NATIONAL CATEGORY
1st (9) Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan (Escort) 8.11.6
2nd (15) Tom Flaherty/Patrick Curley (Escort) 8.25.7
3rd (19) Declan & Brian Boyle (Escort) 8.31.4
4th (29) Martin McGee/Denis O'Mahony (Escort) 8.32.2
5th (28) John Hendy/Alan White (Corolla TC) 8.37.6
6th (45) Arthur & Mac Kierans (Escort) 8.41.4
Tim McNulty was fastest through the spectator stage at Dyke Road by .3 of a second from Derek McGarrity with Gareth MacHale 3rd fastest. On stage 2, the 13km Kilbeg test, McNulty was fastest again by just over 9s from Eugene Donnelly. Derek McGarrity lost time when he braked too late for a right hand junction and had to reverse. Besides that McGarrity’s Subaru tyres were pretty cold at the end of that 2nd stage whereas they should really have been nicely warm. Conditions are of course difficult with fairly low temperatures and a light drizzle making the road surface slippery.
Two early retirements include Alan Ring who knocked a rear wheel off his Lancer and also one of the leading Historic contenders, Gary McPhillips, whose Escort made contact with the Galway scenery.
At the finish of that 2nd stage McNulty said. “It went well”. When asked what sort of tyres he chose the Meath man replied “Intermediates”. Next car on the road was Gareth MacHale and he had picked a slick dry weather tyre that seems to have cost him valuable time. Eugene Donnelly finished the stage in the beautiful new Mini WRC and told us “A good steady run, no dramas, just what I want to get started”. Darren Gass reported his Subaru banging into the ground over the jumps.
Daragh O’Riordan is driving the Peter Lloyd Impreza WRC S14 this weekend and following a hurried suspension change last night, Daragh reported all well through the opening stages. Thomas Fitzmaurice spun his new Impreza WRC and also reported the rear brakes locking up. Willie Mavitty spun his Lancer at a chicane and hit the back of the car against a wall.
In the Historic Rally John Keatley in his Porsche 911 is leading after stage 2 from James Power with Ray Cunningham 3rd. Philip Wylie is driving a Mk1 Escort this weekend he is 4th. Brian Brophy in the Imp seemed to be struggling with a down on power misfiring engine.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
