His approach on the first timed test was understandably cautious but the clock showed the crew in fifth place, just 8.5 seconds off the lead. "I think I left foot braked too much and the front brakes went off a bit," he continued, "And we had a dodgy intercom which was more annoying than anything. But there's a load more to come out of the car, I've just got to learn how much I can push." The final stage before service was the spectator special near Armagh and the pair set fourth fastest time, just three seconds off the lead, closing to within 0.4 seconds of Gareth Jones.
With darkness approaching, all the cars left service with spotlights fitted and with Jennings and Sherry back in full communication. Two more fourth fastest times moved Jennings ahead of Jones although the crew had worked hard for the position.
"I wasn't sure what the problem was," reported Jennings, "but we had a couple of wild sideways moments in those stages before I realised it was a slow puncture on the rear."
The overnight fourth place put them in that position on the road for Saturday's stages, which may have started in daylight hours, but visibility was not much better than Friday night, as the weather had taken a distinct turn for the worse. Persistent rain had made the stages treacherous with patches where mud was washed across the road and rivers of water running down the wheel-tracks. Jennings reverted to running without the anti-lag system engaged, losing some responsiveness but restoring his confidence in the slippery conditions.
The pair set about the stages, posting third fastest time on the opening eight miler, but not without a scare on the way. They clipped a bank and the car lurched onto two wheels, Jennings managing to catch it before it went over. "There's a bit of grass in the front and it doesn't look much, but it was a moment I'd rather forget," he grinned. The cracking time was not sufficient to hold back the charging Eamon Boland though, who posted two scorching times, demoting Jennings to fifth.
