UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 (overnight)

1^st (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 40.19

2^nd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 40.47

3^rd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 40.48

4^th (6) Maurice Gass/Ger McMonagle (Impreza WRC) 41.13

5^th (9) Paul Harris/John McCafferty (Impreza) 41.17

6^th (8) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 42.00

7^th (24) Gareth Jones/Ryland James (Impreza) 42.02

8^th (7) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Impreza WRC) 42.20

9^th (11) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 42.34

10^th (14) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 42.41

11^th (37) Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Impreza WRC) 42.57

12^th (20) Alan Nesbitt/Enda Sherry (Celica) 43.00

13^th (5) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 43.03

14^th (15) Dickie Curran/Billy McCullins (Lancer N) 43.05

15^th (19) Glenn Allen/John Gallagher (Escort WRC) 43.16

Following the first day’s 43 miles of special stages Andrew Nesbitt has a 28s lead over Derek McGarrity, with Eugene Donnelly just 1s back. The big question today is can any of the top drivers rein in Nesbitt’s massive charge. As can be seen above, Eamonn Boland is back in 13^th place having led the rally after stage 2. Eamonn’s 2 minute penalty for a stage 4 early arrival still stands. Austin MacHale, No.1 seed, is back in 106^th place overnight following his stage 2 accident. Austin will almost certainly be given a start place amongst the top runners this morning, on safety grounds.

Seamus Leonard leads gpN by the narrowest of margins from Roy White. Dickie Curran is 3^rd in the showroom category. The Greyabbey haulier is concentrating more on Tarmac Championship points as he leads the category in the series. Neil McCance is 4t^h in gpN. Michael Curran 5^th, Aaron MacHale 6^th after suffering a soft brake pedal yesterday.

Further class positions include: Paddy Walker leading cl.1 from the similar Swift of Aisling Dooris. Tarmac Ladies Champion Aisling is out for the first time in her new Suzuki and was being cautious through the first day’s stages. James Cullen, with Reba Graham on the pace notes, leads cl.2 in his Civic from the similar Honda of John Hegarty, with Danny & Karol McBride 3^rd. Andrew Hegarty tops the cl.5 list in his Ford Puma from the Micra of JR McDaid. David Crossan is 3^rd in that class in his Ford Ka. The irrepressible Garry Jennings leads cl.6 in his Peugeot 106 Maxi. Garry is up to 16^th overall following his first stage backways excursion into a hedge. Glenn Wilson is 2^nd in that class in his Peugeot 106 with Dermot McAuley 3^rd. John Foley leads cl.7 in his Ford Focus from Gabriel Martin. Daniel Conaghan leads cl.9 in his Escort from the Corsa of Willie McFadden. Martin Gallagher is 1^st in cl.10 in his Ford Escort. Paul Gallagher leads cl.11 in his Corolla from John Tully. Cl.12 is led by Pat Bonar in an Escort from Brian Durnien in a similar Ford. Philip Shaw leads cl.15 from Seamus Donnelly with young Conor Curley 3^rd, Padraig Price 4^th, Robbie Peoples 5^th, Drew Hunter 6^th and PJ McDermott 7^th (all in Escorts). Interestingly, Philip Shaw broke his teeth last night at a barbeque, nipped back to Cookstown, saw his dentist and got and problem sorted! Declan McNaughton leads cl.14. Alan Nesbitt in his Celica, despite pre-event ECU problems with his Celica, leads cl.15 from Scottish visitor Philip Walker in his Mazda 323. Brian Corey is 3^rd in the class in his Sierra, Jaye Jordan 4^th, Ivan Stewart 5^th. More news from Milford service. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON