RALLY NEWS NO.5            Buncrana/Sunday 7pm                   www.rallynews.net
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 - LAST STAGE
1st (2) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 51.38
2nd (8) Andrew Stewart/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 52.28
3rd (5) James Gillen/Victor Carruthers (Esc.Cos) 52.44
4th (29) Stuart Darcy/Barry Goodman (Lancer N) 54.09
5th (6) Ivan Stewart/Timothy Duggan (Esc.Cos) 54.14
6th (10) Seamus Donnelly/Paul Garry (Escort) 54.19
     (14) Stephen Harris/Damien Crawford (Lancer N) 54.19
8th (16) Paul Gallagher/Karl Reid (Corolla) 54.33
9th (163) Angus Hunter/Joe Friel (Lancer N) 54.39
10th (26) Pat McDaid/Paul Gallagher (Lancer N) 55.34
Tough, difficult conditions faced the drivers for the last loop of stages, but Niall Maguire, co-driven by Paul McLaughlin, sailed through to take a clear victory.  Niall commented at the end "The stages were good, I enjoyed the third stage particularly, but I think I was on the wrong tyres towards the end, there was no great pressure and I was able to ease back."  It has been a fantastic season for Maguire, winning the National Championship in the most convincing fashion.  At the start of this rally there was a chance he could win the Border Championship as well. But then it was discovered that there were not enough cars in the class to allow him to score maximum points.  It seemed that he had no chance of taking the Border series as well.  However, this has been a rally of attrition, with many cars falling by the wayside.  Just 2 who could take the title included Trevor Lancashire and John Kelly.  Lancashire crashed out and now we must wait for some time to see how Kelly has fared in his class.  The title should be going to Co. Monaghan one way or the other!

Andrew Stewart drove brilliantly today to take 2nd overall and win the gpN category. His Lancer was 100 per cent reliable and Stewart and co driver Fabian McShane were just about 100 per cent as well.  James Gillen overcame all sorts of difficulties with his Escort Cosworth to take 3rd place. Stuart Darcy in 4th was relieved to at last finish a rally and despite vibrating brakes he really enjoyed the run in his newly acquired Lancer.  Stephen Harris overcame brake problems to finish 3rd gpN and joint 6th.  Seamus Donnelly was the first 2 wheel drive car home in his Mk2 Escort. Seamus admits he was more than lucky to make the finish, the car's gearbox making desperate noises as it climbed the Mamore Pass towards the finish of the shortened 6th and final stage. Ivan Stewart was delayed leaving service when his Escort Cosworth blew an oil pipe. There could be road penalties, but at the same time there have been so many problems with delays that the road penalties may not be applied. Damien Gallagher finished strongly, but just outside the above leaderboard on 55.12, Damien's Escort delayed with a misfire earlier on.  Paul Gallagher did more than enough to win his class, with yet another brilliant drive in his Corolla.  We are still waiting on times coming in - Daniel Conaghan was into the top 10 after 3 stages so we must wait and see how his result pans out. Finally for now, well done to Leonard Wilson and all at the Donegal MC for keeping the rally going through such difficult conditions, and through it all it has been a good weekend here in Buncrana at the Inishowen Gateway. Thanks to all who helped and supported the RallYNews service. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON