RALLY NEWS NO.4
Ballymote/Sunday 3.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 KILMORGAN
1st (2) Patrick Elliott/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza
WRC) 41.43
2nd (1) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC)
42.00
3rd (4) Aaron MacHale/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC)
42.02
4th (5) Adrian McElvaney/Arthur Kierans (Impreza
WRC) 42.07
5th (7) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC)
42.39
6th (11) Noel Redmond/Andrew Purcell (Impreza WRC)
42.48
7th (8) Michael Barrable/M Morrissey (Focus WRC)
43.20
8th (15) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N)
43.42
9th (14) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Impreza N) 44.03
10th (26) Rodney Wilton/Conor McMahon (Escort)
44.13
Patrick Elliott was fastest on the last few stages to move
into the lead, taking over from Jim Harrison who led after stage 3
but crunched the rear corner of his Impreza a couple of corners from
the end of stage 4, Lough Bo. We reported earlier that Charlie
Donnelly lost his lead in stage 3 when he spun his Corolla WRC.
Charlie dropped to 5th then was held up in stage 4 behind
the course cars but was compensated for that by the organisers, then
set 2nd fastest time through stage 5 which brings him
back up to 2nd. Elliott commented here at service. “4th
gear has got a bit noisy but it should be OK, we’re going to check
the data card now. In overall terms we’re trying to drive
conservatively and not make mistakes”. Charlie Donnelly reported
his Corolla to be pulling slightly to the left following his stage 3
spin and collision with a tree, but said it was no real problem.
Aaron MacHale has lost a little of his momentum his Focus hitting a
big rock with a front wheel at a place where the road seems to have
subsided a little. Adrian McElvaney cut a square left over a bridge
too tight and also damaged a front wheel, was very lucky the tyre
didn’t deflate.
Jim Harrison’s co driver Harvey Bell was very dejected when
they came into service and saying “When are we ever going to get a
clean run. The problem happened nearly at the end of stage 4 at the
end of a long straight over crests into a 90 right and the car just
slid out. We’ve been using 3rd gear on every 90 right as
2nd is damaged which makes life interesting. We lost time
in stage 5 because the back of the car is buckled”. Michael
Barrable is still struggling with the gear change in his car and
hopes he might get something done here at service, Michael reporting
another stall.
Ian Barrett has dropped out of the group N race, his Lancer
stopped at the start of stage 4, the fuel pumps reportedly not
working. Ashfield Building Contractors man Willie Fannin was
fastest group N through stage 5. Alan Ring, the Dunlop GpN
championship leader, lost a few seconds with an overshoot.
Clonakilty man Kevin Kelleher was disappointed to turn in a couple
of mediocre times in stages 4 and 5, doesn’t really know the reason
why. We reported earlier that Kevin was joint fastest gpN through
stage 3. this turned out to be an incorrect stage time and Kevin was
10s slower than first reported.
In the 2 wheel drive category Rodney Wilton has
turned on the pressure again. Maurice Moffett was faster through
stage 3but through stages 4 and 5 Wilton left everyone trailing in
his wake. Moffett was trying so hard that he put his Starlet up a
narrow muddy lane right at the end of stage 5 and dropped a couple
of seconds. He is however 2nd 2 wheel drive but 41s
behind Wilton while Enda Keenan is a further 2s back. Mark Alcorn
had a flat tyre in stage 4 and lost quite a few seconds but in
overall terms his stage times are making no impression on the guys
in front. Gary McPhillips who is running at 42 in his Escort has
been setting some fabulous times and passing 4 and 5 cars a stage.
He didn’t get doing stage 3 because a car in front went on fire but
his total now may put him ahead of Moffett for 2nd best 2
wheel drive. We will not really know until we hear what scratch time
he gets for stage 3. Tadgh Linehan is running outside the group of
top gpN cars, Tadgh had a spin at a hairpin and also has a wheel
slightly out of line on his Impreza. More news to follow. BRIAN
& LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
