RALLY NEWS NO.3        Service..Sunday 3.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER SECOND STAGE
1st (4) Tommy Graham/Finbar Mangan (Escort Cos) 16.56
2nd (5) Tim McNulty/Julian Nangle (Celica) 17.04
3rd (2) Rory O'Connor/Francis Kenny (Escort Cos) 17.29
4th (3) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Escort Cos) 17.36
5th (20) James Cole/John Clarke (Escort) 17.44
    (11) Sean Gallagher/Liam Costello (Celica) 17.44
7th (21) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Lancer N) 17.45
8th (15) Mick McQuaid/Victor Fields (Escort) 18.02
9th (18) Mervyn Wedlock/Martin Nicholl (Escort) 18.13
10th (9) Noel McCarrick/John McCafferty (Impreza) 18.18

Tommy Graham turned in a superb time for stage 2, 10s faster than his first run, to move into the lead of this Percy French Hotel backed Midland Single Stage Rally.  First stage leader, Tim McNulty, was 2s slower that time, and confessed he didn't have a good run.  Rory O'Connor's anti lag system worked that time, and he was 5s faster to move into 3rd place, his position made easier with the seeming retirement, although it is far from confirmed, of George Tracey in the Metro 6R4.  David Armstrong was a lot faster this time than his first run and he comes into 4th. Although Sean Gallagher says he is only going "middling" he is now handily placed in equal 5th with James Cole.

Patrick Elliott had a very good stage 2 to extend hislead in group N, with Noel McCarrick now 2nd, Michael Shaw dropped to 3rd in the showroom category when his Impreza visited a ditch and put a wheel back.  James Cole lost a few seconds behind the struggling Subaru. James and Ann Foley had a good run that time, breaking the 9 minute barrier, after dropping nearly 50s on the first stage when their Civic engine gave problems. 

Mick McQuaid continues to lead cl.11a with some scintillating stage times, with Mervyn Wedlock going better than ever 2nd in that class 11A.  John Culleton & Eamonn McAuley in the rwd Corolla GT are now unofficially leading cl.10A, with some very impressive times. They are now inside the top 20.  Micky Cadden lost a few seconds when he braked very hard for a square right, locked up the wheels, and the engine stalled. The "OOing" Ian Greer set a time of 8.11 for stage 2, as against Tommy Graham's fastest 8.23. Greer well satisfied with his Celica's setup. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON