RALLY NEWS NO.4                 Kilheffernan/Service/Sunday 2.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Slievenamon
1st (4) Brian Murphy/Joe Downey (Impreza 555)  27.23
2nd (3) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 27.35
3rd (26) Pat Norris/Declan Tumilty (Impreza 555) 27.46
4th (2) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Hanna (Impreza WRC) 28.07
5th (6) Paul Barrett/Sean Ferris (Lancer N) 28.50
6th (12) Paul Mulcahy/Karl Baumawn (Starlet) 29.31
7th (45) Bob Scanlon/Peter Keohane (Lancer N) 29.59
8th (25) Brian Lawlor/Peter Kavanagh (Escort) 30.05
9th (8) Patrick Elliott/Sean Moriarty (Lancer N) 30.39
10th (19) James Cribben/Bob Kelly (Lancer N) 30.41
       (20) Matt Shinnors/Adrian Deasy (Escort) 30.41

There is still a massive struggle going on at the front of this Willie Lougman Forestry Rally with Brian Murphy and Kevin Lynch swopping fastest times, Pat Norris right in the hunt, Kevin O'Kane slipping back ever so slightly, but not a mile away.
Brian Murphy commented here at service "We had a half spin on that last stage which cost a few seconds, but really I'm trying to go as hard as I can".  Kevin Lynch told us "We have a problem with the rear diff, something internal, its getting so noisy I can't hear Francis on the notes. I don't think there is a lot we can do with it. I may pull in but I may chance her and go on".  Kevin O'Kane said "We're going good, but not good enough!"   Pat Norris remarked "The new car is coming right, we could smarten it up a little bit".James Murphy has retired after blowing a 2nd turbo in his Escort Cosworth.

In Group N Paul Barrett seems to hold the upper hand now in his Lancer, reporting no big problems.  Stephen Moore had been in front in his new model Subaru, but there is no sign of him after stage 6.  Could be he is running late, but at the moment no sign. No sign as well of Aaron MacHale.  Bob Scanlon, seeded down at 45, has edged up into the top 10 and holding 2nd in Group N.  Patrick Elliott 3rd and James Cribben 4th. Cribben had 2 punctures on stage 3 and then his Lancer came out of stage 6 with the rear bumper assembly trailing the ground, both incidents having cost some time. Patrick Elliott has speeded up as the day has progressed, the Cavan man having virtually no experience of forest rallying. Another with little experience of forest rallying, and indeed of Lancers, is Eddie Garry, he is speeding up but still lying outside the top 10.

Paul Mulcahy is having a great run in his 1600 Starlet to lead class 3, his closest rival Alan Mulcahy has retired his car with a gearbox problem.   Paul has had no real problems, although he got a bit of a shock in stage 6 when a large stone thumped the floor under his feet, and pushed the metal up in a big lump.  Matt Shinnors is now into the top 10 in his 1600 Escort but he is suffering some gearbox problems. James Coleman's 2 litre Escort is lying just outside the top 10, the Suirway Forklifts man having lost a few seconds on stage 6 with a puncture. Lloyd Hutchinson had 2 punctures at the rear of his Mini on the first loop of stages, had another puncture in 6, but leads his class and is lying just outside the leaderboard on 30.54. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON   www.rallynews.net