RALLY NEWS NO.5 Armagh/Service/Friday 10.15

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Ivy Hill
1st (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 33.57.9
2nd (17) Kris Meeke/Glenn Patterson (Citroen C2) 34.19.5
3rd (4) Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC) 34.35.2
4th (25) Garry Jennings/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 34.37.7
5th (13) Gareth Jones/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 34.45.8
6th (3) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 34.50.2
7th (16) Ryan Champion/Craig Thorley (Lancer N) 35.12.8
8th (15) Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 35.14.7
9th (20) Gwyndaf Evans/Huw Lewis (Lancer N) 35.16.2
10th (14) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 35.17.3
11th (24) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 35.30.7
12th (30) Phillip Morrow/Chris Patterson (Lancer N) 35.35.2

Eugene Donnelly shifted his Corolla WRC up a gear when this Ulster Rally moved into its 2nd section through stages 4 and 5. Eugene was 11s faster than Kris Meeke through stage 5, 27s up on Hurson, 19s up on Garry Jennings, 16s up on Gareth Jones. It was stunning stuff. Donnelly’s Corolla was the only competitor to get through a parade at Caledon without being held up and arrived here at service in good time, Eugene saying “We had a great cut, everything worked well, I changed the differential settings very slightly and that made a big difference, but overall we had a good run and I loved the stages and rallying in the darkness”. Second placed Kris Meeke said “Stage 4 was very difficult over the bumps and jumps but we had a good run in stage 5 although we still had some damp patches under the tress and it was quite slippy in places”. The reason for Huron’s slow time was an overshoot at a square right junction just over a blind crest and Peadar was just a little too fast in and then the engine stalled. Gareth Jones said he had a good clean run, no problems. Garry Jennings commented “We had a slow puncture but otherwise it went well although I am still getting used to the car especially in the dark, but if we have as good a day tomorrow I’ll be happy”.

Ryan Champion has moved into the group N lead and is 7th overall, Yorkshireman Ryan saying “I love the darkness, give me 3 or 4 more stages now please!” Rory Galligan also had a good run while Gwyndaf Evans reported a warped brake disc on his Lancer. Rory Galligan stepped up the pace in the dark and he has moved into 2nd gpN behind Champion, but 22s back which is a fair bit by group N standards. Rory said “Good steady run no problems”. His co driver Greg Shinnors laughed and commented “The adrenaline is flowing, its like night nav stuff out there under the map light!” Jonny Milner said “I’m struggling, the car is all over the place”. Seamus Leonard reported that his lights were a disaster. While Colm Murphy felt he was dropping time, possible the car is down on power. Roy White felt he was a bit slow over the big jumps and bumps of Todds Leap, part of the reason being he doesn’t know the stage, but thought he had a respectable run over Ivy Hill. Phillip Morrow went well over the last couple of stages, and said his Lancer is the best it has ever been, behaving really well through the long corners and the lights were “really mint”. Neil McCance dropped over a minute in stage 4 with a puncture and said “That’s it, its all over for this championship. Every rally I’ve had a problem”.

Barry Clark in the Super 1600 Fiesta lost time in stage 4 when the master switch knocked itself off over a jump, he managed to get it going but lost quite a few seconds. Darren Gass lost his brakes in stage 4 but is still going well. Emma McKinstry had no problems over the last stage but still getting used to the car, especially in the dark. More news in the morning. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net …..and we are instructed to say a big HELLO to Peter Martin from M-Sport….who is in training for the Great North Run and is raising money for the RNLI.
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