UNOFFICIAL NAT. LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9
1st (24) Damien Tourish/Domhnall McAlaney (Escort) 1.02.55.8
2nd (19) David Bogie/Enda Sherry (Escort) 1.03.03.8
3rd (21) Frank Kelly/Michael Coady (Escort) 1.03.05.2
4th (22) Damien Gallagher/Mac Walsh (Escort) 1.03.08.7
5th (31) Stephen McCann/Damien Fleming (Subaru WRC) 1.03.25.6
6th (18) Declan Gallagher/James McNulty (Starlet RWD) 1.03.43.3
7th Richard Moffett 8th Frank Wray 9th Conor Curley 10th Jonathan Pringle
What a fantastically competitive rally this is turning out to be with just seconds between the top 2 in the International rally and a handful of seconds between the top 5 in the National category. On the 2nd run over Knockalla the times showed Donagh Kelly fastest on 9.56.5 with Declan Boyle just one tenth of one second slower. Declan said at stage finish. ‘We had a good run. I am going hard, but I am not happy with the time. My co driver Brian has 9.50 on his watch but we have been given a 9.56.6.’ Donagh Kelly said. ‘I am making a big push’. Seamus Leonard had a reasonable time for the stage, just under 10s slower than the cars in front but he was really struggling as something broke on the rear suspension mid stage. Alastair Fisher reported a good run but fastest R5 over Knockalla was Sam Moffett by 0.3 of a second from Fisher.
Keith Cronin continued his charge starting Knockalla but unfortunately out-braked himself and his Citroen clouted a chicane hard and scattered the bales. This cost Keith a second or two but also opened the chicane up for the cars coming behind. Stephen Wright dropped a few seconds when he caught up with the ailing Jonathan Pringle Escort. Pringle reported after the stage that his Escsort had got away from him somewhere near the car park at the top of the hill climb. His car slid sideways and off the road. Having led the National category Jonathan has dropped 4m and has moved back to 10th place. Eugene Donnelly in the Mini WRC was rejuvenated on the 2nd run over Knockalla and got ahead of Stephen Wright for 10th place. Joe McGonigle stays 12th but he was slowed at the Pringle accident, then later in the stage Joe came around a corner to find a bollard that was supposed to protect the inside of a corner lying in the middle of the road. He had quite a moment, his Skoda locked up under braking to avoid the errant bit of street furniture.
Brian Brogan has a new gearbox fitted to his Escort but is well down the order. Frank Kelly had a very serious face on at the end of Knockalla, testimony to how hard he was trying on his way to setting fastest National time. David Bogie has a new alternator fitted to his Escort and he is going like a train.
In the Historic category Andy Johnson is leading in his Chevette HSR. Seamus O’Connell survived a puncture in his Escort to hold 2nd. Frank Cunningham and Dave Pritchard, both in Escorts, are 3rd and 4th. Jim McRae is 5th despite a front wheel rubbing against the suspension. Jim is trying wider wheels this weekend on his Firenza so may have to revert to the old wheels. Niall Creighton is further down the list but his Cortina engine is smoking profusely.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow Rally News on Twitter and Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews (Our thanks to Patricia of Clonakilty Black Pudding for providing lunch)
