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RALLY NEWS NO.14 Downings Service/Sunday 1.50
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 19 Atlantic Drive
1st (1) Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen C4 WRC) 2.21.28.1
2nd (2) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 2.22.54.8
3rd (11) Kevin Lynch/David Moynihan (Focus WRC) 2.25.45.3
4th (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 2.25.47.9
5th (16) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Corolla WRC) 2.30.39.1
6th (17) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 2.32.02.2
7th (24) Hugh M Doherty/Michael McBride (Impreza WRC) 2.35.00.4
8th (26) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 2.35.14.1
9th (158) Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 2.36.43.2
10th (164) Mike Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 2.37.30.5
11th (42) Stuart Darcy/Steve Furey (Lancer N) 2.37.58.4
12th (30) James Cullen/Allan Harryman (Lancer N) 2.38.12.1
Eugene Donnelly tied with Sebastien Loeb for fastest time over the Atlantic
Drive stage, although possibly more crucially for Eugene he was 3s up
on Kevin Lynch which makes the battle for 3rd place even more intense.
The loser in the race at the front was Mark Higgins – he was 14s
down on the lead cars. Mark was giving no explanations, while co driver
Rory Kennedy just said “Yes we do have a problem but it will be
sorted out here at service”. Sebastien Loeb reported all well, the
French crew seemingly having a ball here in Ireland, thoroughly enjoying
it.
Kevin Lynch has been having a real go over the last couple of stages and
he is certainly not going to back off, Kevin says he will put the car
in a field first! Eugene Donnelly said “Equal with Loeb, its like
living a dream, he’s been my rally idol for a long time. We had
a great run there, but I wouldn’t like to go much faster”.
Paul Harris is doing a great job keeping his Corolla WRC in 5th and his
co driver Eugene O’Donnell said “You’d swear it was
raining up there the car was so sideways”. Patrick Elliott said
“We’re running out of suspension travel on the corners, with
the lean, the car is on the bump stops. On the Port Lake stage I just
had to make the decision to back off on the jumps”. Hugh Martin
Doherty had a problem in stage 18 when his Subaru clipped a wall and sustained
a puncture, he lost very little time, but then on stage 19 something went
wrong with the gear change towards the end of the stage and Hugh Martin
looked extremely worried as he came into service. Niall Maguire is another
struggling with his Subaru, said the ex Tim McNulty S10 is bottoming out
over some of the jumps and dips. Niall’s great rival and friend,
Kevin Barrett, would appear to be either stopped or running very late
following a puncture in stage 18. Andreas Mikkelsen, driving under the
Super Rally rules today, dropped a few seconds over Atlantic Drive when
his Focus sustained a puncture. The young Norwegian said “I am not
pushing so much it is hard to get the rhythm.” Andreas also said
there was very little damage to the car in his accident and he’s
enjoying the stages.
In Group N Seamus Leonard continues to lead, Garry Jennings has dropped
way back because of a puncture. James Cullen is struggling slightly with
out of line steering. Mike Curran has tempered his earlier charge to preserve
the car. Stuart Darcy set fastest gpN time over Atlantic Drive, a deep
score from front to back down the side of his Lancer evidence of a very
close call against the barriers, a very scary thought up there! Seamus
Leonard said “We’re trying to hold it steady now, its nearly
harder than being competitive and we made a wrong tyre choice this morning”.
Kevin O’Donoghue & Joe O’Leary were lying 18th over night,
but both well shook up and slightly unwell after a very heavy landing
in the Port Lake stage.
Former Ulster Rally winner Derek Boyd has made a come back after 20 years
away from rallying and was lying 27th overnight in the Raymond Mason hired
GpN Lancer with his daughter Roisin co-driving. Derek joked that they
must be eligible for some award – like best placed father and daughter
or even the anno domini trophy!!
In the National Rally Phil Collins continues to lead but Martin McGee
has been faster over the last few stages. Collins said he hasn’t
finished this rally in the 23 years since he first came and he really
wants to get his Escort to the finish this time. Seamus O’Connell
retired his Escort last night following drive shaft trouble and Paul Gallagher/Karl
Reid have retired their Corolla when the differential blew on Port Lake.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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