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| Circuit of Munster 2008 |
| RALLY NEWS No.4 - After SS4 - Wednesday @ 11:25:12 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.4 Service/Sunday 1.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 Curragh Chase
1st (2) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 27.01
2ND (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza WRC) 27.31
3rd (6) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 27.34
4th (7) Noel Redmond/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 28.08
5th (8) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 28.09
6th (19) Ed O'Callaghan/Ger Clancy (Escort) 29.01
7th (9) Eamonn Daly/Kevin Synott (Lancer N) 29.02
8th (28) Eoin Doyle/Peter Brennan (Impreza WRC) 29.06
9th (12) Willie Fannin/Paddy Robinson (Impreza N) 29.11
10th (10) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 29.21
Former National Champion Niall Maguire scored a fastest time through stage 4, 2s up on Patrick Elliott. Patrick has been fastest through stages 1, 2 and 3 to hold a 30s lead at the halfway point of the rally. Local man Paul Purtill was as high as 6th in his Escort but he has stopped at the end of stage 3 and Thomas Fitzmaurice was lying well up in group N but there is no sign of the Tralee man’s Lancer here at service. Patrick Elliott commented here at service in control. “We tried the hard tyres but the car didn’t feel just as nice.” Looking at the 30s advantage in the times to Maguire Cavan man Patrick continued. “We’ll keep it clean now try and make no mistakes”. Niall Maguire told us. “The car was much better with those tyres and we are wakening up”.
Triton Showers man Kevin Barrett had been 2nd but slipped to 3rd after stage 4 and he said. “It’s a sharp pace, but we’re enjoying it”. Kevin’s co driver Sean Mullally was beaming over from the passenger’s seat, also thoroughly enjoying it. Sean is celebrating his 40th birthday today and what better way than whistling down these fabulous stages in the beautiful sunshine! Noel Redmond reported a spin on stage 3 after a square left where his Subaru got wedged between 2 banks and he lost a lot of time. Sean Gallagher is having further mechanical worries with his Subaru. The car seems to be overheating a little and also the dashboard readout has ceased to function.
Eamonn Daly continues to lead group N, he said he is keeping a steady pace. Willie Fannin has moved up to 2nd in group N ahead of Alan Ring. Willie admitted that he is pushing very hard. Ring said he is also trying to up the pace and is leaning on the car through the corners. Eoin Doyle is seeded down at 28 and he is having a good run in his Subaru, up to 8th o/a and he reports no problems, although he did drop a few seconds squeezing past a Mk2 Escort which was in an accident on stage 3.
Ed O’Callaghan has taken over where Paul Purtill left off, Ed pushing his Escort up to 6th overall. At last service Ed reckoned his car was losing a bit of power on the long straights but the caliper pistons on the front brakes were sticking and that was what was causing the car to slow. No specific reason as yet for Purtill stopping but it sounds as if it was a mechanical problem. Anthony O’Halloran said he was trying a lot harder through stages 3 and 4 but his Lancer had a big overshoot at a junction which took the shine off the stage times. Andrew Purcell also had an overshoot in his Lancer, 2 in fact, and he’s starting to think there is more grip in the forests than there is on the tarmac. Mike Quinn, 12th o/a, is having little brake problems with his Escort. Ed Synan is up to 11th and is having a clean run.
Gary Reidy was held up slightly in stage 4 by Aidan Walsh’s stricken Escort. Aidan had been in gearbox trouble earlier. Paul Elliott reckons his Lancer is down a little on turbo boost. Donegal man Trevor Bustard is up to 5th in GpN and he reports no problems. Frank Sweeney has a leaking diff in his Escort and has his fingers crossed it will be OK. Mark Sheahan continues to lead cl.6 despite being slowed a stationary Escort in SS4. Ian Roche in his similar S1600 Clio is 2nd in class and Andrew Bushe 3rd. Andrew running out of top speed in his Citroen, the car on the rev limiter in 6th gear. Sean Flanagan & Brian Duggan were unable to get the differential troubles sorted in their GpN Impreza and they have retired from the top 10.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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