UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 10 Dunworley

1^st (3) Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 1.20.48.1

2^nd (5) Donal O'Donovan/Sean Moroney (Celica) 1.21.52.3

3^rd (16) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian) 1.22.27.8

4^th (4) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 1.22.46.0

5^th (10) Kevin & Martin Kelleher (Lancer N) 1.23.28.9

6^th (14) George Cullen/Jakes Kelly (Impreza WRC)

7^th (12) Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop (Focus WRC)

8^th (19) Mark Morgan/Tony Fisher (Lancer N)

9^th (6) Nigel Hicklin/Diarmuid Falvey (Corolla WRC)

10^th (31) Gwyndaf Evans/David Jones 9Escort)

There was quite an upset over this morning’s opening 2 stages when Phil Collins crashed his Escort on the first stage out, Inchybridge, and Steve Fleck crashed his lovely black Impreza WRC on the 2^nd one, Dunworley.  The following cars will receive “notional times” which we will slot in in due course.  Phil Collins was 6^th overnight, Steve Fleck 7^th. There are no reports of any injuries.  Also retired this morning is Barry Coleman, Barry was 10^th overnight in the McKinstry Subaru, but apparently the car filled up with smoke following some sort of gearbox problem and Barry decided to withdraw.

Out at the front of the rally Melvyn Evans told us that he pushed fairly hard over the opening 2 stages but found them very dusty and slippy and had at least one big moment when he had to slam on the hand brake. Mostly though Melvyn said that he was driving about eight tenths and trying to spare 5^th gear as much as he could.  Evans was fastest on the opening stage but on the 2^nd one this morning, stage 10, it was Michael Barrable who was fastest. Michael reckons he is still very rusty, and is gradually building up the commitment you need at the top level. Says he is getting about 6 corners right and 6 corners wrong at the moment.  Donal O’Donovan had a poor opening stage to the day, Donal spinning his Celica at a square right over loose. Third placed John Dalton also had a spin, his Darrian getting out of shape at the triangle in stage 10.

Kevin & Martin Kelleher continue to lead group N although the Clonakilty brothers had a slow time in stage 10 when their Lancer blew its turbo charger. Kevin told us there were no great clouds of smoke or anything, just the turbo gauge dropped like a stone and the engine lost all power. Indeed they were caught by Barrable in the stage.

Looking back to the overnight results – Dean Williams led class 1 in his Polo. David Parle class 2 in his Civic and John Murphy class 3 in his Honda. Group N overnight – top 3 – Kevin Kelleher, Mark Morgan & Kieran O’Callaghan, all in Lancers. Colm Forde led cl.5 in his Ka.  Niall Guinevan led cl.6 in his 206. Killarney Nissan dealer Dave Randles led cl.7 in his Almera. Eoghan Calnan was the leader in cl.9 in his Escort. Fintan Canty was in front in class 10 with yet another Escort.  Tim O’Donovan led cl.11 in his Corolla. Ger O’Connell led cl.12 in his Escort. Gwyndaf Evans was in front in class 13, Wesley Patterson 2^nd and Conor Curley 3^rd. John Dalton led cl.14 in his Darrian.

Looking outside West Cork for just a minute – Marcus Dodd won the Border Counties Rally from Barry Johnson with Roger Duckworth 3^rd, Steve Perez 4^th.  Emma McKinstry survived very difficulty snowy conditions that decimated the field, Emma bringing her Lancer into 14^th o/a, best Lady driver.

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net