RALLY NEWS NO.5 Glenariff Service/Saturday 2.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Glenariff
1st (2) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 23.12
(3) Raymond & David Johnston (Impreza WRC) 23.12
3rd (75) Sean Devine/Damien Duffin (Impreza WRC) 23.15
4th (7) John & Mandy McKeown (Escort WRC) 24.04
5th (9) John McGlaughlin/David McIlroy (Lancer N) 24.19
6th (5) James Murphy/John Brennan (Escort WRC) 24.43
7th (12) Richard Cathcart/Aidan Friel (Impreza N) 24.52
8th (80) Brian McGillen/David Doherty (Impreza WRC) 24.56
9th (14) Errol Clarke/Martin McGarrity (Lancer N) 25.02
10th (27) PJ Gillespie/Mary O’Kane (Lancer N) 25.23

It has been nip and tuck between Glenn Allen and Raymond Johnston in the fight for the lead while Sean Devine, who was leading after stage 3, was just a few seconds off the pace on stage 5, Slieveanorra. Further down the leaderboard Stanley Ballantine crashed his Lancer in Slieveanorra and blocked the stage for the following crews, including Richard Cathcart, Errol Clarke and Gareth Logan. They have received a nominal time for the stage which has left John McGlaughlin well in the lead of group N. Early Group N leader David Crossan was off the road in Slieveanorra, there are a few small things wrong with his Lancer following his trip into the ditch, and he has decided to retire.

Earlier in the rally we mentioned that Glenn Allen was having gear change difficulties. This transpired to be down to co driver Damien Connolly stuffing his coat behind the seat and knocking off the wire to the electronic gear change! Other than that Glenn is now going really well.

Sean Devine again found the roads very slippy but otherwise no problems. Raymond Johnston lost his confidence a wee bit on some of the Ballypatrick jumps, but he is back in top form again and was fastest through stage 6 Glenariff. Glenn Allen was fastest over Slieveanorra. The side of Johnston’s Impreza is slightly damaged as a result of hitting a chicane too hard. John McKeown in 4th place found Ballypatrick very rough otherwise is OK, although his Escort WRC gearbox has got very rattly.

Group N leader John McGlaughlin knocked the sump guard off his Lancer in Slieveanorra and had to get it a bit easier through Glenariff. George Robinson is coming a little better on the pace now as he gets more accustomed to his hired Lancer, George’s total 26.06. Maurice Gass is well down the order on 26.24, Maurice saying he can hardly drive the Celica his is laughing that much! Richard Cathcart said he lost his rhythm after being stopped behind Ballantine’s accident. Happily Stanley and co driver Richard Hyland are OK. It appears that their Lancer took a bit of a wander at a flat out crest, got out of synch and hit a tree very hard. Richard Cathcart set a stunning time through Ballypatrick, but the edge has been taken off his performance by that nominal time, and also by a 20s road penalty.

Errol Clarke has lost a little bit of time, his GpN Lancer suffering a damaged rear drive shaft. Brian McGillen set a good time through Glenariff and he is starting to get into the way of the ex Kevin O’Kane Impreza WRC. Further to David Crossan’s retirement – co driver Andrew Bushe told us that they were just going too hard into a chicane at a 2 left over dip and the Lancer got sucked into a ditch. Emma McKinstry was moving up the list on her times after stage 7 and said everything is “100 per cent”. Colin Britton is having his first run in a Lancer and was up to 14th o/a before the Slieveanorra blockage. Alistair Fisher was lying 2nd in class 5 behind Joe McQuillan, Alistair on his first forest run in the Peugeot SuperCup car. Andy Magee got off the hook in Slieveanorra when he spun at Mervyn Hill’s corner, had no reverse gear and was passed by Mark Barnett, but then of course the stage was stopped and they had the nominal time. After stage 3 Andy was still leading 2 wheel drive ahead of Martin McCormack with James Kennedy 3rd in his Escort, just ahead of Mark Barnett…all very close. Jody Patterson & Jeremy Taylor very nearly joined Kenny McKinstry in the Ballypatrick ditch, they described it as a double cautioned 6 left over crest and then they had a major moment on the jumps in Glenariff. Otherwise still going well….more later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net