UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 LISPOLE 2

1^st (1) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 38.08

2^nd (3) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 38.16

3^rd (2) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC) 38.27

4^th (4) Patrick Elliott/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 38.44

5^th (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 39.32

6^th (10) Aaron MacHale/Eugene O'Donnell (Corolla WRC) 39.36

7^th (9) Martin Doherty/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 39.45

8^th (11) Noel Redmond/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 39.48

9^th (14) Kevin & Martin Kelleher (Lancer N) 40.08

10^th (16) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Impreza N) 40.25

Through stage 5, the 2^nd run over Minard Castle, Ray Breen really pushed his Focus WRC to extend his lead over Tim McNulty and Charlie Donnelly.  Interestingly, it was Patrick Elliott who was fastest on that stage.  Through stage 6 it was Tim McNulty who was fastest with 3 drivers, Ray Breen, Charlie Donnelly and Patrick Elliott all tying for 2^nd fastest, 2s in arrears of the flying new Subaru WRC S11 of McNulty.  McNulty said when he arrived in here to the fabulous service area at Dingle Harbour. “Its going well but there’s a bit left. Just wee bits and pieces, a second here and a second there and we’re braking a little early”.  Breen said about his stage 5 performance. “We needed it, tried to get some time between myself and the cars behind”.   Charlie Donnelly was kicking himself at having lost those valuable seconds in stage 5 and saying. “We overshot. Mind you we had it well marked, but I knew I was just too fast, tried the handbrake and stalled”.   Patrick Elliott, now with the experienced Rory Kennedy in the hot seat, seems to be getting better by the stage and his times are certainly ultra competitive today. Cavan man Patrick is just a fraction off the lead and anything can happen over the last 2 stages. JJ Fleming reported a puncture and then he stalled his Focus WRC to lose a few seconds and dropped out of the leaderboard, his total 40.39. Michael Barrable is also off the leaderboard on a total of 41.47. Michael was playing about with the launch control on his Focus WRC and then stalled the car.  Aaron MacHale was a few seconds off the pace on stage 6 although he reported no real problems. Noel Redmond had a good run as he continues to get in the groove with his new Impreza WRC S11. Martin Doherty is having a good clean run to hold 7^th o/a in his Subaru.

Whereas we have had very changeable weather over the last 2 days and indeed through this morning’s stages as well, the weather is fabulous now. Wall to wall blue skies and sea here at Dingle is virtually translucent it is such a beautiful colour. All this means slick tyres and high speeds for the drivers as they tackle the classic Slea Head and Brandon Creek stages for the second time to hopefully provide a worthy climax to the rally.  Just one facet of the weather was that a lightning strike hit the telephone pole at the end of stage 4 where Daphne Millar was manning the results computer and of course everything temporarily ceased!  Also on the subject of that Brandon Creek stage we reported on the last Rally News that Pat Price had crashed. This meant that the following drivers couldn’t get doing the stage and a time of 6m04s has been given to all cars after the blockage.

James M and James F Stafford were the joint group N leaders earlier today. They had a little bit of a problem with their Lancer and were a few seconds off the gpN lead going into stage 6, but then it all came to naught when they got caught out in a high speed kink over a bump on a narrow bit of road and their Lancer unfortunately tumbled. Driver and co driver are reported to be both OK but there is no more rallying for them today.

Kevin Kelleher is now looking pretty impressive at the head of the group N contingent, but having said that there are a few drivers not that many seconds behind. Alan Ring had that differential trouble in stage 4 where he also damaged the front of the car. He was a bit cautious through stage 5 but went well through 6 to hold 2^nd in the category. Andrew Stewart has fought back well from his 1m puncture and he looks to be 3^rd gpN with a total of 40.48.  Graham Quinn has damaged the bumper on his gpN machine and is on a total of 40.55, with Gabriel Martin 40.56 following his drive shaft problem. Ian Barrett is back on 41.32 now his Lancer suffering a first gear problem.  Willie Fannin reckons his Impreza is still slightly down on power and he also reported very nearly having a big accident at a jump over a crossroads. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net   (with thanks to Noel Clark: Martin Walsh & Dougie Hughes)