NATIONAL: 1st Daniel McKenna: 2nd Barry Meade: 3rd Pat Kelly: SUNDAY RUN: 1 Keith Cronin: 2 Garry Jennings: 3 Jonny Greer:
The big news in from stage 13 is that Tim McNulty’s Subaru has stopped a few kilometres from the end with a broken gearbox. Sean Flanagan has dropped from 8th o/a to 15th his Lancer having sustained a puncture in stage 12 and then had an accident in stage 13. Keith Cronin was fastest through stage 12, Black Road, by 3s from McNulty with Gareth MacHale a further 2s back and Craig Breen 10s down on Gareth. Keith is of course doing the Sunday Run. In stage 13, Duniry, Gareth MacHale was fastest from Keith Cronin with Craig Breen .1 of a second down.
Gareth MacHale commented here at service in control. “We had a bit of a worry, the engine went into “safe” mode and was showing 120 degrees. It turned out to be a faulty sensor. I am more relaxed now. We will just try and stroke it home over the last 2 stages”. Craig Breen said. “We had a good push over the last couple of stages. With Tim gone the pressure is off now. We will just try and get it home”. Alastair Fisher, who is now into 3rd and keeping a careful eye on Aaron MacHale in 4th, said. “We had a good clean run over the last couple of stages. Maybe we could have done with a slick tyre. But it was OK and the car seems good”. Aaron MacHale looked at Alastair’s last stage time and said. “I will need to push the right foot a bit harder”. Keith Cronin commented. “I have a real good feeling with the car. That Black Road is some stage!"
National Rally leader Daniel McKenna reported that he is getting a bit more grip now that the roads are drying. Barry Meade in 2nd told of his Escort over shooting a junction in stage 12 and then he was blocked behind Sean Flanagan’s accident in stage 13. Pat Kelly, 3rd in the Nationals, has a damaged exhaust on his Subaru which is reducing the power. Eamonn Daly has discovered the diffs on his Lancer were not working properly and his times have improved today. Conor Harvey was having a really good run in his Civic leading his class and moving into the top 10, but his Civic has suffered a broken wheel after a jump and he has dropped 2m handing the class lead to Tommy Doyle. Marty McCormack has moved up to 12th from 15th and told us that his C2R2 Max has suffered no ill effects from the earlier punctures. Sean Flanagan’s co driver Brian Duggan said. “The accident has knocked the heart out of us. It was the simplest thing ever. A 4 right and the car slowly took off and wedged between 2 walls”. Neil Pearce is going well in his Civic and he said. “Home stages, nothing like it!”
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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