2^nd (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 50.15

Through stages 9 and 10 Eugene Donnelly was again fastest, maybe only by 2s and 1s from Andrew Nesbitt, but at this level every second really does count. The weather again played its part, Andrew Nesbitt reckoning he was on the wrong tyres, while Eugene Donnelly reported no problems, that the roads have dried and his tyre choice wasn’t a mile away. Derek McGarrity was 3^rd fastest on both stages from Kevin Lynch, Derek a bit happier than before, but seemingly resigned to the fact that he keeps making wrong tyre choices. Kevin Lynch went well and reported no problems, looking very solid in 4^th place for the moment, under no pressure from Austin MacHale behind. Austin seems to be having a quiet enough rally, and through stage 9 for example he was 4s slower than Lynch. Through stage 10 another 4s. Tim McNulty again is looking very solid in 6^th and is chipping away at the gap between himself and Austin. Tim adamant that he is not pushing 100 per cent. Paul Harris in 7^th had a good run through those stages and young Matthew Wilson found Garrygort to be tricky. On a couple of corners his Focus WRC ran wide, Matthew thinking that it was pretty slippy on the inside line.

The top 10 was further depleted when Brendan Kelly unfortunately crashed out of 9^th place on the Carnhill stage. Reportedly Brendan’s Corolla WRC went off near the place that George Cullen had slid his Subaru into the ditch earlier. Maurice Gass stopped briefly at Brendan’s accident and was waved on by Brendan’s co driver Derek Brannigan with the assurance that everybody was OK.

In the Group N category Seamus Leonard is now setting the pace, and was fastest through Garrygort, but Dessie Keenan equalled Seamus’ times through stage 9 Carnhill. Dessie had struggled throughout the rally with his down on power Lancer, but at last has found the reason for the engine’s recalcitrance. A turbo intercooler pipe was folded over underneath a protective gaiter, allowing the intake of spurious air. This was probably a consequence of the Killarney Lakes accident. Cahal Rogers was very much on the pace through stages 9 and 10 as well, Cahal now only 11s behind Aaron MacHale. Seamus Leonard did have a very lucky escape when he cut a K left in stage 10 and knocked a very large chunk out of the rim. How the tyre didn’t deflate is a mystery. None of the other top 10 hit this rock, but 3 of the leading Modifieds did – Robbie Peoples knocked a chunk out of his front left rim, the tyre deflated and he dropped approximately 40s. Low oil pressure is not helping Robbie’s cause. John Dalton continues to lead the Modifieds comfortably with a total of 54.46, which would put him 10^th in the International rally. Damien Gallagher is 2^nd on 55.59, Paul Gallagher 3^rd in his Corolla with 56.10.

Back to the main rally and Shaun Gallagher is now on a total of 56.36 in his Saxo, Guy Woodcock has got ahead in his RS 2000 Maxi, Woodcock’s total 56.29. Gallagher still unhappy with the handling of his little Citroen. (On the subject of Shaun – our thanks again to Tommy Mullan & Co….the best tea and sandwich makers in the world!)…..back to the rally…Dermot Hanafin has changed the gearbox on his Group N FitzSamuel Insurance Impreza. Sean Devine still in gearbox troubles, but keeping going nicely. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net