UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3

1st (3) Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan (Ford) 18.57

2nd (2) Kevin O'Kane/Stephen Griffith (Subaru) 19.07

3rd (6) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Celica) 19.41

4th (1) Dermot Kelly/John Brennan (Ford) 19.43

5th (5) Peter McCullagh/Vincent Fergus (Ford) 19.52

6th (7) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (Subaru) 19.59

7th (4) John McKeown/Martin Carey (Ford) 20.04

8th (17) Pete Willoughby/Greg McCarthy (Ford) 20.16

9th (8) John Donnelly/Joe McAleese (Ford) 20.22

10th (15) Brian McCloskey/Shane O'Neill (Ford) 20.24

It's a hot and heavy pace at the front of this Hornbrooks Toyota backed Lismore Rally. Dominic McNeill appeared very dominant at the end of the first stage where he already had an 8s lead over Kevin O'Kane, but Kevin was fastest through stage 2, and then Dominic re-exerted his authority on stage 3 to leave his lead at 10s. At this half way point of the rally it is still very much wide open. Eugene Donnelly made a canny start in his new car, but has settled down quickly to come into 3rd place, Eugene saying "Jaysus this thing can go. Especially out of junctions. To think I was trying to beat cars like this in a rear wheel drive Escort, there's some difference". Rally leader McNeill commented "I'm still feeling my way, the car only came off the axle stands at 3 o'clock yesterday to come here. There's a 6 speed sequential box, it's all very different, but a great car". Last year's winner Dermot Kelly commented "It's going terrible. The stages are very slippy, there's lots of loose gravel and dust. I haven't really got the tyre I want to cope with this. Hopefully we'll be better on the second loop, we've been cleaning the roads for the cars behind".

Kevin O'Kane commented "This is like rallying used to be, great weather, nice stages - real good fun!" John McKeown's Sierra does not seem to have the legs to cope with today's speeds, while Peter McCullagh lost a few seconds at the first corner of the "V" with a 360 degree spin. Peter remarked "My own fault". Ollile O'Donovan is doing well to hold on to 6th place, the Legacy driver saying "I bent the rear beam on that first stage accident, now I can't get past 5th gear on the straights, the car is sliding from side to side, I'm looking out the side windows, never the front!"

Cathal Rogers who is lying just outside the leaderboard with a total of 20.29 in his gpN Lancer, said "I'm enjoying it, first time in the car but I'm feeling my age!" James Murphy had been off in stage 1 and says he lost a small bit of confidence on the following 2 stages. Brian McCloskey was off briefly at the hairpin right junction towards the end of stage 3 but still hangs on to his leaderboard place. John Donnelly was delayed with a broken driveshaft. Pete Willoughby spun and got a puncture at a square left but still equalled Dermot Kelly's time through stage 3. Paul Staunton was 5th but is parked on a left 2 over bridge. Ed O'Callaghan crashed his Manta on SS1 and blocked the stage. Andrew Mackaral retired his Astra when a radiator hose blew. John Shanahan did not appear out of SS1. On the Flanders Rally in Belgium, Roy White is 6th overall and 2nd in gpN after SS18. Brendan Kelly is 9th, no time for Boland for stage 18...more later..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON