UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Knockmore

1^st (1) Ray Breen/Damien Morrissey (Focus WRC)  13.53

2^nd (3) Aaron MacHale/Derek Brannigan (Focus WRC) 14.12

3^rd (12) Noel Redmond/Ger Healy (Impreza WRC) 14.15

4^th (4) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 14.24

    (11) Sean Devine/Martin Brady (Impreza WRC) 14.24

6^th (7) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 14.32

7^th (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 14.39

8^th (9) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 14.42

    (22) Frank Wray/Joe McNulty (Lancer N) 14.42

10^th (17) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 14.52

11^th (21) Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Impreza N 14.56

12^th (15) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 14.57

The above times are from the first few cars only – we do not have a time for example for Seamus Leonard, but we do know that he lost a few seconds when the rear of his Lancer clipped a bridge. 

Out at the front of the rally Ray Breen described the conditions as “Very very slippy, some of the worst I have driven on, we had big slides. It is difficult to know what the pace is”.  Aaron MacHale said. “It is so slippy, I’m pretty committed but we’re going to have to step it up a bit more”.       Noel Redmond in 3^rd place said. “I’m being conservative, I love the wet, suits me down to the ground.  The car and the tyres are working well”.  When Glenn Allen brought his Corolla into service he said. “I’m not enjoying this at all, the car seems to be glazing over the water”. 

Kevin Barrett had a steady run through the first stage but then had a real good run through the second and was 4^th fastest.  Kevin reckoned that the tyres started to work well on the 2^nd stage.  Noel McCarrick lost time on that 2^nd stage when his Subaru spun and he had to shuffle the car back and forward to get going in the right direction.  Jack Sleator lost a mountain of time in the stage when his wipers again refused to work.  Sean Devine is looking very comfortable in equal 4^th place, Sean reporting no problems.

In Group N Frank Wray seems to be the man to beat at the moment, Frank does not normally like wet weather but he is certainly flying here in the rain.  Ian Barrett had a good run on the 2^nd stage as he settles in to his new GpN Impreza. Michael Curran was also quick, Michael saying he was taking it very steady. Alan Ring was, by his own standards, off the pace on the first 2 stages, Alan saying that he was getting no grip at all and he was on the verge of spinning several times.  Kevin Kelleher stalled his Lancer at the start of stage 2 and lost a few seconds, his total now 15.05. Gabriel Martin is on 15.04 and John McGlaughlin is on 15.08. John has the new big brakes and rebuilt gearbox on his Lancer. John Cairns had a light crash on the first stage and blocked the road at a turn 5 left. Tom Holton in the Celica lost about 50s and Camillus Bradley also lost time as they were blocked by Cairns’ Lancer.  Camillus recorded 10.11 on the 2^nd stage which would have been good enough to put his fabulous little Escort into the top 10.

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net