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| Mayo Stages Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.4 - After SS6 - Sunday @ 15:44:39 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.4 Westport Service/Sunday 3.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Bohaun
1st (2) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 38.31
2nd (3) Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 38.34
3rd (1) Gareth MacHale/Barry Goodman (Corsa S2000) 40.05
4th (4) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 40.06
5th (5) Garry Jennings/Martin Brady (Lancer N) 40.31
6th (8) Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Clio S1600) 42.18
7th (138) Fergal Costello/Shane Gilhooley (Lancer N) 42.28
8th (150) Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Lancer N) 42.44
9th (19) Jack & Paul Maguire (Esc.Cos) 42.46
10th (12) Russell Woods/Martin Byrne (Escort) 42.49
11th (23) Anthony Hand/Emmet Sherry (Escort) 42.51
Rally leader Patrick Elliott had a major moment on stage 5, Barnaderg, when he spun his Subaru which then smacked some rocks and knocked off the front bumper and damaged the lights. Patrick then had to reduce speed through stage 6 as the handling of the car was disrupted because the front bumper also acts a spoiler and keeps the nose down. This has allowed Niall Maguire to close to within 3s of current champion Elliott with 2 stages remaining. Here at service the Robbie McGurk mechanics are working furiously to repair the front of Elliott’s Impreza. Patrick explained the accident. “Not far into the stage where the road starts to climb it was the first bad corner. I touched the brakes and the back just came round on the approach to the 5 left. It was inexplicable. I didn’t see any oil. I’m blessed that I didn’t take the 4 wheels off the car”.
Niall Maguire seems to have his tail up now and he was fastest on both stages 5 and 6. Kevin Barrett has closed to within 1s of Gareth MacHale. Gareth reported some intercom problem and also his S2000 Corsa too stiff at the back and if there are softer springs available Gareth wants them fitted. Garry Jennings said when he came into service. “That’s as hard as the car will go.” Garry’s co driver Martin Brady said. “It was very enjoyable mind you. It looks as if this S2000 of Gareth’s has the legs of us anyway”.
Further stories from that loop include: Tom Muldoon was forced to retire his Lancer after a brilliant drive which saw him up to 6th o/a and 2nd group N. He was too hard on the clutch leaving the start line of stage 5 and burst the front diff. Des Moore put his Escort off the road in stage 5. Danny McBride took over the 2nd in GpN slot but his Lancer has stopped at the start of stage 6. He may get going but he’s certainly very late. Brian O’Mahony continues to surge up the leaderboard, his Clio seems to be running a lot better now. Sean Flanagan has spun on every stage. Thomas Fitzmaurice lost time in stage 5 when one of the traffic bollard dividers blew out into his Lancer’s path in the strong winds and he had almost spin the car to avoid it. Anthony Hand has backed off slightly to preserve his cl11 lead and not worry about his overall position so Russell Woods is now the leading Escort. Peter Wilson has misting up problems in his Civic.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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