UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 11 CARNHILL
1st (21) Frank Kelly/Michael Coady (Escort) 1.18.03.9
2nd (19) David Bogie/Enda Sherry (Escort) 1.18.05.0
3rd (24) Damien Tourish/Domhnall McAlaney (Escort) 1.18.08.4
4th (22) Damien Gallagher/Mac Walsh (Escort) 1.18.13.0
5th (31) Stephen McCann/Damien Fleming (Subaru WRC) 1.18.31.9
6th (18) Declan Gallagher/James McNulty (Starlet RWD) 1.18.49.6
7th Richard Moffett 8th Frank Wray 9th Conor Curley
Drama at the end of the Carnhill stage as Declan Boyle arrived at the stop line and said ‘If anyone beats that time, fair play to them’…..there was no sight and no sound of the Donagh Kelly Focus WRC however. Then news filtered through that the Kelly Focus WRC had ground to a halt beside the Diamond pub on the stage. That marked the end of Donagh’s challenge to win the Donegal International 2016. It was not just a disappointment for Donagh and his co driver Conor Foley, it was a downer for the many spectators and the rally in general, as this was a classic battle between Declan and Donagh.
Seamus Leonard had his earlier suspension trouble repaired and he moved into 2nd place with Sam Moffett now up into 3rd and leading the R5 category. Sam has been consistently on the pace from the start of this rally, never wavering for a second, and it is starting to pay off. Alastair Fisher’s Fiesta slammed into one of the early chicanes and blocked the road for Sam Moffett. Sam got away fairly quickly and Alastair got going but then stopped at a hairpin left blocking Josh Moffett. At one point Keith Cronin got involved in the delays but Keith did set a marvellous time. The outcome of all the dramas is that Sam Moffett now leads the R5 category and Keith Cronin, despite some brilliantly quick times is still a minute back. On stage 10 for example Keith was 2nd fastest overall, just one tenth of a second away from Donagh Kelly and faster than Declan Boyle. Alastair Fisher dropped at least 2m with all the dramas and has gone from 5th to 10th.
In the National Rally Frank Kelly has been going hard where he felt it was safe and has moved into the lead from David Bogie. Damien Tourish was ahead and felt that he went well through SS11 but that did not show up in his time.
Further stories include: James Cullen is still going strong in the Mk2 Escort but had a drama heading for stage 11 as he discovered his glasses were missing. James, co driven by Mr. Dentman Damien Connolly, remembered that he had taken his glasses off with his helmet and put them on the roof of the car when the Garrygort stage was blocked by Brendan McDaid’s accident. James eventually drove off with the glasses on the roof. He has had to borrow Joe Friel’s glasses to head out to stage 11 and Reba is away back to Letterkenny to find another pair of specs for him. James is currently 30th in the National.
In Group N Aidan Wray still leads from David Guest. Gus Kearney in the Sepam Lancer is doing his best to claw back time after a couple of big moments at chicanes this morning. Gus is battling for Clonakilty Blackpudding Tarmac Championship points and said. ‘I will have to straighten my head and reclaim some of the hard work I did yesterday on the stages’.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow Rally News on Twitter and Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
