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RALLY NEWS NO.8 Service/Mallow/Sunday 1.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 12 Streamhill West
1st (5) Keith Cronin/Anthony O'Conaill (Lancer N) 1.07.33.9
2nd (1) Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Focus WRC) 1.07.38.6
3rd (14) Colin Britton/Arthur Kierans (Lancer N) 1.10.26.1
4th (4) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Brady (Impreza WRC) 1.10.27.8
5th (10) Cathal Rogers/Paul McLaughlin (Lancer N) 1.11.11.1
6th (21) Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Impreza WRC) 1.11.17.7
7th (46) Alwyn Jobb/Thomas Nugent (Lancer) 1.11.48.8
8th (17) Seamus O'Connell/Brian Duggan (Escort) 1.11.52.3
9th (18) Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Escort) 1.11.55.4
10th (20) John McGaffin/Alan Russell (Impreza WRC) 1.12.16.7
11th (24) Colm McBride/Rodney Hicks (Lancer N) 1.12.42.0
12th (23) John Reid/Ray Fitzpatrick (Corolla WRC) 1.12.54.8
With 4 stages remaining it is very tight at the top and just 5s separate Keith Cronin from 2nd placed Stephen Moore. Colin Britton is doing a fine job to hang on to 3rd place although fastest group N driver besides Cronin is now Cathal Rogers who seems to have got a new lease of life compared to yesterday. Keith Cronin reported an overshoot on the last junction of stage 12 but otherwise a clean run. However, from almost the start of the rally Keith keeps talking about the Fidanne stage and how it suits the world rally car better than group N and he said again here at service. “I’ll never hold him (Moore) now in Fidanne”.
For his part Stephen Moore said. “I’m happy enough, driving on, but nothing silly”. A big part of Moore’s thinking over this weekend has of course been to cement his lead in the Hankook Forestry Championship, and now that McGillin has gone out we don’t know really who can beat Moore in the points race. Cronin is certainly on course for group N honours.
Colin Britton said here at service. “We’re going as fast as we can and as clean as we can, keeping it altogether”. Kevin O’Kane in 4th reported that the suspension trouble coming into last service was easily fixed, that it was really down to a bent steering arm and a flat wheel and the Omagh man went on to say of the last few stages. “We went reasonably good, made a few mistakes, the stages are better now, more enjoyable, what we’ve come to expect!” Cathal Rogers has really driven brilliantly over today’s stages and despite a big spin in stage 12 set a good time, but the Limavady man is at a loss to explain why he’s going so well today and by his own high standards so poorly yesterday.
Emma McKinstry in 6th place said. “I’m kicking myself, I had 2 overshoots in that last stage at a hairpin right and a hairpin left, otherwise OK”. Alwyn Jobb lost time in stage 12, reporting that his group A Lancer seemed to lose all power through that Streamhill test. Seamus O’Connell and his co-driver Brian Duggan managed to hold on to their 2 wheel drive top sot despite a puncture in stage 11. Co driver Brian said. “We were on a mission through stage 12”. Having said that Adrian Hetherington arrived in and he must also be on a mission because he turned in 2 even quicker times despite his Escort also suffering a puncture. Further stories include; Sean Heaney’s Lancer is having handling problems, Sean 14th o/a. Bobby Sharkey is up into 13th in his Escort G3. Colin McBride is going a lot better now and holds 11th place. John Reid is having a steady run in his newly acquired Corolla WRC and reports no problems.
In the Fiesta Sporting Trophy Jonny Greer was leading Alastair Fisher by 18s going into that loop of stages and Jonny has increased his advantage to 26s and said he is having no problems. Whereas Alastair Fisher admitted. “I’m going into corners too hard, trying too hard then I’m exiting the corners too slow”.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Ciara Conlan and Dougie Hughes and Greg Shinnors…and taskmaster Uncle Batty and all….. |
