DAY ONE RARELY DISAPPOINTS – and the 2016 Joule Donegal International Rally was no different with talking points aplenty for rally enthusiasts.
We didn’t have to wait too long for the big, shocking news that Garry Jennings was out of the rally, his event lasting just one stage. The Impreza was engulfed in a puff of light blue smoke that confirmed their event was over before it had time to begin properly.
The defending champions had been second fastest over Trentagh, but their hopes of defending the title evaporated.
Declan Boyle leads by 6.2 seconds from Donagh Kelly in second after day one, while Manus Kelly – last year’s national rally winner – is in third. Manus and Donall Barrett have set some superb times and are neatly poised.
Despite a stall, Seamus Leonard is up to fourth and then comes the R5 cars, led by the Tarmac Championship leader Alastair Fisher, followed by Sam Moffett and Josh Moffett, with Fisher only 0.8 seconds behind Leonard.
The national rally is really hotting up now after the opening day. There are just 27.7 seconds separating the crews from Brian Brogan, in first, to Frank Kelly, in seventh.
Donegal Motor Club chairman Brogan (pictured above by Geraldine Diver), is 7.1 seconds ahead of Damien Tourish. Brogan and Damien McGettigan assumed control around Corradooey, special stage 3. ‘The Milkman’ Declan Gallagher is really pushing the Starlet now and is just 1.7 seconds adrift of Tourish with Jonathan Pringle, Damian Gallagher and David Bogie all well in the mix.
Here’s how Donegal Sport Hub covered day one of the 2016 Joule Donegal International Rally:
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