Eugene Donnelly and his co driver Paddy Toner cemented their lead on this Circuit of Ireland Rally through stages 5 and 6. At last service after stage 4 Eugene’s Skoda was 9s ahead of Hurson. After stage 6 it is 23s up. Several of the drivers including Tarmac Champion Eamonn Boland and Gareth MacHale set really competitive times through the two stages but none of them were looking anywhere near Donnelly’s stunning performance. Eugene commented at service when he stepped out of his Skoda. “We had a good run on both stages. We found the first one a bit dusty and slippy. On the 2nd one I pushed hard, especially on junctions where I struggled in Galway. I didn’t go completely berserk but our package is good. I am a bit surprised the Subaru’s were not up my pipe on the fast stuff. I might make the roll bars harder now, it should stabalise the car more on the fast stuff”. Peadar Hurson said. “Fair play to Eugene, he’s going well. I think I may have picked too soft a tyre, the car is moving about a lot, pushing the nose”. Gareth MacHale’s gearbox problems are now sorted and he set 2 really good times through 5 and 6 although he did say that he had used the tyres from the previous loop and perhaps they went off a little towards the end of SS6. Co driver Brian Murphy said. “It’s a sharp enough pace!”
Tim McNulty dropped out of the reckoning a little on those 2 stages, and he told us that his Subaru stalled a couple of times, a repeat of what happened last year and he finished off by saying. “I’m annoyed, undone all the hard work”. Tarmac Champion Eamonn Boland said. “I got the finger out a bit, I was too cautious this morning”. Derek McGarrity, who led the rally after stage 2, said. “going alright but picked too soft a tyre”.
Kevin Barrett’s Triton Showers Impreza has had clutch problems through stage 6 and he has dropped about 35 or 40s. Kevin’s co driver Barry Goodman is very anxious that they get through tomorrow’s stages as he is originally from Blackrock outside Dundalk and wants to rally on his home territory! Aaron MacHale reckoned his times had improved since he’s got the car and the tyres sorted and he said. “It’s a good oul battle”. Darren Gass is having a great battle with Aaron and Darren said he found it difficult to get the Subaru to stop on occasions.
Sean Flanagan & Brian Duggan have retired their hired Impreza following gearbox troubles. They were leading GpN and 10th o/a and co driver Brian said. “I will maybe take up golf!” Such are the frustrations of rallying. Alan Carmichael now leads group N despite a 20s road penalty which he doesn’t really understand. Rory Byrne in the Modern Tyres Lancer is up into 2nd GpN with Stanley Ballantine 3rd. Daragh O’Riordan has moved up from 11th to 10th and he is still experiencing boiling brake fluid problems with his Clio. Craig Breen has now got ahead of Mark Donnelly in the race for best Fiesta in the International section.
In the National B Rally Melvyn Evans continues to lead from David Mann, both in Subarus. Shane Buckley has now come up into 3rd in his Fiesta ahead of MSA Asphalt championship leader David Kynaston. Meirion Evans was 3rd but he has retired. In the National B Rally Kenny McKinstry still led after stage 4 from Adrian Hetherington with Denis Biggerstaff up to 3rd, Wesley Patterson 4th, Camillus Bradley 5th and Emma McKinstry 6th. John McGlaughlin still led GjpN from Neil McCance.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Michael & Zoe Patterson): *For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 53030 (Irl) or 60066 (UK): Text STOP to switch off. Cost 30c/25p
