RALLY NEWS NO.2 End of stage 1/Sunday 10.45

UNOFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Shessiv
1st (2) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 8.05
(3) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 8.05
3rd (4) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 8.15
4th (5) Anthony O'Halloran/Charlie McEnery (Lancer N) 8.36
5th (6) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 8.37
6th (7) Eamonn Daly/Kevin Synott (Lancer N) 8.58
(18) Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Lancer N) 8.58
8th (9) Maurice Moffett/Enda Sherry (Starlet) 9.00
(20) Sean Flanagan/Brian Duggan (Impreza N) 9.00
10th (15) Alan O'Callaghan/Gerard Murphy (Impreza) 9.01

The above times are very provisional as there seemed to be a bit of confusion at the stage finish. When Maurice Moffett brought his Starlet down from the stop control to the junction and gave us his time he commented. “A bit like the end of the tax year up there, it’s all about self assessment!” Anyway Maurice had a good run and was grateful to Kenny McKinstry who fixed his wiper blade before the start of the stage.

Russell Brookes was one of the course opening cars in the Andrews Heat for Hire Sunbeam Lotus and some of the spectators afterwards said about the former Circuit of Ireland winner “He’s lost none of the old magic”. The first competitor through the stage was Patrick Elliott in his silver Subaru and at stage finish Patrick commented that he felt he was just a little bit slow. Niall Maguire reported no problems.

Kevin Barrett had a wee bit of a worry last night about his Subaru. Something to do with an obscure tilt sensor which was sending the wrong messages to the electronic control unit for the engine and gearbox. All was well this morning. However we are not absolutely sure about Kevin’s stage time, no doubt all will become clear later.

Anthony O’Halloran was sweating hard at stage finish and although he set a good time he was kicking himself mentally as he had forgotten to switch the diffs on for several miles of the stage. Alan Ring’s Lancer was trailing bits of tape and straw and he said that the chicanes were just far too tight. Eamonn Daly is driving Garry Jennings’ Lancer on this event and he also had a reasonably good run. Sean Flanagan reckoned he damaged a suspension arm on one of the big jumps in the stage. John McKeown reported gearbox trouble on his Escort Cosworth. John has the number 172 on his Escort Cosworth but is running in the top 20.

More news to follow: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

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