RALLY NEWS NO.3 Omagh Service/Saturday 12,30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Gallen Bridge
1st (4) Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 19.14.6
2nd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 19.20.0
3rd (2) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 19.20.2
4th (9) Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Focus WRC) 19.22.6
5th (5) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 19.30.6
6th (6) Kevin Lynch/David Moynihan (Focus WRC) 19.37.7
7th (3) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 19.45.4
8th (10) Stephen Murphy/MJ Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 20.00.8
9th (7) Peadar Hurson/Michael Orr (Impreza WRC) 20.09.8
10th (15) Martin Doherty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 20.25.3

Eugene Donnelly was fastest through stage 2, but there was only half a second between himself and Mark Higgins with Kris Meeke and Andreas Mikkelsen a further couple of seconds back. The day started a bit overcast and slightly chilly but the skies are clearing, temperatures are rising and several of the top drivers got caught out on tyre choice, picking rubber which overheated. They have another stage to do before service so we are not quite sure how that will affect proceedings. Donnelly is still doing small adjustments to his Subaru as he tries to find the pace. Mark Higgins in the Pirelli car reported all well. While Kris Meeke was definitely in the category of picking too soft a compound tyre and was struggling for grip. Tim McNulty in the Pierse backed Subaru looked absolutely whacked at stage finish as the flu tightens its grip. Peadar Hurson felt he was being too cautious. Kevin Lynch is still trying to find the right settings for his Focus and said it was so different from the Subaru it is just not true. Stephen Murphy felt his car was sliding about. Terry McGonigle, having his first real run in a world rally car, stalled at the start line and then was off the road at a square left and bent the steering slightly. No comments from Mikkelsen but he seemed to have a good clean run. Noel McCarrick damaged a rim on his Impreza WRC and lost a few seconds.

In Group N Seamus Leonard was again fastest, but by just 2s from Colm Murphy with Roy White a further 12 back. Leonard was surprised at how much gravel had been pulled out by the big cars in front. Colm Murphy is determined to just get his Impreza round today in one piece and maybe have a go tomorrow. While Roy White has lost a bit of confidence as his red Lancer is moving about on the bumps and jumps.

In the National Rally Glenn Allen was massively quicker on the opening stage, 15s up on Richard Cathcart with Neil McCance 3rd, Raymond Johnston 4th, Johnny McKenna 5th and Stephen Moore 6th. Allen reported a clean run, no pressure. Richard Cathcart’s co driver Killian Duffy dropped the pace notes when his head bounced off the roll cage following a series of big jumps. Neil McCance said he felt comfortable. Raymond Johnston whacked the rear of his Impreza, the Ballinamallard man joking “She gave a bit of a jack knife and the trailer got stuck between two hedges!” Johnny McKenna in 5th found his new Lancer bouncing about a bit while Stephen Moore in 6th really struggled on his first run in his Focus on a proper tarmac stage.

LATE NEWS: Kris Meeke has spun and stalled on stage 3 and lost maybe 10s. Also the Reid Transport team helicopter has just taken off with a spare turbo for Shaun Reid’s Lancer.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd)*For SMS results and news to your mobile text RALLY ITC to 60066 in UK and 53030 in Ireland. Cost 25p/30c. Text RALLY STOP to stop at any time. Provided by Stagetimes.com