UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Greenville
1ST (13) Eugene Donnelly/Mark Mini (Mini WRC) 40.45.5
2nd (3) Keith Cronin/Marshall Clarke (Impreza WRC) 40.45.6
3rd (2) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 41.07.0
4th (7) Declan & Brian Boyle (Impreza WRC) 41.11.8
5th (6) Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Impreza WRC) 42.00.4
6th (5) Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Impreza WRC) 42.49.5
7th (4) Garry Jennings/Neil Doherty (Impreza WRC) 43.18.7
8th (8) John Joe Fleming/Robbie Ward (Focus WRC) 43.19.9
9th (11) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 43.47.6
10th (10) Sam Moffett/James O`Reilly (Lancer N) 43.58.6
NATIONALS UNOFFICIAL L/BOARD AFTER SS5
1st Tom Flaherty 44.48.7: 2nd Paddy Kiernan 44.51.7 3rd Fergus O`Meara 45.00.2 4th Stephen Hernon 45.11.1 5th Chris Armstrong 45.12.9 6th Jim McKenna 45.14.3 7th Pat Kelly 45.16.2
In stage 4, Belleville, Declan Boyle was fastest albeit by just .1 of a second from Eugene Donnelly with Keith Cronin a further couple of seconds back. In leaderboard terms it meant that Eugene Donnelly extended his lead from 9s to almost 12s. Declan Boyle was 4th o/a starting that stage and was still 4th after it but had closed to witin 5s of McGarrity. In the National Rally Chris Armstrong set a fastest time from Fergus O`Meara. Tom Flaherty still led the Nationals.
Stage 5 was even more dramatic – Keith Cronin set a stunning time, 12s faster than Eugene Donnelly to leave the pair split by just 0.1 of a second going into the final loop. It has to be said that Donnelly did not have a fantastic time as both Derek McGarrity and Declan Boyle were faster. Cronin said. `The car is inclined to lock up under braking and I clipped a rim earlier but I am getting a feel for it now. There is still a lot more in the car`. Eugene Donnelly remarked on just how slippy stage 5 was and he was cautious. Derek McGarrity said about the slippiness and he switched to a Pirelli RE but reckons he should have stayed with the Pirelli N3, and that is the tyre for today. Declan Boyle told us that he has not really changed anything and is just going for now and that is the reason for his real good times.
In Group N Josh Moffett was fastest through stage 5 from Shane Maguire. GpN leader Alan Ring had a half spin in the stage and Sam Moffett took a jump so hard that his Lancer spluttered and coughed for quite a few seconds afterwards.
In the National category Tom Flaherty reported that his backward excursion into a wall seemed to knock his Escort steering awry and then a large pot hole in stage 5 has knocked it straight again! Fergus O`Meara continues to set cracking times but did lose ground through 2 and 3 when he was catching slower cars. Chris Armstrong was 2nd fastest National through stage 5 and he is on quite a charge. Rodney Wilton may have to retire his Escort here at service as his gearbox is selecting any gear except reverse all of its own accord. Pat Kelly, with his son Jonathan co-driving in his Impreza, is currently lying 7th in the National Rally and his only problem sof ar today was losing his spectacles on the first stage!
Finally for now, we would like to say that Billy Coleman Award winner Daniel McKenna is in attendance at Gary McAvoy`s Autofashion lorry here in service. His supporters club is selling tickets to co-drive for Daniel on the Midlands Stages Rally. It sounds as if it is worth a punt and it is all in an effort to help Daniel tackle this year`s British Rally c/ship.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Michael) www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @ Real_RallyNews
