RALLY NEWS NO.4                           Rose Green-Service-Sunday  1.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Colman
1st (2) Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Impreza WRC) 23.32
2nd (4) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 23.43
3rd (7) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 24.06
4th (8) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 24.26
5th (11) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 24.28
6th (12) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Impreza WRC) 25.06
      (15) Ray Breen/John Purceell (6R4) 25.06
8th (6) Sean Gallagher/Sean Moriarty (Esc.Cos) 25.07
9th (24) Tommy Kiely/Michael Cuddihy (Escort) 25.55
10th (10) David McNulty/Keeffe Kilcoyne (Esc.Cos) 26.01
11th (28) Eoin Doyle/Paul Walsh (Impreza N) 26.21
       (22) Noel Redmond/David Doyle (Impreza WRC) 26.21

Through the short fast Colman stage it was Eugene Donnelly fastest with a time of 5.43. Michael Barrable set a time of 5.48 for the 7 mile test and Jim Harrison was 5.53.  Only these three broke the 6 minute barrier for what is turning out to be a fast and furious rally in this warm August sunshine. 

Kieran Molloy is the latest top retirement, his Lancer off the road, having led gpN.  A sad end to a fast drive for Kieran on his home stages. 

None of the lead drivers report any problems. Eugene Donnelly commented "A crazy fast pace".  Michael Barrable reported that his car felt better now that he changed to a slightly softer compound tyre. English visitor Jim Harrison said that things were a bit better than they were. Jim was very disappointed to have lost so much time in stage 2. He was trying new intercom headsets and if anything they were too good, and he was getting almost like a resonance.  He was also one of the first on Hurson's accident and lost a few seconds there. Ray Breen in the Metro 6R4 is another having some intercom troubles. 

Eoin Doyle would appear to be the front runner in gpN at the moment following Molloy's demise.  Doyle felt earlier that his new Subaru's rear bakes were sticking on.  This transpired to be an electric plug to the rear differential had come loose, causing the transmission to behave strangely.  Mark Courtney in his gpN Lancer is on a time of 26.29. Willie Fannin 26.43. Derrick Jobb 27.03 and James O'Sullivan now on something like full power, 27.31.

Just outside the leaderboard include - Kevin Barrett on 26.57, still settling after the first couple of stages. We mentioned earlier that Trevor Harding the ex Frank Meagher Escort Cosworth was going well, and into the top 10, seems now to be running late, no sign of him as yet at the end of stage 3.

Ford Ireland Ka Championship - After 2 stages Ken Mulvaney was leading. Kieran Daly 2nd, Keith Lyons 3rd and John Doolan in the BDBC car 4th. 

Rally Finland - Markko Martin has won in the Ford Focus WRC from Petter Solberg (Impreza WRC). Richard Burns 3rd (Peugeot).  Alistair Ginley/Rory Kennedy finished 23rd after lots of problems with the car and many difficulties coping with the big Finnish jumps. Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson retired the Corsa this morning with a broken differential after many difficulties which included driving a stage and a half with only 2 wheels, and also a 60k road section!  (Is it any wonder the diff broke??) More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON   (with thanks to Martin Walsh)                  www.rallynews.net