UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 27 Fardross (last stage)

1^st (7) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 2.58.27

2^nd (3) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza WRC) 3.01.10

3^rd (5) Eamonn Boland/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 3.01.15

4^th (2) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRc) 3.04.14

5^th (9) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 3.04.49

6^th (6) David Greer/Michael Reid (Corolla WRC) 3.05.40

7^th (19) Trevor Cathers/Gordon Noble (Lancer N) 3.07.22

8^th (10) Brendan Kelly/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 3.10.05

9^th (26) Dickie Curran/Gary Lyons (Lancer N) 3.11.01

10^th (44) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Escort) 3.12.35

Just outside the leaderboard – Maurice Gass 3.12.41: Patrick Elliott 3.13.45: Donie O’Sullivan 3.14.20: Philip Shaw 3.14.29:

For Andrew Nesbitt this was an extremely momentous moment arriving in here to Enniskillen the winner of the 2002 Circuit of Ireland. As Andrew and co driver James O’Brien climbed from their Subaru, Andrew took time to comment "On the last Circuit to run Bertie Fisher came over to me and said "your time will come for winning Andrew". It really is special, a great feeling. James my co driver did a great job. Full credit to Pirelli and to Prodrive/22 Motorsport for such a good car. It was a tough rally, tight stages, especially today with mud pulled out from the first loop. However from when we went testing on Cooley on Thursday and got the suspension right the car has been brilliant. As regards the Tarmac Championship, we will evaluate the situation after tonight".

Derek McGarrity scored his best result to date with 2^nd overall on a Tarmac Championship rally. It was nearly relegated to 3^rd, Derek was held up on the final stage when Nesbitt spun and stalled on a hairpin left junction. Many seconds were lost and Derek had to drive like a madman to the end of the stage to stay ahead of Boland by just 5s. Eamonn for his part commented "We gave Derek a present of it – I kept getting the hairpins wrong, I can’t manage the handbrake, you have to take you foot right off the brakes before the handbrake will work". Still it was a good drive for Eamonn and bodes well for the rest of the season.

In group N Trevor Cathers was just a superstar. He said "I’m glad I made it interesting, it kept everybody honest. As regards the championship, you never know". Brendan Kelly finished in typical style with half a ton of topsoil stuck on the wheels and over the car – in the ditch at the last corner! Still, a brilliant drive. Dickie Curran 3^rd in gpN didn’t do so bad either, for a racing man, and only used 2 sets of tyres. Philip Shaw was well down the overall list, but still wins a very well deserved award for the highest placed rear wheel drive car. Last stage dramas included Norman Armstrong rolling his Escort on a straight bit of road, it is thought something broke at the front.

HISTORIC RALLY – Mervyn Johnston co driven by Austin Frazer started the final day 60s in front of Philip Wylie in his MGB. A broken intercom on the first of today’s stages put the Mini Cooper crew under pressure and they finished the day just a handful of seconds in front of the MGB.

EASTER STAGES: 1 stage to go – Eugene Donnelly 51.11 James Gillen 51.32 Kieran Shaw 52.02 Biggerstaff 52.05 Gary White 52.48 George Robinson 54.02..McGarrity will almost certainlyl take max points.BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON