RALLY NEWS NO.2 Glenariff Service/Saturday 11am

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Glenariff
1st (82) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 1.43
2nd (75) Sean Devine/Damien Duffin (Impreza WRC) 1.44
3rd (2) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 1.45
4th (3) Raymond & David Johnston (Impreza WRC) 1.47
(34) David Crossan/Andrew Bushe (Lancer N) 1.47
6th (7) John & Mandy McKeown (Escort WRC) 1.48
(12) Richard Cathcart/Aidan Friel (Impreza N) 1.48
8th (9) John McGlaughlin/David McIlroy (Lancer N) 1.49
(10) Peter McCullagh/Alan Dolan (Lancer N) 1.49
10th (14) Errol Clarke/Martin McGarrity (Lancer N) 1.50

Conditions were reasonably bright and with just a hint of sunshine when the competitors left the start at Ballymena, but up here in the Glens it is misty and mizzly. It was no problem through the first stage, Glenariff, but in the Ballypatrick and Slieveanorra forests visibility may be a problem. As can be seen above Kenny McKinstry was fastest through the first stage, but the Banbridge man looked a little sheepish when he brought his Impreza into the service area as the front of the car was badly dented. Kenny told us “Just couldn’t get slowed down for the chicane”.

First on the road, Sean Devine, felt that the roads were quite slippy. His Subaru was to his liking and a little touch of the flue that was developing yesterday seems to have receded so last year’s winner, Sean, is on course for a good day. Glenn Allen also had a good time on that opening test, the Cookstown man saying “I haven’t been in the car since the Bushwhacker so I’m quite pleased with that time. We were getting good grip, everything’s fine”.

Raymond Johnston was another to have problems at a chicane but still had a good time. James Murphy has made the trip up from Cork to compete in his Dominic McNeill prepared Escort WRC, and James was just a few seconds down on a time of 1.54. He struggled a little bit to settle in and he is wearing the new HANS device for the first time and he found it “different”. Maurice Gass set a time of 2.06, he’s running 5th on the road in the ex Donnelly Celica. John & Mandy McKeown had a good time but they felt it was slow.

Further comments from the drivers: New Group N Champion Stanley Ballantine had a bit of a stall at a chicane. Young Richard Cathcart found the stage very narrow and tight but still had a good run on his first outing in his GpN Impreza. John Donnelly found the throttle sticking on his Escort Cosworth, his time was 1.55. Gareth Logan had a half spin and recorded 1.52 in his gpN Lancer. Brian McGillin was having his first run in an Impreza WRC and said “She even handles well in the sheoughs”. Peter Ward got stuck in a ditch and lost a few seconds, his time 2.16. Some further times include: Martin Carey 1.57: Jody McGrath in the Legacy 2.02: Martin Cairns 1.58: James Kennedy 1.56: Mark Barnett 1.55: Camillus Bradley in his blue Escort this time 1.59.

David Crossan is driving one of David Greer’s group N Lancers and with Andrew Bushe on the notes was quickest group N on 1.47.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net