The above times are unofficial and from the first cars only. We have grouped everyone together this time but there will be 2 leaderboards showing later – International and National.
Tim McNulty reported the roads to be slippery and patchy on the opening stage, Fanad Head, and with showers forecast throughout the day it is going to be difficult for the crews. Tim picked a slick tyre with some cuts in it. Derek McGarrity picked something similar but felt that his choice was wrong. Daragh O’Riordan was on an intermediate tyre and he felt that wasn’t right. Maybe there is no right choice in these mixed conditions. O’Riordan slightly softened the rear suspension on his Impreza before the start and it seems to work OK. He did lose some time at the start of the stage where he admitted to being in a fluster as he had little time to prepare for the off.
Kevin Barrett was also in a bit of a fluster, his Impreza filling up with smoke during the stage which distracted the Maynooth man. Garry Jennings felt his Lancer’s suspension was too soft. Alan Ring commented at the stage finish. “We made a good steady start, it’s a long rally”. Donagh Kelly in the Airtricity Lancer felt he picked too hard a compound for the front tyres. David Bogie lost a few seconds when he spun his Metro 6R4 and he was completely stunned at Daniel McKenna’s time as well. Wesley Patterson reported spongy brakes with his Escort. Declan Boyle’s Escort stopped at a square right corner in the stage, reason as yet unknown. John Dalton was pretty unhappy at stage finish as he caught Denis Biggerstaff’s Impreza and couldn’t get past. He did eventually squeeze past the Subaru at the beach section and Denis said afterwards that he just couldn’t see the Darrian because it is so low. Seamus \Heron seemed to have a brake problem with his Corolla WRC at stage finish.
Some more times: Sam Moffett 11.19.2: Sam seemed to flood his Lancer’s engine at the start ramp. Alan Ring did 11.20.2. Donagh Kelly is just outside the leaderboard on 11.04.1. Phil Collins did 11.15.7: Manus Kelly 11.37.5: Wesley Patterson 11.07.3: John Dalton 11.13.4.
In Greece Petter Solberg/Chris Patterson lead by just over 20s from Latvala with Hirvonen 3rd and Loeb 4th.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael Patterson from the end of Fanad)
