The stunning news from stage 14, Gartan, the final Saturday test, is that Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle have retired their Fiesta WRC from the lead because of gear selection difficulties. This must quite heartbreaking for Declan who has driven superbly for 2 days to keep the hard charging Donagh Kelly at bay. When Donagh retired Declan’s lead looked unassailable, but then misfortune intervened. Manus Kelly was fastest through the stage and Eugene Donnelly 2nd fastest. Keith Cronin set a scorcher of a time also and continues to close on new rally leader Seamus Leonard. Interestingly, earlier in the rally Eugene Donnelly was a little downbeat, and now he has gone completely the other way and he said. ‘I am getting my head around it. I am in no way dismayed and I am having a ball. There’s loads left in this car’. Over the last few stages Manus Kelly has set several fastest times, and Keith Cronin was quickest in stage 13, which would indicate that it is all to play for in tomorrow’s 6 stages.
In the National Rally Frank Kelly and David Bogie are having a massive battle for supremacy. Frank was 2s up on Bogie through SS14. However, there is only 28s between the top 4 on the Nationals, so again a lot could happen over the Sunday stages. Stephen McCann in his Subaru was up to 5th in the National but there is no time as yet for him on 14. In the Historic Rally Seamus O’Connell still led going into stage 12 despite having clipped a chicane in his Escort. Andy Johnson in his Chevette was 2nd and Frank Cunningham 3rd: Dave Pritchard 4th and Jim McRae 5th.
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