Kevin Lynch was fastest through stage 7, over 2s ahead of Mark Higgins with Kenny McKinstry just a fraction slower than Mark. Kenny is coming under pressure from Darren Gass but otherwise the pattern at the front seems to be more or less set with just one stage remaining. When Lynch’s Subaru came to a halt at the end of the stage he said. “No heroics”. Mark Higgins said. “That felt really good, I can’t do any more, there’s no time left”. Kenny McKinstry said. “We had a good clean run, there was maybe 1 second gone at the exit of a chicane which was very slippy but otherwise it went well”. Similarly Darren Gass had a good run but he will be hard pushed to get a podium place now with just 1 stage left.
Charlie Donnelly dropped time on that stage 7 following a mix up with his route planning – he tried to go up the wrong road! The time loss wasn’t too disastrous, just 4 seconds. Glenn Allen in 6th place is having a massive battle with Peadar Hurson, just .1 of a second separating these two. James Gillen is steady in 8th as is Denis Biggerstaff in 9th. Mark Doyle, with his brother Rory co driving in their Celica, has speeded up over the last few stages to get ahead of Brian Dowey for 10th. Dowey does however lead class 3, his closest pursuers Sean Haveron and John McKeown both retired their Escort Cosworths. Sean damaged his suspension against a concrete bollard and McKeown’s Escort Cosworth suffered some gearbox trouble.
Gary Rodgers is now leading Group N in his Lancer following the retirement of Garry Jennings and John McGlaughlin on stage 6. Jennings’ Lancer collected a bollard and broke the suspension while McGlaughlin’s example suffered broken transmission 100 yards from the start line. Wesley Patterson has now come into 11th o/a ahead of Brian Dowey, Wesley is fastest of the 2 wheel drive and leading class 2 from Phil Collins with Rodney White 3rd in his Sunbeam and then its Camillus Bradley and Kris Meeke 4th and 5th in their Escorts.
More news after last stage: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
