On the 2nd run over the Garrygort stage it was Darren Gass who set fastest time. Darren is driving a Melvyn Evans Subaru WRC here this weekend and indeed it is first rally since Donegal 12 months ago. Darren asked the Evans crew to stiffen up the suspension including the anti roll bars on the Subaru and it certainly paid off through Garrygort. Sam Moffett was 3s down on Gass but 4s up on Declan Boyle that leaves the gap between the leading pair just 4s heading for Knockalla. Boyle reported a good clean run over Garrygort. Moffett observed that he knows where he can gain a few seconds and Garrygort is one of them, but he will almost certainly ose out again on Knockalla. Garry Jennings reported no problems with his Subaru.
Donagh Kelly in 5th place still has clutch worries with his Focus WRC. One of Donagh`s engineers, Chris McClean, has diagnosed a faulty electronic sensor in the clutch, but is at a loss as to how to fix it. What they have done is attach a bungee cord to the clutch pedal to pull it back, which is not very scientific but seems to be working! Derek McGarrity continues to languish in 5th place overall as he continues to build up confidence in his Subaru.
In the National Rally Daniel McKenna was again fastest by 2s from Gary McPhillips with Manus Kelly a further 6s in arrears over Garrygort. Conor Harvey made a great charge up the leaderboard through the Friday afternoon stages but has struggled a bit today due to niggly problems, most recently stalling the Escort at the start of Garrygort. Adrian Hetherington has changed the type of tyres on his Escort and it has made a bit of difference. Adrian was slightly faster than his friend, but great rival, Frank Kelly, over stage 9. Manus Kelly continues to struggle with his Escort gearbox. First gear seems to have gone and he is trying rolling the stage starts with the car in 2nd gear.
In GpN on the International Josh Moffett was fastest through stage 9, by 7s from Eugene Meegan. Pat Kirk has fallen back quite a bit, his Lancer now minus 3rd gear. Oops, news just coming in Kirk has stopped on Knockalla. Stephen McCann is building up speed slowly but surely and is up to 11th o/a now and 4th in the category. Trevor Bustard maintains 5th GpN and 12th o/a. In the Historic Rally that started this morning Seamus O`Connell has made a brilliant start to lead Denis Moynihan by 49s after 2 stages wit Andy Johnson 3rd in his Chevette HSR. Former Tarmac Champion John Coyle is 6th in his Sunbeam Lotus despite some fuel starvation problems.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael & Zoe Patterson) *Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
