RALLY NEWS No.3 - End of Stage 3 - Saturday @ 13:24:02
RALLY NEWS NO.3
UNOFFICIAL INT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Ring II
1st (1) Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley (Focus WRC) 28.34.9
2nd (4) Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Fiesta R5) 29.24.4
3rd (3) Declan Boyle/James O’Reilly (Fiesta WRC) 29.45.1
4th (2) Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Fiesta R5) 29.48.9
5th (5) Robert Barrable/Damien Connolly (Fiesta R5) 30.23.0
6th (7) Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Fiesta R5) 30.23.1
UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL L/BOARD AFTER SS3 Ring II
1st (16) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian) 30.48.2
2nd (14) Gary Kiernan/Ryan Moore (Proton) 30.52.2
3rd (41) Stuart Darcy/William Lynch (Darrian) 31.29.8
4th (27) Vincent McSweeney/Michael Kearney (Lancer) 31.39.8
5th (29) Kevin Gallagher//Ger Callaghan (Darrian) 31.45.6
6th (38) Wayne Evans/John Smithwick (Escort) 31.51.7
With just 3 stages completed out of 14 Donagh Kelly has already built an almost 50s lead. The Kelly Focus WRC appeared visibly faster than the other cars through the last few corners of stage 3. Declan Boyle made a real charge at the start of that stage to try to close the gap, but a massive 6th gear spin with a cliff and the sea beside the road completely took the wind out of Declan’s sails. Both Sam and Josh Moffett reported no dramas at stage finish. Desi Henry said. ‘We are getting there with this new car, but the brakes still seem to be overheating.’
Eugene Donnelly switched to a wet pattern tyre on that stage just to try it and his times are looking ever more competitive – still a fair bit from fastest in R5, but respectable nonetheless. Eugene is lying 10th o/a, 34s behind Jonny Greer in 9th. Carryduff man Jonny is still finding his feet, having switched from his Citroen to the Fiesta for this one rally. David Guest continues to lead GpN in his Lancer and is 11th o/a with Callum Devine 12th in his Fiesta and leading Cl.2.
In the National category John Dalton was 3s faster than Gary Kiernan through stage 3 to leave the pair split by just 4s in the battle for the National lead. Gary appears to be very happy with his hired Proton S2500. John Dalton in the Darrian admitted that he had pushed very hard in that stage 3. Kevin Eves is gradually working his way up the leaderboard following the first stage problems with his Corolla, but said the car is cutting out on the bumpy sections, which is a bit worrying. Stuart Darcy lost quite a few seconds in that stage but held on to 3rd National, the Donegal man reporting his Darrian having spun twice. Frank Kelly dropped to 8th when he lost a few seconds at a junction He told us. ‘I am kicking myself, stalled the Escort at a Turn Acute Left – a schoolboy mistake!’
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON Follow RallyNews on Twitter & Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real RallyNews
