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| Ulster Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.1 - RALLYNEWS No 1 - Friday @ 15:50:00 |
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RALLYNEWS NO.1 AFTER STAGE 1
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE1
WRC
1st (W2) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 6.56.7
2nd (W1) Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 6.58.3
3rd (W4) Aaron MacHale/Eugene O'Donnell (Focus WRC) 7.14.4
RALLYNI
1st (1) Gwyndaf Evans/Phil Pugh (Lancer N) 7.04.6
2nd (4) Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts (Fiesta S2000) 7.08.8
3rd (2) Keith Cronin/Barry McNulty (Impreza N) 7.09.2
4th (28) Daniel Mckenna/Andrew Grennan (Lancer N) 7.13.8
5th (3) Alastair Fisher/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 7.16.5
6th (7) Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Citroen DS3 R3) 7.19.6
7th (9) Adam Gould/Craig Drew (Impreza N) 7.24.7
8th (5) Jonny Greer/Dai Roberts (Lancer N) 7.25.3
9th (8) Jason Pritchard/Robbie Durant (Impreza N) 7.27.5
10th (25) Robert Barrable/Damien Connolly (Citroen C2R2 Max) 7.29.6
11th (24) Marty McCormack/David Moynihan (Citroen C2R2 Max) 7.34.4
Speeds were very high through the opening Knockboy Stage near Broughshane and all the top drivers remarked on just how fast parts of the roads are. Gareth MacHale brought his Focus into the finish near McGregors Corner and said: “It was bone dry, and I was a little cautious on the very fast stuff.” The Dutch driver Arjen De Koning brought his Lancer into the finish and remarked “Bumpy!”.
Gwyndaf Evans in his JRM Lancer was fastest of the NI Rally contenders and the Welshman said: “Very happy with that.” Interestingly Gwyndaf’s team took the car way down to Killarney on Wednesday for a test session. It was a real bumpy road and it looks they have found good settings for the suspension. British Champion Keith Cronin reported “Just settling in.” Craig Breen, fresh from his Swedish trip gave the thumbs up and said “All is well.”
Jonny Greer had some brake problems early in the stage but then the pedal came quit good towards the end. Dave Weston Jnr wasn’t as lucky. He has had problems in the stage and has parked his Impreza in a farmyard. Alistair Fisher had a decent run and said at stage finish: ”There is still a long way to go on this rally.” Although Alistair is running in a different part of the rally to Gareth MacHale, they are both eligible for points in the Citroen Tarmac Championship, so we will try and compare them throughout the rally.
Bryan Bouffier had a really good run in the new Citroen DS3R3 but when the Frenchman reached the finish line of the stage: “I need to understand these roads.” Young Daniel McKenna from Monaghan is seeded down at 28 and he had a great run through that opening stage in his Lancer. Some other times from just outside the top ten conclude Elfyn Evans on 7.34.5, Tommy Doyle at 7.34.9. Neil McCance, bidding for Mitsubishi Evo Challenge honours had 7.35.1. Jarkko Nikara was the best of the Twingo’s on 7.41.7. Mark Donnelly who is competing with Robert Barrable for Citroen Racing Trophy points had a time 7.40.0.
New of some non-starters include Daragh O’Riordan in the WRC part of the rally, Eamon Daly in the NI Rally, Wesley Patterson and Kieron Graffin in the National.
On Rally Germany Petter Solberg/Chris Patterson have just set a fastest time, but lost 2 minutes plus on the opening stage with a puncture.
Loeb was fastest on the first 3 stages.
More news later: BRIAN PATTERSON & CHRISTEL DEBERDT & IAN BEASANT www.rallynews.net
*For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 53030 (Irl) or RALLY ITC to 60066 (UK). Text STOP to switch off. Cost 30c/25p. Provided by stagetimes.com
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