RALLY NEWS NO.6                             Sligo - Sunday 5.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Doolargy
1st (4) Glenn Allen/John Gallagher (Escort WRC) 55.04
2nd (12) Steve Fleck/Andy Card (Impreza WRC) 55.06
3rd (3) Steve Hendy/Aled Davies (Esc.Cos) 55.31
4th (5) Alan Nesbitt/Enda Sherry (Celica) 56.42
5th (21) Ivan Stewart/Gary Cooney (Esc.Cos) 57.14
6th (7) David Kynaston/Andy Russell (Audi) 57.21
7th (8) Tony Davies/Wyn Thomas (Impreza) 58.07
8th (23) Raymond & David Johnston (Lancer N) 58.12
9th (34) Sean Devine/Robert McDaid (Impreza N) 58.19
10th (14) Dominic McLaughlin/Cyril Donnellan (Peugeot rwd) 58.30

It was Steve Fleck's turn to be fastest through stage 6 in this seesaw battle for the lead of this Sligo Stages Rally.  With just 2s of a gap between the leading pair it's all to play for over the final 2 stages.  Steve Hendy in 3rd can't be discounted either, any slip from the 2 in front and the Southampton man, just 1s slower than Allen through that sixth stage, is ready to pounce. 

Group N looks to be a close run thing as well.  Raymond Johnston appeared to have a big advantage going into the 2nd half of the rally, but the Fermanagh man has been penalised 30s for touching one of the water block chicanes, which has allowed Sean Devine to close right up.   Mark Worley is the leading Tarmacadam Championship group N driver, but he is almost a minute back on Devine.  News of another leading retirement is that David McNulty has coasted to a halt on a road section after stage 6, his Escort Cosworth's gearbox crying enough. 

Class leaders at the halfway mark include - Terry Rooke leading cl.1 from Tadgh Buckley, both in Suzuki Swifts.  Danny McBride led cl.2 from John Gallagher, both in Civics. Ian Henderson led cl.3 from Rob Stone, both in MGs.  Andrew Mullan in the Sligo Pallets Puma led class 5 from Kieran Henry.  On the subject of Sligo Pallets, the Micra of Peter Devaney, also running under the Pallets banner, has retired following an accident and the mechanics are working flat out to get the car ready for the rally at Bishopscourt tomorrow. Shane Feely in his Peugeot 106 has got ahead of Dessie Keenan in the 206. John Foley in the leading Ford Ireland Focus championship car, also leads cl.7 from Colm Murphy, Oliver Stanley 3rd. Donal McGettigan leads cl.9 from Daniel Conaghan, Nova and Escort respectively.  David Leonard led cl.10 from Adrian Fox. Peter Rogers led cl.11 from Robbie Peoples, both in Escorts. Terence McHugh continued to lead cl.12 from Raymond  Drury, both in Escorts. Dominic McLoughlin in the Peugeot rear wheel drive led Damien Gallagher in the Escort. Enda Keenan led cl.14 despite his electrical problems from John Hughes. Ivan Stewart and Alan Nesbitt are battling for the lead of class 15.

Over on the Dutch/Belgian border on the Expo Rally, Ollie O'Donovan has finished 5th and Kevin Barrett in the Triton Showers Impreza WRC finished 6th.  More news after stage 8.   BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON                             www.rallynews.net