RALLY NEWS NO.6 Charleville/Sunday 1pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 Coolfree

1st (1) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 52.28.3
2nd (8) Dominic McNeill/Francis Kenny (Escort WRC) 55.03.6
3rd (11) John Shanahan/Liam McLoughlin (Impreza N) 55.12.4
4th (4) Dermot Kelly/Greg Shinnors (Escort WRC) 55.15.7
5th (3) Pat Norris/Declan Tumilty (Impreza) 55.21.7
6th (2) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Hanna (Impreza WRC) 55.43.0
7th (10) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Goodman (Impreza) 56.31.3
8th (18) Brian Lawlor/Peter Kavanagh (Escort) 56.36.0
9th (17) Pete Willoughby/Paul Nagle (Lancer N) 56.38.6
10th (7) James Murphy/Con Mulcahy (Escort Cos) 56.38.7

There were no major changes to the leaderboard following stage 8, with Kevin Lynch maintaining status quo with another fastest time. Dominic McNeill had a major moment when he overshot a tight corner, co driver Francis Kenny was yelling the note but there was something wrong with the intercom. However, despite losing over 10s Dominic managed to hold on to his 2nd place. John Shanahan in 3rd is driving very hard to keep Dermot Kelly at bay, but Kelly is closing the gap slowly but surely. Kelly did admit to an untidy stage, a few minor overshoots and will try and get it just right next time through. Kevin Lynch maintains that he is talking to the man up above about the stage of his Subaru WRC, there is something wrong with the differential, but whatever it is, it can't be fixed here at Charleville service. Kevin says it is driving like a front wheel drive car, not a 4 wheel drive car.

James Murphy stalled his Escort Cosworth at the start of stage 8, the 3rd or 4th time he has stalled the car during the event, and reckons there is something wrong with the turbo boost. Pete Willoughby rattled his Lancer against a pillar but holds on to his 2nd in GpN spot. Brendan Murphy is still 3rd in gpN, John McGlaughlin 4th, James Cribben 5th and Patrick Elliott 6th. Andy Mackeral was in the top 15 overnight, but he has dropped back to 19th when he heard an awful noise underneath his Ascona on the long stage 7, thought it was a puncture, but it has turned out to be a damaged propshaft carrier. The resourceful Monaghan man was padding the bearing carrier with bits of stick here at service, and hoping to finish the rally. His wife Janice is co driving for Trevor Farrell in a class 2 Escort, they are down in 31st but doing well in the class.

Joe Shinnors Junior has crashed his car out of the rally, happily no injuries. Eddie Garry is in 24th overall in his GpN Impreza and going hard this morning. Glenn Allen has moved up from 39th to 22nd and set a 3rd fastest time in stage 8, .4 of a second down on Dermot Kelly.

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net