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RALLY NEWS NO.11 Milford Service/Saturday 5.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 13 Garrygort
1st (1) Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen C4 WRC) 1.37.09.1
2nd (2) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 1.37.31.8
3rd (11) Kevin Lynch/David Moynihan (Focus WRC) 1.40.17.4
4th (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.40.52.0
5th (16) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Corolla WRC) 1.43.20.6
6th (17) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.44.54.7
7th (24) Hugh M Doherty/Michael McBride (Impreza WRC) 1.46.12.4
8th (26) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 1.46.19.0
9th (29) Garry Jennings/Damien Connelly (Lancer N) 1.47.22.9
10th (158) Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 1.47.31.3
11th (22) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.47.48.5
12th (30) James Cullen/Allan Harryman (Lancer N) 1.48.23.0
Such is the pace of the 2 cars at the front, Sebastien Loeb and Mark Higgins
that they beat the “bogey” time of 5.29.7 for stage 13 Garrygort.
Loeb in the Citroen actually stopped the clocks on 5.27.8 and Mark Higgins
on 5.29.0. On the previous stage, Carnhill, Loeb recorded a time of 5.24.1
and Higgins 5.27.6. When Mark arrived here into service he took the time
to tell us. “Those were first two clear stages I had today. We are
very happy to be where we are, those are good times.” When asked
could he could anything about the flying Citroen in front he said. “Maybe
tomorrow, different type of stages, tighter roads.” Loeb reported
all well, no problems.
Kevin Lynch set good times as well through this loop of 3 stages, was
a couple of seconds faster than Donnelly through 11, dropped a couple
of seconds through 12 and 13. When quizzed on his differential difficulties
from earlier Kevin said. “It’s a lot better, we have re-programmed
the differentials and with another tweak or two it should be OK”.
Eugene Donnelly reported “Still a long way to go on this rally,
we had a few wee worries with the car earlier and I didn’t want
to push too hard. I’m thinking about the championship, I want to
finish”. Paul Harris in 5th had a spin and stall in stage 13, no
damage and still going well. Patrick Elliott is also going well despite
warping a couple more of the front brake discs on his Impreza. Hugh Martin
Doherty continues to have a good run and holds 7th.
PJ McDermott and Sean Harris were 9th in their Impreza WRC but unfortunately
went off the road at the end of Carnhill, after the finish, their Impreza
ending up below the level of the road in a fairly boggy place. It looked
as if there was no damage but PJ has not appeared into service. Sean Devine
had a bit of a problem in stage 11 when he clipped the back of the car
but set good times through stages 12 and 13 to hold 13th o/a.
Group N leader Seamus Leonard in 8th is trying to steady up, still finding
it very slippy and having the odd “moment”. On one 5 left
long corner Seamus thought it was all going to go pear shaped and so did
the spectators as they ran up the field! Garry Jennings, 2nd in group
N, dropped a couple of seconds a stage to Leonard through those stages
but Garry is still going well. James Cullen is 3rd Group N, James trying
to save the car, feels as well that the suspension is too soft and he
is just having to drive around that fact. Mike Curran has come up into
4th gpN, just ahead of Stuart Darcy. Darcy picked the wrong tyres for
those last 3 stages and dropped some time.
In the National Rally after stage 12 Phil Collins led by 47s over Damien
Gallagher with Rodney Wilton 3rd, Martin McGee 4th, Robbie Peoples 5th
and Paul Gallagher 6th. Phil Collins reported a lucky escape on a long
right 3 tightens over a crossroads when his Escort ended up in two feet
high grass and it was more by good luck than good guidance that it ended
up on the road. He also survived a broken alternator bolt. Brian Brogan
& Damien McGettigan had led the Nationals earlier and were lying 2nd
when they crashed their Escort off the road, fortunately with no injuries.
Seamus O’Connell lost some time with 2 spins and dropped back to
7th.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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