NANTIONAL RALLY – UNOFFICIAL L/BOARD
1st Tom Flaherty 2nd Jim McKenna 3rd Paddy Kiernan 4th Stephen McCann 5th Stephen Hernon 6th Pat Kelly
Keith Cronin powered his Subaru to fastest on the 2nd stage while Eugene Donnelly did just enough to hold on to the lead. Despite stalling his Subaru at the start line of the stage Derek McGarrity was 2nd fastest and Eugene Donnelly 3trd fastest. British Rally Champion Cronin commented here at service. “I am still not driving well, braking a bit early and keep gong for the window winder instead of the gear stick as I am more used to left hand drive these days. I would really need better conditions to get accustomed to the car”. Rally leader Eugene Donnelly told us. “We had a good run on the first stage as you know although we did catch Garry Jennings in the stage. That didn’t cost us any real time. On the 2nd stage I just could not get heat into the tyres. The conditions were muddy and I backed off slightly`. Derek McGarrity told us. `We have had problems with the launch control on both stages and the intercom is intermittent so I am being cautious`
Declan Boyle in 4th place feels his Subaru engine is a little lumpy but in general is going well. Fellow Donegal man Donagh Kelly in 5th feels he left half his brain back in the Clayton Hotel, he feels he is not fully committed but at least his Subaru is running well. Thomas Fitzmaurice is quite surprised to be going so well considering he has not really driven the car and he said. `I think I am doing alright. I am just learning this and braking about 50 metres too early`
In Group N Alan Ring continues to lead. He did have a lucky escape when he discovered a punctured tyre at the end of the first stage. This did not cost any time. Alan reckoned he was a bit too careful in stage 2. Sam Moffett spun his Lancer in stage 2 and is still having a misfire worry. Sam`s engineer Gerry McGarrity plans to change the spark plugs here at service. Tom Flaherty leads the National Rally in his Escort and made a great start but told us he drove like a granny in stage 2 over the mud. Eamonn Dervan was expected to challenge for the National lead but his Escort has lost 4th and 5th gears. Stephen Wright had a half spin in stage 2 following a good run in stage 1.
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