39. John Mulholland Motors Ulster Rally 2016
19. 8. – 20. 8. 2016, Derry/Londonderry • Northern Ireland Motor Club • asphalt 215.44 km • Other years
These are combined International and National A homologated cars results.
Info
SS14
‘This was one of the toughest rallies I have driven in a long time, a proper rally!’
‘The conditions were difficult for the rally but job done’
SS12
‘Places where we had marked as bad in our notes are now very bad’
‘We pushed hard but had a stall a few miles from the end. I am trying to keep our position on the leaderboard’
‘I have a job to do and that is win the British Championship and I still have to get to the end of the rally’
SS10
‘we need a turbo on this car, one from Scania will do, we had a real good go, loved every moment of it, now it is time for the Glenview Bar’
‘Yes it was slippy and we had a few moments, couldn’t get heat into the tyres’
‘it was grand, tricky conditions yes, but challenging but I enjoyed it, that is what it is all about’
‘my tyre choice was the safe option, I am not getting drawn into any battles with Elfyn, erring on the side of caution’
‘they were tricky enough and they were full wet conditions, very slippy but the car was working well’
‘we were going very fast and I was too late with the information and we went into a left hand corner too fast and the car went through the fence and into the field’
SS9
Power Steering Issues
SS8
retired his Fiesta yesterday because of a turbo problem which was having an effect on the throttle. He has rejoined this morning under Rally 2 rules but is finding the car almost impossible to drive as it keeps switching on to full throttle again, possibly because of the electronics linked to the turbo.
‘We had cones marked in our notes for the inside on a corner, and when we got to the place, there were cones everywhere, all over the road’
‘The stage was so difficult I am not sure I enjoyed it’
‘One of those stages where we did not push’
‘With every stage we are learning more about the slippy places and making less mistakes’
‘There was a lot of sliding going on in there!’
'Concentrating on Tarmac C
'found the stage really tricky and it is impossible to know what tyre is best.'
Off road, damaged suspension and wheel
SS7
Electrical Issues
‘The stage started well and we were flying. Then I overshot into a farmyard and I thought, well I will make that up. Then I overshot a junction and I thought – well I will make that up. Then I had another overshoot and I thought – I am making a real mess of this. I think I am a bit naïve about this Irish tarmac!’
‘I felt comfortable and thought I had braked early for a junction but overshot slightly’.
‘It was damp and slippy and I could not really find decent grip. I had one small overshoot’
SS6
recalled a massive moment when his Skoda stalled at high speed going down a long hill, and with the engine stopped he was very much a passenger until the car came to a halt beside a clump of big bushes which he thought for sure he as going through!
‘I am not totally happy. The times have improved but the car is not to my liking, it is under-steering and I am not comfortable’
‘All quite OK, but I am not used to this surface’.
'I have no recall of hitting anything it was a straight road and the tyre just went down. I had to drive 8km on the puncture. Then I had a spin on stage 5. Stage 6 went OK.'
'No major problems, just the wrong tyres.'
'We had a good clean run although the tyres were a comprimise. I was on a comfortable pace but was caught out on one muddy section, other than that I was driving within myself.'
'It was not great through SS5 & SS6, We were on completely the wrong tyres. We were not expecting the rain. I have done more than 50% of the rally so far on the wrong tyres!'
SS5
Spin
Another puncture
SS4
Half Spin
Got stuck after running wide under some trees
Overshot a junction
'I think something broke in the transmission'
Half Spin
'The car is more stable and confidence inspiring'
'It was slippy in places, we had a half spin on a left hander'
'We picked a dry weather tyre, it worked well, the car felt good'
Puncture
SS3
'The stages don't suit my car as well as the turbo cars, too many slow corners and junctions'
'I felt my way into the rally, taking no risks, it is so easy to be caught out here in these conditions, it takes just one corner, one junction'
Damaged suspension
SS2
Suspension damage
Had an off, damage to the car 'I thought the rally was all over but it was not'
'Much better than the first stage'
Puncture
Front left puncture
Puncture
Puncture
SS1
'Tires moving around a lot but we're happy with how it went.'
Puncture
Had an off
'It is the same for everyone'
'The car is moving around on the tyres, it is very disconcerting'
'Conditions are treacherous in places'
'Had a few hairy incidents in the stage and can see where Elfyn had some excursions along the verges'
'Conditions are difficult, the car felt nervous'
'Spectators are crazy, there was one guy in the middle of the road at the start so I had to brake, they need to be kept under control'