RALLY NEWS NO.4 Service/Carrick-on-Suir/Sunday 1.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 The Gap
1st (2) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 28.05.4
2nd (4) Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Focus WRC) 28.13.6
3rd (9) PJ McGrath/Billy Collins (Impreza WRC) 28.52.6
4th (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 28.56.6
5th (7) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 29.09.1
6th (11) Andrew Purcell/Mark Wiley (Lancer N) 29.33.7
7th (16) James M Stafford/Frank Dwyer (Darrian) 29.38.9
8th (28) Trevor Mulligan/Lisa Roe (Escort) 30.02.1
9th (12) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 30.03.1
10th (22) Sean Flanagan/Brian Duggan (Impreza N) 30.08.1

With the roads bone dry now and bright sunshine bathing the Co. Tipperary countryside, speeds have stepped up and tyre choice from now on should not be so critical. However, when the cars were leaving service after stage 2 there was still a bit of dampness about and a few clouds on the horizon, so some of the drivers opted for a safe choice which turned out to be wrong. Ray Breen made the wrong choice for that loop of 2 stages and relinquished the lead to Patrick Elliott. Breen also lost a few seconds when he stalled his Focus at a junction. Elliott said he had a good run. Niall Maguire bent another rim against a rock, but luckily this time the tyre didn’t go down.

As regards Niall’s battle to get on to an equal footing with Elliott in the chase after Dunlop points, Patrick was 7s faster through stage 3 and 4s faster through stage 4, so Niall is facing an uphill struggle at the moment.

PJ McGrath is trying out different tyre combinations and something must be working as he was 2nd fastest through stage 4. Stage 4 was shortened from the start up to junction 7 because of a problem to do with a horse being spooked.

In Group N Andrew Purcell continues to hold the category lead but Alan Ring was slightly faster through stage 4. Sebastian Ling was delayed when his Lancer suffered a puncture. Sean Flanagan did not improve on his group N position having picked the wrong tyres.

James M Stafford had a great run through stages 3 and 4 to move his Darrian into the lead of the 2 wheel drive category ahead of Trevor Mulligan’s Escort. James Coleman is on a total now of 30.43.2. Neil Williams is on 30.16.4. Washington James is on 30.18.3.

Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy in the Corolla WRC are lying just outside the top 10 on 30.18.3 and John Dalton, although he is setting good times now, is still well down the order following his 3m time loss earlier, his total is 32.53.5.

Derek Brennan/Robbie Webster were leading the 1600 category in their Escort from Jason McSweeney. Derek Brennan had to get some medical attention at the end of stage 1 when he burned his hand checking the water in the radiator. He was able to continue in the rally.

Darragh O’Riordan has retired the “Meeke” Clio because of mechanical problems.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

© 2008www.rallynews.net (Patterson Agencies). All rights reserved. Unauthorised duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Contact Us : RallyNews Archive : Links : Calendar : Irish Notes : Patterson Pacenotes