RALLY NEWS NO.1 Letterkenny/Friday
UNOFFICIAL INT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 1 TRENTAGH
1ST (3) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 6.50.4
2ND (1) Declan & Brian Boyle (Fiesta WRC) 6.51.9
3rd (2) Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Impreza WRC) 6.52.1
4th (4) Derek McGarrity/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 7.01.2
5th (6) Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC) 7.03.6
6th (5) Daragh O`Riordan/Tony McDaid (Fiesta WRC) 7.04.3
UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 1
1st (19) Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Starlet) 7.07.3
2nd (24) Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett (Escort) 7.13.2
3rd (21) Brian Brogan/Damien McGettigan (Escort) 7.15.3
4th (28) Paul & Karl Reid (Escort) 7.15.5**
5th (29) Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Escort) 7.15.9
6th (15) Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan (Escort) 7.17.9
** Times from the computer show Paul & Karl Reid 10s slower which will be checked out.
The stop watch at the end of the opening stage on this Joule Donegal Rally gave the answer to the million dollar question of how Declan Boyle would settle into his brand new left hand drive Fiesta WRC. Declan was not fastest but he was certainly ultra competitive which was a great relief to himself, his team and his supporters. Just over a second separated the top 3 cars with Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy fastest. At the finish of the Trentagh stage Garry said. `It went well but it felt very slippy and we had trouble getting traction`. Indeed quite a few of the drivers commented on how slippy the roads were and that was despite the dry conditions. Clonakilty Blackpudding Tarrmac Championship leader Donagh Kelly said at stage finish that he had not pushed too hard, and was happy with his pace.
Last year`s winner Declan Boyle said. `The Fiesta feels down on power compared to testing`. Of course nearly every driver says that, testing is never the same as the rally! Derek McGarrity reckoned he was a bit too slow away from the starting blocks. Daragh O`Riordan felt his Fiesta was set too low and was bouncing off the road. He did say though at stage finish that it was not a big problem, one turn on the knob on the struts will raise the car 4mm and he can do it himself at the side of the road. Seamus Leonard was out for the first time in Kenny McKinstry`s Impreza WRC S14 and he was very happy with the car. PJ McDermott clipped the scenery with his Impreza, very little damage and still going. Tommy Doyle was caught up in the dust from Martin Doherty`s GpN Lancer and that possibly cost him a few seconds. Aaron MacHale had a good run to lead GpN.
In the National Rally David Bogie found his new Escort very hard work. Michael Dunlop struggled to get through the first stage as a spark plug or possibly the cover of the plug has come adrift and the engine is on 3 cylinders. News from stage 2 – Donagh Kelly fastest from Garry J.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON &* MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter & Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
