Unofficial Leaderboard After Stage 1

1^st (5) John McCarthy/Dan Maguire (Impreza) 9.06

2^nd (4) Garry Jennings/Gordon Noble (106 MAXI) 9.29

3^rd (3) John Donnelly/Greg McCarthy (Escort WRC) 9.36

= (6) Eddie Kinirons/ Greg Shinnors (Celica) 9.36

= (7) Paul Staunton/Bruce Burgess (Escort) 9.36

6^th (9) John McGaffin/Tom Graham (Legacy) 9.37

7^th (2) Kevin O’Kane/Steven Griffith (Impreza) 9.51

8^th (12) John Shanahan/Liam McLaughlin (Impreza) 9.52

9^th (19) Alan Mulcahy/Dermot Harrington (Starlet) 10.09

10^th (20) Noel Driver/Joe Shinnors (Escort) 10.11

11^th (14) Ray Benskin/Peadar Walsh (Escort) 10.16

12^th (55) David James/Jim Crowe (Escort) 10.21

= (10) Kieran Molloy/Brian Boland (Lancer Evo 6) 10.21

There were no major retirements through the first eight mile stage in Gurteen but number one seed and former winner Dermot Kelly dropped almost two minutes when his Escort WRC developed an electrical problem, the Limerick man struggling to diagnose the fault. John McCarthy blitzed the stage in his Impreza, 24 seconds faster than his closest challenger, "I am just getting used to it" was an ominous warning. Garry Jennings was second fastest despite a slight off in the little 106 Maxi, the Fermanagh man as predicted already embarrassing the four wheel drive cars.

Paul Staunton is impressive in third, the Mk2 Escort having no battery charge through the first stage. James Murphy suffered a left rear wheel puncture in his Escort Cosworth, dropping him over a minute – his time 10.42. Eddie Kinirons and John Donnelly both in equal third reported no problems over that first test, Kinirons describing it as spot on.

David James found the conditions very slippy in his Mk2, though Noel Driver was pleased with his time in the similar machine. John Shananan was furious with himself after catching and passing James Cribben in the stage, he promptly went off the road, only to be repassed again, John reckoning he lost about thirty seconds.

More News Later …… Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd