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| Mayo Stages Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.2 - After SS3 - Sunday @ 12:43:55 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.2 Westport Service/Sunday 12.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Bohaun
1st (2) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 15.33
2nd (3) Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 15.49
3rd (1) Gareth MacHale/Barry Goodman (Corsa S2000) 16.13
4th (4) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 16.22
5th (5) Garry Jennings/Martin Brady (Lancer N) 16.34
6th (17) Tom Muldoon/Tommy Nugent (Lancer N) 16.54
7th (150) Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Lancer N) 16.55
8th (9) Danny McBride/Jonathan Gallagher (Lancer N) 17.06
9th (19) Jack & Paul Maguire (Esc.Cos) 17.10
10th (148) Peter Wilson/Domhnall Lennon (Civic) 17.15
(8) Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Clio S1600) 17.15
12th (18) Eugene Ferry/Derek Heena (Escort) 17.16
Difficult weather made the going tough for the drivers on this Mayo Stages Rally as they headed up into the Sheeffry Mountains. Indeed as the cars left the Westport service and headed out past Croagh Patrick a massive hailstorm made conditions on the opening stage, Big Maum, too dangerous to run. The crews headed straight to stage 2, Barnaderg, and it was Patrick Elliott who was fastest over the 10.6km, 13s up on Niall Maguire. Gareth MacHale was running first on the road in the new S2000 Corsa and he was 23s slower than Elliott, which prompted Gareth then to start the next stage, Bohaun, behind the three world rally cars, just as a safety precaution.
Current Dunlop National Champion Elliott commented at the service in control after stage 3. “It’s very tricky, conditions require a bit of caution, smooth on the brakes and the steering. We had an overshoot in stage 3, not enough cuts in the tyres. The weather is what it is, there is no real ice but its tough”. Patrick’s co driver Paul Goodman said. “We dropped about 10s with that overshoot at the triangle junction, it was high speed, a heart stopper”. Niall Maguire told us. “I’m struggling a bit in these conditions, too many breakfasts, braking a bit early for the junctions and chicanes”. Kevin Barrett reported that he encountered a huge hail shower 4km from the end of stage 3 and he had to back off. Gareth MacHale reported. “The car is bottoming out. It is very good on the fast stuff and we’re on the rev limiter in 6th gear”. Gareth’s co driver Barry Goodman added. “We’ve had a couple of tank slappers!”
Garry Jennings Is the fastest of the conventional group N cars so far. (Gareth MacHale’s Corsa is running in group N). Garry reported no problems. Anthony O’Halloran was expected to be Garry’s closest pursuer but Anthony has not settled down and his total is 17.50. Sean Flanagan has had brake troubles with his Impreza and his total is 17.37. Danny McBride lost a few seconds when he overshot a junction and had to reverse, and then stuck the car in 4th gear which killed the engine for quite a few seconds. Thomas Fitzmaurice has had a great run to hold 7th o/a in his GpN Lancer but said. “I’m frightened of my life”. Another to have a good run was Tom Muldoon. He is on local territory through that Barnaderg stage and set a fantastic time through the Bohaun stage. In the battle of the Mark 2 Escorts Eugene Ferry has set 2 good times so far. Trevor Mulligan is off the pace his Escort suffering a handling problem. Russell Woods went well and his total is 17.23. Des Moore found the going very tough and his total is 17.30. Peter Wilson had a brilliant run in his Civic to lead class 11. Brian O’Mahony is once again struggling with fuel problems, his Clio drinking the stuff and he is just outside the leaderboard on 17.15 to lead cl.6. Andrew Bushe is having all sorts of handling problems with his Saxo and said the car is weaving on the straights. His total is 18.00.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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