RALLY NEWS NO.5   Clonakilty/Service/Saturday 6pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE  8 Shanaway
1st (3) Ken McKinstry/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 55.35.6
2nd (7) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 55.41.2
3rd (2) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 55.58.8
4th (1) Melvyn Evans/Marc Jones (Impreza WRC) 56.01.7
5th (8) Liam McCarthy/Marc Jones (Corolla WRC) 56.09.8
6th (6) Steve Fleck/Mark Aspinall (Impreza WRC) 56.52.9
7th (15) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 57.10.6
8th (11) Phil Collins/Howard Davies (Escort) 57.54.5
9th  (4) Donal O'Donovan/Pat Lordan (Celica) 58.03.4
10th (10) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 58.03.5

Michael Barrable was fastest through stage 8, Kenny McKinstry fastest through stage 7. That's been the story this afternoon, just seconds separating the top cars and mostly its Barrable and McKinstry who are setting the pace.  McKinstry told us his car is just brilliant and he has really enjoyed the day. While Michael Barrable feels that he fell asleep in stage 6 and gave McKinstry too big an edge. Eamonn Boland did set 1 fastest time this afternoon, on the 2nd visit to the Ring, and reports no problems with his new car. Last year's winner Melvyn Evans is astounded at the pace. Steve Fleck rounds off the top half dozen, and again reports no problems with the car and is going well.  Donal O'Donovan is struggling to stay on the pace in the Celica and his cause isn't helped by co driver Pat Lordan feeling unwell. However when you stand back and look at Donal's performance in his older model Celica, it really is pretty remarkable that he is up there with the World Rally Cars. Maurice Gass has now got the dash read out sorted on his Impreza WRC, so now he knows what gear he is in and set good times over the last few stages.         

Phil Collins and Denis Cronin, 8th and 10th overall, are having a massive battle for class 14 and best two wheel drive honours.  Cronin is now pulling back a second or two a stage, but really he let Collins get too far ahead over the first few stages.  Tony Davies is up to 11th in his Metro 6R4 and going well. Other drivers coming more and more on the pace include Tom Holton, despite damaging a rear quarter panel on his Celica. Barry Coleman (21st) and Nigel Hicklin (13th) in their Subarus are also speeding up. Get Connected man Damien Cole, with Nicky Grist on the pace notes, has sorted the suspension on his Darrian and was 18s faster through stage 8 than he was on his first visit when it was SS4, and is 15th overall.

Retirements over the last few stages include David Armstrong, who we think stopped with mechanical problems in the Escort WRC. JJ Fleming has damaged a front wheel of his Subaru and ground to a halt. Ollie O'Donovan lost a wheel from his Impreza. Emly O'Mahony retired on the Ring stage when her Ka suffered a broken gearbox.
Bob Fowden Is still going strong but lost several minutes in stage 5 when his Lancer got stuck in 2nd gear.  At Bishopscourt McGarrity has won the 2nd NI Championship round, Eugene Donnelly 2nd, Gary White 3rd. More RallyNews in the morning…BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON