Following the unfortunate news that Gareth MacHale/Craig Parry crashed out of this Killarney Rally of the Lakes on Caragh Lake Eamonn Boland has been able to take his foot off the gas a little, and it is a just a matter now for the Wexford man to get his Subaru to the finish at the Gleneagle Hotel to claim victory. Derek McGarrity is also under no pressure from behind and he is driving very conservatively to keep his concentration level up. But really Derek did admit that he is “cruising”.
Not so Dessie Keenan. The young Monaghan man is revelling in the handling and the power of his Subaru world Rally car down these Kerry stages, and he clocked up fastest times through Ballaghasheen and Been Hill. Dessie said. “I’m loving it, the car is brilliant, pity it’s so late in the day”. Aaron MacHale in 4th place reported all well but he seemed a bit downcast, and when he was asked about his brother Gareth he said. “A bit of a sickener that”. Kris Meeke in 5th place was 2nd fastest through that Been Hill stage and he was bubbling when he reached service and said. “The car is so good I just can’t drive it easy. When the rally is over I’m just going to keep driving it up the road to Dungannon!” Outside that top 5 Patrick Elliott in 6th is just stroking his new car home. PJ McGrath also admits to not pushing too hard now.
Kevin Kelleher in 8th is holding on to his group N lead, and although swapping the occasional second or two with Alan Ring there is little to choose between the two. John McGlaughlin holds 3rd in GpN while Damien Tourish is 4th and best of the Evo Challenge contenders. Sean Flanagan is 5th GpN in his Subaru just a couple of seconds behind Damien. No times as yet for Brendan Cumiskey, but we know he is pushing hard to try and catch Tourish in the race for Evo Challenge points.
The first of the National cars have arrived into service and Phil Collins continues to set the pace. Martin McGee holds 2nd, O’meara 3rd and Dave Slattery 4th. Phil Collins said. “We’re awake today, doing the job, but James Stafford’s puncture spoiled a real battle”.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
(Our thanks to Barry Meeke: Dougie Hughes: Ray & Alan Verso: Angus & Jane Sealy)
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