1^st (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.37.53

2^nd (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.38.49

3^rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.40.19

4^th (11) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.41.27

5^th (2) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.42.03

6^th (14) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 1.42.23

7^th (26) Maurice Gass/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 1.47.12

8^th (19) Aaron MacHale/Ger McMonagle (Lancer N) 1.47.57

9^th (17) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Impreza N) 1.48.00

(59) Cahal Rogers/Paul McLaughlin (Lancer N) 1.48.00

11^th (27) Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Lancer N) 1.49.04

12^th (40) Sean Devine/Robert McDaid (Impreza WRC) 1.49.21

The above totals do not include any times for stage 16, Port Lake, where there was a major incident involving the first 3 cars in the rally, Andrew Nesbitt, Eugene Donnelly and Derek McGarrity. The sequence of events is not clear, but it would appear that Nesbitt, first on the road, spun his Impreza to a halt a short distance into the stage. Eugene Donnelly crashed into the side of Nesbitt’s Impreza, but managed to get going when Andrew shuffled the car into the side. Eugene continued down the stage with the car running hot, the radiator and inter cooler damaged and expecting to see either Nesbitt or McGarrity on his tail. However, Eugene arrived at stage finish on his own, and it transpired then that McGarrity had also crashed into Nesbitt’s car, the stage had become blocked and eventually the cars came out in convoy. Donnelly’s Corolla WRC seemed to have the worst damage. Nesbitt’s Impreza, and McGarrity’s, had quite a bit of panel damage but no mechanical damage. The cars were all re-fettled at service and proceeded to Atlantic Drive.

Nesbitt resumed his winning ways with fastest time, covering the torturous Atlantic Drive road in 5m53s. Derek McGarrity recorded 5.59. Tim McNulty 6.01. Eugene Donnelly and Austin MacHale 6.02. Nesbitt said at stage finish that his Impreza clutch felt a bit strange, but it was working OK. Eugene Donnelly was extremely worried that his car would be OK following the frontal damage, and it was. Kevin Lynch had a good run and says it is very important for him to finish, hopefully ahead of MacHale.

In Group N Cahal Rogers was fastest to draw level with Seamus Leonard, although as can be seen above, Aaron MacHale is adjudged to be leading the category, despite being off the road for over 3 minutes on Knockalla yesterday.

Paul Harris was forced to pull out of the rally here at service in Downings. His Impreza WRC broke a timing belt while driving slowly out of the Port Lake stage and the engine was damaged. Paul reckons that Port Lake stage is definitely his nemesis, which was where he rolled last year.