1^st (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.48.18

2^nd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.49.33

3^rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.50.01

4^th (5) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 1.50.58

5^th (9) Paul Harris/John McCafferty (Impreza) 1.51.45

6^th (7) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Impreza WRC) 1.51.46

7^th (8) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 1.52.19

8^th (11) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 1.55.57

9^th (14) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 1.56.36

10^th (19) Glenn Allen/John Gallagher (Escort WRC) 1.58.08

The first stage of the day is always important, this morning particularly so. Andrew Nesbitt left the other top drivers in no doubt as to who is the man here in Donegal. His new Subaru stopped the clocks on 6.54, Peadar Hurson was 7.08 and Donnelly 7.11, as was Paul Harris. Eamonn Boland was 7.13 also Daniel Doherty and Derek McGarrity was 7.19.

At stage finish Andrew Nesbitt said "Absolutely perfect, I reckon that’s the quickest ever time over High Glen". Interestingly, there is a bale in the village which should have slowed the stage down, but it certainly is the fastest time we can remember.

Ahead of the drivers now is the Port Lake and Atlantic Drive tests, and some of the gravel note crews reported that the roads are surprisingly damp, although it is not raining at the end of High Glen or at Downings service. Derek McGarrity said that his tyres were moving around at the back, nothing wrong with the Pirellis, he is using the same tyres as Andrew, its more the type of road surface. He joked "It was too long a road for me".

None of the top drivers reported any real problems. Glen Allen joked "I lost time last night in the bar in the Mount Errigal!" One driver not happy was Sean Devin, his Impreza WRC suffered a puncture towards stage finish. Sean was 11^th overnight, 8s ahead of Kevin Lynch, so we don’t know for sure as yet if Kevin has got ahead of Sean. Neil McCance was 13^th overnight in the gpN Lancer and he dropped 8s to Glyn Jones’ WRC on that first stage this morning, to allow the Welshman in front. 15^th placed Philip Shaw continues to lead the rear wheel drive category, and he had a good run over High Glen.

Austin MacHale is running a bit far back and he also had a good time, but still has a lot to do to improve on his overnight 29^th.

Still waiting on word from Cyprus WRC – but with 3 stages to go this morning Alistair Ginley and Rory Kennedy were still in 8^th place. More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Michael Patterson and Zoe Todd)