With just 3 stages to go Garry Jennings leads the International Rally by over a minute now from Declan Boyle with Donagh Kelly a further minute back. When we asked Garry and his co driver Rory Kennedy if they would ease back over the final 3 stages Garry said. `No way. There is only one pace, flat out, keep motoring on`. When we asked Declan Boyle how he got on with his new Fiesta WRC on the wet roads he said. `It went well. We picked a slightly too soft compound tyre and the car was floating around a bit. But in general it was good`. Donagh Kelly did not have such a good trip through Fanad. He gave a wry smile as he told of a major moment just after the start of the stage. His Focus skidded up through a garden and the lady of the house plus some of her friends were all sitting in chairs at the front of the house to see the rally. Donagh managed to get the Focus turned and shot out of the garden back on to the stage having lost about 20s. Derek McGarrity was very unhappy with his tyre choice and he dropped time to Seamus Leonard. Although he still holds 4th place the gap between Seamus and Derek is now down to 1.8s.
Daragh O`Riordan was another to pick too soft a compound tyre. Joe McGonigle had a good run on that loop to hold on to 7th place in his Skoda Fabia and lead his class. Dara Leonard damaged a wheel on his Lancer and would appear to have retired having held 8th o/a. Martin Doherty is now 8th and Group N leader. Trevor Bustard is now 2nd GpN and 12th o/a. He reported a massive moment in the Glen stage when his Lancer seemed to be filled with bushes and leaves as it careered through the undergrowth and emerged unscathed at the other side.
In the National Rally Manus Kelly maintains his lead from Adrian Hetherington in 2nd and Paul and Karl Reid in 3rd. Frank Kelly was fastest Escort through stage 17, Fanad, and holds 4th place ahead of David Bogie. Declan McNaughton in 7th finished the stage with the alternator light of his Escort flashing. Damien Gallagher completed burned a set of tyres off on this morning`s loop of stages and holds on to 6th. Richard Moffett dropped quite a few seconds when an electrical fault, seemingly connected with his Starlet`s wipers, brought the car to a halt mid stage. In the Historic Rally Seamus O`Connell leads after SS16. John Moynihan is 2nd and Ernie Graham 3rd. Rob Duggan leads the Junior category.
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