RALLY NEWS No.3 - Fermoy Service - Saturday @ 12:16:37
RALLY NEWS NO.3 Fermoy Service/Saturday
UNOFFICIAL INT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Caherduggan
1ST (1) Daragh O/Riordan/Tony McDaid (Fiesta WRC) 19.01.1
2ND (2) Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley (Focus WRC) 19.05.7
3RD (4) Melvyn Evans/Mark Glennerster (Impreza WRC) 19.15.0
4th (3) Keith Cronin/Shane Buckley (Citroen DS3R5) 19.20.2
5th (6) Roy White/James O`Brien (Fiesta WRC) 19.33.9
6th (7) Stephen Wright/Mikie Galvin (Fiesta R5) 20.08.1
Joe McGonigle 20.15.8: David Guest 20.26.3: Pauric Duffy 20.47.1: Aaron MacHale 20.47.9
UNOFFICIAL NAT/ L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 3
1st (12) Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Starlet rwd) 19.28.6
2nd (28) Eugene Meegan/Sarah Whelan (BMW M1) 20.12.1
3rd (5) Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Impreza WRC) 20.19.3
4th (15) Phil Collins/Adrian Deasy (Escort) 20.19.8
5th (29) Enda O`Brien/John Butler (Escort) 20.28.3
6th (25) Mark Dolphin/Finbar Quirke (Escort) 20.34.6
Vincent McSweeney 20.39.6: Ross Marshall 21.08.9: Andrew Fanning 21.22.4: Tadgh O`Sullivan 21.35.9
Fastest through stage 3 was Donagh Kelly 2s up on Daragh O`Riordan in his Fiesta WRC. O`Riordan said at stage finish. `We had a good run but there is nothing left in the car and I would not be surprised if Donagh is quicker`. We did think that Donagh Kelly would have moved into the lead with that fastest stage 3 time but there seems to be have been a retrospective slight amendment to Donagh`s stage 1 time. New Tarmac Champion Donagh did say at the end of stage 3. `We had a good enough run although I did put the wrong sequence into the launch control at stage start, but I do not think it cost us any time`. Melvyn Evans settled down in stage 3 and was only a couple of seconds away from fastest. Similarly 3 times British Rally Champion Keith Cronin set a superb time on that 2nd run through Caherduggan. Stephen Wright in his Fiesta R5 was a lot faster than his earlier run and consequently a lot happier also.
Brendan Cumiskey in his Group N Subaru went well through stage 3 but was a little disappointed with his time. David Guest was equal fastest GpN with Aaron MacHale. David Guest continues to lead the Production category.
In the National Rally Declan Gallagher was stunningly fast, but there was disappointment as Frank Kelly`s Escort has stopped with a mechanical problem before the stage finish. Phil Collins lost perhaps a couple of seconds when he was waved to slow down, just before he came upon the stationary Frank Kelly Escort. In the Historic Rally Ernie Graham had a 10s lead over Gareth Lloyd, both in Escorts, with Tony Robinson (Porsche 911) 3rd, Frank Cunningham 4th. Ernie Graham and Gareth Lloyd are battling for the Clonakilty Black Pudding Tarmac C/ship Historic title.
We had a lovely comment from Grace O`Brien who is co-driving for Alan Watkins in a Historic Escort. When Grace came into service and got a cup of tea, she said. `When we finished the first stage I had a big smile on my face and realised that is why I got up early this morning`.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter/Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews