How amazing to see once again the Fisher name at the top of a Circuit of Ireland leaderboard. Alastair set fastest time through stage 5 to move into the lead of the rally 8s ahead of Derek McGarrity. Early leader Tim McNulty lost almost a minute in that stage when he punctured a tyre on his Subaru. Interestingly, Alastair is running a cut intermediate tyre on his GpN Lancer. McGarrity and McNulty went for a cut slick tyre that could not cope with the torrential showers that have descended on the region. McNulty’s puncture, to the front right wheel, happened approximately 3km into the 13km stage.
No.1 seed Gareth MacHale is still struggling with his Focus cutting out. Gareth’s father Austin was at stage finish and related to RallyNews that it would appear to be a problem with the wiring loom, that they had been working at the car yesterday to try to get the wipers sorted. At least Aaron is now a lot happier with his Focus and had a better run through stage 5. Alastair Fisher once again reported no problems, the young Fermanagh staying amazingly cool and collected. Richard Cathcart’s GpN Subaru ran out of brakes towards the end of that 5th stage. The brakes just simply faded. Looking forward to later tonight when stages 5 and 6 are joined together to make stage 9 it is going to be an absolute torture for the brakes on the GpN cars. Garry Jennings and Richard Cathcart would appear to have had their 1m penalties removed. Garry is having another struggle though with a broken drive shaft on his Lancer. He has locked the diffs on the car but reckons it can’t last.
Neil McCance does not know where he got the puncture in stage 4 but reckons he had a lucky escape in SS5 when one of his Lancer wheels clipped a rock and the tyre did not go down. Cork man Daragh O’Riordan continues to do a brilliant job in his Impreza WRC. Daragh is on only his 2nd rally in the car and this is first time driving it in the wet. Marty McCormack is now 11th o/a and leads the Citroen Racing Trophy category. Robert Barrable is 14th o/a and 2nd in Citroens. Mark Donnelly is 3rd, 3s down on Barrable.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ & MICHAEL PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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