Through the Tyrones Ditches stage Eamonn Boland went really hard to score another fastest time, 4s up on Kevin Lynch with Mark Higgins 3rd. Guy Wilks lost time with an off road excursion and Stuart Jones in the MG S2000 is reportedly stopped at the side of the road. Eamonn Boland admitted that he was going hard and had a great run through those opening 2 stages this morning. Kevin Lynch said that he was sliding about on top of the surface and he should have really picked a softer compound Pirelli tyre. Kevin finished off by saying “We’re here and that’s the main thing”.
Mark Higgins said he had a bitter run through the second of this morning’s stages, that the opening one just didn’t go well. Gwyndaf Evans also said that it wasn’t flowing for him this morning and in parallel with Mark Higgins Gwyndaf had a half spin at the first hairpin in McGaffins Corner. The talk amongst the top drivers as they waited at the regroup control was about Wilks’ accident and Gwyndaf said. “When you see the black rubber marks Guy leaves, for sure he’s not shy!” When Guy arrived his Lancer appeared to be crabbing with a rear wheel askew and there was bits of body work damage, but the damage looked light enough that the engineers will probably get it sorted out. Guy said. “I just touched the bank over a crest into a dip, I was just one foot short of road over mud, maybe if I had been able to accelerate and go for the slip road I might have got away with it”.
Kenny McKinstry was smiling again this morning, his times back on the pace, Kenny’s peepers working a lot better in this morning’s bright conditions. Darren Gass again reported a good clean run, as did Derek McGarrity. Seamus Leonard was very disappointed with his times this morning. Seamus said he just couldn’t get going. Seamus’ co driver Gerry McVeigh, car dealer extraordinaire, said he was doing his best to speed him up! At least their car is in full fettle. Phillip Morrow reported no problems and when he saw Wilks’ car he rolled his eyes skywards and remarked. “When I was in the team I used to say thanks to the mechanics before the rally because I was usually saying sorry at the end!”
David Higgins reckons he lost a couple of seconds at the start of Tyrones Ditches over sme mix up or other with the clock. Keith Cronin took a it of a long cut into the edge of a field at a turn square left in stage 8, but got away with it and otherwise he’s having a good clean run to lead the Evo Challenge from Danny Barry. French driver Sebastien Ogier and his co driver jack Boyere continue to do a sterling job in the Citroen C2R2 Max, they said they are really enjoying the rally and the car is fine. Sebastien was 4s slower than Brian O’Mahony through stage 7 and then 5 quicker through 8 to lead the race for best 2 wheel drive honours by 25s. Brian O’Mahony said his Clio is now going a little better since they changed the starter motor and he reckoned there might have been a small wiring fault. The small fly in Brian’s ointment this morning is that he has a severe tummy upset. Alan Carmichael in his hired Impreza WRC was just a few seconds behind O’Mahony but dropped over a minute in stage 8 when the car suffered a broken drive shaft. Denis Biggerstaff has now got ahead of Carmichael as has Howard Clarke in his hired ADR Lancer and Danny Barry has also moved up a couple of places following a good run this morning. Danny’s co driver Martin Brady reckoned they had a bit of a messy Friday night but it is looking better this morning.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
