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| Fastnet Stages Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.2 - After stage 1 - Sunday @ 10:19:38 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.2 End of stage 1/Drinagh/Sunday 10.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 MAULTRAHANE
1st (3) Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 10.01
2nd (6) Melvyn Evans/Patrick Walsh (Impreza WRC) 10.04
3rd (5) Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Impreza WRC) 10.10
4th (2) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 10.14
5th (4) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 10.19
6th (9) Garry Jennings/David Moynihan (Lancer N) 10.29
(12) Barry Meade/Alan White (Escort) 10.29
8th (8) Kevin & Martin Kelleher (Lancer N) 10.32
9th (10) Wesley Patterson/Martin McGarrity (Escort) 10.39
(117) Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Clio) 10.39
Current National Champion Patrick Elliott was first on the road through that opening Maultrahane stage and of course Patrick’s job today is to play the percentage game and just finish in the top 3 to retain his title. As can be seen above he was 4th fastest although of course Welshman Melvyn Evans is not registered for the championship so that would give Patrick 3rd placed points. The Cavan man said at stage finish at Drinagh. “I was far too cautious. It’s hard to judge the level of grip. However we are through the first one and that is what it is all about”. Niall Maguire was sweating hard at stage finish which was reflected in his fastest time, although Niall said he nearly blew it at the start because he forgot that the start intervals have been changed from 30s to 1 minute for the first 15 cars on the road. Kevin Barrett reported a good steady run. Melvyn Evans lost a bit of confidence when he spun his Subaru at the first square right junction.
In Group N Garry Jennings was fastest but said. “I just want to go home. Not enjoying it. I like stages with the grass growing up the middle. The car wouldn’t start before the stage and we had to pull wires off sensors to try and find the problem. Couldn’t concentrate afterwards”. When Kevin Kelleher brought his Lancer into the finish he immediately jumped out and checked the rear wheels and said. “Its like something is moving in the back end, can’t commit to the corners, it keeps stepping out”.
Barry Meade was fastest of the 2 wheel drive although he felt he was getting no grip at the back of his Escort. Wesley Patterson said. “Drove middle of the road, nothing special, felt like I was sitting at home on the PlayStation with this paddle change”. Mike Quinn reported a warped brake disc on his Escort which cost time. Daragh O’Riordan ran out of brakes on his Clio half way through the stage, his time was 10.46. Brian O’Mahony’s Clio kept selecting 6th gear as he down changed. Gwyn Thomas/Colin Fitzgerald have stopped 2 miles into the stage, their Puma engine switching on to safe mode. Vincent O’Shea’s Escort Cosworth smelt of burning oil at stage finish. John Hickey in the BMW M3 reported the power steering belt off and said. “It’s a fun car but you’d want a dry day and power steering”. Finally for now we have had a phone call from Andrew Haill on the Cheviot Rally at Otterburn to say that David Mann/Alun Cook have retired their Subaru with clutch failure which means that Sean Mullally who is with Kevin Barrett today is the new MSA Asphalt Championship co-driver!. (Sean was co-driving for Melvyn Evans all season and Melvyn won the Driver’s title).
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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