UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1

1^st (1) Colin McRae/Richard Dunwoody (Ford Focus WRC) 2.33.6

2^nd (3) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRC) 2.35.0

3^rd (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O’Brien (Subaru WRC) 2.35.2

4^th (4) Derek McGarrity/Willie McKee (Subaru WRC) 2.38.2

5^th (11) Maruice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Subaru WRC) 2.38.7

6^th (8) Robert Woodside/Graham McKee (Subaru WRC) 2.40.1

(9) Michael Barrable/tbc (Subaru WRC) 2.40.1

7^th (10) David Greer/Rory Kennedy (Corolla WRC) 2.40.3

8^th (12) Ollie O’Donovan/David Moynihan (Subaru) 2.42.2

9^th (5) James Cullen/Pat O’Sullivan (Subaru) 2.42.4

(7) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Celica) 2.42.4

When the news was announced that Colin McRae was coming to compete at this World Rally Masters at Punchestown a rally pundit observed "There’ll be more people at Punchestown than there was at Phoenix Park for the Pope"……..maybe not quite as many but a fabulous crowd nonetheless. Colin McRae arrived in style, swooping his Eurocopter G-BXYD down in front of the grandstands to land at the back of the paddock.

Fresh from his World record breaking 25^th world rally championship victory in Kenya, Colin turned on the style here on the first proper stage. He remarked at the end of the stage "No bother. A good stage, quite fast and tricky in places". Colin is taking a variety of co-drivers today including Richard Dunwoody. Kris Meeke was also invited to drive the Focus WRC and did the familiarisation run after Colin. Lucky young man!!

Austin McHale was fastest of the Irish drivers, Austin remarking at stage finish "A good clean run, kept it tidy." Andrew Nesbitt said "I’m a bit worried, there’s a noise in either the differential or gearbox". Andrew’s Subaru is more or less straight from winning the Jim Clark Rally – the first British Championship win for a Subaru WRC.

Derek McGarrity is driving the ex Marko Martin S7 Subaru, the car fresh from winning in Lebanon and Derek remarked of his first run "Alright, but somebody knocked tyres into the middle of the track". Robert Woodside said "I don’t know the track well enough yet, I’m backing off in places where I should be flat". Maurice Gass had a good run despite a rear left puncture on his Subaru. James Cullen, on his first proper outing for nearly 2 years, said "The rust is falling off in chunks".

Seamus Leonard is the first of the gpN cars on the road, and he reported his Subaru locking up at the back. Fastest group N time so far was James Foley in his Lancer while Garry Jennings reports worn clutch hydraulics in his Lancer. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net