RALLY NEWS NO.6                         Quality Hotel Clonakilty/Sunday 09.00

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 (overnight)
1st (3) Ken McKinstry/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 55.35.6
2nd (7) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 55.41.20
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/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 56.09.8
6th (6) Steve Fleck/Andy Card (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 (10) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 58.03.5
10th (17) Tony Davies/Wyn Thomas (Metro 6R4) 58.27.3
11th (23) Cathal Arthurs/Llinos J-Edwards (Celica) 58.52.4
12th (19) Nigel Hicklin/Sam McMullan (Impreza) 59.09.2
13th (25) Richie Curran/Ger English (Esc.Cos) 59.10.4
14th (43) Kieran O'Callaghan/Caroline Murphy (Lancer N) 59.14.4
15th (54) Noel Redmond/David Doyle (Impreza WRC) 59.24.0

Major changes to the leaderboard from Saturday's 8th stage are that Donal O'Donovan, who was lying 9th in his Celica, has withdrawn, mainly because co driver Pat Lordan was unwell after the last few Saturday stages and Donal felt it unwise to continue.  Although he is shown on the above leaderboard at 9th, Denis Cronin is reported as about to withdraw. Denis' BMW M3 would appear to have water in the engine oil. 

Just outside the above leaderboard we have Damien Cole/Nicky Grist in the Darrian at 16th, George Thaw in an Impreza 17th, Guy Woodcock, co driven by David Williams in the Escort Maxi, in 18th and leading class 7. Tom Holton is 19th in his Celica and Tommy Graham 20th after several dramas including a puncture. Gwyndaf Evans is 21st and leading class 13 on his proper run out in his Mk2 Escort. Other class leaders include: Gordon Coleman (son of King Billy!) leading class 1 in his Polo.  David Power leads cl.2 in his Honda. John McCarthy cl.3 in a Peugeot 306. Kieran O'Callaghan leads gpN overall and cl.4 in the Richard Hogg hired Lancer. Bob Fowden had led the category but is now back in 25th, 1m42s behind Kieran after his Lancer jammed in 3rd gear for most of one stage. John Carroll is on his own in cl.5 in his Ford Ka. Boston based Liam Brady continues to lead cl.6 in the Proton Kit Car from Alan Ring in the Peugeot.  Kieran Marshall was 3rd in that class but rolled the Civic in stage 8, without the roof touching the ground!! A damaged front wheel meant no further progress.Tony McCaul leads cl.9 in his Astra. James O'Sullivan, the 023 Tiles man, is ahead in cl.10, his 1600 Escort going well after breaking the back axle last week in Mayo. Class 11 sees Mark Nangle in front in his Corolla from Liam Cooper. Diarmuid Keohane holds the advantage in cl.12. Phil Collins leads class 14. Tony Davies is ahead in cl.15 and is now into the top 10 in his Metro 6R4.

In the Historic section of the rally, John & Christie Farrell head the time sheets with his Mk1 Escort from the similar machine of Don Moynihan with Frank Cunningham 3rd in his Mini Cooper.  More news from service.
BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON