UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 Drumreevagh

1^st (1) Ray Breen/Damien Morrissey (Focus WRC) 4.12

2^nd (3) Aaron MacHale/Derek Brannigan (Focus WRC) 4.22

     (12) Noel Redmond/Ger Healy (Impreza WRC) 4.22

4^th (11) Sean Devine/Martin Brady (Impreza WRC) 4.23

5^th (4) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 4.24

6^th (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 4.29

7^th (8) Noel McCarrick/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 4.31

The above times are from the first few cars only. The first stage, Drumreevagh, was pretty wet. When Ray Breen arrived at stage finish he reported desperately slippery conditions.  The former Dunlop Champion looked however to be in full control and consequently as the other cars started to arrive Breen’s time was proved to be more than impressive.

Patrick Elliott should have been 2^nd down to the end of the stage beside the level crossing but there was no sign of the Cavan man’s new Impreza.  Following drivers reported seeing the Subaru parked at a square right corner, reportedly with gearbox trouble.    

The following drivers reported no serious problems although Jack Sleator was having some wiper troubles with his new Subaru.

In Group N Frank Wray was a surprise package on the first stage reporting a time of 4.29, Michael Curran did 4.32. Willie Fannin 4.34.  Alan Ring 4.42.  We would like to emphasise that these times are from the first few cars only.

Meanwhile over on WRC Rally Nexico, Loeb was the leader after Leg 2 from Marcus Gromholm.  Matthew Wilson was in 8^th while Gareth MacHale has slipped out of the top 10.  Mark Higgins was leading Production category and 10^th overall.  We have had a few enquiries about our Chris and Nasser Al-Attiyah.  They are both OK although shaken after their big accident. Their Impreza had a slow puncture at the back, the car got drifted wide and somersaulted.

More news after stage 2.

BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

(with thanks to Martin Brady & current Dunlop Champion Charlie Donnelly who is stooging about…!!)