UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Ballyfa
1st (1) Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 10.36.9
2nd (2) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 10.53.2
3rd (3) Derek McGarrity/Diarmuid Falvey (Lancer N) 11.01.6
4th (4) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 11.03.9
5th (11) Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Clio) 11.39.0
6th (9) Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly (Lancer N) 11.44.4
NATIONALS
1st (8) Tom Flatherty/Patrick Curley (Escort 11.44.5
2nd (19) Richard Whelan/Sarah Whelan (Civic) 11.50.6
3rd (12) Pat Kelly/Dean Raferty (Impreza) 11.59.6
4th (26) Jason McSweeney/Denis O'Mahony (Civic) 12.10.5
5th (33) John Conneely/Stephen O’Brien (Escort) 12.10.8
The drivers on this Safety Direct Galway Rally were faced with very wet roads through the opening stages. When Tim McNulty brought his Subaru to the finish of the opening test, Ballyfa, he commented. “A lot of standing water, very slippy.” Tim was a lot faster than his closest challenger Kevin Barrett and Kevin also talked about the standing water and the slippy conditions. Third on the road, Derek McGarrity, pointed to his Lancer’s misted up windscreen when he got to stage finish and said. “Very difficult”. Alan Ring admitted to making a slow start and being cautious in the tricky conditions. Tommy Doyle in the Clio had a good run to 5th in the International section but Tommy described it as “tricky”.
Some drivers in the International having problems included Ross Forde whose Lancer’s engine seemed to be racing all by itself. William Mavitty had an overshoot and a stall as he settled in to his Lancer. Brian O’Keefe spun his GpN Impreza on a square right corner. Liam Egan’s Subaru finished the stage with a flat front left tyre. Liam told us that he was having a real good run and suddenly the tyre deflated in mid stage. He wasn’t aware of having clipped anything. It was a disappointing start for Liam having made the trip all the way from New York to compete. David Quigley/Des Sherlock had a huge moment on to the grass, David described it as “a mega slide”. It certainly cost the All Weather Covers Civic crew quite a few seconds and they were hoping to record a really good time, as it is David’s home stage. David Carney spun his Citroen C2 at the railway bridge and lost a few seconds.
In the National section Tom Flatherty reported a smooth run despite the standing water and he set fastest time. Richard Whelan in 2nd National place had a huge moment on a 4 left and caught the rear of his Civic against the ditch. Geoffrey Dolan recorded a time of 12.13.7 in his Sunbeam for 6th o/a. Peter Howley was on 12.21.1 in his rwd Starlet and Neil Pierce 12.25.7. The times are still unofficial.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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