RALLY NEWS NO.2 End of Stage 1/Saturday 11.15

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 ROSSBEG

1st (3) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 9.38

2nd (1) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 9.45

3rd (5) Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC) 9.57

4th (4) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 10.05

5th (6) PJ McDermott/Paddy Robinson (Impreza WRC) 10.13

6th (16) Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett (Escort) 10.17

7th (7) Shaun Gallagher/Charlie McGinty (Citroen C2) 10.19

8th (11) Rodney Wilton/Conor Mahon (Escort) 10.23

9th (18) Danny & Rory McBride (Lancer N) 10.24

10th (8) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 10.34

As can be seen above Kevin Lynch was fastest through the very tough opening Rossbeg stage. Early skiffs of rain made tyre choice difficult for the drivers. Interestingly, just three of the top cars broke the 10 minute barrier for the 16km stage.

Lynch reported at stage finish that all was well, that he had picked an intermediate tyre. Patrick Elliott was on a “wet” tyre and it probably cost him some time. Seamus Leonard, who also broke the 10m barrier, felt he was rusty, but otherwise it went well. Kevin Barrett was sweating hard at stage finish which was some indication of just how tough the road was round that Rossbeg head and past Portnoo. Kevin is determined just to get to the finish today in a decent position which will reinforce his 3rd overall position in the Dunlop series.

Shaun Gallagher, fresh from his drive on Rally Spain last week, was slightly worried at stage finish that his Citroen C2 is set just a little low for the bumps and jumps of Donegal and that he would perhaps damage the car. Certainly the front bumper already looks as if it has had contact with the road. Alan Ring leads group N on the Dunlop series and when he got his Lancer to the stage finish he said. “I was taking it gently in there and still having moments!” Stuart Darcy lost a couple of seconds with a 6th gear spin.

Of the unofficial times so far Manus Kelly was fastest of the 2 wheel drive competitors. Gary McPhillips lost some time when his Escort gear stick broke a mile into the stage. Martin McGee stalled his Escort at the start line and lost quite a few seconds. Camillus Bradley had a decent enough run, his time 10.40 as against McGee’s 10.46. Damien Gallagher had a fair run, clocking 10.35. Trevor Mulligan was on 11.01 and Paul Gallagher in the Corolla 10.52.

Danny & Rory McBride were fastest of the group N runners on 10.24 in their Lancer. Sean Flanagan in his Impreza was just behind Alan Ring on 10.43. Joe McHugh in the Escort Cosworth seemed a few seconds off the pace, Joe’s brother Dermot said that the car was too low and too soft for the stage. Unofficial and unconfirmed news reaching us is that Eugene Ferry’s Escort (29) was off the road as was Trevor Bustard’s Lancer (27). More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

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