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| Townparks Glens of Antrim |
| RALLY NEWS No.5 - Loughguile - Tuesday @ 12:57:51 |
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UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Glenshesk
1st (3) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 31.38
2nd (2) Connor McCloskey/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 31.44
3rd (1) Sean Devine/Damien Duffin (Impreza WRC) 31.50
4th (28) Declan McNaughton/Sean Hayde (Escort) 33.48
5th (8) Cathal Rogers/Eoighan Rogers (Lancer N) 34.08
6th (18) Camillus Bradley/Danny O'Neill (Escort) 34.23
7th (49) Andrew Bushe/Richard Hyland (Saxo) 34.33
8th (19) Rodney White/Sorcha Kelly (Sunbeam) 34.38
9th (14) Wesley Patterson/Martin McGarrity (Escort) 34.38
10th (34) Fintan McGrady/Conal McCartan (Escort) 34.55
11th (17) Des Moore/Damien Connolly (Escort) 34.57
Through stage 5 Derek McGarrity was a second faster than Connor McCloskey with Sean Devine another second back and then through stage 6 McGarrity beat the bogey time and therefore was credited with that minimum time which is 5.48. McCloskey and Devine both stopped the clocks on 5.49. There was a fair bit of drama then at the regroup in Ballypatrick forest when McGarrity’s car refused to fire up. About 20 drivers and co-drivers managed to push the Impreza up a hill on to the road and got it bump started. This was no mean feat as world rally cars are hugely difficult and heavy to push because of all the diffs. Connor McCloskey admitted that he is going at a fair pace but at the same time reported no real problems.
Cathal Rogers continued his clean run to lead group N and hold 5th o/a. Andrew Bushe softened the suspension on his Saxo and thought the car was better but in fact his times were slower than the first loop, and he has dropped a place to Camillus Bradley. Declan McNaughton continues to do a fabulous job and holds 4th o/a and is best of the Escorts. Alastair Cochrane was slowed when his Escort filled up with petrol fumes as a result of the fuel cap being missing. Owen McErlean had a problem with the rear diff and also the front brakes and although he got his car through stage 6 has decided not to continue. Gerard McFall suffered a broken drive shaft on his Escort Cosworth and the car performed a couple of doughnuts in stage 6.
Hugh McKenna’s Mk2 Escort was slowed by a misfire. Camillus Bradley had a really good run through stage 6, just 2s down on McNaughton. Wesley Patterson was fastest of all the Mk2s, two seconds up on McNaughton. Wesley reported intercom problems through stage 5 and also had a big moment on a wet patch in stage 6, as did Adrian Hetherington.
Looking back to last service Gary Cairns was lying 2nd GpN but we are waiting for times for him as his Lancer was hampered by a broken manifold. Stephen McFerran was leading class 6 at service and young Oran Donnelly in the Fiesta was leading cl.3. John McKay was leading class 1 in his Civic.
Further news from the Cambrian Rally in the form of a text message from Frank Kelly which read: “Two stages to go, 16th o/a. First Silverstar. Four minutes up on Ballinger. This is hard work!” (Frank hates going slowly and trying to pace himself! Jody Patterson & Jeremy Taylor in the RallyNews Lancer from the Raymond Mason stable had a good clean run through the first 4 stages and they were lying 34th o/a. The pair think the class Co. Antrim stages are simply brilliant and very challenging.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL www.rallynews.net
With thanks to Libby and Stan Harper Motorsport for lunch – the Irish stew was great so it was!!! |
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