RALLY NEWS NO.3 Service/Saturday 11.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Kindrum
1st (6) Dom Buckley/Mike Wastling (Impreza) 12.18
2nd (1) Eugene Donnelly/James Sharkey (Impreza WRC) 12.19
3rd (2) Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC) 12.22
4th (3) Paul Harris/Donal Barrett (Corolla WRC) 12.33
5th (8) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 12.48
6th (16) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 12.51
7th (9) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 12.52
8th (14) James Cullen/Reba Graham (Lancer N) 13.01
9th (7) Martin Doherty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 13.02
10th (35) Wesley Patterson/Ruth Guest (Escort) 13.03
11th (29) Trevor Cathers/Dessie Wilson (Lancer N) 13.06
12th (33) Damien Gallagher/Mac Walsh (Escort) 13.09

Dom Buckley was fastest on the opening stage and Eugene Donnelly was quickest through the second, Kindrum, to leave the gap between the leading pair just 1 second. Buckley said everything was fine, his only problem the windscreen washers worked by themselves, his final comment. “Nice and safe”. Eugene Donnelly said he was being careful, not over committed, and obviously with his guest co driver James Sharkey on board Eugene was taking no risks. Peadar Hurson in 3rd place said he was finding it hard to get into the groove. Paul Harris in 4th said he was being careful enough.

Niall Maguire in 5th reported no problems. Kevin Barrett in 6th place had a good clean run although he was held up for a few seconds at the scene of Hugh martin Doherty’s accident. Patrick Elliott was 5th after the first stage but lost a lot of time on the 2nd when his Subaru sustained a puncture just before the chicane.

Former 2 times Donegal International winner James Cullen leads group N, while former British & Irish Group N Champion, Trevor Cathers, has switched on to his old style and set super times through the firs5t 2 stages to hold 2nd in group N ahead of young Michael Curran. The latter driver feels he hasn’t really switched on this morning.

In the race for best 2 wheel drive honours its Wesley Patterson doing the business so far just ahead of Damien Gallagher. Mark Alcorn was fastest through the first stage but his Escort has stopped in stage 2. Maurice Moffett is slightly off the pace, Maurice saying that when he came upon Hugh Martin Doherty’s accident his brain switched into “safe mode”. Damien Gallagher said he is lacking in confidence. Camillus Bradley is just 1s behind Gallagher, Camillus on the wrong tyres.

Further stories include – Ivan Stewart having gearbox troubles but still going. Kieran Graffin was slowed when a water bottle came loose in his Lancer. Stuart Darcy tried to start the rally on high profile tyres but found the rears were fouling the suspension springs, so was forced to do the first 2 stages with different tyres on the front from the back. John McKeown was sick over the first couple of stages. Martin Doherty had a spin just before the flying finish of stage 2 and dropped from 4th to 9th. Gabriel Martin felt he was being too cautious on the 2nd stage but he is still right on the gpN picture on a total of 13.11. Eugene Ferry was blocked on the first stage, had a good run on the 2nd.

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net