1^st (4) Tapio Laukkanen/Ilka Riipinen (Impreza WRC) 1.14.20.8

2^nd (6) Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Antila (Focus WRC) 1.15.40.0

3^rd (3) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.16.11.9

4^th (5) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 1.16.22.1

5^th (2) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 1.16.45.3

6^th (10) Gwyndaf Evans/Claire Mole (MG ZR) 1.17.49.1

7^th (11) Kris Meeke/Dave Senior (Corsa) 1.18.03.1

8^th (22) Leon Pesticcio/Tim Sturla (Punto) 1.18.54.7

9^th (12) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 1.18.59.9

10^th (17) Dougi Hall/Steve Egglestone (Lancer) 1.19.10.1

11^th (15) Roy White/Greg Shinnors 9Lancer N) 1.19.45.1

12^th (20) Ryan Champion/Cliff Simmons (Puma) 1.19.58.8

Doraville, stage 8 on this Ulster Rally, turned the event on its head with the news that Andrew Nesbitt/James O’Brien’s Impreza WRC has stopped halfway through the stage and looks to be surely out of the event. We haven’t spoken to Andrew yet, so can’t be sure what happened. The incident occurred following a fast section, then through a cattle grid to a double cautioned crest square right, or R5 tightens, almost a hairpin. The Impreza seemed to be parked in the ditch just after, possibly with front wheel damage. One thing for sure, the Subaru hasn’t appeared here. This leaves Tapio Laukkanen almost the surprised rally leader. Tapio commented here at Gortin service "Of course it would be nice to win, but I must score maximum Pirelli Championship points". The driver leading the championship, Jonny Milner, said "We’ve picked the pace up a bit, keeping it safe, Austin MacHale is our target for now, we’re gaining one second per mile". Jari-Matti Latvala said "When I saw Andrew Nesbitt in the ditch I slow down, I am careful, maybe it is the best way". Derek McGarrity, the Tarmac Championship points leader, mentioned after the first stage this morning that he gear change seemed a bit difficult. He found a loose wire and sorted the job himself. Incidentally, Derek seemed to be get a wrong stage time for stage 9 and is running slightly out of order for the moment.

In the Super 1600 category Kris Meeke really got the hammer down through the last couple of stages, was a fraction of a second faster than Gwyndaf through stage 8 and 7s faster through stage 9. Young Kris said after that Barnes Gap test "I wouldn’t have liked to have gone much harder, we missed a couple of gears as well, went into neutral". Gwyndaf said "Difficult to judge the grip". Ryan Champion reported one overshoot, Ryan picked too safe a compound tyre and they started to "go off". Leon Pesticcio in the Fiat Punto was right on theed one overshoot, Ryan picked too safe a compound tyre and they started to "go off". Leon Pesticcio in the Fiat Punto was right on the limit and had 2 small excursions through 8 and 9, but still set good times. Garry Jennings is running further back and he reports rear shock absorber trouble and also the gear change read out feeding him false info.

In Group N Roy White looks fairly secure in the lead, a few seconds faster than stages 8 and 9 than 2^nd placed Andrew Stewart, with Dickie Curran quite a few seconds slower. Dickie had a puncture just before the end of stage 8 that didn’t help his cause. Aaron MacHale, gpN leader in the Tarmac championship points, had a fastest gpN time through stage 8, but is a fair bit behind Roy White in overall terms. Neil McCance in his gpN Lancer had a big moment in stage 9, smashed the radiator, pulled rocks on to the road which caused problems for following drivers, Neil may be forced into retirement, his Lancer oil light flashing. Further news on Seamus Leonard’s retirement – the Subaru bashed into a bank after a high speed skid over gravel. This was literally within yards of his own house – he parked the Subaru in his own driveway!

Maurice Gass had a puncture in the Millview Fuels car on stage 8 and lost maybe 20s. Dougie Hall in the gpA Lancer had an excursion in 9, lost 20s, lots of grass and muck on the car but no damage. David Armstrong is still struggling with the suspension set up at the rear of his Escort WRC, the ex Melvyn Evans machine very wayward, and David reckons there could be a wheel out of line.

In the Peugeot 206 Super Cup, unofficial news has it that Shaun Gallagher has extended his lead, Gareth MacHale has had a spin and dropped 30s. Further news on Andrew Nesbitt……the car has just appeared in here to Gortin – over maximum lateness but with no damage. John & Tony Cope missing in their white Escort Cosworth. More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net