Just 6 cars got through today`s opening stage, Garrygort, but following an incident the stage is, at the moment, stopped.
Overnight leader, and first on the road this morning, Garry Jennings, set a sizzling time through that stage 7. Garry said at the finish. `A real good run I am well pleased with that`. Donagh Kelly in his Focus WRC had a bit of a mishap not far into the stage, the car overshot a corner, clipped the back end and appeared to have damaged a wheel. However, Donagh was able to keep going at a good speed, and although he lost 16s to Garry it could have been a lot worse. Donagh did think that there was something wrong with the rear suspension or perhaps a tyre was damaged., However a quick check revealed nothing obviously wrong and he has continued towards the Knockalla stage.
Declan Boyle in his Fiesta was happy with his run, 2nd fastest, but at the same time a bit taken aback at the times that Garry Jennings set. Seamus Leonard started the stage 4th on the road, but his Subaru sustained a puncture just after a big hairpin. The car suffered some bodywork damage and over a minute was lost, costing Seamus 2 places on the leaderboard. Derek McGarrity caught the struggling Leonard Subaru on a narrow piece of road. This cost Derek as few seconds, but there was nowhere wide enough for him to overtake. Daragh O`Riordan was unhappy with the compound of his tyres and with the temperature now soaring in Donegal he feels he needs to pick a harder compound.
Latest news is that the incident on that stage 7 involved Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan who were the overnight leaders of the National Rally and their Escort was running 7th on the road. Indications are that there are no serious injuries. The remaining cars have been re-routed to the Knockalla stage. The National Rally will now be led by Manus Kelly following by Brian Brogan, Adrian Hetherington, Damien Tourish & Damien Gallagher - all in Escorts.
On Rally News No.4 last night we had former Scottish Champion David Bogie in the top 6 but he has been knocked back to 11th after the times were checked. Motor Bike Champion, Michael Dunlop, is lying 63rd o/a in the National following engine problems with his Escort. Michael told us he only had one clean stage. He is trying to get moved up the running order and have a real good go today.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON (With thanks to Daphne & Mossie) *Follow RallyNews on Twitter & Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
