All the lead drivers completed the opening stage of this Topaz Donegal Rally with no problems at all. First on the road Gareth MacHale said at stage finish. “I’m happy enough with that”. Similarly Eamonn Boland and Tim McNulty came through and reported no problems.
As can be seen above Derek McGarrity was fastest, the former Tarmac Champion said. “I was hardly pushing, I could go a lot harder”. Current Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly said. “I’m still settling into the car”. Kevin Lynch was also feeling his way a little as he gets back into Focus mode rather than Subaru. Kris Meeke had a clean run.
Seamus Leonard had some damage to the front right corner of his lancer, Seamus having slid the machine into a ditch on the very first corner of the stage, forgetting that his tyres were cold and lacked grip. Kevin Kelleher felt that there was something not quite right about the turbo in his Lancer. Denis Biggerstaff felt that his Impreza WRC wasn’t pulling well through the gears. Cathal Rogers lost perhaps 40s when one of his Lancer tyres punctures near the start of the stage.
Some more times outside the above leaderboard include: Damien Tourish in his Lancer had a great run to record 4.33.9. Phil Collins was the best of the Escort times in so far recording 4.32.3. Wesley Patterson had 4.41.4. Damien Gallagher 4.35.5. Martin McGee 4.47.5. Stuart Darcy in his newly acquired group A Impreza recorded 4.56.2.
Daniel & Michael Doherty, having dug their Impreza WRC out from the back of the shed, had a very respectable 4.34.9. Niall Maguire was on 4.34.8.
Group N times includes: Paul Harris 4.35.7: Niall McShea 4.39.3: Seamus Leonard 4.58.7: Garry Jennings 4.43.5: John McGlaughlin 4.45.9: Kevin Kelleher 4.51.6: Roy White 4.51.9: Danny McBride 4.52.8.
This time last year the talk was all about Sebastien Loeb in his Citroen – this morning after stage 5 of Turkey Rally Loeb is down in 6th place. Hirvonen led from Latvala with Galli 3rd. Henning Solberg 4th and Sordo 5th. Nasser Al-Attiyah and our Chris retired on stage 2 with fuel pump problems on the new Subaru Impreza N14.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael Patterson):
*For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 53030 (Irl): Or 60066 (UK): Text RALLY ITC OFF to stop. Cost 30c/25p. Provided by stagetimes.com
