Through stage 4, the second run over Trentagh, Garry Jennings was fastest by almost 5s from Donagh Kelly with Declan Boyle a further 4s back. It is still very tight between these top drivers. Jennings said at stage finish. `That is more like it. We have softened the tyres and the suspension on the Subaru and there is more grip`. When Donagh Kelly`s Focus came in to the stage finish Donagh said. `No problems but just not our stage`. No.1 seed Declan Boyle told us that his Fiesta WRC had stalled on the start line. Declan reckons that the launch control had failed but it could have been his own procedure as well, and it should not be a problem during the rest of the rally. Seamus Leonard maintained his 4th position but was slowed in stage 4 when the rear right corner of his Subaru banged against the bank on a hairpin left. Seamus backed off slightly following the incident as he felt the tyres may have punctured but it seemed OK at stage finish. Derek McGarrity was in subdued form having got a fierce fright in stage 3 when his Impreza brakes let him down following a high- speed section into a chicane. Derek admitted. `This has knocked my confidence and it is going to take time to get up to speed`.
Just outside the top half dozen in the International section Tommy Doyle is setting a great pace in his Fabia to lie 7th while Stephen Wright is only a couple of seconds in arrears. Joe McGonigle is 9th in his Fabia S2000 and PJ McDermott is 10th and setting good times following his opening stage excursion. Adrian Wray now leads Group N from Pat Kirk. Young Callum Devine is leading class 2 and is up to 13th o/a in his Opel Adam, despite having picked too soft a tyre on the opening loop of stages. Manus Kelly was fastest in the National Rally through stage 4, 2s up on Declan Gallagher. Manus had some brake problems with his Escort that seems to have revved him up. Brian Brogan is right on the pace although he did lose a couple of seconds when his Escort clipped a milk stand on the 2nd corner of stage 4. Wesley Patterson has withdrawn his Escort because an early misfire has been traced to a faulty fuel rail.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON *Follow RallyNews on Twitter & Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
