RALLY NEWS NO.3 Saturday – Kirkistown – 2pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3
1st (6) Charlie Donnelly/Pat O'Kane (Corolla WRC) 8.42.8
2nd (9) Denis Biggerstaff/Barry Fox (Impreza WRC) 8.43.9
3rd (5) Kenny McKinstry/Camillus O'Neill (Impreza WRC) 8.45.4
4th (7) Kevin Lynch/Raymond Hill (Impreza WRC) 8.48.3
5th (12) Derek McGeehan/Charlie Donaghy (Corolla WRC) 8.51.9
6th (10) Kevin Barrett/Johnny McGonigle (Impreza WRC) 8.52.5
7th (8) Glenn Allen/Leon McCrystal (Corolla WRC) 8.54.0
8th (18) Stephen & Pamela Moore (Focus WRC) 8.54.3
9th (3) Gwyndaf Evans/Paul Kiely (Lancer N) 8.55.6
10th (30) Michael Curran/Michael Haddock (Lancer N) 8.58.8
11th (20) Brendan O'Hagan/John Rowland (Focus WRC) 8.59.0
12th (17) Emma McKinstry/Ryan Rogers (Impreza WRC) 9.00.5

Kenny McKinstry/Camillus O’Neill were fastest through stage 3 in the McKinstry Motorsport Impreza S11, Charlie Donnelly was 2nd fastest and Kevin Lynch 3rd fastest. Kenny said he had a good clean run, no troubles. Charlie reckons he lost a couple of seconds when he caught up with Maurice Gass’ Skoda although Maurice had a good time. However there must have been just enough there to upset Charlie’s concentration. Early leader Kevin Lynch looked a wee bit crestfallen when he saw the times of the cars in front. Following his stage 2 spin Kevin reckoned that he would be able to pull back the lost seconds, but at the moment its looking as if it is an almost impossible task.

In Group N Gwyndaf Evans has led from the start but the Welshman’s superiority was dented in stage 3 when his Lancer’s hand brake stuck on. Gwyndaf’s time was 2.34.3 while Michael Curran did a 2.31.7 and Connor McCloskey did a 2.32.0. Connor is of course driving his father Brian’s car this time and had a spin on the first stage as well as a stall so he is a bit further back in the overall classification.

Robert Dunlop/Pamela Ballantine in the OO Den Motorsport Escort were again all smiles when they finished stage 3, Pamela saying “We were all over the shop, very sideways, it was brilliant!” Eugene Donnelly in the OO Corolla WRC is obviously trying very hard, his time for the stage 2.28.6, just a couple of seconds of fastest and Eugene said “It is awfully slippy”. Kevin Lynch said “It was an alright run”. Glenn Allen caught up with Gwyndaf Evans which he reckoned cost him a few seconds. Denis Biggerstaff perhaps lost a fraction when he clipped a couple of the big tyres at the side of the track. Kevin Barrett found the stage very slippy and has dropped back in the standings a little. Derek McGeehan lost a bit of momentum when he put the McCarthy Corolla WRC on the grass, but still his time was pretty good. Raymond Johnson had a good run but will not make up the time he lost with a spin on the first stage. John McKeown reckoned he was too cautious. Emma McKinstry had another good run, her time well on the pace.

Dessie Keenan in the black Escort had a spin. Trevor Moore continues to set the pace in the 2 wheel drive category, but by the narrowest of margins from Camillus Bradley: although all the top Escort men are going really hard. James Cullen said he was rally crossing at one point, side by side with an Escort and Brendan Crealey had a great dice with Trevor Moore mid way through one of the laps. Johnny McKenna’s pristine white Lancer wasn’t so pristine at the end of stage 3, covered in clabber from back to front, Johnny laughing when he said “Somebody said that intermediate tyres would be good, not a bit of it, we were in the field!” Sonya Mac in the little Ford Ka is going well despite having some fuel feed problems, the car cutting out on tight corners. Rodney White is 3rd best 2 wheel drive in his Sunbeam just ahead of Barry McKenna.

More to follow…..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net