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| Tour of the Sperrins |
| RALLY NEWS No.2 - After SS1 - Saturday @ 12:06:17 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.2 Cranagh/End of SS1/Saturday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Sawel Mountain
1st (116) Sean Devine/Robert McDaid (Impreza WRC) 4.12.6
2nd (1) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 4.21.3
(2) Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Focus WRC) 4.21.3
4th (4) Camillus Bradley/Danny O'Neill (Escort) 4.23.0
(14) Derek McGeehan/Eugene Donnelly (Corolla WRC) 4.23.0
6th (8) Seamus O'Connell/Andrew Grennan (Escort) 4.30.1
7th (6) George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Impreza WRC) 4.34.9
8th (119) Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont (Lancer N) 4.35.4
Picture postcard conditions prevailed as the crews tackled the opening stage through the Sperrins. As can be seen above, Sean Devine was fastest, his co driver Robert McDaid said. “We were taking no risks”. Derek McGarrity said at the finish of the 5.2 miles of bumpy Sawel Mountain road. “We really struggled with the suspension.” Donagh Kelly also said that he had a couple of very big moments over the bumps in the stage and also that the rear diff temperature warning light in the Focus was flashing at stage finish.
Raymond Johnston in his Lancer was the first of the GpN cars through and he felt that the suspension of his Mitsubishi was far too soft for the type of road. Alan Carmichael told us. “I could have gone harder, but its my first time on the Hankook tyres and I’m still getting the feel of them”. Kieran Graffin was also driving a GpN Lancer and his time of 4.48.8. Kieran said that the rear suspension of his car was bouncing quite a bit in the stage.
Camillus Bradley was the fastest of the early Mk2 Escort runners. Camillus reported no problems. Declan McNaughton said he was being a little bit cautious. His time was 4.35.7. Some other Mk2 times included: Adrian Hetherington on 4.39.8. John Waring on 4.38.9. When Brian Brogan brought his Escort to the finish of the stage his co driver Damien McGettigan gave us his time of 4.44.2. Damien seemed a bit shaken and also told us that David Armstrong’s Escort had stopped up in the stage somewhere.
Derek McGeehan in the Corolla WRC is running 15th on the road and Derek had a good run although he said he was being a little bit cautious but he was still 4th fastest. Stuart Biggerstaff recorded a time of 4.44.2 but Stuart reported that his Impreza WRC seemed to be set a little too low and was scuffing the road over the jumps.
On the Manx National Rally Keith Cronin is still 2nd but Paul Bird has increased his lead to 32s.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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