This Killarney Rally of the Lakes took another dramatic twist on the opening stage this morning, Molls Gap. Donie O’Sullivan crashed his Subaru out of 3rd place. Gareth MacHale chiselled 5s off Eamonn Boland’s lead and the picture at the front of the National Rally also changed as overnight leader James Stafford was knocked back when his Darrian sustained a puncture.
In slightly damp conditions, with a drying line from the Gap down to the finish Gareth MacHale set fastest time on 9.02.6. Eamonn Boland was 2nd fastest 5s down. Derek McGarrity was 3rd quickest despite losing a few seconds as he checked that Donie O’Sullivan and his co driver Barry Goodman were OK. Kris Meeke was an amazing 4th fastest in the Clio, Kris moving from an overnight 11th to 9th. Eamonn Boland reported no problem with his Subaru while Gareth MacHale also told of a clean run despite the damp conditions early in the stage. Dessie Keenan seemed a little subdued at stage finish, Dessie over 30s down on the fastest time.
A time has just come in for Johnny O’Sullivan. The Killarney man is lying just outside the leaderboard and set a good time this morning, the transmission troubles on his Impreza seemingly sorted. Johnny enjoyed driving Molls Gap so much in the Subaru it was like somebody had handed him ten grand!
Colm Murphy set the fastest group N time to maintain his advantage at the front of the category. Kevin Kelleher is 2nd GpN. Alan Ring is 3rd and Kerry man Thomas Fitzmaurice has come into 4th in his Lancer. Colm Murphy is still on course to score maximum Evo Challenge points this weekend.
In the National Rally Wesley Patterson set the fastest time over the Gap this morning, 5s faster than Phil Collins. James Stafford as we said above dropped down the order. Martin McGee now leads the Nationals from Phil Collins with Fergus O’Meara 3rd. Dave Slattery was 5th overnight and would have come into 4th but then a plug lead came off on Molls and he has dropped several minutes. In the Historic Rally Ed Murphy led after SS8 from the similar Escort of Richard Hall with Joe Connolly 3rd, Tommy Mason 4th, Denis Moynihan 5th (all in Escorts) and Derek Boyd was 6th in his Porsche.
Overnight class leaders in the International included: Eugene Meegan (Cl7 Honda Maxi): Martin O’Donnell (Cl.2 Civic): Billy Hayes who drives one of Eamonn Boland’s car transporters, leads Cl.3 in his Civic: Andrew Stewart (Cl.5 MG): More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Padraig Reddington & Angus & Jane Sealy)
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