Although the sun is blasting down over the countryside the Hamilton’s Folly stage running alongside the Mourne Mountains still had damp and slippy patches from the early morning frost. Eugene Donnelly, leader after the first stage, decided to be a little circumspect on stage 2 as he had no one to check the roads for him, and he was 5s slower than McGarrity which allowed McGarrity into the lead. Derek reported no problems since his stall on the first stage. Peadar Hurson in 2nd said he feels a little bit tensed up and nervous, trying to get himself bedded in. Gareth MacHale in 4th reported a vibration in his Focus after a 5th gear left over a flat jump. Gareth described it as “real off camber, launched us and we landed on 1 wheel”. The young Dubliner went on to say. “I’m happy enough but too slow out of the box this morning and I have found the stages a bit slippy”. Tim McNulty said. “I really enjoyed those stages. This is my first proper tarmac event for a year. We’ll pick up the pace, its nice to be back”.
Aaron MacHale got a square left square right junction wrong in stage 2, he thought there was a line to it but there wasn’t. He also had a problem with the car stalling. Kevin Barrett has had some intercom problems. Darren Gass has had overheating problems, his Subaru dropping on to 3 cylinders. Hamilton’s Folly could be re-named White’s Folly when Paddy landed his Focus on top of a wall after a big jump, he punctured a tyre and damaged the bodywork.
Sean Flanagan continues to lead group N in his Impreza and Stanley Ballantine has moved ahead of Alan Carmichael in the race for GpN Lancer Evo Challenge points. There are some Lancers in the National B part of the rally but we do not have their times as yet. Willie Mavitty dropped down the order when he stalled on the start line of stage 2 and also backed off when the car landed very heavily following a jump and the steering wheel went off skew. Mark Donnelly is having a great run to move up into 12th overall just ahead of Craig Breen in the race for FST honours. Daragh O’Riordan is into 11th following a good run in his Clio. Jer O’Donovan has stopped in stage 2, his Impreza reportedly with some engine trouble, possibly a turbo. Brendan Cumiskey got going after his radiator trouble at the end of stage 1 but no sign of his Lancer after stage 2. Rory Byrne in the Modern Tyres Lancer hurt himself on one of the big Hamilton’s Folly jumps and it really shook him.
In the National A section of the rally Melvyn Evans was fastest in his Subaru from David Mann with Ross Hunter 3rd ahead of current champion David Kynaston in the Audi. Mark Jasper’s Metro 6R4 has stopped in the stage. In the National B rally Kenny McKinstry led after the first stage by just over a second from Seamus Leonard. Emma McKinstry we have unofficially into the top 6, Emma well pleased with her Subaru over the jumps. Denis Biggerstaff’s Subaru is down on power. Mark Courtney’s Celica is lacking turbo boost and he is well down. Pat Norris’ Subaru has stopped in stage 1. Adrian Hetherington would appear to be top Mk2 Escort and 4th o/a just over 2s ahead of Wesley Patterson. Kenny McKinstry stalled his Subaru at the last hairpin in stage 1, same place as McGarrity had done it earlier, and Seamus Leonard also had a hiccup at that hairpin.
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