1^st (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 50.02

2^nd (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 50.28

3^rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 50.35

4^th (9) Paul Harris/John McCafferty (Impreza) 51.30

5^th (8) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 52.05

6^th (7) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Impreza WRC) 52.12

7^th (24) Gareth Jones/Ryland James (Impreza) 52.26

8^th (5) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 52.48

9^th (11) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 52.57

10^th (14) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 53.09

11^th (20) Alan Nesbitt/Enda Sherry (Celica) 53.23

12^th (15) Dickie Curran/Billy McCullins (Lancer N) 53.38

Main leaderboard changes over this morning’s 2 stages were that Eugene Donnelly moved from 3^rd to 2^nd. Eamonn Boland went from an overnight 13^th to 9^th. Gareth Jones slipped a place and Maurice Gass has crashed out of 4^th position.

Andrew Nesbitt was fastest on the first stage today, the shortened Carn Hill, 3s covering the top 4 cars. Nesbitt’s time 4.16. Donnelly and Boland 4.17. Derek McGarrity 4.18. On stage 8, Garrygort, Eugene Donnelly was fastest on 5.23, Nesbitt 5.27, Boland 5.28, Hurson 5.29, McGarrity 5.30. Nesbitt commented "We lost a few seconds on that stage 8, we arrived at a hairpin right in 6^th instead of 1^st and I stalled the engine". Derek McGarrity said "The car’s good, but I picked too soft a compound a tyre, my gamble". Eugene Donnelly commented "I felt we made a slow start for the first 2 or 3 miles but after that it was good". Austin MacHale, still well outside the leaderboard, on a total of 1.01.12, but setting top 10 times which he describes as ""steady". Peadar Hurson said "still trying to learn this car, there’s a bit left yet, but we have a dodgy back differential, no spare". We haven’t spoken to Maurice Gass yet, but it would appear that he went off the road at a slippy cautioned crest into K right. Daniel Doherty was another to thought he had picked too soft a compound tyre this morning.

Young Welshman Gareth Jones seems to be losing a bit of time, his Subaru engine down on power, it sounds like there could be a suspect inlet valve, seems to be popping back.

In Group N this morning Roy White and Seamus Leonard were equal fastest on the first stage, Seamus was 6s faster on the 2^nd. Seamus said "Still building confidence, love the new car". Roy White commented "I thought my first stage was good but I was maybe a bit asleep on the second".

In the race for best rear wheel drive Philip Shaw was quite a few seconds faster than Seamus Donnelly this morning, both drivers remarking on a lack of grip compared to yesterday. Garry Jennings in the Peugeot had 2 good times this morning, although he felt that perhaps the engine was a little down on power. He was going to get the mechanics to change all the oils here at service, and have another go at fixing the clutch cylinders. More news after stage 10. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net