It certainly wasn’t reflected in his time. Charlie
Donnelly was reasonably happy as he settled in to brother
Eugene’s Tarmac Championship winning Corolla. This is
Charlie’s first run in the car in anger, so he wasn’t a mile
away from the pace. Ray Breen was in a bit of a lather at
stage finish, co driver Andrew Purcell saying that the Focus
WRC seemed to have a low brake pedal, and they had spun and
stalled. Sean Gallagher’s Impreza finished the stage with a
front side light dangling on its flex, Sean reporting a huge
moment over a jump. Melvyn Evans felt the road was a bit
slippy in patches. Noel Redmond reported a cautious approach
but happy with his pace.
Kevin Barrett in the
Triton Showers Impreza was furious at stage finish having
caught and passed 2 cars in the stage, which obviously cost
quite a few seconds. Kevin’s time of 6.15 should really have
been at least 15s better, and would have seen him into the top
10. He is not happy with his seeding at all. The 2 cars that
Kevin caught were Michael Curran and Noel McCarrick. Curran’s
brand new Lancer Evo 8.5 seemed to be down on power, possibly
a loose turbo pipe. McCarrick’s similar machine was in
gearbox trouble.
In Group N Seamus Leonard was
setting the pace with a brilliant stage time. Willie Fannin
was next up with a time of 6.12 and felt that his Impreza was
a bit soft in the suspension for the jumpy roads. John Cairns
had a good run as well in his older Lancer with a time of
6.13. Adrian Quinn was on 6.18. Alan Ring had spun his Impreza
at a square right over gravel and his time was 6.25. Gabriel
Martin was back on 6.39 as he settled in to his new car.
James O’Sullivan had a good time of 6.15 and that was despite
getting caught out on gravel and having a minor spin.
In the 2 wheel drive
category the first 2 times show Patrick Boyle on 6.30, Mac
McKenna on 6.42 as he gets used to a sequential box fitted to
his rear wheel drive Peugeot.
Further times include –
Ray Breen 6.21. Aaron MacHale 6.25 as he got used to the
Corolla WRC. Aaron definitely found the car totally different
to anything he has driven before, especially the steering.
LATE NEWS: Text message from Lynch’s co driver Gordon
Noble “Car stopped in 1st stage, don’t know why.
Engine? Electrics? Just after a jump. Pissed off, Gordy!”
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
