UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Knockakeo Wood
1st  (3) Kevin O'Kane/Francis Regan (Impreza) 7.40
     (10) Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Impreza WRC) 7.40
3rd (4) John Donnelly/Joe McAleese (Escort WRC) 7.41
     (8) Brian McCloskey/Damien Duffin (Escort WRC) 7.41
5th (2) Eddie Kinirons/Greg Shinnors (Celica) 7.42
6th (7) James Murphy/Con Mulcahy (Esc.Cos) 7.50
7th (6) John Shanahan/David Moynihan (Impreza N) 7.51
8th (9) John McGaffin/Alan Russell (Legacy) 7.58

It is certainly tight at the front of this Moonraker Rally with just seconds separating the top cars.  No.1 seed John McCarthy is not showing on the leaderboard, however, his total to here is 8.07.  We reported earlier that John's ex Bertie Fisher Impreza seemed to have a misfire and down on boost turbo. When the car arrived here at service it sounded more like a damaged exhaust manifold and John said "We may be able to fix it now. If not I will pull out of the rally.  Stage 2 being cancelled may have helped me, less miles to service". 

Otherwise very few of the top drivers reported any major problems. Kevin O'Kane commented "I'm happy enough".  John Donnelly said "No bother".  Joint 3rd overall, Brian McCloskey, fastest through stage 3, said "Going well".

Eddie Kinirons slid wide at a hairpin right and punctured a wheel, co driver Greg Shinnors saying "We were trying to carry too much speed".  The Celica pairing finished the stage on the flat tyre and changed the offending wheel on the road section.  Kevin Lynch was also off on a hairpin right, don't know if it was the same one as Kinirons punctured, but they got stuck for a few seconds, no damage. The earlier difficulty with the dash gear change read out resolved itself when they switched off all the electrics, then switched them on again.  Wonderful things these computers!

John "Carlos" Hickey in the Celica got his intercom fixed for stage 3, times still slightly off the pace as he is running tarmac suspension, the Kerry man saying "The car feels like it has huge potential in the forests, I'll try to get the coil springs changed here at service".      

Fastest of the Mk2 Escort men so far would appear to be John Reid on a total of 8.00. Brian Lawlor is on 8.08. While some other times in random order include - Ray Benskin 8.35. Alan Treacey, still getting used to the power of his hired Escort and reckons he is braking too early, on 8.20. Denis Cronin, with his 16 year old nephew Keith on the pace notes for the first time, on a total of 8.33.  Ollie Williams on 8.26.  Michael Tynan in the Astra is on a total of 8.30, Michael hampered badly by a misted up screen in stage 1. His Vauxhall not fitted with a de mister. Colin Walsh in the gpN Impreza was off the road for nearly a minute in stage 1, caught out in the mud, no damage. Tom Kiely going well on 8.18 in his Mk2 Escort.  More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON