UNOFFICIAL INT/ L/BOARD AFTER 15
1st (3) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 1.44.31.6
2ND (1) Declan & Brian Boyle (Fiesta WRC) 1.45.30.6
3RD (2) Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Impreza WRC) 1.46.06.7
4TH (4) Derek McGarrity/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 1.47.46.6
5TH (6) Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC) 1.48.02.4
6TH (5) Daragh O`Riordan/Tony McDaid (Fiesta WRC) 1.48.06.8
7TH Joe McGonigle 8th Dara Leonard 9th Martin Doherty
UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER SS15
1st (24) Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett (Escort) 1.50.08.1
2nd (29) Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Escort) 1.50.49.9
3rd (28) Paul & Karl Reid (Escort) 1.51.29.0
4th (25) Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) 1.51.57.8
5th (18) David Bogie/Michael Hendry (Escort) 1.52.02.7
6th (22) Damien Gallagher/Brendan McElhinney (Escort) 1.52.11.7
7th Declan McNaughton 8th Richard Moffett 9th John McQuaid
The competitors had the opportunity for a major service at Milford Mart before heading up to the opening Sunday stage, High Glen. Heavy showers presented the drivers with a real headache as regards tyre choice. It seemed to be raining one minute and then it was bright sunshine. Adding to the stress factor was the length of the loop, 3 long tough stages with some abrasive roads and some shiny ones. Garry Jennings was of the opinion that fortune favours the brave and when he got to the end of the High Glen stage he punched the air in delight and said. `A brilliant run`. That set the tone for the rally leader for this morning. He is going to be a very hard man to beat.
Declan Boyle was 11s slower than Jennings over the 13.85km High Glen road but Declan was not too downhearted as this was the first time he has driven this car on a slippy surface. Donagh Kelly was just 1s faster than Declan. Donagh had picked a slightly harder compound tyre than Declan and is hoping that it will pay off through the Atlantic Drive and Fanad tests. The competitors are not allowed to change tyres again until they reach service after stage 17. Still on the subject of tyres, Derek McGarrity picked a soft compound tyre and he lost time as they overheated. Daragh O`Riordan lost time as well, but his problem was that new brake pads in his Fiesta WRC were not properly bedded in and overheated severely. Seamus Leonard had a great run and jumped from an overnight 6th to 5th. Seamus is driving a McKinstry hire car and Kenny found some well-trusted intermediate tyres in his van that he recommended. Joe McGonigle in his Skoda S2000 had a massive slide on a 3 left tightens into 4 left and was lucky to get away with it. His rival for R2 earlier in the rally Callum Devine slid off on a tightening corner last night and is now in Super Rally.
In the National Rally there was drama at the start of High Glen when Brian Brogan`s Escort refused to start. Brian`s co driver Damien McGettigan was more than downhearted when he related afterwards that the ECU in the car had melted. It is hard for people outside rallying to understand the effort and the bravery that these Mk2 Escort drivers are putting in and to lose 2nd National place on their home rally is a bitter pill for Brian Brogan & Damien McGettigan to swallow. Fastest through the stage was David Bogie on a time 7.35. Paul & Karl Reid had 7.37 and Damien Gallagher 7.38. Adrian Hetherington was 7.41: Frank Kelly 7.47.
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