1^st (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.26.27.8

2^nd (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.26.57.3

3^rd (2) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.28.12.4

4^th (9) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC) 1.28.23.3

5^th (12) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 1.29.33.3

6^th (23) Garry Jennings/Paul Garry (Lancer N) 1.33.16.7

7^th (16) Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Lancer N) 1.33.20.1

8^th (15) Aaron MacHale/Ger McMonagle (Lancer N) 1.34.09.7

9^th (18) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.34.59.2

10^th (33) Willie Fannin/Mike Courtney (Impreza N) 1.37.30.4

11^th (19) Cathal Rogers/Sean McLaughlin (Lancer N) 1.38.19.3

12^th (17) Guy Woodcock/Phil Harrison (Escort Maxi) 1.39.02.0

Derek McGarrity returned to his winning ways with fastest times through stages 12 and 13. In stage 12 Derek was 4s faster than Eugene Donnelly and on stage 13 he was just 1s faster. Donnelly reported a narrow escape on that 13^th stage, his Envirocare backed Corolla nearly ending in disaster, Eugene recounting. "I was having a real good run and then on a 6 right into bridge into square left I was just too fast into the 6 right, slithered across the bridge and threw the car into the square left, cutting across big rocks. I was very fortunate to get away without a smashed rim or a puncture. I wasted some time worrying if the tyre would go down". McGarrity reported "That last stage, 13, was pretty technical but good, although we had a few big moments, and the front left suspension strut has been knocking. Hopefully we will get it changed now". Austin MacHale dropped a few seconds to Donie O’Sullivan on that 13^th stage, Austin’s new Focus having a half spin. Co driver Brian Murphy also saying "It didn’t click, but the one before was good". Donie O’Sullivan in the Bewleys Hotels/Staircrete backed Focus WRC had a real good run through stage 13, Donie happy enough to be in the position he is in. Daniel Doherty wasn’t happy at all, his Impreza throttle still sticking and now the gear change is sticking as well. His co driving brother Michael saying "The driver is not in good humour!" Another not in good humour is Paddy White, besides the clutch trouble, his Lough Allen Hotel backed Impreza now has gearbox trouble. 4^th gear is sort of knackered and 5^th gear is chipped. On the subject of gearboxes, Raymond McLaughlin was 11^th overall at last service, but his Lancer has stopped with a broken gearbox.

In Group N Garry Jennings has been setting the roads alight over the last few stages, recording fastest times in the category to move in front of Dessie Keenan. Garry said "I’m dreading going into service here, Ivan (Fisher) will kill me. He told me not to go goo hard! There’s nothing left in her, that’s her on the button. Sure its Easter only once a year!" Dessie Keenan reckons he picked too soft a compound tyre for that loop of stages. Although with rain on the horizon, picking the right rubber for the final loop of tests today isn’t going to be easy either. Aaron MacHale was disappointed to be a dozen or so seconds down from the fastest gpN through stage 13. Aaron not really understanding why, although he reckons his brake discs are finished, but he still doesn’t see that as the real reason. Colm Murphy said he has killed 2 birds today, hit 2 ditches, and a wall or two, so its not been a good day, and he still finds the ratios in the new gearbox very difficult. 1^st gear is too low for the junctions and 2^nd gear is too high. Willie Fannin’s Impreza is still down on power. Cathal Rogers arrived into service with a well bent rim, lucky to escape a puncture. Dermot Hanafin’s Impreza ECU is on its last legs. Eoin Doyle dropped right out of contention, was 11^th, but a 4 minute puncture in stage 13 put paid to that. Kevin Watson had a massive spin in stage 12, damaged the inter coolers, but managed to keep going.

Looking a bit further afield – Shaun Gallagher has a brilliant 35s lead in his Peugeot on the Rallye Auvergne in France with just the Super Special to go. News from the National part of the Circuit – Paul Barrett led after the first couple of stages and Stewart Clark came into 2^nd. Seamus O’Connell 3^rd. Willie & Tommy Vance had a big stage 10 accident with their Subaru after a jump into a dip the car rolled many times into the bog – no serious injuries.

LATEST NEWS; Paddy White/Damien Connolly withdrawn – gearbox. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net