Through the fabulous Fuhiry and Lough Allua stages just a couple of seconds separated the top drivers on this Orchard Motorsport backed Cork 20 International Rally. On Fuhiry for example Craig Breen recorded 6m53s: Tim McNulty 6.55 and Gareth MacHale 6.56. On the Lough Allua test it McNulty’s turn to be fastest on 8.53, Craig Breen was 8.54 and Gareth MacHale 8.55. When the cars reached service Tim said. “We’re taking no chances just doing what we have to do”. Gareth MacHale told us. “The stages were quite greasy. My tyres were too hard a compound. It was totally my own decision”. Gareth went on to say that it is a question now of concentrating entirely on getting the car to the finish of the rally to clinch the Tarmac title.
Denis Cronin unfortunately had to pull out of the rally between Kilnamatra and Fuhiry as he did not feel well enough to continue.
Alastair Fisher holds a steady 4th place under no pressure from behind and with too big a gap to Craig Breen to be able to move up the order. Darren Gass reported all well and there was no repeat of the car filling with smoke as it did earlier today. Darren went on to say. “We’re having a steady run now. We are in no man’s land as regards the leaderboard”. Sebastian Ling has a problem with the gearbox on his Lancer, 4th gear is broken, and he is going to try and keep the car going to the finish.
In the Citroen Racing Trophy Marty McCormack is 3s ahead of Robert Barrable. Robert was 6s up on Marty through stage 12 so hasn’t given up the fight. Desi Henry is turning in some good times as well but in overall terms is 3m behind Barrable. An interested spectator in the Citroen camp was Shane Buckley. Shane was badly injured in the accident on Donegal Rally and it is fantastic to see him out and about again with his father Tadgh.
In the National Rally there is no change – Ed O’Callaghan leads from Washington James, Geoffrey Dolan 3rd, Mervyn Wedlock 4th. With Denis Cronin withdrawing from the rally this could mean that Ed O’Callaghan is odds on favour to take the Southern 4 title.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
(Our thanks to Daphne Millar & Mossie O’Connell: Dougie Hughes: Aidan Harper/Gary Leonard)
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