UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 21

1^ST (2) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza WRC) 2.10.43.8

2^nd (7) Andrew Nesbitt/James O’Brien (Impreza WRC) 2.11.41.6

3^rd (3) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrisey (Impreza WRC) 2.13.21.0

4^th (1) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 2.13.33.2

5^th (9) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 2.14.42.8

6^th (11) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 2.19.34.4

7^th (17) Shaun Gallagher/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 2.20.01.4

8^th (12) Dickie Curran/Antony Donnelly (Lancer N) 2.21.09.8

9^th (18) Raymond Johnston/Richard Bell (Lancer N) 2.22.50.9

10^th (15) Glynn Jones/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 2.24.07.9

11^th (16) Aaron McHale/Damien Connolly (Lancer N) 2.24.13.2

Andrew Nesbitt flew into this short ten minute service at Ardstraw, smoke pouring from the front wheels of the McKinstry Impreza. The steering rack having failed on the previous Ross Hill stage. The McKinstry mechanics tried in vain to fix the problem but in the time allowed were unable to do so, Kenny McKinstry saying "we were able to put a drumstick in" but ultimately Andrew has to tackle the last two stages without any power steering, realistically costing last years rally winner any chance of victory.

Derek McGarrity was fastest by a considerable margin on the shortened stage 21, taking 22 seconds from Nesbitt and almost 15 from second fastest man Eamonn Boland. Eamonn as usual very pleased with his time and co driver Damien Morrisey saying "we are 11 up on Austin now, hopefully that should be enough to see us to the finish".

In GpN Roy White continues to struggle with the bad vibration in his FESP Lancer, Shaun Gallagher chipping away at the young Tipperary mans lead, but even with White’s problems it does not seem to be enough for the young Letterkenny driver. Maurice Gass is comfortable in 5^th in the Pedro Petfoods Impreza, Maurice loving the slightly slippy conditions but ultimately looking forward to the finish now.

At the bottom end of the top ten Aaron McHale in his GpN Lancer and Welsh visitor Glynn Jones continue to battle for position. Both drivers finding heavier rain on stage 21 than those in front, and both suffering time consuming spins at the start of the stage, though only separated by 2 seconds at the stage finish. Raymond Johnston, another driver responding well to the damping conditions, "I am an ex Karter, so this really suits us well".

More News Later…. Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd