This first Sunday stage, the 17.6km Badgers Hill test, was always likely to be critical in the overall scheme of the rally and it certainly would appear so from the times. When Donagh Kelly`s Focus came to the finish of the stage Donagh was his usual cool, calm and collected self, and the ensuing times showed that he was way faster than even his closest pursuer, Daragh O`Riordan. Daragh in his Scariff Plant Hire Fiesta was just 6.2s in arrears overnight, but he dropped 11s on the opening stage, and indeed counted himself lucky to get through it. Daragh`s Fiesta was in a ditch briefly when it ran wide on a medium speed right hand corner, and the left side wheels filled with mud making the car very difficult to drive. Donagh Kelly`s comment at stage finish summed the matter up when he said. `We went steady enough`. So we will take that with a pinch of salt, will we?
Keith Cronin`s Citroen R5 was spewing smoke from the brakes when it came to the end of the stage and Keith said he had been pushing hard on the tight stuff where the car really works well, but it was hard on the brakes. Roy White`s chance of making any headway in the top 3 took a bit of a dent when he spun his new Fiesta WRC and dropped 27s to the fastest time. Stephen Wright had another good run to maintain his position. Joe McGonigle struggled a little, disconcerted with the amount of gravel pulled on to the road by the cars in front.
Group N leader David Guest had a major moment in that stage 9 when he spun his Lancer and he finished the stage with a load of mud in a back wheel. Aaron MacHale stalled his Lancer at a hairpin and dropped 30s. Aaron only has to get his Lancer to the finish and he has won the GpN Tarmac Champion title. Pauric Duffy was lying 10th overnight but he was not happy at the finish of stage 9 and he said. `The car is just not right but I do not know why`. Young Meirion Evans in his Citroen DS3 R3T is just 5s behind Pauric`s Fiesta. Meirion clipped a bale at a chicane yesterday but otherwise has had a good run and leads his class.
In the National Rally Denis Cronin set fastest time on stage 9 although he is back in 8th place. Declan Gallagher in his Starlet reported no problems and has a big lead over 2nd placed Eugene Meegan. Enda O`Brien dropped from 3rd to 4th when he spun his Escort at a square left in stage 9 and then stalled the engine. Phil Collins has at last got the misfire in his Escort sorted and has moved into 3rd place.
NEWS JUST COMING IN.. O`Riordan 2s faster than Kelly in SS10.
Finally for now we extend our deepest sympathies to Daphne Millar on the death of her Mother, Joan, last night in Limerick Hospital. Joan has been ill for some time and had just turned 80 years old at Easter. Once again our condolences to Daphne & Mossie and family.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter/Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
