UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER SS9 Ardfield
1st (1) Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Focus WRC) 1.08.58.3
2nd (4) Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Fiesta WRC) 1.09.43.0
3rd (3) Daragh O`Riordan/Tony McDaid (Fiesta WRC) 1.10.46.9
4th (9) Stephen Wright/Mikey Galvin (Fiesta R5) 1.12.24.8
5th (10) Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Starlet rwd) 1.13.29.3
6th (8) Jonny Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Citroen DS3R5) 1.14.15.1
7th (53) John Bonner/Leon Jordan (Escort) 1.15.19.4
8th (22) Mark Straker/Mike Coady (Darrian) 1.15.23.1
9th (26) Gary Kiernan/James Fulton (Escort) 1.15.25.1
10th (40) Vincent McSweeney/Michael Kearney (Civic) 1.15.25.8
Donagh Kelly was not fastest over the first stage this morning but has done more than enough to maintain his lead on this West Cork Rally. Fastest through the classic 13.7km Ardfield stage was young Josh Moffett in his Fiesta WRC, by just a fraction of a second from his big brother Sam. Josh`s Fiesta had spark plug problems yesterday afternoon and he lost a lot of time. He was classified 53rd overnight but is running 4th on the road this morning.
Other overnight changes included Melvyn Evans deciding to pull out of the rally despite his Subaru lying 4th o/a. Melvyn has no way of fixing a computer problem that is restricting the throttle opening on the car. Tarmac Champion Declan Boyle was lying 65th overnight, 16m off the lead and Declan also decided not to continue today.
News from the first stage this morning includes Donagh Kelly`s Focus having a half spin at the first junction. Daragh O`Riordan set a respectable time but said it did not flow. Declan Gallagher`s Starlet was another car to indulge in a half spin. Stephen Wright had a good time in his Fiesta R5. Jonny Greer was quite a few seconds slower than Stephen but Jonny has turned the turbo boost down on his Citroen DS3R5 because of problems with the pop off valve.
There is great competition amongst the top Escort drivers now, and Wesley Patterson who is lying 12th o/a was fastest from Gary Kiernan. Gary did spin his Escort in the stage. Ironically, now the rally has moved into McCarthy territory, Cal McCarthy has put his Civic off the road. Cal would have been 11th overall but there was no sign of him at stage finish. It was another competitor who told us that he had noticed the Civic off the road. Brian Brogan was another on a charge today and his Escort is on a total of 1.15.39.1, just outside the leaderboard. News of another retirement is that Rory Byrne`s Modern Tyres Lancer has been pulled in because of ignition troubles.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter & Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
