UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1

1st (1) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza) 8.15

2nd (4) Trevor Cathers/Gordon Noble (Lancer N) 8.30

3rd (8) Andrew Stewart/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 8.31

4th (3) Ivan Stewart/Joe Friel (Escort) 8.38

5th (6) Philip Shaw/Herbie Blackburn (Escort) 8.43

(10) Eugene Ferry/John Gallagher (Escort) 8.43

7th (5) Joe MacHugh/Dermnot MacHugh (Escort) 8.44

8th (7) Cathal Rogers/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 8.46

9th (12) Dessie Keenan/Laura Keenan (Escort) 8.52

(16) Paul Gallagher/Karl Reid (Corolla) 8.52

(9) Camillus Bradley/Danny O'Neill (Peugeot) 8.52

Despite clipping a front left wheel against an inside stone on a "don't cut" corner, Paul Harris powered his 2 door Impreza to a comfortable lead after the first stage of this Milford Hotel Donegal Stage Rally. No.2 seed David Greer was a bit off the pace, commenting "I'm happy enough, I took her handy". Trevor Cathers reported no real problems, but at the same time, the Tyrone man was put off his stroke slightly when his Lancer developed a rattle at the back, Trevor reporting "It was from the village to the stage finish, I wasn't quite sure what it was, but I was being cautious. I think now it was just the exhaust rattling". Third placed Andrew Stewart told us he had a good run, just 1s down on Cathers for gpN honours, while Ivan Stewart in 4th overall reported a big spin up at the chapel - Ivan did look a bit hot and bothered!

Joe and Dermot McHugh felt that they lost time near the start of the stage when their tyres didn't heat up enough to provide maximum grip, but they did feel a lot happiers towards stage finish, and everything is going well with the car. Philip Shaw in equal 5th reckoned that he couldn't hear the pacenotes properly at high revs, something wrong with the intercom. Camillus Bradley had some clutch slip delays with his rear wheel drive Peugeot. Paul Gallagher's Corolla was sporting a damaged front muxguard, Paul saying he hit it on the first run.

Although shown 8th overall above, Cathal Rogers was stopped on a road section after the stage, for quite a long time, something wrong with one of the wheels. John Cairns was expected to be quick overall, and in gpN, but his time was 8.58, and he told us he has a new suspension set up in his Subaru, and it just doesn't seem to be working properly. Rory Kennedy had quite a good run, his time 8.55 with no dramas. Dan McCartan reported some clutch troubles with his newly acquired ex Auriol Celica, his time 9.10.