1^st (2) Derek McGarrity/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 1.15.48.3

2^nd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.16.33.4

3^rd (4) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 1.18.22.0

4^th (12) Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 1.18.31.1

5^th (11) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 1.18.37.8

6^th (15) Ryan Champion/Craig Thorley (Lancer N) 1.18.57.6

7^th (16) Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Ignis) 1.19.10.4

8^th (24) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.19.47.6

9^th (21) Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Lancer N) 1.19.50.7

10^th (26) Jonny Milner/Nick Beech (Lancer N) 1.20.01.3

Following all the dramas before the last service when Eugene Donnelly's Corolla WRC came limping in here to Charterhall service, normal service has been resumed. Eugene's Corolla is on full song and although was a few seconds than McGarrity through stage 10, then just .1 of a second slower through stage 11, and then the two drivers were equal through stage 12.  Just behind them there was a certain amount of drama in the battle for 3^rd place with Eamonn Boland having a turbo pipe problem in stage 10 and losing over a minute and dropping to 4^th place behind Rory Galligan.  Eamonn really got the finger out then and his Focus flew through stages 11 and 12, fastest overall through 11 to get back in front of Galligan for 3^rd position.

Eugene Donnelly said. "I can't see us catching Derek now but I haven't completely given up, we'll see how the next loop goes".  In between sneezes and snuffles Eugene, who is suffering from a bad cold plus his usual hay fever, continued. "Yes it transpired to be just the prop shaft was broken before the last service. I just couldn't figure it out, there was no rattle, just a click and that was what made me think it was the centre differential".  Derek McGarrity commented. "We haven't a lot left in places, its brilliant, a good run although we struggled at the end of that last stage when the front tyres went badly off and we had a lot of under steer".     

We mentioned a couple of times over the last few Rally News reports that Gwyndaf Evans was chalking up a series of fastest times in group N.  That has come to naught, the Welshman's Lancer bursting its differential on the start line of stage 12.  He did manage to keep going down the stage, some oil coming out, but his Lancer has not yet appeared at service.  Rory Galligan was fastest group N through stage 12, Mark Higgins was quickest through 11 and Galligan was fastest in stage 10. 

All the time Ryan Champion is just a hair's breadth behind the leading two.  Ryan's co driver Craig Thorley commented that it seems to be on the faster stages that they are losing out slightly although he reckons there is certainly nothing wrong with Ryan's driving. Rory Galligan commented. "We're on a good pace, there's nothing in it."  Mark Higgins' co driver Rory Kennedy said. "We're on the door handles, over Simon Hughes' bridge in Blackadder we landed right on top of the kerbs!"  Colm Murphy is now up to 4^th group N and he's really enjoying the run.  Seamus Leonard is 5^th group N and very annoyed, not so much at himself, but at the spectators as he overshot a junction at the end of stage 12 and there were spectators everywhere.  The Irishman said it was really scary.  Jonny Milner is now up to 10^th and leading points scorer in the Mitsubishi challenge just ahead of Stuart Jones. Milner said "We're holding station or maybe a little bit better on Stuart, I don't want to take risks with punctures".  As for his part Jones is a lot happier with the handling of his Lancer, feels its not 100 per cent but better than last night.  Phillip Morrow is up to 12^th o/a now but kicking himself for continually making silly mistakes and overshoots at junctions. David Wright is 13^th. Conrad Rautenbach 14^th and Barry Johnson is being shown in 15^th just ahead of Neil McCance.  Barry, we think, has now pulled out of the rally between stage 12 and service, possibly to save his Subaru for the Sunday rally. 

Neil McCance in 16^th has done several stages with no clutch and at one point was in a field. William Stobart is 17^th and setting some amazing 3^rd and 4^th fastest times in his Focus WRC.  Kevin Stephens is 18^th, James Wozencroft 19^th and 2^nd in class 6 (that class is being led by Guy Wilks).  Roy White rounds off the top 20 his Lancer still miserably down on power.

In the National rally after SS9 Steve Hendy led from David Kynaston in the Audi with Tony Davies 3^rd despite a clutch problem with his Subaru. Graham Middleton was 4^th but pulled out when a broken track control arm bracket to the sub frame could not be repaired. John Bogies was 5^th having set a fastest National time, Nigel Worswick 6^th. In the Fiestas George Thomas led from Simon Hughes, who has Claire Mole co driving, and Cork man Owen Murphy is 3^rd ahead of Jonny Wigmore. Another Cork man Gordon Coleman, is 5^th.  

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

*FOR LIVE SMS RESULTS: UK mobiles text RALLY ITC to 60066: Irish mobiles text RALLY ITC to 53030: Cost 25p/30c