Gareth MacHale set fastest time through stage 7, The Hard Hill, with Derek McGarrity 2nd fastest and Eugene Donnelly 3rd just over 3s down on MacHale. Gareth’s brother Aaron withdrew his Focus WRC from 7th place after stage 6 when the car’s oil pressure fell and it was thought better to pull out and save the engine. There was a big delay at the start of SS7 caused by an ambulance having to be called to attend to a NI Championship crew who had finished stage 5 but then needed help. Stage 7 was a re-run of 5. Gareth said at stage finish. “There was too much hanging about, the tyres and everything in the car went cold.” Gareth’s earlier problem with the gearbox was down to a faulty valve and all is now well.
Derek McGarrity also commented on the cold tyre situation and his car didn’t really start working properly until near the finish of the stage. Eugene Donnelly appeared to be playing it safe and he said. “Steady run”. Tim McNulty lost time with a big spin, Tim now going backwards on the leaderboard. Peadar Hurson reported rain mid stage and then couldn’t find the wiper switch. The weather then steadily closed in and the later numbers were more affected. Rory Byrne in the Modern Tyres car reported it very slippy. Then Willie Mavitty spun his Lancer and it wouldn’t re-start. Rory Byrne is currently lying 2nd in GpN with Stanley Ballantine 3rd.
In the National B Rally Kenny McKinstry built up a 2m lead after stage 6 with Adrian Hetherington 2nd and Denis Biggerstaff 3rd. McKinstry said he had a good run although there was a speed sensor gone in the turbo of his Subaru but Kenny is under no pressure now from behind so he will probably just leave it alone. Seamus Leonard was making a charge up the leaderboard following his earlier delay when a wiring connection came apart, but his efforts were thwarted when a drive shaft broke on his Impreza. Adrian Hetherington has smashed the rear quarter panel of his Escort but continued at unabated speed. Denis Biggerstaff admitted that he wasn’t driving that well and his Impreza is not 100 per cent so he’s doing well to hold 3rd place.
Camillus Bradley is only running a 2 litre Escort which makes his 4th place very noteworthy. Emma McKinstry in 5th has got a little bit of the suspension replaced and she said it has transformed the car and she’s going really well. Neil McCance is now 6th o/a and leading GpN. Neil and John McGlaughlin were having a great dice but John has dropped back his Lancer having suffered a broken front drive shaft. Fintan McGrady has been slowed by a misfire and also a bent steering arm on his Escort in Hamilton’s Folly. Eugene Ferry dropped 2m when the battery lead shorted out. John Waring went off the road on a square right corner just after the start and got his car out of the field in about 20s. Kyle Orr has retired his Fiesta following a drive shaft breakage.
More news in the morning: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael & Zoe Patterson): *For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 53030 (Irl) or 60066 (UK): Text STOP to switch off. Cost 30c/25p
