RALLY NEWS NO.3                               Lurgan Park/Saturday/ 2.15

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4

1^st (1) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 8.29.7

2^nd (3) Kenny McKinstry/Fintan McGrady (Impreza WRC) 8.38.4

3^rd (5) David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza WRC) 8.43.3

4^th (6) Glenn Allen/Kieran McCracken (Corolla WRC) 8.45.1

5^th (7) Denis Biggerstaff/John Lewis (Impreza WRC) 8.47.4

6th (20) Garry Jennings/Dara Mullan (Lancer N) 8.50.8

7^th (4) Niall McShea/John Reddington (Impreza WRC) 8.52.3

8^th (14) Nigel Worswick/Clive Molyneaux (Escort WRC) 8.53.1

9^th (19) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane 9Lancer N) 8.53.3

10^th (11) Raymond Johnston/Richard Bell (Impreza WRC) 8.54.1

Stage 4 was a change of direction for the drivers, also a slightly shorter stage, however that made no difference to rally leader Kevin Lynch who was fastest by over a second from Kenny McKinstry with Niall McShea, David Higgins, Glenn Allen and Denis Biggerstaff all well on the pace but still having to play second fiddle to Lynch in front.  Kevin commented. “There’s nothing easy about getting these seconds, everything’s fine, we’re keeping it steady but its hairy stuff.  I don’t want to be getting it wrong through those trees, a bit off line and that’s it, and its still a long way to go”. 

Kenny McKinstry said. “We had a real good run, just can’t match this man in front”.  When asked would the fact that Kenny is driving an older model Subaru have made any difference he said. “Sure you could blame everything, its down to me”.  David Higgins said. “A so so run, its all change with the stage and its taking me a while to get used to the gravel section”.  Denis Biggerstaff said. “Can’t complain, a good run”.  Raymond Johnston commented. “It was good fun, but not a good time we had an overshoot at the bridge”.   Sean Devine remarked that he hasn’t competed in the park before, so he’s doing a good job.  Nigel Worswick recounted getting his white Escort WRC a bit too sideways which cost some time, Nigel saying “Its so intense here, you could kick yourself for every slip, but really I’m struggling against the new technology”. Derrick Jobb turned the anti lag down on his Celica to try to get more traction on the loose. Sean Haveron spun on that stage 4, picked too soft a slick tyre for the gravel.

In Group N Michael Curran had a very big moment but still managed to take another .1 of a second of Garry Jennings. These 2 are having a very big race indeed.  Garry, who has Andrew Mullan’s son co driving, felt that he was a bit too wild on the loose.  Richard Hogg had a good run, as did John McGlaughlin and Martin Elliott, the latter saying that it feels pretty slippy even on the dry tarmac.  Emma McKinstry reckoned that the stage is nicer run that way, Emma off the pace of the top gpN drivers but still 24^th o/a, just behind Gareth Logan. Mark Doyle in the little Peugeot had 2 spins in that stage, the car suffering from throttle jamming open.  Rodney White is going well in his Sunbeam, into the top 20 now.  Mervyn Wedlock is using a pair of mole grips to yank a cable inside the Escort to get neutral, some problem with the sequential gear shift. Mervyn doing nicely overall in 25^th. 

Alister McRae was again fastest of the Mk2 Escorts just ahead of Wesley Patterson.  Wesley is still having 2^nd gear problems.  Trevor Moore was fastest Escort in stage 2 but lost a lot of time in stage 3 when he bent a track control arm.  In stage 4 Trevor missed a couple of gears and was a few seconds down.  Alistair Cochrane stopped in that stage, as did Enda Keenan who was having clutch problems with his Escort. 

BTRDA 1400 Champion Neil Weaver is well down the list in his Corsa, Neil having difficulty getting used to driving on tarmac and had a spin as well as picking the wrong tyres.  Darren Gass lost a huge amount of time when his Fiesta suffered broken steering, has got going now but feels the car is down on power.  Darren’s father Maurice is right at the back of the field, his Skoda almost stopping in stage 3 with some sort of fuel problem which upset the electronics.  The Mayor of Craigavon, Councillor Kenneth Twyble, has really entered into the spirit of the rally, supporting it every inch of the way and has just had a run in the “0”  Escort driven by John Waring and absolutely loved it! More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net