UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 SHANKILL

1^st (2) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC) 51.52

2^nd (3) Patrick Elliott/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 52.08

3^rd (6) Aaron MacHale/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC) 52.14

4^th (133) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 52.54

5^th (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 52.58

6^th (8) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 54.03

7^th (9) Martin Doherty/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 54.21

8^th (10) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 55.05

9^th (20) Jack Sleator/Andrew Purcell (Impreza WRC) 55.21

10^th (15) Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Lancer N) 55.27

11^th (14) PJ McGrath/Killian Duffy (Lancer N) 55.36

12^th (11) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Impreza N) 55.41

There were only a few seconds between the top cars through stages 5 and 6. Charlie Donnelly was fastest through stage 5, by 2s from Aaron MacHale with Patrick Elliott 3^rd fastest a further 4s back.  In stage 6 it was Patrick Elliott’s turn to be fastest, his time 7m47s for the 8.7 mile Shankill test. Charlie Donnelly was 2s down on that with MacHale a further 4s back.

Although Donnelly may not be quickest on every stage he is always there or thereabouts and said here at service. “Not too bad at all, but I think I was just trying to be a little over aggressive in stage 6 and it seems to have cost me time”.  Patrick Elliott and his co driver Rory Kenny said their Subaru was A1, no problems at all.  While Aaron MacHale in 3^rd felt he had a good run over the last few stages, he had tightened up the differentials on his Focus WRC and felt it had made a big difference. Adrian McElvaney in 4^th place seemed just a little bit frustrated, knowing full well that he is a half a second a mile down on the cars in front and he’s driving his heart out.  Overall though it is still a good position to be in, 4^th and with 3 stages still remaining – a lot can still happen.

Former champion Niall Maguire is also going hard, he’s just a few seconds down on McElvaney.  Kevin Barrett in 6^th seems to be losing a little ground now and indeed 7^th placed Martin Doherty took 11s off the Triton Showers man through that 6^th stage.  Jack Sleator seems to be getting his act together now and he has moved up to 9^th place in his Impreza WRC although he is still a fair bit back from the top drivers.

In Group N Willie Fannin has overcome his stage 5 puncture to regain the group N lead while Alan Ring has slipped back to 12^th place following the time he lost in stage 4 with his puncture.  Having said that Ring flew through stage 6, much faster than any of the other group N drivers.  Ian Barrett was fastest group N through stage 5, Ian getting more and more accustomed to his James Foley prepared Lancer.  Peter Wilson’s tyres went off in stage 5 and he lost quite a few seconds to his rivals. Fannin admitted to cutting too tight at a corner in stage 5 where the piggery is and damaging the front wheel which caused the puncture.

In the 2 wheel drive category we said in the last Rally News about Rodney Wilton inexplicably losing some time, this turned out to be an incorrect stage time and he was in fact fastest in 2 wheel drive and still is leading class 13 while Maurice Moffett leads class 14.  Russell Woods has been going well in class 11 and led that class after 3 stages. Other class leaders after 3 include – Ollie McPhillips in his Celica. Daniel Conaghan in his Escort leads cl.12 and Keith Power led cl.6 in his Puma. Dave Roe led cl.3 in his Civic.  Kieran Daly did lead cl.7 but has retired with clutch problems.

Looking abroad for a moment – Alister McRae and Omagh’s Gordon Noble have won the Zulu Rally in S.Africa driving a Lancer and Nasser Al-Attiyah and Co. Antrim’s Chris Patterson won the Jordan Rally in a Subaru Impreza Group N to extend their lead in the Middle East C/ship. Alonso has won the Monaco GP in his Renault. More news later. BRIAN 7 LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net