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RALLY NEWS NO.4
Millstreet/Service/Saturday 12.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Taurebeg
1st (7) Kris Meeke/Jonas Andersson (Impreza WRC) 25.53.5
2nd (4) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 25.54.1
3rd (9) Kevin Lynch/David Moynihan (Focus WRC) 26.07.9
4th (1) Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC) 26.09.0
5th (3) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 26.09.6
6th (5) Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Focus WRC) 26.25.2
7th (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 26.38.2
8th (14) Stephen Murphy/M J Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 26.58.9
9th (8) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 26.59.7
10th (15) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 27. 06.2
11th (2) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 27.23.6
Kris Meeke was fastest through stage 3, Taurebeg, to retake the lead of
this Gleneagle Hotel Rally of the Lakes. It was a scorching performance
by the young Dungannon driver as the sunshine here in Kerry brought ideal
conditions to the roads. Ahead of Kris there were dramas –
Eugene Donnelly had led at the start of the stage, but he was delayed
by Mark Higgins whose Subaru was struggling with another front puncture.
Eugene only lost a few seconds. Tim McNulty lost quite a few seconds
as he was held up by Mark as well. Mark lost over a minute.
Kevin Lynch set 2nd fastest time to jump from 6th to 3rd. Gareth
MacHale maintained his consistent pace to hold a very steady 4th.
Tim McNulty was furious at getting knocked back from 3rd to 5th because
of Higgins’ problem.
Andreas Mikkelsen set a very competitive time considering that he had
that small accident in stage 2.
Times coming in from stage 4, Brenagh River, show Kris Meeke 0.7 of a
second faster than Eugene Donnelly…..more times to follow.
Switching back to stage 3 – Aaron MacHale is now just behind Mark
Higgins in 12th place. JJ Fleming is 13th as he gets back into the groove
with his Focus WRC. Gareth Jones 14th as he fights to regain his lost
form. Melvyn Evans 15th, the Welshman a bit happier now that he has got
different tyres fitted.
Colm Murphy is 16th and leads group N in his Subaru from the Lancer of
James Cullen with Alan Ring 3rd in the category. James Foley 4th, Willie
Fannin 5th, Kevin Kelleher 6th and Kevin O’Donoghue 7th.
Further down the international order Brian O’Mahony led class 6
in his Clio from Andrew Bushe after 2 stages. Bushe in his new Citroen
was held up behind Gary Cooney’s accident for quite a few seconds
on stage 2. Eoin Doyle was slowed in stage 2 when his Subaru filled
up with smoke. Enda Hallinan led cl.2 in his Civic from Lorna Smith in
her Swift. We have no time available for James Wozencroft in the other
works Swift but we know he was still going well after stage 2 although
told us that he had no chance to do any real asphalt testing before this
rally. In the National Rally after stage 2 James M Stafford led
from Johnny O’Sullivan with Barry Meade 3rd.
Further news from the International – Garry Jennings definitely
retired following gearbox trouble and a small turbo fire at end of stage
2. Hugh M Doherty retired with power steering problems in his new Subaru
Impreza WRC S9. Ray Hilliard had turbo problems in his Lancer. Sean
Ryan/Michael Maher retired their Peugeot 206 rear wheel drive at the end
of stage 2 with a broken hub/suspension. Mike O’Leary and Centra
man Mike Moriarty are OOing in a left hand drive Focus and they have just
come from the Doon Bridge stage to report dry roads once again, massive
crowds of spectators, great atmosphere….
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
*For SMA results & News to your mobile text RALLY ITC to 60066 in
UK and 53030 in Ireland. Cost 25p/30c. Text RALLY STOP to stop at any
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