1^st (7) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Impreza WRC) 7.08

2^nd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 7.10

(5) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 7.10

4^th (1) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 7.13

5^th (6) Maurice Gass/Ger McMonagle (Impreza WRC) 7.16

(24) Gareth Jones/Ryland James (Impreza) 7.16

7^th (9) Paul Harris/John McCafferty (Impreza) 7.17

8^th (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 7.18

9^th (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 7.20

10^th (14) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 7.23

Happily all the top cars as listed started from Letterkenny this morning. First non starter we have is Eugene Ferry (No.29). Nearly all the drivers have extensively tested their cars before the rally, with no major incidents reported. Paddy White’s new Impreza S7 did get a broken windscreen when the bonnet blew up. Eugene Donnelly is driving Niall Maguire’s Impreza WRC and pronounced himself well pleased with the car. Sean Devine/Shaun Lafferty are driving the car that Eugene would normally be in. Sean’s wife hired it for him for his birthday! Andrew Nesbitt was also more than happy with his new Impreza S8, Tony Kelly has come in as an addition sponsor for Andrew. Dermot Hanafin has a new engine in his Impreza WRC. Maurice Gass has a rebuilt engine and gearbox in his Pedro Pet Foods backed Impreza. Austin MacHale’s car has had a very quick re-vamp since last weekend’s Scottish.

Main stories from the first stage – Austin MacHale, locking rear brakes and got caught with the onset of rain in the stage and running on slick tyres, the same applied to most of the top drivers. Andrew Nesbitt is still getting used to the paddle gear change. Eugene Donnelly, not used to the car, having difficulty getting the right differential setting. Derek McGarrity, a small hesitation/misfire at high revs. Maurice Gass rear brakes sticking out of junctions. Rally leader Peadar Hurson commented "Keeping it tidy". Daniel Doherty’s Subaru stuck in 3^rd gear for half the stage, time 7.46. Paul Harris said of himself "Rusty, strange to be in a rally car". JJ Fleming first time out in the Impreza S8 said "Couldn’t hear the notes properly". Seamus Leonard, 2^nd in gpN on 7.28, reported his brand new Subaru moving about at the rear. Andrew Stewart, 3^rd gpN on 7.31, said "Good steady run". Group N leader Roy White "The car’s superb". Dickie Curran reported a huge 2 wheel moment past the fast left bale inside. Garry Jennings spun his Peugeot backwards into a hedge on a square left over gravel. No real damage. Garry’s time 7.45. Stephen Harris reports low boost in his Lancer. Despite setting a superb time Gareth Jones reported his Subaru loose at the back. Paddy White overshot 2 junctions as he tried to accustom himself to the gear change on his new Subaru. Kevin Lynch finished the stage with his Impreza WRC hand brake dangling – pulled it out by the roots overshooting a junction. Sean Devine, on his birthday trip in an Impreza WRC set a time of 7.43, very respectable.

On the Cyprus Rally after 2 stages – Rory Kennedy co-driving for Alistair Ginley was lying a brilliant 17^th overall. Niall McShea/Chris Patterson 22^nd o/a and 3^rd in the Production Cup. Rovanpera leads from Makinen, Panizzi 3^rd. Gronholm 4^th. Solberg 5^th. Martin 6^th. McRae 10^th. More news after stage 2. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net