The two big stories from the end of the High Glen stage are that Sam Moffett was 6s quicker than rally leader Declan Boyle to reduce the gap at the front from 37s to 31s with 5 stages remaining. Also that Daniel McKenna, although still showing 2nd in the results, could be out of the rally because of gearbox problems.
When Declan Boyle`s Subaru was in service this morning, two engineers, Robbie McGurk on one side and Wesley Emerson on the other, set to and changed all the plugs and coil packs on the gleaming Impreza engine. It was like watching surgeons at work. They seemed to have succeeded in their task as Declan Boyle commented at stage finish. `We were cautious at the start of the stage, did not push so hard, but the car seems fine`. Sam Moffett said. `I am not giving up, it is a big gap to close to Declan but we will try hard over the next 3 stages. Five or six seconds a stage might do it`. Garry Jennings in 3rd said. `I am concentrating on keeping it tidy and not making mistakes`.
Darren Gass was 3rd on Saturday afternoon but was knocked back to 7th by his accident on Carnhill. He has decided not to restart this morning. Josh Moffett continues to lead GpN from Eugene Meegan. Josh said after High Glen that he intends to keep a good pace so he that he holds his concentration. Stephen McCann has had some turbo and steering rack work done to his Lancer following a brush with the scenery yesterday. Young Callum Devine is up to 9th and leading class 2 in his Fiesta with Richard Tannahill now 10th and 2nd in cl.2 with his Peugeot.
In the National Rally Gary McPhillips reported that he smelt oil smoke when he came through Glen Village and sure enough Daniel McKenna in front dropped time and said at stage finish that his rally was over because of a broken gearbox. He then turned left after the stage instead of right for Atlantic Drive. Richard Moffett is up to 7th despite a slide that turned into a spin in Glen Village. Adrian Hetherington`s co driver Gary Nolan is celebrating his 30th birthday today and he said at stage finish. `Where else would you be on your birthday!`
On the ERC Ypres Rally in Belgium Freddy Loix in his Skoda came through to win for the 9th time. Kevin Abbring had led but his Peugeot 208 T16 stopped in stage 13 with a mechanical problem. His team-mate Craig Breen also went out with mechanical woes. Stephen & Susanne Wright finished 28th o/a in their R2 Peugeot.
Finally for now it is with great sadness that we record the death, following illness, of Jim Bamber, a man with huge insight into rallying & racing who produced remarkable cartoons that always told the story of rallying/racing and the competitors, using only a few words. His drawings spoke for themselves. He was a great friend of Irish rallying particularly in the days of Tommy Glynn and his Chequered Flag hostelry outside Galway. More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael & Zoe Patterson) *Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
