RALLY NEWS NO.3             Granville Service..Monday 12noon

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3
1st (2) Robin Philips/Mike Gibson (Celica) 18.22
2nd (3) Wesley Patterson/Bob Kelly (Sierra Cos) 18.44
3rd (5) James Gillen/PJ Gillespie (Escort Cos) 18.48
4th (25) Philip Shaw/Nigel Frazer (Escort) 18.49
5th (4) Trevor Moore/Richard Curry (Escort Cos) 18.56
6th (6) Gary White/Barry Taggart (Escort Cos) 18.57
7th (26) Jim Crozier/Ian Porter (Lancer) 19.06
8th (12) Kieran Shaw/Crawford Henderson (Escort Cos) 19.19
    (15) Fintan McGrady/Tim Hopkins (Escort Cos) 19.19
    (19) Glenn Allen/Adrian Johnston (Escort) 19.19

The wet and slippery conditions have certainly taken their toll on the top drivers in this Easter Stages event.  Dan McCartan and Andrew Stewart stopped on the first stage. Sean Cassidy set a 5th fastest time but then the car overheated going on to the motorway and he packed the fiddle!  Brendan Kelly clipped the front corner of the car, damaging the radiator, in stage 2, and he has not appeared here after stage 3.

Denis Biggerestaff, Woodland Furniture NI Champion, is still going but well down the list. He damaged the front of the car in Castle Park and then in an unrelated incident a front brake broke in stage 2.  Denis had to stop and take the caliper off mid stage, losing a lot of time. To all intents and purposes he is not in the race, but continuing for enjoyment.

Just some more of the dramas amongst the leading drivers include - Owen Lamont smashing in the driver's door, car still driving OK.  George Tracey in the Metro 6R4 seems to have disappeared.  Camillus Bradley had his Escort in and out of a field, undamaged, lost 20s.  Kieran Shaw has ongoing turbo troubles.  Andy Johnston had his Chevette in and out of a field. Trevor Moore was off twice in stage 3 on square corners. Wesley Patterson has arrived into service with a broken driveshaft in his Sierra. James Gillen's Escort Cosworth has no anti lag. George Robinson came off stage 3 with the bumper scraping underneat the car, still attached by the side light wires.  Fintan McGrady was held up by Richard Hall's Escort Cosworth which was struggling with a mechanical problem. Gary White's Escort Cosworth lost its turbo pipe in stage 2 and then had brake troubles in stage 3.

Ian Getty has bashed his Escort but still going. Keith White has had a puncture.  More news to follow..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON