RALLY NEWS NO.5                   Drumkeeran - Sunday 4pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Beagh
1st (4) Glenn Allen/John Gallagher (Escort WRC) 46.37
2nd (12) Steve Fleck/Andy Card (Impreza WRC) 46.43
3rd (3) Steve Hendy/Aled Davies (Esc.Cos) 47.03
4th (5) Alan Nesbitt/Enda Sherry (Celica) 47.36
5th (21) Ivan Stewart/Gary Cooney (Esc.Cos) 48.14
6th (7) David Kynaston/Andy Russell (Audi) 48.33
7th (23) Raymond & David Johnston (Lancer N) 48.44
8th (9) David McNulty/Martin McGarrity (Esc.Cos) 49.00
9th (34) Sean Devine/Robert McDaid (Impreza N) 49.19
10th (14) Dominic McLaughlin/Cyril Donnellan (Peugeot rwd) 49.28
11th (8) Tony Davies/Wyn Thomas (Impreza) 49.47
12th (18) Enda Keenan/Sean Moriarty (Escort) 49.57

First car off stage 5 was Steve Hendy, and when he pulled to a halt in the little village of Drumkeeran opposite Wynnes Pub he told us "I didn't go great, we had new tyres fitted and it took them a while to settle down".  Hendy had no sooner gone than Glenn Allen's Escort WRC roared into sight, the Cookstown man with his totally aggressive head on, co driver John Gallagher shouting the time out "9.25".  Hendy had done a 9.47.  From tying for the lead with Steve Fleck, Glenn Allen had jumped to the front.  As Glenn slammed the car into 1st gear he said "Its near time I won one of these rallies".  When Steve Fleck arrived he was 6s slower than the flying Allen WRC: the Englishman telling us "We were going really well, but met sheep on the stage".  Fourth on the road, Alan Nesbitt had a 3rd fastest time, Alan happy that his car was back on full song following his stage 4 power steering problems. 

In Group N Raymond Johnston continues to lead, but Sean Devine's new Subaru is flying and he was 2s up on Johnston through stage 5, but has a lot to pull back. English visitor Mark Worley in the silver gpN Lancer is speeding up as he gets more accustomed to the irish roads, and his total now is 50.15, just outside the leaderboard.

Ivan Stewart was a wee bit slower on that stage 5 as he bedded in new tyres on his Escort Cosworth. John Cairns had a better run having changed the electronic brain on his car. John however just can't get into the swing of lhd.  Enda Keenan continues to lead cl.14 although his Escort is still having electrical problems. Gerard McKiernan has his Lancer intercom fixed, but Gerard was another to be slowed by sheep near the end of the stage.  Mark Courtney in the gpN Lancer is another starting to speed up, his total 50.08. Robbie Peoples is a bit off song within himself, his total 51.45. Peter Rogers we reckon leads cl.11 on 50.32. Dessie Keenan in the Peugeot is having a clean run so far, his total 51.43 and leading class 6.   Andrew Mullan/Elaine Doherty still going well in their Cl.5 Puma…

In the Ford Ireland Focus Championship section John Foley still leads from Oliver Stanley , Colm Murphy 3rd.
More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON            www.rallynews.net