1^st (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.41.07.2

2^nd (7) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 1.41.59.4

3^rd (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.42.12.9

4^th (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.43.36.9

5^th (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.46.58.4

6^th (16) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.47.42.1

7^th (11) Cathal Arthurs/John McElhinney (Accent WRC) 1.48.09.8

8^th (12) Gareth Jones/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.48.14.7

9^th (18) Denis Biggerstaff/Sean Moriarty (Impreza WRC) 1.49.27.0

10^th (75) Frank Wray/Joe McNulty (Lancer N) 1.49.40.1

11^th (35) Cathal Rogers/Paul McLaughlin (Lancer N) 1.49.46.0

12^th (17) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Fabia WRC) 1.50.04.8

13^th (23) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 1.50.08.4

14^th (9) Steve Perez/Neil Dashfield (Focus WRC) 1.50.13.3

Fastest over this morning’s opening stage was Derek McGarrity, yesterday’s problems far behind him now.  Second fastest was Tim McNulty and 3^rd was rally leader Eugene Donnelly. 

When Donnelly’s Corolla WRC came to a halt at the end of that High Glen stage he commented. “I was really troubled with brake fade not long after the start of the stage, but I think there’s more than that, maybe a pipe leaking or something.”  It is significant that Eugene seemed a bit tense, a little anxious this morning, but then this is a whole new ball game for him in a way.  Yes, he won this rally last year and went on to become joint Pirelli Tarmac Champion with Derek McGarrity.  But this time last year Eugene was doing the chasing, coming from behind, nibbling at Nesbitt’s heels until eventually the rally turned on its head when Nesbitt crashed and Eugene went on to win.  This time its Eugene who is looking over his should at the hard charging Tim McNulty, and although the gap between the 2 is pretty significant at 52 seconds, its still only a puncture or an overshoot. 

Tim McNulty said the car was good and he was in top form, had a real good run at the stage.  Eamonn Boland was nicely on the pace but almost 7s slower than McNulty. Austin MacHale had an equal time to Boland, he also had a good run.  McGarrity joked that his fastest time was down to the car – not to him – could the Impreza WRC possibly be up for sale??

Kevin Barrett held on to 6^th place but quite a hesitant start, Kevin not fully settled in.  Cathal Arthurs is trying to drive around his 5^th gear problem and is very determined to get his Hyundai to the finish of the event. Gareth Jones was nicely on the pace and was 12s faster than Arthurs, so its not beyond the bounds of possibility that the young Welshman could move up a place on the leaderboard before long. Denis Biggerstaff didn’t have a great run, but still held on to 9^th. While Steve Perez in the Vodka Kick Focus seems to be going backwards just at the moment, an overnight road penalty knocked him back a couple of places on the leaderboard, and a mediocre time on that first stage this morning also cost him a couple of places. Steve’s co driver Neil Dashfield is querying his finish time for that High Glen stage. 

In Group N Frank Wray was the quickest of the production runners this morning. His time for High Glen a remarkable 7.38.3. Shaun Gallagher who is back in 18^th place overnight, and 6^th group N, was 2^nd fastest with a time of 7.44.8.  Garry Jennings now running a standard gearbox was 7.54.7. Cathal Rogers was a wee bit slow on 7.57.5.  Cathal was leading gpN overnight but that slow start allowed Frank Wray to nip in front.

Class leaders overnight included Guy Woodcock in the Escort Maxi. Keith McElhinney led cl.3. Peter Wilson led cl.2. Trevor Graham cl.1 and Harry Cathcart cl.5. Phil Collins led the National section from Damien Gallagher by 8s with Ivan Stewart 3^rd and John Dalton 4^th. Robbie Peoples had slipped back to 5^th with Camillus Bradley 6h. On the first stage this morning Damien Gallagher made a charge after Collins but spun and dropped 20s. In the Historic rally Mervyn Johnson led in his Mini Cooper from Alan Lemon, Frank Cunningham 3^rd. While in the Post Historics  Sean Treacey was in front with his BMW Alpina from John Farrell in his Mk1 Escort.

Finally for now – to the bestest young lady in rallying – Claire Walsh – a big Happy 21^st Birthday today!

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (& Michael) www.rallynews.net

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