UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 Clogagh
1st (4) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 20.57
2nd (2) Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 21.07
3rd (1) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 21.14
4th (3) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian) 21.25
5th (7) Kevin & Martin Kelleher (Lancer N) 21.42
6th (10) Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Impreza WRC) 21.47
7th (5) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 22.13
8th (17) Billy McLelland/Alastair Wiley (Lancer) 22.25
9th (9) Brian O'Mahony/John HIggins (Clio S1600) 22.28
10th (8) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 22.28
Denis Cronin turned in a scintillating time for the second stage, over 10s faster than his closest pursuer Tim McNulty. Denis commented. “I felt that I wasn’t going that hard but some times that is when you drive smooth and the time is deceptive”. Tim McNulty said. “I’m on a very comfortable pace, no dramas”. No.1 seed Liam McCarthy said that he had a good clean run through the first couple of stages. John Dalton in the Darrian remarked. “I’m enjoying it. Its brilliant”. Michael Barrable told of a puncture on the first stage when the front wheel of his Focus clipped a rock. Hugh Hunter, whose Focus also had a puncture on that first stage, has not as yet appeared into service.
Kevin Kelleher leads group N but his Lancer is suffering from a cracked windscreen that occurred when he caught the struggling Hugh Hunter in stag 1. Sean Flanagan, as ever completely relaxed and cool, is lying 2nd in GpN in his Impreza. Daragh O’Riordan found the 2nd stage a bit tight and said his new Subaru “felt big”. Bob Fowden is lying just outside the leaderboard on 22.44, the 3 times previous winner said. “The car is going well but the driver isn’t!” Brian O’Mahony told us that his Clio clipped a rock in the first stage and bent a wheel, so he backed off for the remainder of that stage and for stage 2, so his top 10 times are pretty good. JJ Fleming had a bit of a moment on the first stage when his new Subaru stepped out at the back and it took the wind out of his sails somewhat.
Local man John Buttimer did not have a great 2nd stage as he bumped the front corner of his Subaru. Ed O’Callaghan’s Escort was slowed on the opening 2 stages because of a bad misfire. Tomas Davies had a good run through the first 2 stages and his total is 22.57. Adrian Hetherington is on 23.25. Ed O’Callaghan 23.04 and Kevin O’Donoghue 23.14. Conor Curley has retired his Escort following steering arm damage on the first stage. Gwyn Thomas would also appear to have retired, his Puma having ECU problems. Viv Hamill has got his Escort into service despite some crash damage to the front. Damien McCarthy/Eamonn Hayes had a great run through the opening stages and despite a broken gear stick and flattened exhaust; their Cl.11 Honda is just outside the leaderboard on 22.47. Neil Guinevan has not appeared here at service, his Impreza reportedly well down on power at the end of the first stage.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTESON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Kieran O’Callaghan and Kevin O’Driscoll)
