It is all very close between the top drivers on this Topaz Donegal Rally and they have been swapping seconds through the first 3 stages. Major retirements so far include Tim McNulty whose Subaru reportedly has a cracked cylinder head, and Patrick Elliott has pulled his Impreza into the side of the road on stage 3.
Derek McGarrity led after the first stage and then Eugene Donnelly edged ahead of stage 2, where he was just a fraction faster than Eamonn Boland. Then on stage 3 Eugene again set a fastest time to hold a 2s lead over Boland 5s up on McGarrity. Eugene said here at service in Letterkenny. “I’m very pleased with the way its going but I am still playing with diff settings. I have had about 10 different ones so far and I don’t want to travel to the next phase. I’ll consolidate what we have”.
Eamonn Boland reported no problems so far. Derek McGarrity said that he is happy with the way he is going but he dropped a few seconds in stage 3, feeling that the other drivers would be more familiar with that road than he is as he didn’t do the rally last year. Gareth MacHale reported a big scare at the start of stage 3. This happened at a crest 70 square right. Gareth felt he that he had braked a little early, accelerated again and suddenly he was on top of a square right. Kevin Lynch had a poor time through stage 3, dropped a few seconds with a half spin and is still settling in to his Focus. PJ McDermott had a great run through stage 2in his Voodoo backed Subaru. PJ is well on the pace and reporting no problems whatsoever.
Damien Tourish leads group N despite a puncture in stage 2. Niall McShea had a spin in stage 3. Paul Harris reported handling troubles with his Lancer, he plans to raise the back of the car. Paul also reported a real wobble in stage 3 when he was having a good cut.
Kris Meeke said here at service. “I can’t do any more. That third stage doesn’t suit the car. It is all tight junctions with 300 metre blasts”. Still, the little Excel Clio is right there in the top 10 which is something else. Niall Maguire lost a few seconds in stage 3 when he caught up with the dust from Niall McShea’s car. Seamus Leonard has no proper boost on his new Lancer. Glenn Allen plans a few adjustments to the suspension of his Corolla here at service. Kevin Kelleher has brake troubles and also a fierce racket from the rear diff of his Lancer. Roy White has a broken starter on his MG S2000 and this is damaging his confidence. He is afraid of stalling the car in a stage and not being able to get going.
In the Modified section Phil Collins is coming under pressure from local man Damien Gallagher and Lisburn’s Wesley Patterson. Phil said. “We’ve had a respectable run, the back end is slip sliding about but that’s the way it is”. Wesley Patterson reported a huge moment at the hairpin early in stage where the bales weren’t where he expected them to be. Paul Gallagher has a leading exhaust manifold on his Corolla. Damien Gallagher has had a good run and is setting brilliant times. Martin McGee seemed to be just a few seconds off the pace through the last couple of stages.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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