Cousins lead the way after first leg in Donegal

Motorsport: Donegal cousins Declan and Brian Boyle (Subaru WRC) finished 5.2 seconds in front of the Ford Fiesta WRC of Monaghan’s Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly at the end of the first leg of the Donegal International Rally, round four of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship.

In a close contest Boyle was a tenth of a second up on his rival on the opening stage but Moffett with a pair of fastest stages times led his rival by 1.6 seconds after the opening loop where Garry Jennings (Subaru) bemoaned the lack of a sharp response as he moved up through the gears, 10.5 seconds further back.

Moffett clipped a rock and punctured on the fourth stage as Boyle (along with Jennings and Gass) beat the bogey time to move 5.9 seconds in front. An instant response from Moffett cut the deficit to 3.6 seconds but Boyle, despite beating the bogey again, managed to extend his lead margin to 5.2 seconds. Following some transmission issues on the first loop Darren Gass (Subaru WRC) increased his pace to slot into third — 23.3 seconds further behind.

Difficulties with the launch control cost Garry Jennings some time as he slipped to fourth in a top six that also featured Donagh Kelly (Ford Focus) and Derek McGarrity in the hired McKinstry Subaru.

In Group N, Pat Kirk (Mitsubishi) leads the similar car of Josh Moffett by seven tenths of a second. Meanwhile, Daniel McKenna (Escort) leads the Modified section where motorcycle ace Michael Dunlop (Escort) is 15th – over three minutes off the lead.

In the Ypres Rally in Belgium Craig Breen (Peugeot 208 T16) suffered a puncture on the opening stage and lost over 30 seconds, he also had troubles with the brakes on the early stages. Overnight, he is a minute and 58.9 seconds behind his team mate and rally leader Kevin Abbring.