UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 12
1st (12) Gary Kiernan/Ryan Moore (Escort) 1.34.11.8
2nd (20) Kevin Eves/William Lynch (Corolla) 1.34.39.8
3rd (25) Patrick McHugh/Pauric O’Donnell (Escort) 1.37.53.2
4th (18) Eugene Meegan/Sarah Whelan (BMW M1) 1.38.04.1
5th (27) Vincent McSweeney/Michael Kearney (Civic) 1.38.58.0
6th (63) Wayne Evans/John Smithwick (Escort) 1.39.30.5
** Kevin Gallagher in the Darrian was fourth after stage ten and is still running but we do not have his times
Donagh Kelly may not have been the fastest on this morning’s opening stage but he certainly made up for it in stages eleven and twelve. Donagh admitted that he really got the hammer down for the Ballinascarthy test and he was twelve seconds faster than the tying Robert Barrable and Josh Moffett in second. Sam Moffett was sensationally quick through stage ten and then eased back ever so slightly through stages eleven and twelve as his R5 lead may not be huge but it is fairly solid – barring mishaps of course. Donagh Kelly’s co driver Conor Foley said here at service ‘we had a good go and we had lots of moments, the car was drifting, using every bit of road’ Sam Moffett said ‘we are were we need to be’. Robert Barrable commented ‘the car is nice, this is the first time in the wet and I did not know what to expect but it is working well’. Josh Moffett’s Fiesta suffered a bent rear wheel on that stage ten sixth gear slide and collision with the bank. Alastair Fisher’s co driver Gordon said ‘still not perfect but going okay’. Joe McGonigle still has that oil flashing light in his Skoda’s dashboard and feels that there is no real problem but there does seem to be a hesitancy in the anti-lag system. Tomas Davies is behind Joe in the leaderboard and he has softened the suspension of his R5 and he is well pleased with it. Brendan Cumiskey is next up in ninth and he feels the suspension is still set too hard.
In the National rally there was a major change when Brian Brogan’s Escort with Damien McGettigan co driving ground to a halt on stage twelve Rossmore when the front wheel bearing broke. Gary Kiernan had taken the lead anyway in stage eleven but he strongly reinforced it in stage twelve with a marvellous time. Second placed Kevin Eves is not just struggling for grip with his Corolla GT, Kevin also admits that he has not woken up. We mentioned earlier the Darrian of Kevin Gallagher and he reports many moments on the slippy roads. Frank Kelly was running in rally 2 after his half shaft breakage but he has decided not to restart this morning. Normal front runner Wesley Patterson is outside the leaderboard as he tries to get back in form after his rally layoff. John Bonner is going reasonably well now that he has altered his Escort’s suspension. The car tried to bounce him off the road yesterday!
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