UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7 (End of Day 1)
1st (4) Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Focus WRC) 58.39.5
2nd (1) Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Impreza WRC) 59.05.3
3rd (2) Daragh O`Riordan/Tony McDaid (Fiesta WRC) 59.18.6
4th (133) James Stafford/Richard Cleary (Darrian) 59.44.3
5th (134) Kevin & Martin Kelleher (Impreza WRC) 1.00.40.1
6th (8) Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Starlet rwd) 1.01.56.3
7th (9) Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) 1.02.19.3
8th (12) Phil Collins/Derek Brannigan (Escort) 1.02.28.2
9th (14) Wesley Patterson/Johnny Baird (Escort) 1.02.31.7
10th (30) Martin Donnelly/Brian Doherty (Corolla WRC) 1.03.54.1
11th Gary Kiernan (Escort) 12th Vincent McSweeney (Civic) 13th Vivian Hamill (Escort) 14th Andrew Mahon (Escort) 15th Stephen Carey (Civic)
When overnight rally leader Donagh Kelly tucked his Focus WRC into parc ferme at the Clonakilty Model Village he took the time to tell us. `I am thoroughly enjoying the West Cork roads and I am starting to drive the car at last the way it is supposed to be driven. That was the plan for coming here. To stop messing about. I must say, the Engineer that Msport have sent over, Jonathan, has made a huge difference to the sharpness of the engine, the car, everything`. Second placed Denis Cronin reported all well in his camp but following all the wet cold weather he has been caught on the hop as regards tyre availability and he really want s to find some harder compound Pirellis for tomorrow. Daragh O`Riordan brought his Fiesta WRC into this final control for today and he said. `That last stage was very tricky, a bit off camber and with the sun flashing through the trees into my eyes. Overall I really enjoyed the day and I am hoping the tighter stages tomorrow will suit the car more`.
James Stafford continues to lead the Modified Rally in his Darrian and was fastest of the Modified cars through stage 7 with Frank Kelly 2nd fastest in his Escort along with Wesley Patterson in his Escort. Frank Kelly found when he was checking his newly built Mk2 at last service that the throttle was only opening about 80 per cent, so perhaps he will be quicker again tomorrow. Declan Gallagher had a fantastic run today and reports no problems with his Starlet RWD. Brian O`Keefe had some clutch sticking problems with his GpN Impreza. This was due to a bung coming adrift from the exhaust manifold and heating up the hydraulic fluid. That is now fixed and Brian is now 2nd in GpN. Stephen Carey is leading Group N. Stephen had some intercom problems in his Civic and they are now sorted. Jim McKenna dropped 9m earlier today when his Escort lost the fuel supply when a wire to the pump broke. Jim is still going but out of contention. Stephen & Susanne Wright are leading Cl.6 in their Peugeot 208 R2 and 19th o/a after a very clean run today.
On the first round of the McGrady Insurance NI C/ship at Bishopscourt Derek McGarrity in his recently acquired ex Dani Sordo Mini WRC has taken the win from Kevin Barrett (Subaru). Desi Henry in his Lancer 3rd.
More news in the morning: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @REal_RallyNews
