UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Knockmore

1^st (1) Ray Breen/Damien Morrissey (Focus WRC) 42.59

2^nd (3) Aaron MacHale/Derek Brannigan (Focus WRC) 43.43

3^rd (12) Noel Redmond/Ger Healy (Impreza WRC) 44.23

4^th (11) Sean Devine/Martin Brady (Impreza WRC) 44.46

5^th (7) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 44.57

    (4) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 44.57

7^th (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 45.07

8^th (9) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 45.30

9^th (8) Noel McCarrick/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 46.13

10^th (17) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) times to follow

Ray Breen was fastest again on stage 5 when he was 4s up on Aaron MacHale and then on stage 6 Aaron finished the 16.5k stage just 1s down on the flying Breen.  “We’re getting there” said Aaron when he arrived in here to service, its starting to feel more natural but I would really have needed to test before the rally”.  Former Dunlop Champion Breen said. “We had a good run, the roads still look very wet but you can see from the times there is a slight dryness coming in”.  Noel Redmond in 3^rd reported no problems and said. “I’m really enjoying it”.  Sean Devine got his act together through stages 5 and 6 and got ahead of Glenn Allen.  In fairness Glenn had 2 spins and one slight stall in stage 5 and that is what let Devine ahead.  Kevin Barrett’s Subaru now has no anti lag at all so Kevin has just resigned himself to it.  Niall Maguire in 7^th and Sean Gallagher in 8^th reported no problems while Noel McCarrick in 9^th had yet another spin in stage 6, although he had a good clean run through stage 5. 

Willie Fannin lost all chance of a good group N result when he crashed his Impreza on a tight 6 right into square left in stage 6.  The accident blocked the stage for the cars behind so it will take a little while to sort the times. Provisionally Michael Curran leads from Seamus Leonard while fighting for 3^rd place is Danny McBride in his Lancer at No.45 and Kevin Kelleher, also in a Lancer running at No.20.  John McGlaughlin has retired his Lancer with mechanical problems while Trevor & Kenny Bustard continue to make progress in their new Lancer. 

In the race for 2 wheel drive honours Camillus Bradley is now 10s up on Rodney Wilton for the lead.  Rodney had been leading but spun his Escort and banged the front left mudguard.  Despite having to pass cars on virtually every stage Brian O’Mahony continues to lead his class in his potent little Renault Clio.

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