Alastair Fisher in the Modern Tyres backed Fiesta S2000 dropped 20s to Tim McNulty through stage 9 when interference seemed to come into his intercom and he could not hear Rory Kennedy on the notes. McNulty’s lead is now 1m and we have yet to reach the half way mark on this Topaz Donegal Rally. Tim said. “We’re not going too bad, of course I’m hard to please! Tyre choice is still hard to call. We will maybe go on to a harder compound. I picked a bit soft compound for that last loop and I had to be mindful of them” Derek McGarrity had an overshoot at a K left junction over shiny tar in stage 9 and may have held up Daragh O’Riordan for a few seconds. O’Riordan commented. “We’ve been doing better this morning. The car is better set up than yesterday.” Daragh didn’t actually say anything about being held up but Derek did walk back at the control in to service and apologised to Daragh and Tony.
Kevin Barrett is still having a good steady run and reports no problems this morning while Phillip Morrow is on a charge and is up to 6th o/a in his Lancer and highest placed conventional GpN car.
In the National Rally Daniel McKenna is still the man to beat. Damien Gallagher has had a good run this morning and is staying on touch while John Dalton is on a charge and his Darrian is now up into 3rd. David Bogie, who is running in Super Rally, has set some good times, faster than McKenna through SS9 but David’s Metro is now making fierce gearbox noises. Manus Kelly slowed in stage 9 to check that Barry Meade was OK. Meade’s Escort went off at a 6 right after a very bumpy straight. Brian Brogan has managed some decent times despite his Escort suffering a broken disc. Paul Harris’ Escort is off in SS9. Samuel Kelso spun and lost a few seconds. Conor Harvey’s Escort is suffering power steering failure and is pulling the arms out of the Letterkenny man. Seamus Heron’s Corolla WRC would not fire up after stage 8 and Seamus and co driver Gerry McVeigh got out to have a look under the bonnet. While this was happening someone ran over Gerry’s foot and then when they re-started the bonnet blew up!
Scott McElhinney/Karl Reid are looking ever more secure at the head of the Citroen Racing Trophy contenders. Mark Sheahan/Mark Kane were their closest pursuers but they got caught out on a 3 left over crest with gravel in SS8. The tail of the car came round, the front caught something solid and broke the steering.
On WRC Rally Acropolis in Greece after SS9 Petter Solberg/Chris Patterson still lead but by just over 5s from Ogier with Loeb and Hirvonen in close attendance!
More news later: BFRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael Patterson): *For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 53030 (Irl) or RALLY ITC to 60066 (UK). Cost 30c/25p. Text STOP to switch off. Provided by stagetimes.com You can keep up to date with us on our Twitter feed at both @Pacenotes or Real_RallyNews
