UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4

1st (3) Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan (Ford) 25.21

2nd (2) Kevin O'Kane/Stephen Griffith (Subaru) 25.32

3rd (6) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Celica) 26.02

4th (1) Dermot Kelly/John Brennan (Ford) 26.09

5th (5) Peter McCullagh/Vincent Fergus (Ford) 26.27

6th (7) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (Subaru) 26.38

7th (4) John McKeown/Martin Carey (Ford) 26.43

8th (8) John Donnelly/Joe McAleese (Ford) 27.02

9th 12) Cathal Rogers/Paul McLoughlin (Lancer) 27.07

10th (15) Brian McCloskey/Shane O'Neill (Ford) 27.14

LATE NEWS..Stage 5 Skart Mountain has been stopped, reportedly Kevin O'Kane's Subaru has gone on fire. How serious we don't know as yet - Crew both OK - no injuries.

FASTEST THROUGH SS4 DRUMHILL: Donnelly 6.21: McNeill 6.24: O'Kane 6.25: Kelly 6.26: Eugene Donnelly was a bundle of nerves before th estart of this rally as he prepared to drive his newly acquired Toyota Celica GT4 for the first time. In dramatic fashion the Maghera man's stage times have speeded up throughout the day, and he looked almost surprised to be fastest through stage 4. Pleased as well. In fact he had a smile from ear to ear! Paul Nagle looked pretty happy as well - the young Killarney co driver was well shaken after his accident with Max McKillen in Caerwent on the Welsh Rally. But he was definitley in full swing today (and last night!).

First on the road, Dermot Kelly, was 12s faster through the Drumhill test than on his first run, Dermot adamant that he was clearing the roads of loose gravel for the other drivers this morning. Kevin O'Kane was faster as well, but not by so much, the Omagh man saying "We're going well, the car's perfect". Dominic McNeill gave a wry smile at stage finish and told us "I forgot to switch the electronic differentials on!" John McKeown reports no problems with his Sierra Cosworth, but can't quite get on to the pace of the leading drivers. Peter McCullagh had a good run through that stage 4 as did Ollile O'Donovan, while John Donnelly was over 20s faster than his time through it this morning, when he suffered driveshaft trouble. In driveshaft trouble this time was Pete Willoughy, with Greg McCarthy on the pace notes, Pete was a pretty impressive 8th overall in his 2 wheel drive Mk2 Escort, but it all came to naught in stage 4 when a driveshaft gave up the ghost. He had earlier been having some bearing trouble with the same driveshaft.

Cathal Rogers in the GpN Lancer has speeded up somewhat to come into the top 10. Eddie Kinirons is also now getting more on to the pace as he gets used to the lhd Celica while Noel Driver is just outside the leaderboard on 27.20. Early class leaders included - Oliver Williams who was leading cl.4 in his Mk2 Escort and Shane McCarthy was ahead in cl.2 in his Peugeot 106. Pete Willoughby had been leading cl.3 but we reckon that honour now moves to Brian Dunlop.

FLANDERS RALLY - Roy White/Michael Patterson finished 7th o/a and 2nd in gpN - now just 2 points behind Sterckx in the Belgian gpN C/ship with 1 round to go. Brendan Kelly/Rory Kennedy finished a good 9th after turbo troubles and also landing on a roundabout this morning. Eamonn Boland retired with clutch/g.box trouble when holding 3rd. Roy White commented at the finish "Had a ball, very tough, roads similar to Ypres, narrow with big ditches!"

More news later..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON