UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 Whiteadder

1^st (2) Derek McGarrity/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 48.44.2

2^nd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 48.55.8

3^rd (4) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 49.46.5

4^th (12) Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 50.15.7

5^th (11) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 50.18.6

1^st (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 44.23.0

2^nd (2) Derek McGarrity/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 44.30.1

3^rd (4) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 45.32.6

4^th (12) Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 45.50.8

5^th (11) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 45.52.7

6^th (9) Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop (Focus WRC) 46.57.9

7^th (16) Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Ignis) 46.04.3 

8^th (15) Ryan Champion/Craig Thorley (Lancer N) 46.14.0

9^th (17) Gwyndaf Evans/Huw Lewis (Lancer N) 46.16.0

10^th (21) Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Lancer N) 46.24.0

The sunshine bathed Borders countryside was stunningly beautiful this morning as we waited at the end of the Buxley stage for rally leader Eugene Donnelly and his Corolla WRC.  When the wee Toyota hove into view co drive Paul Kiely was shaking his head despondently and Eugene, so dominant through the Friday evening stages, confirmed that they were in trouble, that a prop shaft had broken. At that point they had dropped 18s and still led the rally, but they were going to have to do 2 more stages before service. Sure enough when the times filtered through from stage 8 there was Glengormley man Derek McGarrity at the head of the list.  Donnelly had lost another 28s on just 4.8 miles of the Whiteadder roads.  McGarrity reported all well in his car and he seems to be getting on famously with his new co driver Diarmuid Falvey.  When Eamonn Boland, normally a man of very few words, arrived at the finish of that stage 7 he said as usual. "Not a bother".  Then when he saw Eugene's time he wanted to know what was wrong, and then said "Only 18s, wasn't much of a prop shaft!"       

Although Jon Ingram was shown as 6^th overnight in the results he started 4^th on the road this morning and indeed the world rally cars of Barry Johnson, John Cope and William Stobart were also moved up the re-start list to keep the world rally cars running in front of the group N machinery. Ingram had a good time, said he was on soft tyres. Gareth Jones hasn't restarted today having lost time on the first leg and felt it wasn't worth while to continue. William Stobart had a 3^rd fastest time on stage 7 which is pretty remarkable for a rally rookie. Stobart's trouble on the Langton stage last night was a broken fly by wire throttle.  Barry Johnson is just getting through the day, saving the car for the Sunday event.  John Cope has changed all the electrics on his Subaru and it seems to be back on form. 

Fastest group N this morning was Gwyndaf Evans. Gwyndaf saying that he has changed to a different tyre and it has made a big difference. Rory Galligan was just over a second down on Gwyndaf. Mark Higgins was just behind that and then Ryan Champion, with just split seconds separating them.  Mark Higgins said that he made a steady start to the stage and then speeded up towards the end. Rory Galligan just said "We'd a clean enough run".  Ryan Champion commented "Not too bad, we made a couple of mistakes last night, I'm trying to cut them and need to find the balance". 

Guy Wilks in the Super 1600 Suzuki was 6s faster than Roman Kresta through stage 7 to maintain his category lead, Guy saying "We had a good run, but the back was squirming a bit under braking. One of the bushes for the rear beam isn't right, the car is dancing a little, good for the spectators".  In the Jim Clark National rally at the end of the Friday night leg, Steve Hendy in his Escort WRC has a close lead over Tony Davies in his Subaru with David Kynaston 30s back from Davies. Graham Middleton was 4^th, John Bogie 5^th, Nigel Worswick 6^th. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net