UNOFFICIAL NAT/ L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 8
1st (17) Jonathan Pringle/Alan Keena (Escort) 52.16.1
2nd (24) Damien Tourish/Domhnall McAlaney (Escort) 52.19.0
3rd (19) David Bogie/Enda Sherry (Escort) 52.35.8
(22) Damien Gallagher/Mac Walsh (Escort) 52.35.8
5th (21) Frank Kelly/Michael Coady (Escort) 52.41.0
6th (31) Stephen McCann/Damien Fleming (Impreza WRC) 52.58.2
On the Garrygort stage Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett lost their 3rd place when Manus got caught out by a bump into a sharp corner and his Subaru overshot into the scenery. Damage was not too bad and Manus got going after a minute or so. There was some mayhem at the scene and some of the other drivers lost a few seconds when they were waved down. They may get compensated. Another situation with the stage was that the start was moved forward due to a bereavement. The bogey time has still to be amended. Donagh Kelly appears to have been fastest through the stage with Declan Boyle, Alastair Fisher and Keith Cronin all well on the pace.
Manus Kelly has dropped from 3rd o/a to 8th following his small accident.
Jonny Greer reported a steady run to hold on to 9th place while Stephen Wright also set a good time and has moved into the top 10 which meant Eugene Donnelly slipping back to 11th. Eugene maintains that he is having a ball but can squeeze very little more out of the Mini WRC to contend with the cars in front. Aidan Wray was leading Group N but there is no sign of him here at service which would leave Clonakilty man David Guest leading the category. Joe McGonigle maintains his 12th place but is screwing every last ounce out of his Fabia S2000 in his efforts to keep up with the R5 cars. Pauric Duffy is 13th and reckons his R5 suspension is not quite right and the car is leaving the ground at every opportunity.
In the National Rally following overnight leader Brian Brogan’s gearbox trouble, Jonathan Pringle continues to lead and set another very good time through Garrygort. Fastest of all the Nationals was Stephen McCann in his Subaru, 1.5s up on Pringle. Declan Gallagher had a problem with his Starlet throttle mechanism and he dropped nearly a minute, moving him from 3rd back to 7th. Currently lying 8th is Richard Moffett, Conor Curley is 9th and Frank Wray 10th.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow Rally News on Twitter and Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews (Thanks to Daphne Millar and Mossie – the Niceties are amazing!. Thanks also to Aidan Harper/Richard Talbot)
