RALLY NEWS NO.3 Fels Point Hotel/Tralee/Service/Sunday 11am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Mount Eagle
1st (3) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 18.35
2nd (4) Donie O'Sullivan/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 18.42
3rd (1) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 18.55
4th (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 18.59
5th (9) Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC) 19.03
6th (8) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC0 19.05
7th (7) Noel Redmond/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 19.23
8th (6) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 19.28
9th (11) Jack Sleator/Andrew Purcell (Impreza WRC) 19.45
10th (10) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 19.47
11th (12) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 19.53

Michael Barrable followed up his fastest time on the opening stage with fastest on stage 2, 3s up on Kevin Barrett, 4s up on Donie O’Sullivan. Patrick Elliott was 4th quickest, just 1s down on Donie. Former circuit racer Barrable has really switched on to these fast Kerry stages. Michael said that he is keeping the car up a gear and carrying the momentum. Donie O’Sullivan reported no problems, apart from Barrable that is, and Donie looks like he’s got a real race on his hands here today. Patrick Elliott reckoned after the first stage that his Subaru engine seemed very dead. He felt it was a bit better through stage 2 but now he’s starting to wonder if the problem is just in his own mind. Niall Maguire said that he found the very fast roads “lethal”. Glenn Allen in the Corolla was wondering if perhaps he had picked the wrong tyre this morning, the little Corolla was breaking away on “3’s and 4’s”. Noel Redmond had a small spin and stalled the car on the first stage, had a better run through stage 2. Noel is still struggling with the stability and grip on his Subaru and said it is definitely better than it was in Mayo.

Kevin Barrett really got the finger out on that 2nd stage, Kevin in top form, well pleased with his 2nd fastest time. Seamus Leonard had a good run through stage 2, no repeat of the smoke coming into the car that he had in stage 1, but he reckons that his older model Subaru does not have the legs of the cars in front in terms of pure speed.

Alan Ring continues to lead group N and said he was getting better grip on stage 2 than stage 1. Anthony O’Halloran was finding a little bit more confidence in his Lancer but still well shy of Alan Ring’s pace. Eamonn Daly just got his Lancer back last night following a rebuild and reckons the car is very flat out of junctions. Danny McBride won group N on the opening Dunlop round in Mayo but is off the pace here today, has a different co driver and said it is just not “bonding” for him! Thomas Fitzmaurice’s Lancer suffered a small spin in stage 2, but Thomas is still well on the group N pace with a total of 20.11. Willie Fannin is on 20.29 having lost a few seconds in stage 2 tih a puncture. Adrian Quinn in the gpN Lancer is on 21.47.

In the battle for 2 wheel drive honours Maurice Moffett is setting the roads alight in his little Starlet, has a total of 19.42 despite the screaming clutch release bearing. Mike Quinn in the Escort is showing 20.14 and John Kearney 20.15. John Kearney feels he is very rusty and off the pace. Mike Quinn was having a real spring problem in his Escort. Aidan Walsh is on a total of 21.19 and going well, Aidan commented. “It is slippy, but we’re happy to be out!”
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

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