RALLY NEWS NO.5 Service Milford/Saturday 4pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Atlantic Drive
1st (1) Eugene Donnelly/James Sharkey (Impreza WRC) 39.20
2nd (6) Dom Buckley/Mike Wastling (Impreza) 39.59
3rd (3) Paul Harris/Donal Barrett (Corolla WRC) 40.15
4th (7) Martin Doherty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 40.44
5th (8) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 40.56
6th (9) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 41.17
7th (16) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 41.24
8th (14) James Cullen/Reba Graham (Lancer N) 41.32
9th (33) Damien Gallagher/Mac Walsh (Escort) 42.37
10th (20) Gabriel Martin/Killian Duffy (Lancer N) 42.38

Dom Buckley has no answer to the flying Eugene Donnelly in front and the gap between 1st and 2nd really widened through the Glen and Atlantic Drive stages. When Tarmac Champion Eugene arrived into service he said. “This just gets better and better. I was thinking about my times for the International, I never got under 7.20 on Glen, I think Mark Higgins did a 7.16 and we’ve just done a 7.13.” Eugene went on to say that his guest co-driver James Sharkey who donated money to charity for the seat, has really come on with reading the notes. However Eugene continued “Glen is one of those stages anyway that you can remember. Atlantic Drive, that’s a different ball game, very difficult. Overall I’m delighted with this yoke, a great car. I’m supposed to be getting an S12 for next year, but if Derek McGarrity talks the right money it could be this S11…!!”

Whereas Eugene was totally upbeat, Dom Buckley was just laughing, having seemingly made a bit of a balls of Glen. However he still holds a solid 2nd and is 16s to the advantage over Paul Harris in 3rd. Paul said he is still taking it handy, no troubles. Martin Doherty in 4th had a good run, 3rd fastest over Atlantic Drive. Interestingly 2nd fastest on Atlantic Drive was Patrick Elliott who was back in 61st place after stage 4 following his puncture. Patrick said “We’re doing nothing silly now just getting the car round”. Niall Maguire in 5th place had some fuel/throttle body sensor troubles with his Subaru and was running a bit late, but there was certainly nothing wrong with his stage times, and he was faster than Adrian McElvaney through stages 5 and 6. Adrian’s co driver Paul Goodman joked. “There isn’t much that Adrian hasn’t done but he is a High Glen and Atlantic Drive virgin”.

Kevin Barrett in 7th still reports a good clean run. James Cullen in 8th is leading group N by quite a margin now from Gabriel Martin. Michael Curran has pulled out of the rally because of his ongoing lancer differential troubles. Cullen remarked “These stages now are very hard on a group N car, so much grip, and of course I’m an historic driver!” Frank Wray is unofficially 3rd in gpN and he survived a puncture on the way in here to service.

Wesley Patterson was leading the 2 wheel drive category but the Lisburn man has reportedly pulled in on the road section after Atlantic Drive and has been taken ill. Hopefully he’s going to be alright. Damien Gallagher is now best 2 wheel drive. There is slight confusion over the Glen stage times, so we are not sure who is 2nd but Robbie Peoples could well be there or thereabouts. Martin McGee was going well but has crashed on Atlantic Drive. Maurice Moffett has speeded up and said Atlantic Drive was just fabulous.

Stephen Dolan is now setting times faster than his father, Willie John, although Stephen’s co driver is being sick. Young Richard Dolan is having all sorts of problems with his Focus engine cutting out and he is a long way back. Gavin Harris/Shaun Lafferty have now got up into the top 20 in their Remax GpN Impreza. A couple of stages ago Seamus Gallagher was leading his class in his Saxo. Shane Orr and JP Logue were leading their classes in their respective Civics. Trevor Bustard has been having a good run in his Impreza and is in 39th. Conor Harvey is 2nd in his class behind JP Logue. Andrew Mullan is 2ned in class 6 in his Saxo. John Hanlon leads cl.10. Christopher Boyce is 2nd in Class 3 and Toni Kelly is 3rd.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net