Gareth MacHale was fastest over the opening stage this morning, Knockalla, by 3s from Eugene Donnelly. Kevin Lynch was 2nd fastest, while Eamonn Boland was 10s off the pace. PJ McDermott crashed the Voodoo Subaru off the road, not very far into the stage, and was very lucky that the Impreza landed on rocks and teetered on the edge with the Atlantic Ocean beckoning below. Eugene Donnelly described the conditions as “slippy” and he said that he took it steady. Gareth MacHale seemed to have no problems and Kevin Lynch reported “all OK”.
Kris Meeke’s Clio had only one wheel drive following some work on the differential this morning. Meeke’s Excel team brought the spare Super 1600 Peugeot with them (team principals Ian and Paul Roche are driving a new Citroen C2 Super 1600) and it was just as well. When the engineers stripped Meeke’s Clio diff they discovered the friction plates were worn due to aluminium swarf picked up when the diff casing was welded on the Killarney Rally of the Lakes. They had no spares but then had the brainwave of stripping the diff out of the Peugeot, it was the same, and they were able to use those plates. Unfortunately it sounds like something is not quite right and the car is on one wheel drive for now. Kris still set a superb time for the daunting Knockalla test. Young Toni Kelly was lying 34th overnight and 3rd in her class after a good run in her Civic R.
David Bogie was fastest of the Modifieds but he was slightly disturbed at the sight of PJ McDermott’s crashed Subaru. Martin McGee was fastest 2 wheel drive car. Phil Collins reported no traction and Wesley Patterson reckoned he was on too hard a tyre. Callum Duffy was having troubles with the Escort’s sequential box, it wouldn’t change down.
In Group N Niall McShea is starting to make his move and was 9s faster than Damien Tourish over Knockalla. Seamus Leonard also set a good time, as did Garry Jennings. Kevin Kelleher, who was fastest group N through stage 6 last night, was delayed by a puncture this morning. Roy White in the FESP MG S2000 is now running well down the order having been delayed by intercom problems and also road penalties while the engineers fixed the wiring to the starter motor yesterday.
Glenn Allen had a spin and stall at the church on Knockalla this morning. Daniel Doherty had a good run in his older model P2000 Impreza. Adrian Hetherington is running well back following 2 punctures yesterday when he clattered over some concrete blocks. Rodney Wilton had a superb time this morning in his Escort and is now starting to figure in the modified picture.
On Rally Turkey Hirvonen was fastest on this morning’s opening 23km stage to move into the lead from Latvala. Gallie is 3rd and Loeb 4th. Loeb is handicapped by running first on the road on the marbles.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael Patterson)
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