RALLY NEWS NO.6 Titanic Quarter Belfast/Saturday
UNOFFICIAL INT. LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 BULLS BROOK
1st (6) Robert Barrable/Damien Connolly (Fiesta R5) 57.01.8
2nd (1) Craig Breen/Scott Martin (Peugeot 208T16) 57.10.3
3rd (2) Kajetan Kajetanowicz/Jaroslaw Baran (Fiesta R5) 57.18.3
4th (12) Josh Moffett/John Rowan (Fiesta RRC) 57.40.8
5th (7) Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Fiesta R5) 57.57.3
6th (10) Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton (Fiesta R5) 58.08.7
7th Stephen Wright 8th Jaromir Tarabus 9th Charles Martin 10th Jonny Greer
Craig Breen was leading overnight by 1s over Robert Barrable. On today opening stage, the 13.44km Bulls Brook test, Robert was 9s faster than Craig. Barrable now leads by 8s. Further major stories include – Jon Armstrong, who seemed to be firmly in command of the R2 ERC Junior category, received a 5m penalty for missing the tyre checking control. Jon has decided in any case to withdraw from the rally because of a mechanical problem incurred on the Newtownards stage last night. This leaves Emil Bergkist in his Opel Adam leading the Juniors by 14s from Chris Ingram. Interestingly, Ingram was a few seconds faster over the first stage this morning.
Continuing with the story at the top of the leaderboard, Robert Barrable is a little worried about a vibration from the rear diff of his Fiesta R5. He said at the end of the Bulls Brook stage. `We are not going to give up. If I do not win it will not be through the lack of trying`. Craig Breen was being diplomatic at the finish of stage 9. He was saying little but the turbo pop up valve issue seemed to have reared its head again. Kajetan Kajetanowicz has changed the suspension settings on his car to make it a bit softer and he set a good time. Josh Moffett was fastest overall through that stage 9 and seems more concerned about staying ahead of his big brother Sam than moving up the leaderboard! Tommy Doyle was lying 11th o/a on the o/night results but is having to run further down the field, behind all the ERC registered contenders. He did set a good time and is still 11th. News just coming in is that Craig Breen was 8s faster than Barrable in S10.
UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 8 (Overnight)
1st (101) Declan & Brian Boyle (Impreza WRC) 49.43.4
2nd (102) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 50.44.3
3rd (103) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 52.28.7
4th (139) Rob Duggan/Ger Conway (Fiesta R2) 53.05.9
5th (111) Keith White/Damien McCann (Escort) 53.23.2
6th (106) Wesley Patterson/Johnny Baird (Escort) 53.24.1
7th Camillus Bradley 8th Alistair Cochrane 9th Stanley Orr 10th Frank Kelly
National Rally leader Declan Boyle struggled to get his Subaru around some of the tight hairpins in the Newtownards stage and he lost quite a few seconds. However he has over a minute in hand on Derek McGarrity. Declan said about his Newtownards exploits `She is just a big gulpin. I need to spend half a day in Newtownards!` Kenny McKinstry has had some brake problems with his Subaru but is now moving into home territory so his times could improve. Jimmy McRae is running in SuperRally today as his Firenza overheated yesterday and he lost quite a lot of time. Stanley Orr continues to lead the Historic category while Ernie Graham is 2nd and has moved into a strong position as regards the Clonakilty Blackpudding Tarmac C/ship Historics. Shawn Rayner is 3rd. Drew Wylie 4th. Gareth Lloyd 5th.
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