UNOFFICIAL INT. LEADERBOARD AFTER SS6 End of Day 1
1ST (2) Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Impreza WRC) 36.04.2
2ND (1) Sam Moffett/James O`Reilly (Fiesta WRC) 36.09.4
3RD (7) Darren Gass/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 36.32.7
4th (3) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 36.34.6
5th (4) Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Focus WRC) 36.49.9
6th (6) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 37.41.7
UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER SS6 End of Day 1
1st (15) Daniel McKenna/Arthur Kierans (Escort) 37.30.8
2nd (14) Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan (Escort) 37.43.7
3rd (16) Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett (Escort) 37.55.9
4th (32) Conor Harvey/Ger Callaghan (Escort) 38.31.3
5th (22) Brian Brogan/Damien McGettigan (Escort) 38.47.9
6th (33) Mark Alcorn/Kevin McCafferty (Corolla) 38.55.7
With a lead of just over 5s it is all to do for Subaru crew Declan and Brian Boyle with still 2 long days of this Donegal International to go. On this afternoon`s loop of 3 stages Sam Moffett was fastest on one stage and Declan Boyle fastest on 2 stages. Boyle did beat the `bogey time` on both of his fastest times so his 5s advantage should have been closer 10s. As Declan tucked his Impreza into Parc Ferme he commented. `We have been keeping it steady this afternoon. It is a long rally, a long way to go. It’s a bitch really losing that time because of the bogey times`. Sam Moffett lost maybe a second or two in stage 6 when the foam on his Fiesta headrest came loose and flapped around his face, but he was not making excuses.
Darren Gass turned in a scintillating performance over the afternoon stages to edge ahead of Garry Jennings. Tarmac Champion Garry seemed to have no answer this afternoon, but then tomorrow is another day. Donagh Kelly stalled his Focus WRC on the start line of stage 6 that cost a few seconds, but in overall terms he went better this afternoon. Derek McGarrity rounds off the top 6 and he is only really getting going after his early worries about a noise from a back wheel.
Outside the top 6 in the International Pat Kirk is 7th, Josh Moffett is 8th and Eugene Meegan 9th. They are also the top 3 in GpN. PJ McDermott rounds off the top 10 but he is having gearbox trouble with his Subaru and will try and work out a fix at the 45m service in the morning. Tarmac GpN leader Stephen McCann is 11th o/a and Trevor Bustard 12th despite a hint of head gasket worries.
In the National Rally Gary McPhillips pulled out all the stops to score 2 fastest times but really the speed of Daniel McKenna and Gary is mighty. Third placed Manus Kelly commented. `I`m tipping along nicely but I am shocked at the speed of the two in front`. Conor Harvey in 4th is quickly settling into 2.5 litre power for his Escort. Brian Brogan said he had a good last loop and was happy enough. Mark Alcorn got ahead of Frank Kelly for 6th. Mark told us that he had got the intercom in his Corolla fixed but `Its not easy keeping up with these boys in front!` Frank Kelly in 7th has altered the camber angles on his Escort and was happier through the later stages.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (With thanks to Michael) *Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
