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| Ulster International rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.12 - After SS13 - Saturday @ 16:51:12 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.12 Antrim/Service/Saturday 4.55
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 13 SLIEVE GALLION
1st (2) Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.40.43.6
2nd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Fabia WRC) 1.40.44.1
3rd (4) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 1.42.29.4
4th (5) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Impreza N) 1.45.04.8
5th (7) Gwyndaf Evans/Chris Patterson (Lancer N) 1.45.17.2
6th (10) Alastair Fisher/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 1.47.36.6
7th (19) Kris Princen/Bram Eelbode (Clio) 1.50.47.2
8th (22) Brian O'Mahony/John HIggins (Clio) 1.51.08.5
Eugene Donnelly was just over 2s faster than Gareth MacHale on the penultimate stage, Slieve Gallion, to leave Gareth leading by just 0.5s going into the final stage, Lisnamuck. The final stage is just over 8 miles long and tricky all the way and this Ulster Rally really is going down to the wire. All the times are not in as yet for stage 13 as the stage was “interrupted” when Finnish driver Matti Rantanen was due to come through. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Rantanen rolled his Clio between junction 3 and 4 on a very fast but cautioned right hander over a crest. Marty McCormack in his Citroen was first on the scene and he reported that both driver and co driver are OK. The accident is a great shame really because Matti was up to 9th o/a in his Clio, the car in very little more than group N specification.
In Group N Gwyndaf Evans was 9s slower than Mark Higgins through that long tough Slieve Gallion stage. Gwyndaf was crestfallen at stage finish when he reported that his Lancer brakes had again given up the ghost towards the end of the stage. Mark Higgins reported a good clean run. Mark did tackle the stage without his new glasses as he did not want to risk any chance of the specs misting up!
At the front of the rally Gareth MacHale said. “That’s it. Its all down to the last stage.” Eugene Donnelly reported. “That’s as hard as I can go. Just can’t go any faster”. Derek McGarrity in 3rd said. “I’m happy enough, plenty in hand. I broke a damper earlier on and I’ve no more spares”. In the battle of the R3 Clios Kris Princen maintains a decent but not huge lead over Brian O’Mahony. Alastair Fisher felt a vibration coming into his Lancer’s steering and backed off slightly towards stage finish, but is still very placed in 6th o/a and 3rd GpN. Alan Carmichael lost some time when he overshot a junction, hand braked his Lancer round and it fell into a ditch. Spectators helped him out but he has now lost reverse gear as well as 4th. Pat Kirk had a stunning time through stage 13 and will probably now be in 10th place.
News is coming in that half way through the final stage Eugene Donnelly is 14s up on Gareth MacHale…..
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL www.rallynews.net
*For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 53030 (Irl) or 60066 (UK). Text STOP to switch off. Cost 30c/25p. Provided by stagetimes.com
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