Gass had appeared content to tread carefully through the opening 3 stages of the event in near perfect conditions but on the second run through the 9 kilometres of Breenagh, Gass dug deeper and produced a stage win that thrust him closer to Jennings.
Before that, Jennings in the Voodoo Subaru had been extending his lead, storming through the morning’s second and third stages after his first stage combatant Declan Boyle eventually retired with brake problems.
Gass might have expected to trim a little more from Jennings’s cushion on the last stage of the day, the 12km of roller-coaster tarmac that brought leg one to a close, but instead he lost two seconds to Jennings.
Given Jenning’s Donegal experience, Gass has a lot of hard work to do tomorrow and Sunday if he wants to stand on the top step on the finish ramp at the Mount Errigal hotel, Letterkenny on Sunday
Gass conceded that the 16s margin he holds over a very hard charging third-placed Sam Moffett was his main focus, yet wouldn’t completely dismiss his chances of reeling in Jennings.
“I’m very happy with the day and I’m looking forward to doing some racing tomorrow. There are two more long days and if everything is perfect it is even possible to try and catch Jennings and keep Moffett behind. But I reckon it will be hard to do two perfect days on the tough Donegal tarmac.”
Moffett moved into third after stage 2 and Derek McGarrity starting to fall back, with a small gearbox problem. A wild moment on a long 6 left on Breenagh 1 didn’t help Daragh O’Riordan settle. Coupled with setup issues it hasn’t helped the Cork man and he lies in a lowly 7th at the end of the first day in his Fiesta WRC.
Donagh Kelly is giving the left hand drive Airtricity Ford Focus WRC a steady debut with. A problematic morning with a few electrical issues set him back but he got on with it in the afternoon for a much improved run over the second loop of 3 stages.
With wet weather beginning to roll in over the Donegal hills tonight, wet weather is forecast for the rest of the weekend, there is sure to be a few surprises in the leader board.
Said Garry: “Day one done and dusted – 10sec lead over Gass, good day’ss rallying with great stages and the crowds of people out watching was mental.. Best all year I’d say.
“Neil & myself are in good form and the car’s working good – wee spit of rain would make it interesting..Knockalla tomorrow – bring it on.”
Garry Jennings/Neil Doherty Subaru WRC 27:49.6
2 Darren Gass/Enda Sherry Subaru S10 WRC + 0:09.7
3 Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly Subaru WRC +0:26.0
4 Derek McGarrity/James McKeeFord Focus WRC + 0:33.0
5 Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin Subaru WRC +0:59.3
6 Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan Ford Focus WRC +1:05.1
7 John O’Donnell/Aidan Friel Subaru WRC +1:08.7
8 Darragh O’Riordan/Tony McDaid Ford Fiesta WRC +1:25.9
9 Martin Doherty/Damian McCauley Mitsubishi Evo 9 +1:37.0
10 Stephen Wright/Susanne Wright Mitsubishi Evo 9 +1:50.6
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