RALLY NEWS NO.8 Grandstand - Service - Friday  6.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 15 LOUGH DHOO
1st (10) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 1.33.27.9
2nd (14) Tapio Laukkanen/Ilka Riipinen (Imprezaa WRC) 1.34.04.6
3rd (12) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 1.37.19.6
4th (11) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.37.58.7
5th (8) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 1.38.29.8
6th (19) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.38.58.4
7th (5) Ryan Champion/Cliff Simons (Ford Puma) 1.40.45.0
8th (21) Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza N) 1.41.01.4
9th (1) Garry Jennings/Gordon Noble (Peugeot) 1.41.41.9
10th (22) Dickie Curran/Billy McCullins (Lancer N) 1.42.48.0

Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala was lying 2nd starting the most recent loop of 2 stages, he was fastest through stage 14, Druidale, but then missed his braking point after a jump in stage 15 and went off the road at a square right 100 yards after the jump, that was in the Curraghs section. 

On that 15th stage, Lough Dhoo, McKinstry was fastest on 7.29.8, Milner recorded 7.33.5 and Laukkanen 7.34.6.  It is amazing to see McKinstry up there in 3rd place following his 3 minute time loss with punctures this morning, and ahead of McGarrity as well, the latter struggling with the handling of his Subaru. Tarmac Championship leader Derek commented "There seems to be something wrong with the front left, the car is darting about, maybe it is a drive shaft, the last 2 stages the car felt awful.  Also I finished that last stage right up behind Leon Pesticcio in the Punto, which is off putting".

Jonny Milner commented about his performance over the last 2 tests "If we could go any faster we could, Tapio is on it.  We'll just try and hold him at that. Its not going to be easy. The Corolla is working as well as we can get it, there is still a bit of understeer on the tight corners, but it has always been like that". 

Tapio Laukkanen said "We had quite a good run, nothing special, trying to keep the same speed but pushing quite hard. Its easy to make a mistake, but we are not on the limit yet".  The Finnish driver went on to say that the exhaust manifold of his Impreza is cracked, and he is hoping that the engineers can change it at the last service this evening, when there is a bit more time.  Kenny McKinstry said "We had a bit of a misdemeanour at the first chicane in Druidale, the tyres weren't great there but were good for the next stage". 

Behind the leading group Austin MacHale and Eamonn Boland report no problems, Austin's remark was "We're near enough". 

In Group N Seamus Leonard continues to lead with Dickie Curran just a fraction of a second faster through stages 14 and 15.  But the 1m47s gap between the pair is very significant in gpN terms. Aaron MacHale is 3rd in gpN and concentrating on preserving his car, taking no chances, steady off the start line.  Michael Curran did indeed retire after stage 13 with gearbox trouble. Another gpN driver to retire was Neil McCance, his Lancer gearbox had a hole in the side and also there was something not quite right with the differential, causing the car to move about. Dermot Hanafin is 4th in gpN, just ahead of George Tracey. Dermot lost time on the East Baldwin stage when he spun and stalled the car, costing 30 to 40s. 

In the Super 1600 catgegory Ryan Champion was 6s faster than Garry Jennings through stage 14 and then a massive 27s up through stage 15 where Garry unfortunately had a gear linkage breakage. The flat change had been giving trouble and packed up in that stage, Garry having to change manually and then the linkage broke just where it goes into the box.

Lying just outside the top 10 is Paddy White in 11th, Paddy improving all day as he settles in to his Impreza WRC, and is using the anti lag for the first time which he finds makes quite a difference. Paddy did cross the finish line of stage 9 backwards.  John Cope is in 12th and well pleased with the performance of his Escort Cosworth. Aaron MacHale is 13th overall. Russell Millward is now 14th, Dermot Hanafin 15th. George Tracey 16th. Eddie Garry 17th in his new S9 GpN Impreza and Harold Morley 18th. More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON                  www.rallynews.net