Following a massive overnight storm the opening stage, 9.35km long, had quite a few puddles and was wet and slippy for the lead drivers. Most got through OK although Gareth MacHale damaged the side of his Focus WRC and Gary McPhillips skidded his Escort off the road.
World Championship driver Conrad Rauthenbach was first on the road in his Citroen and considering that it was the first time here for the African Rally Champion, and also the first time with Daniel Barritt co-driving, he set a really good pace. Conrad coped with the wet slippy conditions and seemed pretty cool at stage finish. His time was right on the pace. Eamonn Boland also had a good run while Peadar Hurson in a slightly older model Subaru switched on to the pace right away to take 3rd fastest.
Eugene Donnelly commented that it was really slippy in places but the Skoda was going well with no problems. Derek McGarrity had a spin at a square right and lost quite a few seconds. Tim McNulty finished the stage with his Subaru wreathed in blue smoke. Considering the sound and the sight of the car Tim’s time was brilliant. However, it looks as if the Buckley mechanics are going to have to perform some sort of miracle to keep the Impreza going. Darren Gass was having his first proper run in a Subaru WRC and although he found the conditions difficult he also had a good run. Aaron McHale lost time when his Focus WRC stalled on the start line of the stage.
In the Group N category Damian Tourish was fastest with a time of 5.39.7. Sean Flanagan did a 5.41. Tom Curley 5.48. Anthony O’Halloran had a time of 5.41. Kevin Kelleher reported a spin towards the end of the stage and had to reverse so all considered the Group N Tarmac Champion’s time of 5.46 was good. James Foley was back on 5.54, James driving the new Evo X for the first time and he reported small problems including no diff pressure showing. He said. “It was like driving a Mk2 Escort”.
In the Modified section Paul Gallagher set a brilliant time over that opening stage, his Corolla stopping the clocks on 5.44. Mark Alcorn, his hired Escort seemingly on 3 cylinders, did a 5.51. Martin McGee 5.53 in his Escort. Wesley Patterson lost time with a puncture and recorded 6.25 while Garry McPhillips put his Escort off the road, happily with no injuries reported. German driver Aaron Burkart is running 20th on the road despite carrying No.2 on his Suzuki Swift and his co driver Michael Kaelbach gave us a time of 5.57 at stage finish and said they had no problems. Kevin O’Donoghue spun his Escort and his time was 6.15. Jack Maguire in the Escort Cosworth recorded 5.48.8.
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