RALLY NEWS NO.3 Service/Saturday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Cobbliers Cross
1st (1) Daragh ORiordan/Tony McDaid (Impreza WRC) 29.06.3
2nd (2) Darren Gass/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 29.13.1
3rd (5) Declan & Brian Boyle (Impreza WRC) 30.30.8
4th (11) Owen Murphy/James OBrien (Lancer N) 31.00.7
5th (8) Sam Moffett/James OReilly (Lancer N) 31.39.4
6th (4) Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Impreza WRC) 32.36.5
UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL L/BOARD AFTER SS3
1st (10) Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) 32.06.7
2nd (30) Cal McCarthy/Eamonn Dullea (Civic) 33.04.9
3rd (31) Paul Bruton/Thomas Bruton (Civic) 33.37.3
4th (16) Allen Treacy/Bob Fitzgerald (Corolla) 33.41.8
5th (18) Paraic Cummins/Graham Kelly (Escort) 33.57.1
6th (28) Ken ONeill/Ronald Riordan (Puma) 34.02.6
Citroen Racing Trophy
1st (24) David Carney/Ray Fitzpatrick (C2R2) 33.14.0
2nd (25) Kieran Daly/Keith Moriarty (C2R2) 33.35.9
3rd (26) Steve Wood/Johnny Baird (C2R2) 34.12.0
4th (23) Kevin OConnor/Ger Conway (C2R2) 38.04.8
With the autumn sunshine getting stronger by the minute here in Cork the roads are drying except of course under the trees, and of course the speeds are now creeping up. Most of the top drivers were faster on their 2nd visit to Cobblers Cross than their first. Daragh O’Riordan and Darren Gass tied for fastest time. Declan Boyle improved his performance, but was still over 20s slower than the 2 cars in front. Owen Murphy was the fastest of the group N cars, 10s up on Sam Moffett. Denis Cronin is starting to get into his stride but still a long way shy of the two leaders.
In the Citroen Racing Trophy category Kieran Daly was fastest through stage 3 by 4s from David Carney but Carney still leads the category overall. Following his 4m time loss in stage 2 series leader Kevin O’Connor was only 3rd fastest through stage 3.
In the National category Frank Kelly was 5s faster than Cal McCarthy through stage 3. There is no time in for Roy White/Martin Brady who were having power steering problems with the MG S2000. Following his exciting start when he spun twice on the opening stage Denis Moynihan is starting to set some good times and he is up to 7th in the National category. Paul Rowley who made the trip from the USA to compete on the rally has retired his Civic because of engine troubles. Some further retirements on the opening stage – Jason Ryan, John Hickey, Gus Kearney and Noel O’Mahony.
On the WRC Rally de France Latvala was fastest through SS1 but Loeb leads the rally by 30s with Hirvonen 3rd, Neuville 4th Sordo 5th. Craig Breen is 2nd in the SWRC to Paddon – 15s in arrears.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (With thanks to Daphne Millar & Mossie)
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