Eamonn Boland has been fastest through the first 3 stages with Guy Wilks now his closest pursuer and with Mark Higgins fighting hard to get into 3rd. Kevin Lynch was up to 2nd place after the first stage but has slipped back. Kevin, who seemed a bit stressed when he came into regroup and when asked if everything was alright, the Dungiven man replied. “Far from it and I’ve been overshooting every other junction, getting it wrong, that’s the way it goes”. Eamonn Boland reported all well and with no problems at all. Mark Higgins told us. “We have a little bit of an oil leak at the back and the hand brake is not working, otherwise OK”. Guy Wilks commented. “The car seems a little bit soft and is a bit lazy in the turn in, squirmy a bit. But we will get that sorted at service”.
Kenny McKinstry, who is driving Kevin Barrett’s right hand drive Triton Showers S11 for the first time, said. “The car’s really nice but I just couldn’t get going at the start of stage 3. The middle was fine and then towards the end I was poking at things, it wasn’t flowing”. Derek McGarrity who was held up behind Hurson’s accident on the opening stage, told us. “It knocked me off my stride, it was a big accident. The second stage I just couldn’t settle and then on the 3rd I thought I drove well although I lost a few seconds when I stalled on the start line”. Gwyndaf Evans in 7th place said he is still trying to blow the cobwebs away. Darren Gass in 8th reported his car a bit twitchy on the very high speed bumps, especially over the top of Todds Leap where he said it was a bit “scary”.
Phillip Morrow is just outside the top 10 now on a total of 23.51.5 and is on a completely new package here on this event. Not only is he in a Subaru this time, but he has also got Rally Ireland Clerk of the Course Gordon Noble, co-driving for the first time. Phillip said. “It is quite a lot of learning!” Seamus Leonard lost a few seconds on stage 3 when he had to contend with broken bower steering for the last 3 miles. Emma McKinstry is losing time because of a problem with the handling, perhaps something to do with a noisy rear diff in her Subaru. Stuart Jones is struggling a little with his MG S2000 over the bumps but not too far away from the leaderboard on a total of 23.44.7.
Robert Swann had a spin with his new N14 on stage 2 but worse was to follow when he came upon a big accident involving his team mate James Wozencroft who had wrecked his Impreza on the very fast moorland section of Todds Leap. Robert stopped to assist and reckoned that James was OK but co driver Chris Ridge was badly dazed and the rescue services were called.
Sebastien Ogier has been having a good run in his C2R2 Max and we reckon he is leading the two wheel drive section on a total of 24.18.3. Brian O’Mahony in the Clio is dropping a little bit of time, the engine not quite right since the German WRC event last weekend. Kevin Kelleher lost a little bit of time with a broken drive shaft in stage 3. Neil McCance has reportedly got a puncture in his Lancer and has lost some time. John McGlaughlin is also having mechanical problems with his Lancer and there is no sign of John as yet here at regroup. Andrew Bushe has retired his Saxo with a mechanical problem. Denis Biggerstaff has got his Subaru gear change thingy fixed!
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael Patterson and Lisa McCully)
*For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 60066 (UK): Or 53030 (Irl): Text STOP to switch off. Cost 25p/30c: Provided by stagetimes.com
