UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 1
1st (15) Daniel McKenna/Arthur Kierans (Escort) 4.34.8
2nd (17) Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Starlet rwd) 4.38.7
3rd (33) Mark Alcorn/Kevin McCafferty (Corolla) 4.41.2
4th (14) Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan (Escort) 4.41.3
5th (22) Brian Brogan/Damien McGettigan (Escort) 4.46.5
6th (32) Conor Harvey/Ger Callaghan (Escort) 4.46.9
Although the weather has remained overcast but mild here at the service area in Letterkenny many of the top drivers reported heavy rain on the opening Brenagh stage. Sam Moffett is running first on the road in his Fiesta WRC and he said that for him the rain was just sporadic. He also commented that his Fiesta brakes were not fully bedded in and he lacked a little confidence. He did however set a great time, just .1 of a second down on Declan Boyle. Declan said that all was well with his Subaru but the rain did cause him difficulty. Similarly with Garry Jennings, his co-driver Rory Kennedy said that their wipers were flat out coping with the deluge. Derek McGarrity was quite a few seconds off the fastest time and he said that he was trying to build up confidence as he has not driven the McKinstry Subaru for quite a while, and also that there was a strange noise that sounded like a tractor at high speed!
PJ McDermott skidded his Subaru up a bank on a 6 left corner and was lucky to get away with it and only lose a couple of seconds. Pat Kirk was fastest group N runner through the first test, 7s up on Josh Moffett with Eugene Meegan 3rd.
In the National category Daniel McKenna reported a trouble free run. Manus Kelly had a big moment on a damp section. Declan Gallagher in the Starlet said the roads were wet for him but the rain had stopped. Michael Dunlop set a time of 5.08.4 which would place him 21st in the National Rally. Not bad for his first special stage! Some more National times – Daniel Conaghan 4.48.7: Vivian Hamill 4.48.8: Willie McFadden 4.49.1: Adrian Hetherington 4.49.3: Frank Kelly 4.50.3.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON With thanks to Michael Patterson www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter & Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
