Gareth MacHale and his co driver Brian Murphy carry a 40s lead into the last day of this Topaz Donegal International Rally with Eamonn Boland 2nd and Eugene Donnelly 3rd. Interestingly Tim McNulty was fastest through the last Saturday stage and remarked afterwards that that was the first stage his Subaru really went 100 percent. Gareth MacHale said “We pushed hard on Knockalla and kept it tidy, I’m happy enough”. However Gareth knows there is a big days rallying still to come and indeed Tim McNulty said he hasn’t given up, he is still going for a podium place. Eugene Donnelly was fairly down in the dumps when he brought his Fabia into the last Saturday service and told us. “three gear’s missing since Knockalla”. Sean Devine in 5th was slowed with overheating tyres towards the end of Knockalla. Co driver Robert McDaid said “It was a bit Mark Twosih, but very enjoyable”. PJ McDermott had a good run over the last few stages and said “We’re getting it together”. Daniel Doherty set a nice time over Knockalla but not great in Garrygort which he said is just not his stage.
Seamus Leonard continues to dominate GpN and he is 29s ahead of Shaun Gallagher with Damien Tourish 3rd. Damien had a brake problem over the last couple of stages which slowed him. Danny McBride is now 12th o/a and 4th GpN. Danny got the fright of his life when he met Donagh Kelly’s Lancer reversing out of a ditch in Garrygrot.
In the National section Rodney Wilton set some cracking times through the afternoon to take the lead from Wesley Patterson. Wesley reported no problems. Manus Kelly in 3rd has also been going hard but he lost a bit of time at the Donagh Kelly incident. Gary McPhillips has had a clean run to 4th. Maurice Moffett had a major 4th gear moment when his Starlet careered down a sheugh at the corner just before the tractor yard in Garrygort. Trevor & Kenny Bustard are down in 15th place and Shaun Gallagher was kind enough to give them his spare differential to keep them in the rally. Craig Breen has provisionally won the Fiesta category from Shane Buckley with Robert Barrable 3rd. Kris Meeke continues to lead Ypres rally with 2 stages remaining. His team mate Freddy Loix was a few seconds behind him but has now dropped nearly 2m with a puncture. Kopecky in the Skoda is now 2nd.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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