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RALLY
NEWS NO.7 Parc Ferme/Cork/Saturday 6pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 – End of Leg 1
1st (5) Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Impreza WRC) 1.08.18.9
2nd (2) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 1.08.56.1
3rd (1) Markko Martin/Dave Senior (Impreza WRC) 1.09.45.7
4th (4) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Lancer WRC) 1.09.51.3
5th (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.10.10.8
6th (9) Gareth Jones/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 1.10.57.5
7th (7) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.12.52.4
8th (10) Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Focus WRC) 1.12.57.8
9th (17) Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 1.13.10.5
10th (12) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 1.13.29.4
11th (24) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.14.09.6
12th (31) James Foley/Lisa Roe (Lancer N) 1.14.13.3
Mark Higgins set the fastest time through stage 7, Fuhiry, 6s up
on Guy Wilks. Wilks immediately responded through stage 8, Lough
Allua, by being fastest, 8s up on Higgins. Andrew Nesbitt was 3rd
fastest 7s behind Higgins. Markko Martin was a further 2 back and
Eugene Donnelly a further 4 back. Donnelly has certainly speeded
up over the last few stages. He was fractionally quicker than Nesbitt
through 7 but Andrew responded in stage 8, both now going faster
than Markko Martin. There is no stopping this man Wilks at the front
however, and his overnight advantage on Higgins for Sunday’s
6 stages is just over 37s.
In Group N Colm Murphy (Impreza) has got ahead of James Foley (Lancer)
with Roy White in his Lancer 3rd. Keith Cronin is up to 4th and
Kevin Kelleher 5th just ahead of Alan Ring and Kevin O’Donoghue.
Willie Fannin is 7th in gpN.
When Guy Wilks arrived here at a very wet parc ferme in Cork he
said “Me and Phil were just talking coming into Cork saying
it was a really good day. We scored 6 out of 8 fastest times. I
think the Subaru is easier to drive than the Super 1600, the car’s
trying to help you. In the S1600 you have to be so disciplined,
trying to carry speed, look for grip.” 25 year old Guy continued
“Considering the opposition and that its our first time on
Irish tarmac, first time in the Subaru, we’re very pleased”.
Mark Higgins said. “I’m happy enough, we tried hard
over the last stage but Guy beat us, he’s going really well.
Still I’ve enjoyed it, Kenny’s car is very good but
you know this is my first time really on tarmac in an Impreza WRC”.
Markko Martin, who like Wilks and Higgins is backed by FitzSamuel
Insurance, commented. “The last stage was OK, I felt comfortable
but tyre choice was not good, the stage stayed dry”. Andrew
Nesbitt reported “We lost half a minute early today with the
brake problem, otherwise I’m happy enough. We’ve been
testing new suspension and making changes”. Norwegian driver
Andreas Mikkelsen said. “I’m enjoying it, its very good,
great fun, my first time on wet tarmac”. Eugene Donnelly reported.
“It was looking a bit better towards the end but we were cleaned
on that last stage, these boys have the talent and the cars, we
can’t deny. We’ll just have to get one of these new
yokes!”
In the National Rally after stage 7 Phil Collins had over a minute
in hand on 2nd placed Paul Purtill with Peter Kelly 3rd, almost
2m back, all in Escorts. John Hickey was 4th in his remarkable 4
wheel drive, Subaru running gear, Escort. Ger O’Donovan was
5th in his Cosworth and Alan Treacy 6th in his Corolla. Darragh
O’Riordan was 7th and Dave Slattery 8th.
In the Historic Rally Mike Doody was leading after stage 6 in his
Mini from Denis Moynihan (Escort) with Martin Sheehan (Escort) 3rd.
Martin Ward was 4th in his Manta and Adrian Kermode & Maurice
Beckett 5th in their Porsche 911, just ahead of Niall Creighton
(Cortina) and John Keatley (Porsche). On the Bushwhacker Rally Kevin
Lynch won. Robbie McGurk had been within 20s of him but went off
in Killeter as did Brian McGillin. With a couple of stages left
Glenn Allen was 2nd Raymond Johnston 3rd, Sean Devine 4th. Vivian
Hamill led gpN from John McGlaughlin with Raymond Mason 3rd. More
news in the morning…BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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