UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Scart Mountain

1^st (1) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC)  34.27

2^nd (3) Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle (Corolla WRC)  34.52

3^rd (4) John McCarthy/M Morrissey (Corolla WRC) 35.17

4^th (26) John McGlaughlin/David Moynihan (Lancer N) 37.01

5^th (27) Peter McCullagh/Alan Dolan (Lancer N) 37.02

     (10) Trevor Harding/Charlie Boland (Impreza) 37.02

7^th (23) Brian McGillen/David Doherty (Impreza N) 37.10

8^th (5) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Hanna (Impreza WRC) 37.22

9^th (21) Brian Lawlor/Peter Kavanagh (Escort) 37.25

10^th (25) Andrew Mackaral/Richard Cassidy (Lancer) 38.04

11^th (31) James Coleman/Eoin O’Neill (Escort) 38.06

12^th (9) James Murphy/Anthony Nestor (Esc.Cos) 38.07

Through stage 6 the pattern of the rally at the front repeated itself once more with Kevin Lynch 6s faster than Gareth MacHale who in turn was 7s quicker than John McCarthy. Lynch’s co driver Francis Regan remarked. “Going well, going hard, but not sticking our necks out now”.  Gareth MacHale commented. “No problems, we had a bit of a cut on that stage, we’ve a points lead in the championship, nothing we can do about Kevin in front, keeping McCarthy at bay”.  John McCarthy said. “We had a regulator problem on stage 5 and got it switched over on the road section before 6 and everything is OK now. I’ll tell you, MacHale is a good young fellow, you can’t take that away from him”. 

John McGlaughlin leads group N now, but by just 1s from Peter McCullagh and Brian McGillen is 3^rd gpN, just 10s covering all 3 cars. Two stages to go.

McGillen has been fighting back all day following his earlier delay, and he says “We were pulling out all the stops on that last stage, in the hedges and everything”.  McGlaughlin said. “We’re just going steady”.  Peter McCullagh, along with nearly all the drivers, said that he was slowed slightly when his tyres just sort of wore out, all the tread knackered in these now very hot and dusty conditions. Andy Mackaral looked at his knackered tyres and said. “Oh dear, looks like I’m going to have to spend some money”.  Andy does so many rallies on a shoe string, this is not good news for him!!

In the battle for 2 wheel drive supremacy Brian Lawlor continues to hold the lead. Frank Kelly has now beat him on the last 2 stages but Frank is 51s behind in overall terms following his problem on stage 3.  James Coleman was making a charge but his Escort developed gearbox problems a few miles before the end of stage 6.  James really needs a new box fitted for the last 2 stages.  There is a 4 speed unit in the van but whether Gareth Lloyd can get it changed in time remains to be seen. 

Further stories from the last few stages include Dermot Kelly’s Escort WRC still suffering a very bad misfire. Dermot slipping away more and more from the leaderboard and saying. “Its just not my day”.  James Murphy completed stage 6 with his Escort WRC brake pedal more or less going to the floor. Kevin O’Kane continues to have a good run and said. “Not so bad, it’s a fair pace, quick stages”.  John McKeown put his new Escort Cosworth into a ditch at the end of a long straight when he didn’t hear the notes properly. Trevor Harding continues to increase his pace in his new Subaru, but his tyres were completely finished here at service. Brendan Kelly is just outside the leaderboard on 38.18. Patrick Elliott on 38.12. 

News of a further retirement is young Nicky Hegarty, son of the clerk of the course, Colman Hegarty. Nicky’s Skoda broke a drive shaft at the first corner of the first stage and this was his first rally. Oh dear.  John Reid seems to be running fairly far back, he was pushing hard to 2 wheel drive honours but his Escort has developed alternator and starter problems.