Crosbie Cedars Hotel Wexford Rally
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RALLY NEWS NO.3                 Service/near New Ross/Sat.2.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3
1st (1) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 17.41
2nd (9) Jon Mercer/Lyn Jenkins (Metro 6R4) 18.35
3rd (16) Steve Fleck/Tim Neal (Subaru) 18.37
4th* (8) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Escort) 18.50**
5th (155) Steve Hendy/Vanessa Cann (Escort Cos) 18.56
6th (15) Lyndon Barton/Aled Loveluck (Metro 6R4) 19.04
7th (11) Johnny O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman (Escort WRC) 19.06
8th (12) Phil Henderson/Aled Davies (Metro 6R4) 19.10
9th (18) Jimmy Lambert/James Coleman (Escort) 19.16
10th (62) Jon Stangle/Paul Nagle (Darrian) 19.20
11th (102) Trevor Culbert/James Glynn (Escort) 19.21
12th (10) Derek Smith/Darragh Cafferty (Escort) 19.22

**Times for David Armstrong very provisional, they were in a bit of a rush at the end of stage 3 to have a gearbox problem in their Escort Cosworth looked at....

Out at the front of the field, Eamonn Boland's new gravel specification Subaru WRC was fastest through stages 2 and 3, White Church and Aughclare.  Earlier Eamonn had arrived in to the first service with the Subaru engine revving and revving. He has now had to switch off one of the electrical gubbins that gives his Subaru the big launch boost away from stage starts and tight corners. 

A recap on earlier happenings includes John Price stopping in stage 1 when his Metro 6R4 engine gave bother and Melvyn Evans not appearing in to first service, reason unknown.  Top non starters included - Michael Barrable, Bob Fowden, Ray Breen and Gary Midwinter. Kieran Molloy was about to start the rally, but took unwell and was unable to start. 

News of further retirements include - car 64 the Escort of Patrick Dunne, stopped in service with mechanical trouble. Sean Gaul's Sierra (No.81) was struggling to get out of service, the mechanics working furiously at the engine.

Stories from the front of the rally ...Derek Smith messing about totally in stage 2 and having a slow stage time.  Lyndon Barton's Metro 6R4 is refusing to run cleanly for at least half a mile off the start of each stage.  David James got some new tyres fitted, his brake problems are more orless sorted and he is starting to go better, just outside of the leaderboard on 19.44. Jon Stangle in the Darrian is having a good run, but lost a few seconds when he had to almost stop in stage 3 when a dog walked in front of the car.

Some other times include - Kieran O'Neill on 19.56, Kieran feeling a bit rusty. Guy Woodcock was joint 8th after the first stage, but his total now of 19.24 has him just outside the leaderboard..Guy looked a bit tense at the end of stage 3. Dave Turnbull is on 19.36.  David Parle in the class 3 Peugeot reports a shaky enough start, normally a class winner here in Wexford, David's Peugeot had tyre trouble on the first stage.
More news to follow: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON

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