Barrable maintains lead after six stages

Entering the final three stages of the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, the eighth round of the Dunlop

National Rally Championship, Dubliner, Michael Barrable, in his Subaru WRC, has a 38 second lead over the similar car of Niall Maguire/Paul Nagle.

Both drivers set identical times on stages five and six.

Maguire is on course to claim the 2002 Dunlop National Rally Championship crown

David Armstrong’s Escort Cosworth is almost a minute adrift with the Peugeot 205 of Mac McKenna in fourth.

Local ace, Roy White (Mitsubishi), retains his advantage in Group N and also holds fifth overall.

Eddie Kinirons, despite the loss of sixth gear and brake problems in his Toyota Celica, is sixth.

Aaron McHale, who is set to win the Group N category within the Dunlop series, is seventh and the top ten is completed by George Tracey (Subaru), Joe McHugh (Escort Cosworth) and the Toyota Corolla WRC of Liam McCarthy.

Retirements include Paddy O’Reilly, Tom Randles, Jimmy Lambert and David long.

S.S. 6:

1. M. Barrable/D. O’Gorman (Subaru WRC) 46m. 45s.

2. N.Maguire/P. Nagle (Subaru WRC) 47m. 23s.

3. D. Armstrong/H. Blackburn (Escort Cosworth) 48m.20s.

4. M. McKenna/J. Loughran (Peugeot 205) 48m. 51s.

5. R. White/D. Cooney (Mitsubishi) 49m. 10s.

6. E. Kinirons/G. Shinnors (Toyota Celica) 49m. 49s.

7. A. McHale/D. Connolly (Mitsubishi) 49m. 50s.

8. G. Tracey/E. Roe (Subaru) 50m. 23s.

9. J. & D. McHugh (Escort Cosworth) 50m. 24s.

10. L. McCarthy/K. Murphy (Toyota Corolla WRC) 50m.30s.

Keith Dempsey was the top Irish finisher at the Formula Renault UK race in Knockhill. He was 11th, Philip Kershaw was 12th. and Matt Griffin 13th.

Jamie Green was the race winner.