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RALLY NEWS NO.8 Milford Service/Saturday 2pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 Fanad Head 2
1st (1) Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen C4 WRC) 1.10.53.5
2nd (2) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 1.10.57.0
3rd (11) Kevin Lynch/David Moynihan (Focus WRC) 1.13.21.9
4th (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.14.02.6
5th (16) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Corolla WRC) 1.15.16.1
6th (17) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.16.37.2
7TH (24) Hugh M Doherty/Michael McBride (Impreza WRC) 1.17.22.9
8TH (26) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 1.17.29.2
9TH (61) PJ McDermott/Sean Harris (Impreza WRC) 1.17.47.1
10th (28) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.17.51.6
11th (29) Garry Jennings/Damien Connelly (Lancer N) 1.18.11.3
12th (22) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.18.12.8
World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb moved into the lead of this Shell
Donegal International on the 2nd run over the Fanad Head test, stage No.9.
Loeb is really into his stride now and the faster roads today seemed to
suit him and the car. The Citroen PR lady Marie-Pierre agreed, and
she said. “Sebastien is quite happy today, the profile of the stages
is different, less bumpy and wider. The engineers have worked on
the car and the suspension, but only with the parts that we have here.
Sebastien is not enjoying the weather but it is good for us in these conditions
as it may be as Ireland in November”. Mark Higgins said at
the finish of that Fanad test that the front right suspension seemed to
have developed a little knock and the Subaru was under steering.
Kevin Lynch held on to his 3rd place. Eugene Donnelly was only 8s
behind starting the stage. Kevin’s Focus was covered in mud
at stage finish and he said that the differential didn’t seem to
be working properly and the car was under steering, but happily there
was no big damage.
Eugene Donnelly may have been making a charge after Lynch and 3rd place
but it all went wrong when his Subaru sustained another puncture, to the
right front, and Eugene lost a lot of time.
Paul Harris in 5th had another good run, the Letterkenny man saying “I’m
waiting for more of these big boys to fall out!” Hugh M Doherty
felt he was going better while PJ McDermott reckoned he had got the start
of the stage all wrong, that his Impreza had stalled and kicked forward
and he’s just hoping that he doesn’t get penalised for a jump
start. Sean Devine had a big spin at the 2nd junction while Denis
Biggerstaff’s gear change has again gone wrong and he has had to
revert to manual change in his Impreza WRC>
In Group N Seamus Leonard was again fastest but only by a couple of seconds
from Colm Murphy with Garry Jennings a further 6s back.
Danny and Rory McBride were 15th overnight and 4th in group N, made a
real charge over Fanad this morning and had moved up a place but the engine
blew on Knockalla.
In the Fiesta Sporting Trophy Jonathan Greer led initially then Connor
Harvey moved into the lead after their 2nd stage with Alastair Fisher
just 0.6 of a second behind and Jonathan Greer then 3rd. Kyle Orr crashed
his Fiesta off at the square left after the jumps at the church.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Michael Patterson)
www.rallynews.net
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