RALLY NEWS NO.3
Saturday/Noon/Service
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Ballinascarthy
1st (3) Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 16.20.5
2nd (2) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC)
16.20.9
3rd (5) Donal O'Donovan/Sean Moroney (Celica)
16.52.3
4th (10) Kevin & Martin Kelleher (Lancer N)
16.54.1
5th (16) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian)
17.00.5
6th (12) Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop (Focus WRC)
17.06.5
7th (14) George Cullen/Jakes Kelly (Impreza WRC)
17.08.5
8th (8) Steve Fleck/Mark Aspinall (Impreza WRC)
17.08.6
9th (15) Phil Collins/Nicky Grist (Escort)
17.09.4
10th (4) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Focus
WRC) 17.11.5
Just a split second separated the first 2 cars through the
opening stages and then there is quite a gap to Donal O’Donovan in 3rd
place which would indicate that at the moment we have a 2 horse race
at the front, and then a great battle for the following positions.
There was some disappointment for Michael Barrable who slipped from
7th to 10th when his Focus WRC seemed to lose
its gear change before the end of that 2nd stage.
Liam McCarthy is now running first on the road in his
Corolla WRC following the retirement of last year’s winner Denis
Cronin on the first stage. McCarthy and his co driver Kieran Murphy
seemed to be in a bit of a lethargic mood, both saying they couldn’t
really get going. Melvyn Evans seemed almost surprised to be
leading, his Subaru coughing and spluttering, reluctant to rev out.
Donal O’Donovan in 3rd has new Reiger suspension fitted
to his Celica and he feels he needs to adjust it up to tighten the
dampers.
Kevin Kelleher is driving like a demon in his Group N
Lancer, but “The Big Fella” backed Mitsubishi is reluctant to pull
away from junctions, hanging back a bit, although it is going well
through the gears once the revs are up. John Dalton in 5th
also leads the Modifieds in his Darrian, John saying that the rear
tyres had started to overheat a little towards the end of stage 2
which is pretty remarkable considering this very cold weather.
Anyway, the end result was that the Darrian was wandering about at
the rear end.
Jon Ingram rounds off the top 6, the English visitor
candidly remarking that he hasn’t really a clue what he is doing on
this his first visit to West Cork. However, the former road rally
champion is certainly doing something right in his Focus WRC to be
lying so well up.
Further stories include James O’Sullivan’s Lancer stopped in
stage 2 with a mechanical problem. Ashley Field’s Darrian was
missing here at Service In. Nigel Hicklin was a little disappointed
with his times through the first couple of stages, Nigel saying.
“The car (Corolla WRC) seems a bit loose, but I’m sure its alright,
it must be just me”. Bob Fowden reported his Impreza overheating on
the first stage, on the 2nd stage some of the electrical
circuits seemed to be failing. George Cullen had a good run through
stage 2 and is rapidly settling in to the ex Kevin Lynch Impreza WRC.
Phil Collins had a good run through the first couple
of stages, just a few seconds off the pace of his friend John
Dalton. Collins joking “We’re not doing so bad for a couple of
beginners!” Barry Coleman is driving one of Kenny McKinstry’s cars
this weekend, and following a slowish time on the first stage had a
great run through 2, 6th or 7th fastest. John
Hickey had a soft brake pedal in his GpN Impreza. Tadgh Linehan is
settling in to his Impreza N11. PJ McGrath spun and stalled at
Junction 9 in stage 2, otherwise would have had a great run. Mark
Morgan was adjusting the suspension of his gpN Lancer between
stages. Went better on stage 2. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ
PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
