UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL L/BOARD AFTER SS7 KNOCKALLA
1st (17) Jonathan Pringle/Alan Keena (Escort) 46.55.1
2nd (24) Damien Tourish/Domhnall McAlaney (Escort) 46.56.8
3rd (18) Declan Gallagher/James McNulty (Starlet RWD) 47.00.1
4th (22) Damien Gallagher/Mac Walsh (Escort) 47.13.8
5th (19) David Bogie/Enda Sherry (Escort) 47.14.2
6th (21) Frank Kelly/Michael Coady (Escort) 47.16.8
Conditions were dry for Knockalla and speeds were high. Rally leader Declan Boyle in his Fiesta WRC covered the 19.07km in 10.00.2. Manus Kelly was less than a second down and Donagh Kelly a further 2s back. Declan Boyle commented at stage finish. ‘That was a good steady run. The stage suits the 1600 car OK, but some of the other stages today will favour the 2 litre cars’. In the R5 battle Keith Cronin was fastest on 10.07.2 with Sam Moffett next quickest on 10.12.4. Overnight R5 leader Alastair Fisher cut too close on a corner and damaged his Fiesta R5 suspension. Alastair dropped 15s to Keith Cronin. Keith is on a fight back following a puncture yesterday. Josh Moffett’s brakes overheated before the finish of Knockalla. Stephen Wright had a good run to move from 11th to 10th ahead of Eugene Donnelly, although 7 times Tarmac Champion Eugene said. ‘It was brilliant to get a run over Knockalla, I don’t know why I have stayed away from rallying for so long’
On the National Rally there was a major change as overnight leader Brian Brogan in his Escort ground to a halt on the early section of Knockalla, up the hillclimb. Brian eventually got going when he sorted out the gear selectors on the car, but he is now well back. The early times coming in from the National Rally would indicate that Jonathan Pringle had a brilliant run, recording a time of 10.34.5. Damien Tourish, who is of course in a cl.13 car as against cl.14, recorded 10.38.2 and Declan Gallagher 10.39.8. Scottish visitor David Bogie stiffened the suspension of his Escort yesterday and he had a brilliant run over Knockalla 10.35.1 and Frank Kelly was not hanging about either recording 10.37.6.
Some overnight class leaders include Aidan Wray leading Group N from David Guest. Callum Devine in his Opel Adam leads Cl.2 from William Creighton (Peugeot). Christopher Boyce (Civic) leads Cl.3. An overnight change to the National leaderboard is that Richard Moffett in his Starlet came into 8th o/a. Stephen McCann (Impreza WRC) leads cl.15. Conor Curley is 3rd in class 13. The bionic Damien Tourish leads cl.13 from Declan Gallagher. Jason McSweeney in his Lancer leads cl.20. Brenda Friel leads cl.11R in his Corolla. Donal Kelly tops the class 11F category with his Civic. Vincent Collins leads cl.12. Shane McLaughlin leads cl.1 in his Escort.
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