2^nd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.11.58

3^rd (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.12.30

4^th (9) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 1.12.33

5^th (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.12.35

6^th (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.13.43

7^th (7) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 1.14.01

8^th (8) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 1.15.53

9^th (28) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.17.11

10^th (21) Tommy Graham/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 1.17.19

Andrew Nesbitt set fastest times through stages 7 and 8, Cullen and Quarry Cross, to leave his advantage over Eugene Donnelly starting Day 2 at 42s.  Nesbitt was 8s faster than Donnelly through that 7^th stage and on stage 8 Donnelly and Kevin Lynch tied, both 6s slower than Nesbitt.  Andrew commented at parc ferme. “I’m happy with that, it’s a bit more of an advantage than I had this morning.  On that last stage we stalled on the start line, I’ve been trying to protect the clutch which has been sensitive all day, I’ve just tried to be gentle with it. We thought about changing it, but I really don’t want to touch it”. 

Eugene Donnelly said. “We were grand over the last couple of stages, just not quick enough”.  Kevin Lynch had been 3^rd after stage 6, but on stage 7 Peadar Hurson crashed his car, holding up the following cars who all received a scratch time which was Austin MacHale’s.  By a twist of fate Eamonn Boland was late into the stage, he was able to resume after the blockage, and was 14s faster than Lynch. McGarrity was 18s faster than Lynch so he moved into 3^rd, Boland was briefly ahead of Lynch, but then Lynch fought back on the final stage of the day.

As for Hurson, he went off the road backwards on a tightening 5 left and his Subaru rolled over the ditch.  At least Peadar and co driver Glenn Patterson were unhurt, but Peadar is once again faced with a major bodywork job to get the car back on the road.  The reason for Boland’s lateness was apparently due to a fuel leak which needed fixed on safety grounds according to co driver Francis Regan, who is also a part time fireman.  Austin MacHale went reasonably well over the last few stages, but making no big impression on the cars in front.  Tim McNulty is working really hard at getting his new Subaru into the frame, but he admits himself he is just not getting it together 100 per cent as yet.  Denis Cronin, Group N leader Com Murphy and Tommy Graham make up the top 10.  George Cullen is just outside the top 10 in his Skoda.

Colm Murphy is a lot happier now than he was earlier, both to be leading group N and with the performance of his Impreza, saying “Its working really well now, the tyres are good, I’m feeling pretty confidence again”.  We mentioned earlier about Terry McGonigle who is running back at car 89 in his gpN Lancer.  He has continued to set quick times throughout the day, and could well be in the top 3in gpN overnight.  Although at the minute it is Alan Ring 2^nd, James O’Sullivan 3^rd. James’ Lancer is now taking in a lot of water, it looks like a repeat of the head gasket problem from West Cork.  Roy White is at last coming on to the pace with his new car, getting quicker by the stage now, he is still 33s behind Aaron MacHale. Alan Ring has had a good run over the last few stages of the day in his Munster Joinery Impreza. 

In the 2 wheel drive division Phil Collins continues to lead on a total of 1.16.16 which would be good enough to put Phil and co driver Diarmuid Falvey on the leaderboard of the main international rally. Second in the Modifieds/National is Dessie Keenan on 1.18.24.in his Escort, Third Willie Power on 1.18.48. after losing 5^th gear fron the Hewland box in his Darrian.

 Further stories include Guy Woodcock managing to hold on to his class 7 lead from David Randles in the Almera, despite Guy’s RS2000 Maxi jamming in 6^th gear for the last 3 miles of stage 8.  George Tracey is lying just outside the leaderboard in his Peugeot 206 WRC despite having lost a little time when in George’s words – “Power steering olive thingy started to leak and we fixed it with tape and spanners to keep going, the most important thing now being a pint of Guinness”.   Just as well George or non of the other top drivers had a pint on the way into parc ferme here at the Race Course.  Several of them were randomly drug checked and breath tested by the Sports Council!

On Sardinia Rally Kris Meeke has put his Citroen off the road when he caught another car towards the end of the long final stage. They were  holding a strong lead in the Junior WRC. The car is relatively  undamaged although the sump is burst.  Kris and Chris Patterson are OK, but they are out of the rally, although they do have the option of doing Super Rally tomorrow.  If they can get the car out of the stage that is, and back to the service park.  Under these strange new rules they would resume in 4th place and still be eligible for JWRC points.

More news in the morning. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

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