RALLY NEWS NO.4       End of stage 5 - Monday 1.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 - Esker Hill
1st (5) James Gillen/PJ Gillespie (Escort Cos) 35.39
2nd (2) Robin Philips/Mike Gibson (Celica) 35.42
3rd (25) Philip Shaw/Nigel Frazer (Escort) 35.47
4th (12) Kieran Shaw/Crawford Henderson (Escort Cos) 36.06
5th (6) Gary White/Barry Taggart (Escort Cos) 36.21
6th (30) Raymond Johnston/Ivan Fisher (Lancer N) 36.22
7th (4) Trevor Moore/Richard Curry (Escort Cos) 36.29
8th (19) Glenn Allen/Adrian Johnston (Escort) 36.44
9th (226) Jim Crozier/Ian Porter (Lancer N) 36.47
10th (16) George Robinson/Francis Regan (Escort Cos) 36.56

Streaming wet roads after a dry service area caught some of the drivers on the hop on stage 4, Sturgeon Bridge.  Woodland Furniture man Kieran Shaw was fastest with a time of 9.10, James Gillen was 2nd fastest with 9.12, despite having to pass the struggling Trevor Moore in the stage.  Moore had a 9.51.  Denis Biggerstaff recorded 9.27, and the critical time was of course Robin Philips 9.38.  Philips had led for the first 3 stages, so after stage 4, Philips and Gillen were tying.  Through stage 5 Gillen's Escort Cosworth stopped the clock 3s faster than the Toyota of Philips, to leave James 3s in the lead going to the next 7.5 miles Larchmount test. The drivers then do the Sweathouse test before arriving back here to service at Granville.

One of the most amazing drives today is by Philip Shaw, co-driven by Nigel Frazer. Philip was tying the back bumper of his Escort back on after stage 5, testimony to some very sideways moments.  Glenn Allen is driving the next Mk2 Escort on the leaderboard and freely admits he has no answer to Philip today.

Some further drivers missing after stage 5 include - Richard Hogg who is reportedly off the road at the end of stage 4. Camillus Bradley another who is either stopped or running very late at the end of stage 5.  Further stories include - Mark Leathem having severe brake fade in stage 2. Gary White telling us he is trying to drive sensibly.  Fintan McGrady is just outside the leaderboard on 37.03 and reporting no problems.  Owen Lamont in the Subaru is on 37.47. Richard Hall, after his earlier off road excursion, 38.28.  Douglas Richardson, up from Dublin for the day, is on 38.00.  John Donnelly 37.10.  We reported earlier that David Armstrong was 3rd on yesterday's Midland Single Stage down in Strokestown - David is here spectating today and tells us that the results then changed, he was not classified as a finisher and local man Rory O'Connor came into 3rd. Early indications from stage 6 are that Robin Philips has pulled 1s back from James Gillen, so there is now just 2s between the two..more later..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON