Donegal man Donagh Kelly started today in the same mood as he was in yesterday by setting a fastest time through the ultra quick 15.2km Ardfield test. Donagh`s co driver Kevin Flanagan told us at stage finish. `It went well in there, no problems, we had a good run. It was dry all the way. We possibly picked too soft a compound tyre and the car was moving about a bit but no worries`. Denis Cronin when his Subaru reached the stage finish at owenahincha and when asked if he had given it a good go he said. `Yes and we had no problems but I think the Focus is the faster car`. Indeed Kelly was 7s up on Denis on that one stage. The next stage, Glandore, is a bit tighter and more twisty which may suit the Subaru and indeed Daragh O`Riordan`s Fiesta a bit better. Daragh said at the end of Ardfield that the car was on the limiter for much of the way through the stage.
The other big news from Ardfield is that James Stafford/Richie Cleary have parked their Darrian in the stage. Stafford was 4th o/a and led the Modified category of the rally. We have an unconfirmed report that the Darrian lost its gears, but this has to be ratified. Stafford`s retirement puts the ball firmly into Declan Gallagher`s court as regards points in the Modified section of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Tarmac Championship.
Overnight stories included the news that Kevin & Martin Kelleher have withdrawn their Subaru following engine worries on the first day. Kevin was lying 5th o/a at the end of Saturday. Mick O1Brien was a late retirement yesterday when his Focus showed signs of overheating caused by fluid from the power steering pump going on to the water pump belt. Engineer Tom Gahan has sorted the problem and Mick has the car out today for a run in the Rally 2 section.
Stafford`s retirement promotes Declan Gallagher up to 4th o/a. Declan di a time of 7.38 through Ardfield. Frank Kelly recorded a 7.37 and said. `That is some stage`. Fastest of the Escorts was the remarkable 64 year old Phil Collins with a time of 7.33. Wesley Patterson was 2nd fastest Escort with a time of 7.36.
In the Historic Rally Porsche man Adrian Kermode starts Day 2 with a14s advantage over James O`Mahony in the Volvo. Adrian and his co driver Maurice Beckett freely admit that the Volvo is putting them under big pressure. This is Adrian`s first visit to West Cork.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
