RALLY NEWS NO.8                    Sunday morning - Langton - 10.00am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 19 Langton
1ST (12) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.42.04.0
2nd (16) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 1.43.00.7
3rd (17) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.43.02.5
4th (25) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Impreza WRC) 1.43.15.4
5th (15) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.43.26.4
6th (14) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 1.45.21.2
7th (23) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 1.46.36.4
8th (26) James Thompson/Plug Pulleyn (Evo) 1.48.12.2
9th (4) Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson (Opel Corsa) 1.49.21.0
10th (36) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 1.49.49.4
11th (27) Roy White/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 1.49.49.6
12th (32) Andrew Stewart/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 1.50.10.1
13th (7) Leon Pesticcio/Tim Sturla (Punto) 1.50.57.7
14th (9) Ryan Champion/Cliff Simmons (Ford Puma) 1.51.30.8
15th (41) Michael Curran/Dessie Wilson (Lancer N) 1.51.48.2

Pirelli British Rally Champion Jonny Milner was fastest through today's opening 2 stages at Langton, by just a split second from Andrew Nesbitt. What a contrast from day 2 of the rally when overcast skies and wet roads caused many difficulties. This morning it was blue skies and bright sunshine, plus great crowds of spectators even at this early hour. Milner's 2 fastest times moved him ahead of Derek McGarrity in the overnight standings. Andrew Nesbitt gave the thumbs up at stage finish, fairly secure now with almost a one minute lead, and planning no heroics over the remaining 20 or so miles of stages. Peadar Hurson was disappointed with his first run through the Langton stage, but his Impreza wipes would not come on after the big water splash. Austin McHale had quite a shock on his 2nd run through the stage, he came blasting over a crest to find mud all over the road, a legacy of a massive spin by Andrew Stewart, which wiped out the rear spoiler of the Letterkenny man's Lancer. Amazingly, despite all the damage and drama, Andrew lost no more than a couple of seconds.

At the front of the group N battle Roy White chiselled a few seconds off Seamus Leonard's advantage, the latter telling us that he was on a tyre compound that was really too hard for the short Langton stages, but should work well through the Polwarth and Bothwell tests before the cars come back into service.

Looking back to the overnight results - Dickie Curran was in 16th place and 5th in gpN, just behind his son Michael, Dickie saying he is intent on having a steady run scoring as many Tarmac championship points as possible. Michael Curran, by the way, is the Playstation World Champion and received a new Lancer as his prize last year!
Glen Wilson continued to lead his class overnight in his Peugeot 106 from Tom & Su Hynd in their Honda Civic.  Richard Walsh leads F2000 in his Astra from Steve Loveridge. Aisling Dooris continues to lead F1400 in her Suzuki Swift and is the leading lady driver - hoping to pick up the Louise Aitken-Walker Ladies Award again this year.  Louise doing her usual sterling job in the "OO" Subaru this weekend.
Some early times in from stage 20 show Milner fastest by just two tenths of a second from Nesbitt. Peadar Hurson 3rd fastest, McGarrity 4th.
In The National part of the rally overnight Raymond Munro led from Paul Kirtley, both in Subarus.  Jon Burn and John Bogie were 3rd and 4th in their Metro 6R4s, Andy Fenwick 5th in his Lancer, Gordon Cunningham 6th (Impreza)  Dessie Nuitt led the Historics from Stephen Hall - Porsche & Triumph respectively with Rikki Proffitt 3rd (RS1600). LATE NEWS: Barry Clark's Puma stopped at the start line of stage 20.  More later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON                    www.rallynews.net