1^st (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 24.35.4

2^nd (4) Tapio Laukkanen/Ilka Riipinen (Impreza WRC) 25.17.8

3^rd (3) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 25.33.7

4^th (5) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 25.35.2

5^th (6) Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Antila (Focus WRC) 25.44.0

6^th (2) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 26.07.8

7^th (22) Leon Pesticcio/Tim Sturla (Punto) 26.11.7

8^th (12) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 26.18.3

9^th (10) Gwyndaf Evans/Claire Mole (MG ZR) 26.28.7

10^th (19) Andrew Stewart/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 26.38.5

Andrew Nesbitt has been fastest on all 3 stages so far, the Armagh man commenting here at service in The Mall, "We’ve had a good steady run but its been very slippy, the Pirelli tyres have worked well. It is really difficult out there, on the shiny stuff its very shiny, and where the farmers have brought the cows in its extremely slippy". Jonny Milner, obviously thinking of the Pirelli British Championship, commented "Too conservative, when I try to push the road bites back". Derek McGarrity, in much the same position as Milner, but in his case trying to win the Tarmac Championship, commented. "We had a huge 5^th gear moment on the 2^nd stage and it knocked the wind out of uor sails". Tapio Laukkanen arrived in, at least smiling, which he wasn’t doing at the end of the first stage when he was running without intercoms and no pace notes. The Finnish driver said "On the last 2 stages no problems, but it is unfortunate that Jonny is backing off for the championship, it would have been nice to have had a good battle".

Austin MacHale’s co driver Brian Murphy, as he was giving us the times, commented on their performance so far "We’re not bursting ourselves". While Austin said "The left hand drive is a bollocks in these conditions". The 2^nd Finn in the entry, Jari-Matti Latvala, appeared in the the Mall with the right rear corner of his Focus smashed in, and observed "We have a good speed, careful". When asked about the damage he said "No problem, lost no time".

Eamonn Boland incurred a minute penalty at the start of stage 2 following his rear differential problem/fire on stage 1, the Wexford man reporting everything OK otherwise. Maurice Gass in the Millview Fuels car was laughing when he came into the Mall and he said "At least we are entertaining the crowds, getting a round of applause, its nearly as good as a good stage time." His co driver Andrew Cullen muttered "If he’d stop playing with the handbrake!" No sign here of Paddy White’s Impreza WRC, reportedly stopped on the road section between 1 and 2.

In Super 1600 Leon Pesticcio is now setting the pace, Gwyndaf Evans is finding the level of grip very unpredictable. Kris Meeke did lead initially but incurred a stage 3 puncture. Apart from gearbox trouble, Garry Jennings had a puncture at the start of stage 2 and dropped 2 minutes. Ryan Champion in the Puma reports lots of understeer and the car won’t turn in.

In Group N Andrew Stewart seems to be the man at the moment, but the times are slightly distorted because we have an interrupted time for Seamus Leonard and Roy White in stage 1. Having said that Stewart was faster than Leonard in stages 2 and 3, White was slightly faster in stage 2 but slower ins tage 3. Aaron MacHale is just outside the leading bunch, Aaron leading the category in the Tarmac Championship, and obviously thinking of the points as well. Roy White was off the road briefly in 2 at a fast section into a right 5, hit the bank and may have damaged the centre differential in another excursion in stage 3. Seamus Leonard reports rattles and bang from the back of his gpN Impreza, which he never heard in his lefe before. Michael Curran’s Lancer is stopped in stage 3.

In the Peugeot 206 Super Cup Gareth MacHale led after stage 1 by 2s from Shaun Gallagher with Chris Moore a further 4 back and Jack ingleby a further 20s back.

On the Rally Australia Loeb still led at the end of the day from Solberg. In the Production Cup Rowe led from Niall McShea, Ligato 3^rd. More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON (www.rallynews.net)