UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 Lough Allua 2
1st (1) Daragh ORiordan/Tony McDaid (Impreza WRC) 1.17.19.6
2nd (5) Declan & Brian Boyle (Impreza WRC) 1.20.00.4
3rd (11) Owen Murphy/James OBrien (Lancer N) 1.21.43.3
4th (8) Sam Moffett/James OReilly (Lancer N) 1.22.34.6
5th (4) Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Impreza WRC) 1.23.25.0
6th (25) Kieran Daly/Keith Moriarty (C2R2) 1.28.18.6
7th Steve Wood 8th Adrian Levis 9th Kevin Oconnor
UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 8
1st (10) Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) 1.23.52.7
2nd (28) Ken ONeill/Ronald Riordan (Puma) 1.28.38.4
3rd (32) Ian Chadwick/Stephen Quinn (Civic) 1.29.04.3
4th Eamonn OConnell 5th Daniel Lucey 6th Peter Desmond
HISTORICS: 1st Wesley Patterson 2nd Ray Cunningham 3rd John Spiers
Daragh O’Riordan and his co driver Tony McDaid in their Subaru Impreza lead this Orchard Motorsport Cork 20 Rally by a massive 2m40s as the cars head for the overnight halt in the Silver Springs Hotel. Frank Kelly and his co driver Liam Brennan in their Escort have an equally large lead in the National Rally. In the Citroen Racing Trophy Kieran Daly/Keith Moriarty are the leaders in their C2R2 Max. David Carney had a brush with the scenery at a square right corner near the finish of the penultimate stage of the day and was forced to retire because of a damaged radiator.
When Daragh O’Riordan stepped out of his Subaru at the final service in Macroom he told us. “It was difficult trying to find a pace this afternoon. It was a shame Darren went out, it was a good auld battle. My car is grand. I am not pushing it now. It is nearly harder to do that. We are running a Pirelli cut 9 slicks and it really was the right tyre today” One thing that Darren did not mention was that he was on the verge of pulling out of the rally earlier today as his co-driver Tony McDaid was extremely sick. At one of the service halts a doctor had him stretched out and gave him an injection that helped the situation enormously.
Declan Boyle’s co driver Brian Boyle said at day’s end. “It has all been about learning today, we’re building all the time and looking forward to next weekend”. (He was referring to the Donegal Harvest rally). Owen Murphy in 3rd said. “Really enjoyed this afternoon especially the flat out in 5th gear stuff, although we were backing off on the jumps to save the car”. Fourth placed Sam Moffett said about the Lough Allua stage. “I didn’t really appreciate it first time over but on the 2nd run with a little knowledge of it it was unreal, fantastic”. Normal front runner Denis Cronin continues to hold 5th place and somehow Denis who is usually right at the sharp end on Cork rallies admitted. “I’m finding it hard to get going”.
Kieran Daly not only leads the Citroen Racing Trophy at the overnight halt, he is also 6th o/a in the International Rally and he said. “The car was great today. Normally that Kilnamatra stage is quite dirty and slippy but today it was good”. Fellow Citroen driver Steve Wood had a half spin on stage 7 but otherwise OK>
In the National Rally Frank Kelly commented after stage 8. “That was my first stage today with no dramas. We have the oil leak fixed on the replacement box and put in a bit of an attack. We were going too slow earlier to match the notes!” Ian Chadwick is up to 3rd in the National following the retirement of Paraic Cummins and in spite of a small bump against the scenery Ian has had a great run today in his Civic, especially considering that he did not do a recce. Ken O’Neill has really got into the groove this afternoon to hold 2nd placed National. English crew Rob & Paul Alderman in the purple Escort have worked their way into the top 10. Co driver Paula told us. “The first couple of stages today were a bit iffy as I wasn’t quite with it. Then we had a good run although it got a little slippy at the end as the temperature dropped”.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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