UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Pallas

1^st (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 42.52.6

2^nd (2) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 42.58.8

3^rd (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 43.33.3

4^th (11) Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC) 43.41.8

5^th (3) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 44.02.7

6^th (8) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 44.12.5

7^th (5) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 44.26.3

8^th (4) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 44.31.5

9^th (9) Gareth Jones/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 44.58.4

10^th (139) Philip Morrow/Derek Brannigan (Lancer N) 45.41.8

11^th (22) James Foley/Dominic Markey (Lancer N) 45.47.5

12^th (138) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 45.54.8

The roads have been drying out ever so slightly but still there is an inherent slippiness in them and most of the drivers are being wary. Eugene Donnelly was fastest again through stage 5 and he said at the end of the stage. “It is still tricky, yes it is drying, but we had a good run, the tyres are working well and everyone is doing a fantastic job. We’re trying hard”.  Tim McNulty’s co driver Anthony Nestor told us. “Its so difficult in here, I’m switching the anti lag on and off to try and help Tim, switching it off in the slippy tricky places. Now the launch control has stopped working. Its full throttle everywhere. Hopefully we can get something sorted at service”.  Eamonn Boland in 3^rd recounted a lucky escape when his Focus skidded sideways on a square left, the Wexford man saying “There was some bang when the wheel hit something. Somehow or another the tyre didn’t go down although it was nearly knocked into the middle of the rim. We’re not allowed the mousse tyres this year, I don’t know how we didn’t get a puncture”.  Peadar Hurson was 3^rd fastest through that stage 5, Peadar saying “We’re trying to keep it neat and tidy”.

Derek McGarrity did well to hold on to 5^th after stage 5, Derek’s car still not handling properly following the trip into the ditch. Derek said. “I was maybe too ambitious in my choice of tyres. It was certainly my fault we spun and the steering has been knocked out a bit.”  Andrew Nesbitt said earlier about having gearbox troubles with his Subaru, the Rutledge Joblink and Profile Properties backed Subaru definitely needing a new box fitted here at service. Andrew said “It got worse through stage 5, sometimes I couldn’t change up, sometimes I couldn’t change down. 5^th gear was gone all the time and then sometimes it changed gear all on its own!” 

Aaron MacHale continues to pick up the pace following the earlier problems with his Corolla, Aaron’s total of 46.40.1.  JJ Fleming has had a good run over the last couple of stages and his total if 46.10.4, although the Galway man did have a lucky escape at the end of stage 5 when he punctured a tyre, but it was at the end of the test.  Paddy White is also setting a nice pace, he was 9s up on JJ through stage 5 although the Navan property developer’s Subaru is blowing oil through the engine breather which is not a good sign. Ray Breen commented here at service. “We’re going OK, quite good, but its difficult to find the pace and we’ve had a few slips and slides”.  Gareth Jones is unhappy with the way his Subaru is going, he continually stalls the car, as if there is something wrong with the anti lag or the electronics.

Philip Morrow has climbed back into the lead of group N, Philip saying “We had no real dramas over the last few stages, I think I’ve found a nice safe pace. The roads are drying a little so I think I’ll go on to a slick type Pirelli. I ccould feel the car rolling on the tyres a little through the last stages”.  Colm Murphy says he is still having problems with his Subaru gear change and he can’t get reverse gear so he is always very wary of having an overshoot. Seamus Leonard lost a few seconds in stage 5 when he had a small accident in a tight farmyard. Willie Fannin had a puncture at the end of 5 and lost a few seconds. Alan Ring had a minor overshoot in his new Subaru. James Foley had a slightly slow time, a few seconds down on the other top gpN drivers, no real reason. Roy White has changed all the brakes on his Lancer and is setting 2^nd and 3^rd fastest Gpn times but of course is 4 mins back after his stage 2 accident. John McGlaughlin is battling against poor handling on his Lnacer. The rear right wheel is completely skewiff following his stage 2 excursion. James Cullen is still slightly in arrears after his stage 4 overshoot, but he is battling hard to get back in the frame, although to be honest that is virtually impossible such is the level of competition in GpN. Kevin Kelleher has changed the brakes on his Lancer but his times are starting to look a bit closer to the mark, but again with a total of 46.53.9 after 5 the Clonakilty man is on an uphill struggle now. More news later.