UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 12 MT. HILARY
1st (3) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.13.23.2
2nd (2) John McCarthy/M Morrissey (Corolla WRC) 1.15.28.0
3rd (4) Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Focus WRC) 1.17.42.6
4th (12) Garry Jennings/David Moynihan (Lancer N) 1.18.21.2
5th (5) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Brady (Impreza WRC) 1.18.39.9
6th (9) Dominic McNeill/Francis Kenny (Escort WRC) 1.18.44.7
7th (14) Pete Willoughby/Greg McCarthy (Lancer N) 1.19.02.1
8th (18) Seamus O'Connell/Paul Hone (Escort) 1.20.20.9
9th (17) Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) 1.20.42.3
10th (21) John Hickey/Alistair Wylie (Impreza) 1.21.01.5

Glenn Allen was lying 2nd overall starting the last loop of stages, his Corolla WRC sprung a transmission oil leak and went on fire at the start of stage 11. The fire was quickly extinguished and indeed Glenn was able to complete stages 11 and 12. However, he has lost so much time that he has decided to retire here at service rather than risk further damage to the car. The drivers behind Glenn did not get doing the stage. Kevin Lynch was fastest yet again on stage 12 so his lead now with 2 stages to go is just over 2 minutes, and Kevin reported a trouble free run and reckons now it is just a matter of getting the car through the last 2 stages to the finish with no heroics. John McCarthy is also now intent on nursing his car home, John heading for maximum McCauley Trailers points to increase his lead. Stephen Moore in 3rd place stalled at a square left junction in stage 12 but otherwise had a good run. Stephen’s co driver Tony McHugh commented “Its nice to get through without a puncture on that loop”.

Garry Jennings has moved back into the group N lead following the retirement of young Keith Cronin whose Lancer has ground to a halt when a puncture and the flailing tyre damaged the oil cooler. Keith, 20 year old and from West Cork only saw his Lancer for the first time on Friday night which makes his drive all the more noteworthy. Garry Jennings said he came across the stricken Lancer with the door open in stage 12 and Garry had a bit of a struggle to get past, but his main thought was that he felt sorry for the young driver after he had driven so well.

On our last RallyNews we reported that Pete McCullagh Jnr was having turbo problems, he decided not to continue. Pete Willoughby is now up to 2nd group N, Willoughby saying that the car is going well now, having been all but rebuilt by 2 mechanics in the team, Kevin & Francie.

Dominic McNeill struggled a little through stage 12, his Escort Cosworth having broken a rear drive shaft and Dominic had to lock the diff to keep the car going. John Hickey continues to charge and is now up into the top 20 saying “The Impreza is getting better with every stage, getting better as it gets older like a good wine” Andy Mackeral is continuing to struggle with clutch slip on his Lancer but reckons it is certainly no worse, just uphill starts and tight hairpins a bit of a struggle. Frank Kelly continues to charge after Seamus O’Connell in the race for best 2 wheel drive. Kelly commented. “I’m leading a charmed life, I tried a real ambitious tyre choice and got away with it. The stages are mighty”. Damien Hagan has now moved up to 12th o/a, the Monaghan Forestry CoC sliding through a hairpin right junction a bit wildly in stage 12 and breaking the tapes, otherwise going well. Willie John Dolan has moved up to 3rd group N and is having a good run in his Impreza while his son Richard is absolutely flying and leads his class convincingly in his Peugeot 106. In Rory Galligan’s Peugeot Challenge Noel O’Donnell had a 10s lead over Tommy Rafferty after stage 10. Barry Mahon slid his 205 off on stage 9, following a great battle. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net