UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 16 (overnight)

1^st (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.41.24

2^nd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.42.22

3^rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.42.42

4^th (5) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 1.43.45

5^th (9) Paul Harris/John McCafferty (Impreza) 1.44.34

6^th (7) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Impreza WRC) 1.44.38

7^th (8) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 1.45.06

8^th (11) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 1.48.22

9^th (14) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 1.48.46

10^th (19) Glenn Allen/John Gallagher (Escort WRC) 1.50.21

11^th (38) Sean Devine/Shaun Lafferty (Impreza WRC) 1.50.48

12^th (37) Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Impreza WRC) 1.50.56

13^th (53) Neil McCance/Richard Hunniford (Lancer N) 1.51.05

14^th (16) Glyn Jones/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 1.51.12

15^th (28) Philip Shaw/Derek Brannigan (Escort) 1.51.12

Just over 90 cars from the original 151 start this third day of the Shell Donegal International Rally. There may be only 6 stages left but they are really tough, and there is still a lot of rallying to do. Main changes to the overnight results are that Eamonn Boland’s 2 minute penalty from Friday has been removed to move the Wexford man from 7^th to 4^th. Austin MacHale is in 29^th place and will no doubt start further up, although Austin is not totally convinced of the wisdom of continuing, as the chance of Tarmac Championship points looks fairly slim.

Overnight class positions include – Paddy Walker leading cl.1 from Aisling Dooris, both in Swifts. John Hegarty leads cl.2 from Danny McBride in a similar Honda Civic. Shane Orr leads cl.3 from Tony Kelly’s service manage Christopher Boyce, both in 2 litre Civics. Group N is led by Seamus Leonard from Roy White, these 2 having a great battle. Neil McCance recovered well from his earlier puncture to be 3^rd in gpN ahead of young Michael Curran. Aaron MacHale is 5^th in the Production category ahead of Raymond McLaughlin with Eamonn Harvey in the Raymond Mason Impreza 7t^h. Eamonn one of the staunchest supporters of the Donegal Rally and has been competing on it for over 20 years. In Class 5 Andrew Hegarty continues to lead in his Ford Puma from JR McDaid in the Micra with Billy Coleman’s son Gordon in 3^rd. Despite a major time loss yesterday when his Peugeot’s wishbone came adrift Garry Jennings leads cl.6 from Glenn Wilson in a 106 and Gareth MacHale is 3^rd in his 206. Garry was heading for a top 10 place but is now back in 23^rd. John Foley leads class 7 in his Ford Focus from Brian Pat Doherty in an Escort. Daniel Conaghan (Escort) tops the cl.9 list from Willie McFadden in a Corsa. PJ Gallen leads cl.11 in his Escort from Andrew Knox in a Corolla. Brian Durnien leads cl.12 from Pat Bonar, both in Escorts. Philip Shaw leads cl.13 from Conor Curley with Padraig Price 3^rd, Robbie Peoples 4^th and Seamus Donnelly slipped to 5^th because of a misfire, all in Escorts. Declan McNaughton is ahead in cl.14 from Seamus McCusker – Seamus recovered well from a first day time loss, when his Escort’s electrics gave trouble. Iven Stewart continues to lead cl.15 despite turbo problems yesterday, with Jaye Jordan 2^nd and Scottish visitor Phil Walker 3^rd.

In the Historics John Farrell leads cl.C2 in his RS2000. Paul Friel leads cl.1 in his Avenger Niall Creighton leads B3 in his Cortina and Frank Cunningham B2 in his Mini Cooper. Martin Boyle retired his Anglia with head gasket trouble.

Two retirements from the main rally yesterday were Mick McQuaid whose Escort stopped with oil sensor trouble and Paul Gallagher, whose class leading Corolla also stopped with mechanical maladies. More news later from Downings. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON