1^st (11) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru WRC) 37.28.6

2^nd (14) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Subaru WRC) 37.43.3

3^rd (16) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Celica) 38.32.1

4^th (12) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRc) 38.34.2

5^th (17) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Subaru WRC) 38.37.3

6^th (20) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Subaru WRC) 38.39.6

7^th (1) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 39.37.7

8^th (21) David Greer/Stephen McAuley (Corolla WRC) 39.56.4

9^th (24) Trevor Cathers/Dessie Wilson (Lancer N) 40.00.1

10^th (25) Seamus Leonard/Kevin O'Brien (Impreza N) 40.00.2

At the second run over Orra Lodge and Torr Head Andrew Nesbitt was fastest on both stages from Derek McGarrity. Andrew was 3s up on Derek on Orra and then 7s faster on Torr Head. Nesbitt’s co driver James O’Brien commented "From where I sit it seemed a very smooth clean run". While Andrew commented "Yes it was good, but we had the wrong tyre choice again, intermediates when the road was bone dry". Indeed for many of the other drivers it was the same situation, damp weather tyres were fitted with the rain pouring down at the service area, and then down the road, bone dry surfaces. Second placed McGarrity told us "The transmission was re-programmed and it was good for about 3 miles, then the selection went wayward, we were coasting between the crests, afraid to pull the handbrake at hairpins". Peadar Hurson moved from 7^th after stage 1 up to 3^rd after that 5^th stages, Peadar saying "We’re not going too bad, missed a few gears, I’m still driving with caution, just as I said I would before the start". Daniel Doherty was a little down in the dumps after stalling the car at the start of stage 5. Eamonn Boland reported earlier transmission problems, but now turns out to be possibly not the gearbox but the ECU, and should be sorted here at service.

In the Peugeot 206 Super Cup Shaun Gallagher is over 20s ahead of Garry Jennings. Garry’s car needed a new clutch cable and radiator at last service, and apparently Andrew Nesbitt’s mechanics, Gerry McGarrity and a whole lot more, all had a flat out job with the spanners to get the car sorted for the Ballinamallard youngster.

In the Super 1600 Jusin Dale has settled down to a really nice pace, although Gwyndaf Evans was a couple of seconds faster through stages 4 and 5. His MG now on 4 cylinders although not really on full power just yet. Justin’s Peugeot team mate Rory Galligan went better through those 2 stages, his 206 suspension now more or less sorted after the earlier accident. Martin Rowe is just a few seconds a stage down on Dale, Martin reporting his Puma’s handling a lot more to his liking now, but he still needs that little bit of extra speed.

As can be seen above the gpN battle is pretty frenetic – just a split second between Trevor Cathers and Seamus Leonard. Leon Pesticcio is 4^th in gpN on 40.39.2 and rapidly gaining tarmac experience. Seamus Heron is 3^rd on 40.37.9. Roy White is next up on 40.45.4 then Dickie Curran who made a disastrous tyre choice on 40.51.9. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON