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| Donegal Harvest Stages |
| RALLY NEWS No.2 - Service - Saturday @ 13:01:16 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.2 Service/Saturday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Lough Eske
1st (1) Garry Jennings/Neil Doherty (Impreza WRC 26.14
2nd (7) Declan & Brian Boyle (Impreza WRC) 26.23
3rd (5) Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Impreza WRC) 26.24
4th (4) Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 27.03
5th (2) Brian OMahony/John Higgins (Impreza WRC) 27.07
6th (3) Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Impreza WRC) 27.15
7th (18) Declan Gallagher/Eamonn Doherty (Starlet) 27.50
8th (9) Kevin Kelleher/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC) 28.05
9th (20) Martin Doherty/Damien McAuley (Lancer N) 28.16
10th (41) Columba Heena/LM Craig (Corolla) 28.28
Garry Jennings was 2nd fastest on the opening stage and then really speeded up through stages 2 and 3 to set 2 fastest times and move into the lead ahead of Declan Boyle., For Jennings it has not been without dramas as his Subaru banged into a hedge at the very tight section at the end of Lough Eske. When Declan Boyle brought his Subaru into service he told us. “It has been a disaster. The suspension is bottoming out and the car would throw you off the road”. Donagh Kelly in 3rd place is certainly not getting it easy and in his own words…”We’re having plenty of moments”.
There is little to chose between the 3 drivers battling for the Dunlop C/ship crown – Niall Maguire, Brian OMahony and Thomas Fitzmaurice. Maguire said. “We could be going a bit harder but its grand”. OMahony is still struggling with his hurt wrist and Thomas Fitzmaurice told us. “We’re going OK but not at ease. I don’t know where the car is going to end up over some of these bumps and jumps.”
Stage 2 Laghy posed problems for many of the drivers and there were several reports of spins. Interestingly, the stage passes the Bustard’s house, Trevor & Kenny, and they are very interested spectators. Both are well on the mend following their Sligo accident and hope to be out rallying early next year. Kevin Kelleher is one of the drivers who had a spin in stage 2 and he said. “I’ve no confidence in the yoke”. Gary McPhillips has a guest co-driver today, Sean McPhillips, in aid of the Jack & Jill charity, and they are doing quite well, just outside the top 10 on 28.57. Camillus Bradley is on 28.45 and he said. “The stages are hard to read”.
Frank Kelly seems unusually subdued and his co-driver Liam Brennan told us. “Middle of the road, championship in mind”. Their total is 28.39. Starting to go very well is Dessie Keenan. Dessie, such a natural driver, is on 28.29 although he hasn’t done a rally for 2 years. Declan Gallagher is having a brilliant run to hold top 2 wheel drive although he felt he was slightly cautious in stage 3. That is not what the stop-watch said though!
Martin Doherty leads GpN. Pat Kirk is over a minute back having spun in stage 2 and can’t get heat into his Lancer’s tyres. Andrew Mullen has had a torrid morning and is on 30.02 as is Josh Moffett. Kevin Barrett has retired his Subaru with sheared wheel studs. Arthur Kierans lost a few seconds when his Escort hit a bale on the fast right over jump bridge in stage 3.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @ Real_RallyNews
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