UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER SS8
1st (14) Gary Kiernan/Ryan Moore (Proton) 1.11.08.6
2nd (16) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian) 1.11.14.1
3rd (22) Frank Kelly/Michael Coady (Escort) 1.13.38.3
4th (20) Ed OCallaghan/Keith McCarthy (Escort) 1.13.46.9
5th (24) Jason McSweeney/Anthony OConnell (Lancer) 1.13.47.3
6th (36) John Bonner/Emmet Sherry (Escort) 1.13.47.9
Overall rally leader Donagh Kelly with Conor Foley co driving in their Focus WRC set another fastest time to end this Day 1 with a flourish. Donagh said ‘I am happy with the way things went although it was a long day’. Josh Moffett in 2nd and best of the Tarmac C/ship contenders said - .We had a bit in hand towards the end and we can always speed up a bit tomorrow if need be’. Declan Boyle recovered well from his earlier dramas and speeded up well in the afternoon, and he said ‘We were going hard enough there, there is not much more left because I do not know the stages that well, but it is a brilliant rally’. Sam Moffett set fastest R5 time on that last stage of the day and he said ‘I just concentrated on putting in more commitment.’
Desi Henry in 5th place said he is looking forward to the Sunday stages and renewing his battle with Robert Barrable. The latter said ‘We had another good time on that last stage but cannot understand why we have good times on the narrow bumpy stuff, but not on the fast stages’.
Callum Devine is just outside the top 10 and leads Class 2 in his Fiesta R2T. He is preparing for JWRC in Corsica and is concentrating here on getting the most out of the car and the notes on the slow speed corners. His 1 litre eco boost Fiesta is not as quick as last year’s Adam, but it is still surprising the pace that he is setting in it.
In the National Rally Gary Kiernan gave it everything through the last stage to take the lead from John Dalton. Gary said ‘I am very pleased with the car but we really had to do it on that stage 8 as the fast stages tomorrow will suit the Darrian better’. Frank Kelly remarked ‘It was a class day we stuck with the hard tyres. They should not have worked but they did’. Damien Tourish reported a broken rear shock absorber on stage 8 so he is going to have to change the suspension for tomorrow, something he did not want to do. Wesley Patterson said ‘We had a bit of a moment at the last junction of the last stage. I am very happy not to have hit a wee white dog in the road’. (Wesley has a wee white dog of his own at home!). Kevin Eves had further petrol pump problems with his Corolla in SS8. Adrian Hetherington told us ‘The car is perfect, it is up to me now, but that was one long day’. Stuart Darcy lost several minutes in SS6 when his Darrian went off the road. John Coyne has rejoined the fray in Rally2 as has Ed Twomey – and the Clonakilty Blackpudding and sausages are still on the go in the service park.
David Guest had a new drive shaft fitted to his Lancer for the last 2 stages today but reckons it will be touch and go if he can catch Willie Mavitty over the Sunday stages. Looking back to stage 6, Owen Murphy in his Sunbeam, Barry Jones in the Mk1 Escort and Martin Doherty also in an Escort were having a massive battle for the lead of the Historics. Just seconds from the leading group were Duncan Williams and Denis Cronin in their respective Escorts, as well as Andy Johnston also in an Escort.
More news Sunday morning: BRIAN & LIZ & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON www.rallynews.net Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or Facebook @Rally_News
