1^st (11) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru WRC) 1.46.50.5

2^nd (12) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRc) 1.48.52.2

3^rd (20) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Subaru WRC) 1.50.09.7

4^th (17) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Subaru WRC) 1.52.43.0

5^th (1) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 1.53.20.9

6^th (15) Gwyndaf Evans/Chris Patterson (MG ZR) 1.53.29.2

7^th (22) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Subaru WRC) 1.53.57.0

8^th (24) Trevor Cathers/Dessie Wilson (Lancer N) 1.54.19.5

9^th (21) David Greer/Stephen McAuley (Corolla WRC) 1.54.43.5

10^th (25) Seamus Leonard/Kevin O'Brien (Impreza N) 1.54.56.9

11^th (27) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 1.55.03.8

12^th (30) Donie O'Sullivan/Eugene Donnelly (Impreza N) 1.55.52.7

As the heavy showers continue it really is a question of hold station at the front for the top drivers. With just 2 stages to go following this final Gortin service, Andrew Nesbitt has a 2 minute buffer on Jonny Milner, who is well over a minute ahead of Daniel Doherty, and then Eamonn Boland over 2 minutes back. It leaves little incentive for the drivers except the challenge of keeping a reasonable pace, plus keeping their cars out of the ditches. Andrew Nesbitt commented here "We got a huge shower of rain on that last stage, a few miles from the end, the windows steamed up and we backed right off". Jonny Milner said "Still very very slippy, not much we can do now except lose it". Daniel Doherty just observed "We are in cruise mode".

There is however still a big battle for Super 1600 honours, Justin Dale is doing a superb job in the works Peugeot, although Justin is more intent on scoring Pirelli British Championship points than just winning the category today. Gwyndaf Evans in the MG continues his charge, reduced the deficit to Dale by 16s on stage 12 and then lost 10s on stage 13 when his car lapsed on to 3 cylinders. Martin Sansom is going very nicely, 3^rd in the Super 1600 in the 106 and Rory Galligan is 4^th. Rory’s 206 is misting up badly, still a few gaps in the bodywork following yesterday’s incident.

In group N Trevor Cathers suddenly finds himself with a bit of fresh air following his huge battle with Seamus Leonard. Leonard’s Impreza slid straight on over mud on a 3 right into 5 left and broke a TCA. Seamus lost over a minute in stage 13. Donie O’Sullivan is going better today than yesterday, but so is Roy White, so these 2 are having a good battle just outside the top 10. Behind Donie O’Sullivan, Seamus Heron has put the hammer down over the last few stages to get ahead of Adrian McElvaney.

Colm Murphy was leading the Ford Ireland Focus runners, but he has stopped, so Cathal O’Reilly now leads from Oliver Stanley. Murphy had been complaining of a noise gearbox after stage 11, O’Reilly’s box is now grating so he is trying to coax the car to the finish. In the Ford Ka championship Barry Clark has moved into the lead from Shaun Woffinden, Rob Chalmers had been in front but went into a field for over 10m. Ryan Champion leads the 1400 Puma series. In the Peugeot 206 Super Cup Garry Jennings still has the slenderest of leads over David Wright, Shaun Gallagher 3^rd. In the Historics – Philip Wylie leads in his MGB but has been under pressure from Mervyn Johnston in the Mini, while in the Post Historics Martin Freestone has got in front of Ernie Graham, Ernie in clutch troubles. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON