1^st (1) Trevor Moore/Philip McCrea (Impreza WRC) 15.35

2^nd (3) Robbie McGurk/David Moynihan (Impreza) 15.37

3^rd (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 15.42

4^th (10) Maurice Gass/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 16.21

5^th (16) David Greer/Brian Crawford (Corolla WRC) 16.24

6^th (4) Denis Biggerstaff/Derek Brannigan (Metro 6R4) 16.25

7^th (12) Raymond Johnston/Richard Bell (Evo 6 N) 16.31

8^th (8) Dermot Kelly/John Brennan (Escort WRC) 16.33

9^th (17) Sean Devine/Damien Duffin (Impreza N) 16.42

10^th (19) John Donnelly/Joe McAleese (Escort WRC) 16.47

11^th (11) Richard Hogg/Mark Hanna (Evo 6 N) 16.50

12^th (15) Raymond Mason/Peter Martin (Impreza N) 16.55

The top three on this rally, Trevor Moore, Robbie McGurk and Derek McGarrity are now in a race of their own. While further back, fancied front runner Kevin Lynch has put his Subaru WRC off the road, and Scottish visitor Neale Dougan’s Escort WRC is parked up – both in the Ballypatrick stage.

All the top drivers reported the Ballypatrick stage to be extremely slippy. Derek McGarrity overshot a hairpin and lost a few seconds. Robbie McGurk said "We really struggled, so slippy". Trevor Moore was actually fastest in the stage on 6.08 and tied with Robbie McGurk for fastest in stage 2 (Beaghs.) McGurk had 6.11 through Ballypatrick, McGarrity 6.16.

Denis Biggerstaff was off briefly in the Beaghs stage and has slightly bent the steering. Kevin Lynch’s accident is reportedly not too bad, but there is a wheel gone awry on his Impreza WRC. James Murphy slithered off at the same spot, Kevin and co driver Martin mcNicholl helping to push the visitor back on. James did not lose too much time, his total is 17.23. Maurice Gass and David Greer are holding good positions in the top 10, both report a trouble free run so far.

In Group N Raymond Johnston continues to set a great pace. Unofficially we have Sean Devine 2^nd in gpN, Richard Hogg 3^rd. We’ve just got some times in for Michael Curran, his total is 16.56, 1 behind Raymond Mason and possibly 13^th overall. Keith White’s total is 17.16 in his 2 wheel drive Escort. Keith still trying to recover from his first stage delay when he got caught behind Gerard McFall. Car 35 Stephen Moore is on a total of 17.19 in his gpN Impreza. Yorkshire visitor Ian Peak is going nicely on 17.37, Brendan O’Hagan 17.27.

More news to follow. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Michael Patterson…and Rodney of Rally Team Gabshite…only joking…thanks for the coffee!!)