| RALLY NEWS NO.4 End of Stage 6/Mullaghanish/Saturday 5pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 MULLAGHANISH
1st (5) Keith Cronin/Anthony O'Conaill (Lancer N) 32.24.0
2nd (2) Brian McGillin/David Doherty (Hyundai WRC) 32.43.7
3rd (1) Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Focus WRC) 32.50.1
4th (14) Colin Britton/Arthur Kierans (Lancer N) 33.56.8
(42) Damien Tourish/Charlie McLudy (Lancer N) 33.56.8
6th (8) James Murphy/John Brennan (Escort WRC) 34.00.7
7th (4) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Brady (Impreza WRC) 34.11.0
8th (16) Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) 34.17.7
(21) Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Impreza WRC) 34.17.7
10th (17) Seamus O'Connell/Brian Duggan (Escort) 34.32.8
The big water splash towards the end of this Mullaghanish stage did Brian McGillin no favours as his Hyundai heater box seemed to fill with water and the screen completely misted over so that Brian and co driver David Doherty had to stop and undo their belts to clear the screen before they could go any further. That was stage 6, in stage 5 Keith Cronin was also the faster of the two, by 2s, which meant that Keith led McGillin by 4s. After that 6th stage then young Cronin/s lead jumped to almost 20s. Keith said at stage finish. “Some of the ruts were huge but still we were pushing on”. He is the original quiet man is Keith, but he did give a little smile when he made that comment! Stephen Moore held on to 3rd with 2 solid times, and when he brought his Focus WRC to a halt he admitted that he is not pushing too hard, thinking all the time of the championship and just getting a decent finish this weekend.
Michael O’Brien was lying 4th but his Focus WRC was reportedly parked at the start of that sixth stage. Colin Britton and Damien Tourish are having a great run for 2nd in group N, and they are equal 4th o/a. Colin said he was trying to keep it as clean as he could through the stage while Tourish reported no big problems. James Murphy in 6th place had a great run through both stages, the Kilmallock man delighted with the way his Escort WRC is performing now. Kevin O’Kane took it very steady through Mullaghanish, not happy with the stage at all but still had time for a little wisecrack. Engineer Gerry McGarrity was standing at the stage finish and Kevin called him over wanting to know if there was a Post Office nearby. This was in the middle of the country, about miles from Millstreet. Gerry looked at Kevin very quizzically. O’Kane then went on “I thought maybe you were out to collect your pension!” With that Kevin slammed the Subaru into gear and roared up the road!
In joint 8th place is Frank Kelly and Emma McKinstry. Frank absolutely airborne through the last 2 stages to move into the lead of the 2 wheel drive category, eclipsing Adrian Hetherington who had no real explanation as to why he slowed off through the 2 stages. Seamus O’Connell/Brian Duggan also had a great run to get into 2nd two wheel drive. Emma McKinstry reported no problems and is doing a brilliant job. Just outside the leaderboard we have drivers such as Enda McNulty and Alwyn Jobb in their respective Lancers, both on the pace and fighting for championship honours. David Wright/David Hamilton retired their Lancer when the front suspension collapsed on the road section after Mullaghanish. While Brendan Murphy/Pat Condon retired their Sunbeam, Brendan saying he just wasn’t prepared to give the car any more punishment today. In the Fiesta Sporting Trophy Alastair Fisher was fastest by just a smidgeon from Jonny Greer, but Greer still leads Fisher while Conor Harvey has just edged ahead of Tadgh Buckley for 3rd. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Ciara Conlan) |
