RALLY NEWS NO.2 From end of SS1/Saturday
09.00
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 DONEGAL
1st (4) Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC)
13.06.5
2nd (1) Daniel Carlsson/Bo Holmstrand (Lancer WRC)
13.21.6
3rd (7) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC)
13.24.5
4th (6) Kenny McKinstry/James O'Brien (Impreza
WRC) 13.30.2
5th (2) Chris Atkinson/Glenn Macneall (Impreza N)
13.43.9
6th (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC)
13.47.1
7th (9) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC)
13.50.5
8th (25) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N)
13.53.3
9th (11) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza
WRC) 13.57.7
10th (21) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N)
14.07.1
The consensus of opinion amongst the leading drivers was
that the first stage of this Rally Ireland was very difficult, very
jumpy and bumpy. Several of the top cars had damaged front spoilers
and Gareth MacHale’s co driver Paul Nagle said their Focus WRC
landed on it’s nose several times. Gareth himself commenting. “The
jumps were quite bad but we tried to be easy enough over them in the
car. We caught Bernardi about 4km from the end of the stage but he
didn’t hold us up”. No.1 seed Carlsson said. “No big problems, the
car was good, we ran intermediate tyres and everything worked”.
Australian visitor Chris Atkinson in the works Group N
Impreza said. “It was quite bumpy but good. At times we were in the
air and I’m not sure where we were, just bouncing along”. We
mentioned above about MacHale catching and passing Bernardi, when
the Frenchman’s GpN Lancer arrived he said. “Nothing is OK, the
engine stopped in the stage, the exhaust is hitting the ground,
perhaps we have broken rear diff, car is undriveable”.
When Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly stopped he said. “That
was unbelievably bad, we were on the wrong diff settings for the
first few miles and then the car was all over the place, the
suspension seems to be far too hard, we couldn’t even get into 6th
gear”. Kenny McKinstry had a good run, all the more noticeable
because Kenny hasn’t driven a left hand drive car for a while. The
former Tarmac Champion commenting. “Not a nice stage, a horny wee
boy, but the boss is getting settled in!” Eamonn Boland felt he
didn’t have a good run but his time was good. National Champion Ray
Breen said. “I just couldn’t get to terms with the stage”. Patrick
Elliott in the new S10 Impreza recounted a spin at the last junction
and also that his Subaru suspension was set too hard and that the
car was “bouncing around like a tennis ball!” Aaron MacHale was
also unhappy with the handling of his Corolla WRC and said the car
was bouncing about. Aaron’s time was 14.19.4 while David James,
still settling in with his Focus WRC, was 15.19.6. Noel McCarrick’s
Subaru we hear stopped on the way to the first stage.
In Group N Chris Atkinson was obviously fastest as can be
seen above. Then it was Michael Curran, Michael thinking that he had
a slowish run. Shaun Gallagher set a time of 14.48.4 and said he
couldn’t get going at all. Paul Harris did 14.48.5. John
McGlaughlin had some problems with his Lancer, saying the steering
wheel or something was loose. Roy White was going slowly towards the
end of the stage, no news as yet as to how he is getting on.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
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