UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 19 Atlantic Drive

1^st (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.59.27.0

2^nd (7) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 2.00.08.3

3^rd (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 2.00.29.6

4^th (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 2.01.58.3

5^th (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 2.04.59.2

6^th (16) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 2.06.31.8

7^th (12) Gareth Jones/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 2.06.55.2

8^th (11) Cathal Arthurs/John McElhinney (Accent WRC) 2.07.37.9

9^th (18) Denis Biggerstaff/Sean Moriarty (Impreza WRC) 2.09.02.9

10^th (35) Cathal Rogers/Paul McLaughlin (Lancer N) 2.09.08.6

11^TH (17) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Fabia WRC) 2.09.09.8

12^th (9) Steve Perez/Neil Dashfield (Focus WRC) 2.09.26.6

13^th (23) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 2.09.29.4

Through the Faymore and Atlantic Drive stages Eugene Donnelly came under constant pressure from Tim McNulty in the fight for the lead of this Shell Donegal International Rally.  The fastest man was Derek McGarrity, be he is not in the race for the lead.  Eugene Donnelly commented here at service. “I had to drive the Atlantic stage like it was a forest, gravel, sideways everywhere, huge big 4 wheel drive drifts. Good fun but hard going. Tim McNulty has been nibbling away at the times, we picked too soft a compound tyre and I really had to push on.”   Tim McNulty commented. “We’ve a bit left yet, everything’s going well. I’m more worried about Eamonn Boland behind than Eugene in front, but we’ll keep the pressure on”.  As for Boland, he said “We’re going hard enough”. 

When queried about his stunningly fastest time on Atlantic, Derek McGarrity said “Honestly, I wasn’t pushing at all, it’s the car, its just so good.  This is really a warm up now for the Jim Clark”.  Co driver Dermot O’Gorman gave a nervous little laugh and said. “Sure I didn’t even have to read him the pace notes!”   Austin MacHale is sandwiched in between McGarrity and Boland and such are the time gaps on each side of Austin that he really just has to hold station now in his quest for Pirelli championship points. Having said that Austin is not hanging about, setting very respectable times indeed.  Behind Derek McGarrity Kevin Barrett made a slow enough start this morning, but he has settled down now and is going well.  Gareth Jones had 3 good stages this morning to move ahead of Cathal Arthurs, although the latter is in drive shaft problems with his Skoda, and may have to try and finish the rally in 2 wheel drive. Denis Biggerstaff in 9^th reports no problems.

Cathal Rogers in 10^th has moved back into the lead of Group N. He told us that he made a poor tyre choice this morning and a slow start, but it has all come pretty good over the last couple of stages. Cathal led group N overnight, but lost that lead to Frank Wray who turned in a screamer of a time in High Glen. Unfortunately for 23 year old Frank, a car dealer from Claddy outside Strabane, his Lancer engine rattled into sickness at the Faymore stage. The young man certainly showed everyone he could drive and is now going to get the engine rebuilt for the Sligo Rally.  Behind Rogers in gpN is Garry Jennings 2^nd, Shaun Gallagher 3^rd. Shaun’s Lancer is showing signs of overheating which may indicate head gasket trouble. Shaun is having to keep the heater on in the car to try to dissipate some of the engine heat, so it’s a bit of a boilerhouse in there!. Garry Jennings was slower than Rogers by 3s over the opening stage this morning, but then was 5 faster in stage 18, but 3 slower in stage 19, so is going to be hard pushed to close the 21s gap over the final 3 stages.

Further stories include –  Phil Collins/Diarmuid Falvey having to retire the Escort following stage 18 when the rear differential cried enough.  Phil had increased his lead in the National rally on the High Glen stage, but once again Donegal success has eluded the popular Hereford man – its 21 years since he finished here in Donegal!  Damien Gallagher had been pushing Collins for the lead of the National, but a big spin in High Glen and then another huge spin over the finish line of Atlantic Drive has allowed John Dalton in his Darrian through to lead, with Ivan Stewart 2^nd and Damien 3^rd.  Padraig Price in the Celica is in the top 20 but still suffering overheating brakes and then the anti lag stopped working, but decided to switch itself on again when the car crashed into the tarmac after a huge jump. Guy Woodcock is edging his Escort Maxi into the top 20 and is leading his class. James Cullen laughed this morning that he is showing some signs of his old group n championship winning self, but only in momentary flashes until he frightens himself again! Martin McGee/Damien Crawford had a great time over the Atlantic Drive stage in their Mk2 Escort, 8.46 – Martin used to live there.  Steve Perez – huge moment on Atlantic Drive, car skidded off on a right 3 through a left 5 into the undergrowth, round hairpin backwards. Co driver Neil Dashfield said “my pedals weren’t working at all !”More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net