UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4 The Hollow

1^st (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 32.35.4

2^nd (4) Tapio Laukkanen/Ilka Riipinen (Impreza WRC) 33.33.0

3^rd (3) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 34.11.5

4^th (6) Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Antila (Focus WRC) 34.12.4

5^th (5) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 34.15.9

6^th (2) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 34.39.1

7^th (22) Leon Pesticcio/Tim Sturla (Punto) 34.54.5

8^th (10) Gwyndaf Evans/Claire Mole (MG ZR) 35.05.0

9^th (8) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 35.22.6

10^th (19) Andrew Stewart/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 35.27.0

11^th (12) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 35.10.4

12^th (14) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 35.27.4

Conditions dried out somewhat from the first time through this Hollow stage, but the drivers found it more treacherous and slower than before, as mud pulled out from the verges coated many of the corners. Tyre choice was also a bit of a lottery, and indeed many of the drivers were slower than the first time through, having elected to go for a conservative tyre choice. Andrew Nesbitt commented at stage finish "Very very slippy, lots of mud pataches". The Armagh man went on to say that he had had his Subaru clutch adjusted at service and everything was fine. Pirelli British Champion Jonny Milner said "Grip was good, except for a few slides!" Derek McGarrity said "Terrible, not gripping at all, horrible, we went for a cut slick tyre". Austin MacHale reported a knocking at the front of his Subaru, seemed to be coming from a front right corner, and it was reflected in Austin’s time, 12s slower than Latvala, who moved ahead of the Dubliner in the classification. The Finnish driver said "We went quite well, I had one very big moment, I think it is time to take it more careful". Tapio Laukkanen maintains his 2^nd place and was 2^nd fastest to Nesbitt, but still 15s slower, Tapio commenting "Not that good". Eamonn Boland seems to be having a fiery day – he arrived at the end of this stage on the first run through with flames coming from the back of the cat. This time it was flames from the front – and more fire extinguishers shot off. Through it all Eamonn had a fairly decent stage time.

In the Super 1600 category Kris Meeke was fastest through the stage and recovering rapidly from his earlier puncture, the young Bush Crossroads man is now on a total of 35.30.6. Gwyndaf Evans was just under 5s slower than Kris through the stage, Gwyndaf commenting with a resigned shrug "I don’t know, this job should be easier as you get older, but its not. Its so easy to get got out here, but there is also more grip in some places". Garry Jennings in the works Peugeot was having problems with the gear read out on the dash giving him all the wrong signals. Leon Pesticcio is right in the Super 1600 hunt, the young Welsh man saying "I’m going to let Gwyndaf and Kris do all the pushing over the next couple of stages, try and keep it clean ourselves and look forward to tomorrow".

In Group N Seamus Leonard turned in a stunning time, Seamus took a gamble on cut slick tyres and it paid off for him. Roy White was slightly stunned when he saw the Omagh man’s time, Roy saying "It was pretty wild in there, I didn’t think I was that slow". His co driver Greg Shinnors observed "That was like a Mk2 Escort through the forests!"

Some drivers just outside the above leaderboard include – Aaron MacHale who was lying 17^th after stage 3, Ryan Champion was 16^th. David Armstrong, his Escort WRC engine repaired after last weekend, was 20^th. George Robinson was 21^st despite breaking a driveshaft on his Escort Cosworth in stage 3. Neil McCance was a fine 18^th, just ahead of Dickie Curran. Dermot Hanafin was almost certainly going to retire his gpN Subaru at Armagh service after smashing a front right wheel off on a desperately slippy corner in stage 3. A major retirement on that stage 3 was young Glenn Wilson, the Keady man severaly altering the shape of his Escort Maxi. Rodney Wilton also crashed out in that stage.

In the Peugeot 206 Super Cup Gareth MacHale led from Chris Moore. While in the Ford Ireland Focus battle John Foley led although he may have engine problems. Gabriel Martin 2^nd, Oliver Stanley 3^rd. More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net