Craig Bennett was fastest through stages 4 and 6, the Clogher Valley chemist more than happy with the way he’s going now, saying. “I felt a wee bit slow through Parkmore, it seemed very slippy, but the car’s good”. Second on the road Raymond Johnson remarked. “I’m not happy at all with the way I’m going, the car is good, it is just down to me”. Kieran Shaw said. “When this car is working its great but this trouble with the gear change and the engine cutting out is desperate. Very discouraging”.

Sean Devine told us that he was a bit cautious through stage 4 but otherwise going well, the differentials seem to be set right now, and he reckoned that’s what was causing the car to feel very wayward early on. John McKeown is setting good times but of course he dropped 3 minutes on the first stage so he is way down the list. Brendan O’Hagan was running at No.5 and he has just retired his Focus WRC with mechanical trouble.

Neil McCance has moved up to 5th overall and leads group N by a whisker. Neil saying. “We’re taking the softly softly approach, I’m doing just what I have to do for the championship. Its not the way I want to drive, its not easy but that is the way it is today”. John McGlaughlin is still 2nd group N but he is really having to drive his socks off after hitting his Lancer against a chicane on the first stage. John said. “The car is snapping sideways under braking, I’m just glad to be here. Hopefully we’ll be able to sort it and I’ll get back to going forward”. Martin Elliott has maintained 10th overall and 4th gpN, Martin admitting that he’s not going well, struggling with himself. Peter McCullagh is going very nicely, although he lost a few seconds at the start of stage 4 when he was caught in neutral on the start line.

In the battle of the Escorts Trevor Moore is still the man of the moment despite having no 5th gear in his Escort. Trevor saying “I just have to keep reminding myself it’s a 4 speed car!” Alistair Cochrane is 11th o/a on a total of 22.59, Alistair saying “I’m trying not to do anything silly its hard to know where the line is, I think I can get a result in the championship”. James Kennedy rolled his Escort over the bumps in stage 4. Andy Magee is on a total of 22.40 now, Andy just got ahead of Cochrane but Andy is really hampered with his Escort’s throttle cable catching the brake balance bar and every time he brakes the car is trying to rush forward.

Seamus Devine smashed the front of his Lancer in Parkmore, still going. Joe Scullion hit a chicane earlier on, a little damage but not too bad.