The second stage proved slightly slippier than the first despite the fact that the roads are drying here at Lurgan Park. There seems to be a slight grease on the surface and most drivers were a little slower on their 2nd run that on the first. That included Kevin Lynch who was still fastest but was half a second slower than his first time through. Mark Higgins was just 0.4 of a second slower than time so there is still a lot to play for on this Turkington Lurgan Park Rally.
Charlie Donnelly was faster than McKinstry that time and Darren Gass, driving one of McKinstry’s Imprezas, is hovering just outside that top four. Kevin Lynch looked slightly stern when he finished the stage and said. “It went alright”. Mark Higgins was looking down at all the switches on his Subaru and said. “It’s a bit late to be altering diff settings now”. Kenny McKinstry reckoned that he could do with a couple more cuts in his tyres to get them to heat up a bit sooner. Peadar Hurson remarked. “Just can’t get the hang of this at all”. Darren Gass said. “I’m just taking it handy, no dramas”. Trevor Harding was working on his Subaru on Thursday night until 4 o’clock in the morning to repair the clutch and he is disappointed to be down in 16th place. He said. “I’m driving like an old woman”.
In Group N John McGlaughlin was a fraction quicker than Garry Jennings through that 2nd stage. Garry was a bit disappointed, John surprised as he thought he had lost time when he ran wide on to the gravel.
In the battle of the Mk2 Escorts Phil Collins was 0.1 of a second faster than Wesley Patterson through stage 2 but Wesley still leads overall from Phil with Rodney White 3rd in his Sunbeam. Kris Meeke has some small problem with his Escort could be running a little bit later. Kris is still well in the picture and is 5th in class behind Mervyn Wedlock with Frank Kelly 6th and Camillus Bradley 7th. Adrian Hetherington is well down following a problem on the first stage. John Keatley in his Porsche is 38th, just ahead of Kieran O’Neill’s new Historic Kadett which is suffering a misfire.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
