RALLY NEWS NO.6 End of Stage 9/Sunday 10.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 Clogogh
1st (3) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 1.12.57.5
2nd (7) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Lancer N) 1.13.30.6
3rd (5) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian) 1.14.35.0
4th (4) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 1.14.37.4
5th (17) James Stafford/Frank Dwyer (Darrian) 1.16.09.8
6th (15) Wesley Patterson/Ruth Guest (Escort) 1.16.19.5
7th (12) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 1.16.25.7
8th (6) Phil Collins/Derek Brannigan (Escort) 1.16.30.6
9th (24) Neil Williams/Eurig Davies (Escort) 1.16.35.5
10th (19) Gwyndaf Evans/Martin Henry (Escort) 1.17.08.7
11th (16) Pat Donegan/Andy Donoghue (Escort) 1.17.18.9
12th (39) Sean Flanagan/Brian Duggan (Impreza N) 1.17.50.9

Through the 16.4kms of the Clogogh stage Donie O’Sullivan was far and away quickest in his Subaru, last night’s gearbox worries behind him, Donie a full 19s faster than Colm Murphy. He did say that the McKinstry engineers had adjusted the diffs and it had made the car very twitchy. Donie reckoned it would be better to go back to the original setting. All the drivers said that the stage was very greasy and slippy. St4ephen Murphy was first through the stage in his Impreza S12B. He said he just wanted to bed himself into the car again, that he wasn’t trying too hard. Interestingly his time of 9.00 was sandwiched midway between O’Sullivan’s and Murphy’s times. Colm maintained his 2nd o/a, group N and Evo Challenge lead, with a steady run through that opening Sunday stage. He said he was being very conservative with the tyres and having trouble getting grip.

John Dalton set 3rd fastest time, just under 2s quicker than Liam McCarthy so no change then in the status quo between 3rd and 4th. Wesley Patterson seemed slightly subdued, dropped 13s to James Stafford in the Darrian and also a place on the leaderboard. Alan Ring had a good run but was still fairly shy of Colm Murphy’s pace. Phil Collins had a superb run a pretty fantastic time in his Mk2 Escort to leave the other Ford boys gasping. Phil’s time was 9.18.7, almost a second faster than Dalton. Conor Curley put his white Escort into the river near the start of that first Sunday stage at a cautioned 6 left tightens at Armco and turn 6 left!!

Overnight class leaders included: Terence O’Shaughnessy led cl.11 in his Corolla. Phillip Cross led cl.15 in his Escort Cosworth. Darragh O’Riordan took over the lead o cl.6 when Brian O’Mahony’s Clio was delayed with a puncture. Interestingly Marty McCormack is 2nd in that class in his C2R2, Marty 38s ahead of Barry Evans also in a Citroen C2R2. Marty is 30th o/a and along with the other C2R2s for the purpose of their own championship will start a new leg as part of a double header but still maintain their position in the overall results. Gerard O’Connell led cl.12 in his Escort. Guy Woodcock led cl.7 in his Escort Maxi and Stephen Sheehan was at the front in cl.10 in his Sunbeam. Aidan Jackson led cl.3 in his Honda Civic Type R. Ed O’Neill cl.2 in his regular Civic. James Collins cl.9 with his Nova. Adam Clews cl.5 in his Puma. Noel O’Regan cl.1 in his Swift.

In the Historic section of the rally Tommy Mason topped the list in his Mk1 Escort from Martin Sheehan with Don Moynihan 3rd. John Hackett was 4th. James O’Mahony led cl.16A in his Volvo and Diarmuid Lynch cl.16C.
The good news from the “You’re a Star” television show last night is that local Clonakilty girl Deirdre Archibald is through to the final tonight. If you would like to support the talented Deirdre text Star 9 to 53125.

Finally for now Gerry Murphy, Owen’s father, has just phoned us to say that Owen has been released from hospital this morning after yesterday’s accident and all is well, no broken bones.. Owen would like to pass on his thanks to everyone who helped yesterday.

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

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