RALLY NEWS NO.2 End of stage 1/Sunday/12.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Feebagh
1st (3) Patrick Elliott/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 7.24
2nd (1) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 7.29
3rd (2) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC) 7.32
4th (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 7.36
(6) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 7.36
6th (4) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 7.37
7th (8) Michael Barrable/M Morrissey (Focus WRC) 7.43
8th (10) Aaron MacHale/Ger McMonagle (Corolla WRC) 7.48
9th (7) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 7.52
10th (11) Martin Doherty/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 7.53

Patrick Elliott had a great run through the first stage to set fastest time. Although there are blue skies overhead there were still slippy patches in the stage as well as some pretty big jumps to catch out the unwary. First on the road Ray Breen said he had a good run, settling in well, the car was 100 per cent, although looking at the car the rear brakes seemed pretty hot. Charlie Donnelly in 3rd again reported no major problems and quite happy so far.

Last year’s winner Adrian McElvaney is 4th on the road and he felt that his Subaru was jumping very badly, quite scary, landing on one wheel. Niall Maguire seemed to be in brilliant form at stage finish and he certainly cannot be discounted today. Equal fastest with Maguire was Glenn Allen, the Cookstown man happy now with the way his Corolla is going. Michael Barrable as a good run as did Kevin Barrett. Sean Devine was just outside the top 10 having stalled his Impreza at the start line of the stage.

Aaron MacHale was almost caught unawares by one of the big jumps, said it was pretty massive.
Just outside the leaderboard was Hugh M Doherty, the Donegal man reporting a major vibration in his Impreza.

Next on the road were the Group N cars with Alan Ring and Kevin Kelleher tying for fastest on 7.57. Willie Fannin was 2s slower in his new Impreza N12 and Frank Wray lost quite a few seconds when he put his Lancer into a field. When Wray got going he held up Mark Alcorn in the Corolla Twin Cam, but still Alcorn was fastest of the Modified cars with a 7.56. Maurice Moffett did a 7.59 despite forgetting to switch on the intercom in the Starlet. Rodney Wilton had an 8.01 in his Escort. Paddy Boyle was off the road for a few seconds in his Escort and his time was 8.18. Mac McKenna did not appear at stage end – or else was running very late.

Other times for the modifieds include – Gordon Rogers had 8.07. Camillus Bradley 8.16 and Trevor Lancashire 8.23. David McNulty in the class 15 Escort Cosworth had 8.21.

More news after stage 3.

BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net