Stage 10 McGaffins Corner is the longest stage of the rally and Craig Breen was fastest covering the 26km in 14m43.7s. Kajetan Kajetanowicz was just 1s slower and Robert Barrable just over 7s down on the leader. Overall Barrable still leads but he did comment that he eased off slightly in the stage as his Fiesta R5 was showing signs of overheating. Craig Breen is trying to drive around his Peugeot 208 turbo problems. Four times Polish Champion Kajetanowicz has altered his Fiesta suspension slightly and seems to have the bit between his teeth. Unfortunately Stephen Wright has stopped in the stage 10 with a mechanical problem on his Fiesta. Stephen was lying 6th o/a starting today. The Ukranian model Inessa Tushkanova has crashed her Lancer heavily in McGaffins Corner. Both crew members reported to be OK.
UNOFFICIAL NAT/ L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 9 Bulls Brook
1st (101) Declan & Brian Boyle (Impreza WRC) 57.28.8
2nd (102) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 58.45.3
3rd (103) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 1.00.39.3
4th (106) Wesley Patterson/Johnny Baird (Escort) 1.01.42.9
5th (139) Rob Duggan/Ger Conway (Fiesta R2) 1.01.43.5
6th (111) Keith White/Damien McCann (Escort) 1.01.47.0
7th Camillus Bradley 8th Frank Kelly 9th Alistair Cochrane 10th Stanley Orr
At last Declan Boyle`s Subaru seems to be behaving itself and he was far and away the fastest of the National contenders. Derek McGarrity commented at stage finish that as regards the leaderboard he is in no-man`s land and is virtually on a tyre testing exercise. Kenny McKinstry was a few seconds down on McGarrity and he said that he could not get his tyres to warm up at the start of the stage but went well towards the end.
The dry roads allowed Wesley Patterson to use the full might of his Escort engine and he jumped up to 4th ahead of Rob Duggan in his Fiesta R2. Rob did have a good run but at the same time he is being careful, as his main priority is to score maximum class points in the McGrady Insurance NI Championship, and also on the Road to Wales initiative. Alan Carmichael was just outside the top 10 starting the stage but he lost time as his Subaru is now spitting out coolant. The stage finish is just a couple of miles for McKinstry`s workshop so the Subaru could very well be parked there. Reportedly Drew Wylie has crashed his Historic Escort in stage 9 and has caused a blockage. We have no reports of any injuries.
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