In contrast to day one it was beautifully sunny in the countryside above Inchigeelagh as the competitors starated the Kilnamatra stage. When rally leader Tim McNulty brought his Subaru to the finish of the stage he told us. “The roads were just damp. It was good. We were going hard enough”. It is always important on 2 day rallies to ram home any advantage on the first Sunday stage. McNulty made no mistakes. He was a second faster than Gareth MacHale who in turn was 2s up on Craig Breen. Gareth said. “I picked a A11 tyre, probably too hard a compound”. Craig Breen said. “I didn’t push hard enough”. As regards Gareth’s tyres being too hard a compound they may be perfect for the abrasive surface through Fuhiry and Lough Allua so it could yet be a different picture when the cars reach service at Macroom.
Alastair Fisher, who is 4th o/a, looked slightly despondent at stage finish. He was 20s down on McNulty on that stage and said. “There’s not much we can do in there in a group N car against a world rally car”. Darren Gass was a couple of seconds slower than Alastair and he lost time when he caught up with one of the Citroens in the stage, and then Darren’s car started to fill with smoke. Darren checked the car out at the finish of the stage and it seems OK. Sebastian Ling had a good run to hold 6th. Denis Cronin finished the stage bathed in sweat. The flu is really getting to Denis now and he may be forced to pull out. Owen Murphy dropped a few seconds, his Lancer running out of brakes. Aaron MacHale was slowed when he caught up with Denis Cronin in a real tight part of the stage.
Marty McCormack was a couple of seconds faster than Robert Barrable in that stage so Marty has come into 10th and Robert slips back a place. Desi Henry had a good time by remains in 3rd. Adrian McElhinney is 4th in the Citroens and he commented at stage finish. “If anybody can pick the wrong tyres this weekend its me!” In the National Rally Ed O’Callaghan continues to set fastest times and has extended his lead over Washington James. Geoffrey Dolan is still going well in his Sunbeam to hold 3rd. Mervyn Wedlock remains 4th. Two of Mervyn’s mechanics, Jason and Martin, drove all the way to Armagh last night, built up the spare axle and fitted it to Mervyn’s car this morning.
RALLY FRANCE: First stage this morning Petter Solberg was fastest on the 2nd one Sordo was fastest. Overall Loeb still leads from Sordo with Petter & Chris Patterson 3rd, over a minute off the lead.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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