In what has been a faultless days rallying, James Stafford leads the rally after the first day by a margin of 1min 35sec. He set fasest stage times on all stages, only equeled by Steve Simpson on the last test in Newbawn. Damian Cole can only watch the Darrian dissapear into the Wexford roads in a cloud of dust. The concerns that James has due to engine damage in Galway are well put to rest and now he has to concentrate in driving with the same skill, speed and care that he did over the first days stages. With the demise of Paul Bird on SS5 due to a puncture and his subsaquent retirement, Cole is prepared to bide his time and concentrate on maximising his points to take a fourth REIS Get Connected MSA Asphalt title in a row. Steve Simpson, lying in a cvomfortable third overnight, doesn';t full see it that way and will push to make up the deficit of 54 seconds and take second should all the top three make it home tomorrow night. Ashley Field must be delighted to bring his Darrian to the overnight halt in fifth, two Darrians in the top 5 bodes well for that particular make. Graham Coffey and Chris Armstrong are in a close battle for the next two places in the top ten, with Jack McGuire, David Condell, Michael Curren and david Turnbull only separeted by a mre 31 seconds over the last four places in the top 10. A bit of dryer weather that the cars had at some stages during the day will make for an interesting second day.

. Provisional top 10 after SS6.

Pos	No	Driver/Co-driver	Class	Vehicle	Total	Diff.	
1	1	James M. Stafford/James F. Stafford	14	Darrian T90 GTR	1:00:48	
2	4	Damian Cole/Elliott Edmondson	8	Ford Focus WRC	1:01:42	0:54 
3	3	Stephen Simpson/Patrick Walsh	8	Subaru WRC S12	1:02:36	1:48 
4	11	Ashley Field/Gary McElhinney	14	Darrian T90	1:04:22	3:34 
5	5	Graham Coffey/Jenny Gaebler	8	Subaru S12B	1:05:49	5:01 
6	12	Chris Armstrong/Tommy Clinton	13	Ford Escort	1:05:57	5:09 
7	26	Jack Maguire/Andy Hayes	20	Mitsubishi Evo 9	1:06:48	6:00 
8	21	David Condell/Paul Twomey	14	Ford Escort Mk2	1:06:59	6:11 
9	22	Michael Curran/Sean Hayde	14	Ford Escort Mk2	1:07:06	6:18 
10	10	David Turnbull/Matthew Whattam	8	Subaru Impreza WRC S11	1:07:19	6:31