RALLY
NEWS NO.2 End of stage 1/Saturday 09.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Isle of Innishfree East
1st
(6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 10.05.5
2nd
(7) Matthew Wilson/Michael Orr (Focus WRC) 10.06.0
3rd
(5) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 10.18.8
4th
(4) Kevin Lynch/Allan Harryman (Impreza WRC) 10.27.6
5th
(23) Aaron MacHale/Ger McMonagle (Lancer N) 10.38.2
6th
(2) Freddy Loix/Robin Buysmans (Ignis) 10.38.8
7th
(11) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 10.48.6
8th
(1) Daniel Carlsson/Mattias Andersson (Lancer N) 10.51.2
9th
(14) Shaun Gallagher/Charlie McGinty (Lancer N) 10.53.7
10th
(16) Roy White/Stephen McAuley (Lancer N) 10.54.2
Fastest man
through this opening stage of Rally Ireland was Eamonn Boland, and
when his Focus came to a halt the Wexford man wiped a mass of sweat
from his face and said. “Very slippy, we were in the ditch right
after the start line, very difficult”. Difficult indeed, low cloud,
heavy mizzle and a general air of darkness pervaded the Sligo hills
as the cars tackled this 19.6km stage.
No.1 seed
Daniel Carlsson said at stage finish. “We had clean run, very fast
stage, 6th gear everywhere. Very slippy.” Freddy Loix
was in top form when be brought his Suzuki to the finish line and
said. “We had perfect stage, this is like dinky car, so quick in the
corners but on the straights we are missing 30 to 40 km per hour. I
have plenty of time to look around!” Next through was Kevin Lynch,
the 2 times Northern Ireland Champion expected to be one of the
absolute pace setters this morning, but it wasn’t to be. Kevin
reported the stage to be very slippy, very treacherous.
Austin
MacHale’s Focus had a dented passenger door, evidence of how hard
Austin was trying. Matthew Wilson jumped out of his Focus at the
stop line and did a quick tour of inspection. The 18 year old was
on a real high, and as his mother Elaine tried to get the stage time
and calm things down a bit, Matthew said. “We’ve been off the road 4
times I think I’ve damaged something in the suspension”. At that
one of the marshals called him round to the front right corner and
pointed out a damaged rim. When Matthew headed off up the road to
change the offending rim before stage 2, his mother Elaine told us.
“You have to remember virtually every rally is a new rally for
Matthew. He was very nervous this morning and of course he has a new
co driver this weekend”.
Behind
Wilson on the road was another young driver, Gareth MacHale, but he
was a bit despondent, as co driver Paul Nagle explained. “The car
stalled at a hairpin and just wouldn’t re-start. Our time is
11.08.04”.
Other
drivers having problems included Glenn Allen, his time 10.58.6,
Glenn explaining that it looked like a brake pipe on the car had
burst. Sean Devine at No.10 said that his Impreza WRC was having
some gearbox troubles, wouldn’t shift down.
Garry
Jennings set a good time in Group N, Garry felt that he had cooked
the brakes somewhat. Shaun Gallagher said he couldn’t settle, just
not used to the car. Roy White found it very slippy at the start,
and Roy hasn’t been out for quite a long time which makes his time
look pretty good. John McGlaughlin, running at No.18 in his Lancer,
recounted 2 spins and said. “The flu doesn’t help”. Aaron MacHale
had a brilliant time to lead group N. Paddy White is driving a
group N Lancer instead of his normal Impreza WRC and Paddy struggled
a bit to get to grips with the car. Visiting Estonian driver Jaan
Molder was another off the pace, Jaan totally unaccustomed to
asphalt stages.
More news
after stage 2. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
