RALLY
NEWS NO.2 End of stage 1/Sunday 11am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Mount Eagle
1st (3) Aaron MacHale/Derek Brannigan (Focus WRC) 8.32
2nd (2) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 8.39
3rd (4) Noel Redmond/Ger Healy (Impreza WRC) 8.42
4th (5) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 8.50
5th (9) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 8.52
6th (14) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 8.58
7th (7) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 9.01
(10) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 9.01
Aaron MacHale was in top form when his Focus WRC came to a halt at the
end of the first stage. Weather conditions were dry and bright,
roads bone dry, speeds were high.
No.1 seed Ray Breen was missing at stage finish. His Focus reportedly
clouted a bank at a fast left right kink. We have had no definitive
news as yet but indications are that Ray and co driver Damien Morrissey
are OK and they managed to get the Focus in off the road somewhere.
Patrick Elliott had a slight spin at a junction on that opening stage
and lost a few seconds.
Third placed Noel Redmond was settling in fast to his new Impreza WRC
S12.
Further stories included: Glenn Allen had some brake troubles with his
Corolla.
Seamus Leonard was having gearbox problems with his Group N Lancer. Seamus
reported no 2nd or 4th gear.
Michael Curran said he was taking it relatively calmly for that first
stage. Alan Ring had a good clean run in his GpN Impreza and recorded
a 9.05.
Austin MacHale has just phoned us from Portugal to see how Aaron was doing,
and he told us that Gareth is still going Ok in 14th place, despite intercom
problems and an off road excursion yesterday. Austin said that the
stages are pretty rough and Gareth was having to drive round boulders
most of the time. Loeb was still leading.
Looking back to yesterday and the Omagh Spring Rally – Brian McGillin
won, Kevin O’Kane was 2nd, David Crossen 3rd, Errol Clarke 4th.
Raymond Mason 5th and James Gillen 6th. Frank Kelly was best 2 wheel drive.
Paul Barrett had a stroke of bad luck when the front wheel of his Escort
caught a straw bale and he ended up in the Erne Hospital having an operation
for a broken wrist.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net |
