The above leaderboard contains both International and National runners to give the picture of the top 12 fastest cars. This is unofficial.
On the 2nd run over Knockalla Eugene Donnelly was fastest by just 0.3 of a second from Kevin Lynch with Gareth MacHale 4s back and Eamonn Boland a further 2 in arrears. The main drama of the leading cars surrounded Kris Meeke’s Clio even before the start of the stage. Reportedly the little Clio’s exhaust manifold broke on the road section up to the stage and several drivers including Glenn Allen and Niall Maguire helped to manhandle the car on to it’s side to enable Meeke to re-attach the exhaust and manifold. Kris celebrated with 8th fastest time. His co driver David Noynihan joked at stage finish. “This man’s crazy!”
The leading drivers, Eugene Donnelly and Gareth MacHale, both said at stage finish that all was well, that they had had a good run. Kevin Lynch said. “We’re getting on with this now”. Eamonn Boland who has never really gone well on Knockalla said. “That was one of my best runs”. Daniel Doherty continues to set great times especially considering he is in the older model Impreza and he said that he had picked a much better tyre for that run.
In the National rally Phil Collins would appear to have been fastest of the early runners. Phil said. “We’re back on song”. Phil’s total now is 1.08.46.8. David Bogie admitted that he didn’t really get going on the stage, wasn’t committed.
In Group N Garry Jennings turned in another superb time, well up on Niall McShea and Damien Tourish. Garry creeping ever closer to the leaderboard, his total 1.08.52.9.
Looking outside Donegal for a second Hirvonen continues to lead Rally Turkey having just set fastest time on stage 12. Latvala is 2nd and Loeb 3rd. News from Darren McCarthy in West Cork is that Gwyndaf Evans is due to be released from hospital tomorrow. This is following Gwyndaf’s accident last Sunday on the Cork Mini Stages.
Further stories from here in Donegal – Ian & Paul Roche have had a torrid time in their new Citroen C2. The car broke a spark plug on the way out to the first stage and then it was back firing so badly that it blew the manifold off and then the insulation tape got sucked into the throttle body. Happily they have got it sorted and are going quite well today. Tony Jardine is lying down in 35th place and he is struggling to come to grips with his Richard Hogg Skoda WRC. Tony said. “The car’s great but we weren’t all that great over Knockalla. I backed off on the narrow grassy stuff. Basically, we’re a couple of old plonkers in here.” That’s himself and co driver Maurice Hamilton – another well known broadcaster/journalist.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael Patterson)
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