1^st (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 59.31

2^nd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.00.04

3^rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.00.14

4^th (9) Paul Harris/John McCafferty (Impreza) 1.01.19

5^th (8) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 1.01.52

6^th (7) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Impreza WRC) 1.01.54

7^th (24) Gareth Jones/Ryland James (Impreza) 1.02.36

(5) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 1.02.36

9^th (11) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 1.03.10

10^th (14) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 1.03.27

11^th (20) Alan Nesbitt/Enda Sherry (Celica) 1.03.41

12^th (15) Dickie Curran/Billy McCullins (Lancer N) 1.03.58

Through stage 9 the top 3 cars, Andrew Nesbitt, Derek McGarrity and Eugene Donnelly were all on equal time of 4.14. But through stage 10 Nesbitt was a fabulous 5.15, 12s faster than his first run through the stage. Eugene Donnelly was 2nd fastest with 5.22. Derek McGarrity 3^rd with 5.25. Nesbitt was sweating hard when he reached the service control and said "Got on well, really pushed, I must have been trying when I’m sweating like this, first time on the rally". Derek McGarrity explained his few seconds time loss when he said "We had a big spin at an open square left where the scrapyard is, very gravelly there. We filled the road and had to reverse. Lucky not to be through the fence". Eugene Donnelly commented "We had a good run in that last stage, in fact flat out, I’ve no answer to Andrew".

Paul Harris and Daniel Doherty are having their own battle in 4^th and 5^th places. Doherty saying "We switched to harder rubber for those 2 and it was better". "Paul Harris observed "We were going hard, but its time I woke up". Peadar Hurson set some good times on those 2 stages, Peadar closing in on Doherty but still worried about his Subaru’s rear differential. Austin MacHale setting times on a level with Doherty, maybe just a couple of seconds slower, Austin saying that he’s using up his older Pirellis.

In Group N Seamus Leonard in the new Subaru is really turning on the style. While Roy White is going just about as hard as he dare, but still dropping a second here or there. Roy said "Any quicker and I’d be taking big risks". Dickie Curran maintains 3^rd in gpn but felt there was something wrong at the back of his Lancer at the finish of stage 10. Possibly a drive shaft or differential. Further down the list Neil McCance is the next gpN driver on 1.04.51 and that was despite a stage 8 puncture. Aaron MacHale was on 1.05.29.

Garry Jennings in the Peugeot is lying just outside the top 12 on a total of 1.04.08, but Garry looked far from happy when he arrived into service, his Peugeot clutch making all sorts of weird noises. Earlier there was a fair bit of welding going on at the chassis of the 106, Garry’s mentor Ivan Fisher in the middle of the proceedings, and had his hair set alight at one point!!! But then it’s a day or two since Ivan had a welder in his hand! Other stories include – Alan Nesbitt worried about a noise in his Celica under braking. Kevin Lynch had a spin at a junction, lost about a minute. Paddy White put his new Subaru off the road in stage 8, a barbed wire fence stopping the car from falling into a ditch. We think part of Paddy'’ problem was a broken driveshaft. Garry Jennings now 13^th. Sean Devine/Shaun Lafferty 14^th. Kevin Lynch 15^th. Philip Shaw 16^th. Glen Allen 17^th. Seamus Donnelly 18^th.

News from WRC Cyprus Rally – Gronholm has retired with broken propshaft. The 2 Fords out on first of today’s stages with low oil pressure. Solberg leads from Rovanpera. Alistair Ginley & Rory Kennedy now 10^th overall after stage 9. Arai leads Production Cup from Martin Rowe. Niall McShea/Chris Patterson out this morning with broken gearbox. (Thanks to Shammii!) More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON