RALLY NEWS NO.6                    Portumna/Finish/Sunday  6.15

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 (last stage)
1st (4) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 58.32
2nd (5) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 59.13
3rd (2) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 59.25
4th (3) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 59.39
5th (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza WRC) 1.00.58
6th (12) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sulllivan (Celica) 1.02.07
7th (14) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.02.42
8th (11) George Cullen/Dominic Downey (Impreza WRC) 1.03.17
9th (16) Willie Fannin/Michael Courtney (Impreza N) 1.03.46

10th (6) Cathal Arthurs/Jakes Kelly (Accent WRC) 1.04.26

It has certainly been a tough, interesting and exciting rally with Kevin Lynch, co-driven by Francis Regan, dominating the time sheets throughout the day in the KPL Subaru Impreza WRC.  Behind Kevin some of the best drivers slugged it out, but it always Lynch at the front. Daniel Doherty turned in some stunning times towards the end to come into 2nd. Jim Harrison took 3rd after at least one over shoot took the shine off his day.  Similarly Patrick Elliott produced some excellent stage times, and perhaps 4th overall was poor enough reward for his performance.  Niall Maguire just kept a steady pace all day as he bedded in to his new car and tried to shake off the after effects of his Stonethrowers accident.  Niall holds on to his Dunlop Championship lead, but Jim Harrison has closed in to within 6 points with Patrick Elliott a further 4 back. So it is still all to play for with 2 rounds remaining, the next one being the Donegal Harvest. 

Last minute changes to leaderboard included Cathal Arthurs incurring a bucket load of road penalties after gearbox repairs in his Hyundai, which relegated from 6th to just outside the top 10.  George Cullen had been 6th but clipped a rock in stage 7 which deranged his Subaru back axle slightly.  George lost a bit of time for the rest of stage 7 and all of stage 8 which dropped him to 8th overall, but he may have won Best Galway Crew Award.  John Spain had also been in the running for Best Galway Crew, but his Celica incurred turbo problems on the last stage and he lost a fair bit of time.  Several drivers including Denis Cronin were held up behind Spain's smoking Toyota. James O'Sullivan was another held up, but he recovered brilliantly from a stage 5 puncture to come into 2nd Group N behind Willie Fannin and ahead of Adrian Quinn. Willie Fannin increases his lead in the Group N section of the Dunlop championship.

Kevin Lynch commented here at the finish ramp at Portumna. "We're delighted with the result although the conditions were difficult all day. We kept a steady pace, and now we just need to carry that on over the next few events."  Kevin's co driver Francis Regan said. "Kevin's commitment over some of those Black Road jumps and bumps was massive".  Second placed Daniel Doherty just wiped the sweat from his brow after the final stage - he was way faster than anyone else on that one - and said. "That was good".  Jim Harrison in 3rd place and fighting for Championship supremacy in his Man Direct backed Impreza WRC said "The last stage was good, couldn't do much more and I'm relatively pleased to close the gap to 6 points."  Patrick Elliott in 4th place said. "We had some good stage times and some mediocre ones. In places the conditions were very difficult and hard, but I enjoyed it".  Niall Maguire said about his new car. "The car is good, and we were near enough to the pace towards the end"j.  Denis Cronin rounds off the top 6 after another very accomplished drive, especially considering that Denis is in a Celica against the world rally cars. Denis has the Toyota up for sale and it would be really interesting to see he would go in a Subaru. 

Finally for now many thanks to everyone who helped and supported the RallyNews service and well done to all the rally organisers. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net