RALLY NEWS NO.2                   End of stage 1 - Friday  1.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Ardnaditian
1st (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 6.01
2nd (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 6.07
3rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 6.09
4th (11) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 6.11
5th (2) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 6.17
6th (39) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 6.23
7th (8) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Lancer WRC) 6.26
     (9) Paul Harris/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC) 6.26
9th (21) Brendan Kelly/Derek Brannigan (Corolla WRC) 6.27     
10th (26) Maurice Gass/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 6.32
     (19) Aaron MacHale/Ger McMonagle (Lancer N) 6.32

Briefly - Donnelly fastest, with a little help from David Greer in the shape of a gearbox sensor which saved the day.  2nd fastest Nesbitt said "Steady run, slippy at points, car good, but a bit soft".  Third placed McGarrity "Tyres way too soft a compound".  Derek sweating and shaky. Fourth placed Kevin Lynch "So far so good".  Austin MacHale in 5th "No effing brakes".  Young Matthew Wilson in 6th "Kept it clean".  Matthew put his Focus WRC off the road yesterday at a Muckish test session.  When he finished the stage today his Focus WRC front brake was licking flames through the wheel.

Further stories….Daniel Doherty - accident on the first corner of stage 1 the Carndonagh man's ill Donegal Rally luck continues.  George Tracey did not appear at stage finish - Peugeot 206 WRC in mechanical problems.

Tim McNulty in engine problems. Eamonn Boland reported his Lancer will not pick up through the gears.  Paul Harris, "Not into it yet". 

Dessie Keenan in turbo problems.  Aaron MacHale fastest group N on 6.32. Seamus Leonard in the new Subaru on 6.39.  Cahal Rogers, laden with flu, 6.47. 

In the Modified section - Phil Collins and James Cullen equal on 6.41.  Cullen says the Porsche is too soft.

Ivan Stewart's Escort WRC off a plug.  Shaun Gallagher in the Saxo, wrong tyres, on 6.52.  John McCarthy in the Corolla WRC, front left puncture. Dermot Hanafin knocked the front right corner of his gpN Subaru.   Seamus Gallagher's Saxo stopped on the way to 1st stage, mechanical problem. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON   www.rallynews.net