RALLY NEWS NO.5        Service..Sunday 4.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6

1st (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru WRC) 46.05

2nd (12) Jim Harrison/Mike Gibson (Escort Cos) 49.02

3rd (3) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza) 49.04

4th (17) James Gillen/Shane O'Neill (Escort) 49.12

5th (4) Ray Breen/John Purcell (Subaru Impreza) 49.49

6th (29) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW) 50.15

7th (16) Rory O'Connor/Francis Kenny (Escort Cos) 50.33

8th (14) Joe McGurk/Arthur Kierans (Celica) 51.01

9th (31) Joe & Dermot McHugh (Escort Cos) 51.06

10th (20) Glen Allen/Adrian Johnston (Escort) 51.15

The race for the lead more or less petered out on stage 5 when Paul Harris' rear left wheel went flat with many miles of the stage to complete.  Paul dropped 2 minutes plus in stage time to leave Andrew Nesbitt well out on his own. Armagh man Nesbitt told us here at service "We've made a few more adjustments to the suspension, she's very good now over the big jumps, I'm very happy".  Harris just shrugged his shoulders about the puncture and said "That's the way it goes, we just drove very easy on the flat wheel, didn't stop to change it".  Jim Harrison said "Getting it all together now, its the first time with this transmission, and the first time I haven't had Harvey co-driving. But it's working well".  James Gillen has driven a very hard, good rally so far, and is now easing back ever so slightly to protect the car.

George Cullen was forced to retire from 3rd place after service, following stage 4, when his Subaru's clutch cried enough.  Despite fitting new tyres, Noel McCarrick is having to give bst to Joe McHugh in the race for gpN honours.  Young John Cairns at 47 was right in contention for the gpN lead but his Subaru has stopped in stage 6.

Other stories include..Denis Cronin's BMW now suffering a misfire. Mac McKenna has got rid of his Peugeot's misfire and is just 10s behind Glen Allen. Maurice Moffett & Mervyn Wedlock are chasing these two, while Anthony O'Halloran in the Manta had a superb time through stage 6, his first clean stage of the day, but it's too late to do anything about the class now.  Looking away from this Ballina Rally for just a second..Rory Galligan had the narrowest of Peugeot Super 106 Cup victories today at Weston Park. The Oldcastle man took the jack, spare wheel and everything out of the car for one last gasp effort, and took victory by 1s.  David McGloughlin has retired his Escort Cosworth after blowing a second turbo. His co-driver James McKeefrey is looking for a good woman! He would prefer one with a van and trailer and would like a photograph. Not of the woman, of the van and trailer.  Contact car 67 or Magherafelt Motor Club! Further news on the rally..Kevin Barrett retired with gearbox trouble. Car 75 Kieran McFadden has retired his Corolla with blown engine..more later..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON