RALLY NEWS No.4 - Buncrana service - Friday @ 15:50:06
RALLY NEWS NO.4 Service/Buncrana
UNOFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 4
1st (3) Garry Jennings/Neil Doherty (Impreza WRC) 25.11.4
2nd (2) Darragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Impreza WRC) 25.25.2
3rd (8) Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC) 25.32.9
4th (1) Darren Gass/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 25.35.0
5th (5) Derek McGarrity/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 25.51.3
6th (6) Niall Maguire/Conor Foley (Impreza WRC) 26.05.3
7th Aaron MacHale 8th Donagh Kelly 9th Sam Moffett 10th Martin Doherty
UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 4
1st (12) Declan & Brian Boyle (Escort) 26.50.4
2nd (11) David Bogie/Paul Beaton (Metro 6R4) 26.58.7
3rd (14) Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett (Escort) 27.18.6
4th (29) Callum Duffy/Iain Duffy (Escort) 27.25.5
5th (146) Ed O’Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Escort) 27.27.9
6th (22) Martin McGee/Denis O'Mahony (Escort) 27.29.2
7th Wesley Patterson 8th Paul Barrett 9th Adrian Hetherington 10th Woods
A light drizzle descended on stage 4 just before the leading crews on this Topaz Donegal International Rally arrived. This left the roads fornenst Newtowncunningham even more slippy than before. Thankfully there doesn’t appear to have been any mishaps. One retirement was Daniel McKenna. His Escort broke its rear differential on that 4th stage, Manor. This was a major disappointment for all concerned as Daniel was again in outstanding form and had already built up a 13s lead in the National section.
Fastest in the International Rally through the stage 4 was Garry Jennings with a time of 5.34.1. Seamus Leonard had a great run and recorded 5.35.5 and moved him up to 3rd place. Darren Gass was 6s down on the fastest man but was running further back on the road having been delayed on the road section. Donagh Kelly’s Subaru stalled at the start of the stage so he dropped quite a few seconds to the top drivers. Conor Harvey had a frightening 5th gear spin in his Lancer. Pat Kirk lost time with a straight on at a junction. After SS3 Kieran Daly led the Citroens by 4s from Kevin O’Connor with David Carney 3rd.
In the National Rally following Daniel McKenna’s retirement Declan Boyle turned in a fastest time to move from 3rd to 1st. David Bogie lost quite a few seconds with further fuel pump problems on his Metro 6R4. His mechanics changed the fuel rail at service but it made no difference. David thinks the solution could lie in the ECU. Adrian Hetherington said he was cautious on stage 4 because of the wet roads and was most surprised to find he had a really good time. Wesley Patterson had a major spin in his Escort and at the end of the stage took time to change a damaged wheel and tried to straighten his Escort’s steering. Manus Kelly also reported a few moments in that stage.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL www.rallynews.net
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