UNOFFICIAL FORMULA RALLY SUPER 1600 L/BOARD AFTER SS3

1st (102) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 29.25.7

2nd (104) Mats Andersson/Claire Mole (Satria) 30.00.9

3rd (103) David Higgins/Mike Gibson (Volkswagen) 30.19.0

4th (107) Martin Sansom/Phil Wells (Peugeot) 31.09.9

5th (105) Patrick Magaud/Guylene Brun (Ford) 31.25.0

6th (108) Paul Wedgbury/Neil Dashfield (Saxo) 31.52.6

7th (112) Ian Barrett/Andy Coupland (Satria) 33.57.1

8th (109) Robert Woodside/Dean Beckett (Ford) 35.59.4

Unofficially we hear that Martin Rowe's Puma stopped in stage 3 Twiglees, because of an engine problem. It certainly was not a happy rally for Martin - problems on the first stage meant that he was well down the order. Now this, opening the door wide for Justin Dale in the championship. Peugeot pilot Justin was fastest through stage 3, Twiglees, by just over half a second from Mats Andersson, with David Higgins a further 6s back through that Twiglees test in his VW Polo. It is really quite remarkable how well David is going, never having sat in the Polo until this morning. Unconfirmed news is that although Ian Barrett finished that stage 3, his car is having engine problems on the way up to Castle O'er and he may not be able to continue.

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2 - 2 DAY RALLY

1st (57) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Impreza) 22.59.8

2nd (59) Alistair Ginley/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 24.10.7

3rd (56) Raymond Munro/Neil Ewing (Impreza) 24.46.2

4th (4) Jock Armstrong/John Richardson (Lancer N) 24.52.1

5th (6) Dave Weston/Neil Shanks (Impreza N) 25.24.2

6th (58) Steve Palmer/Bruce Harper (Lancer) 25.25.8

7th (3) Brian Bell/Paul Spooner (Escort WRC) 25.30.1

8th (10) Rory Galligan/Paul Nagle (Peugeot) 25.40.6

9th (14) Mike Faulkner/Alan Clark (Peugeot) 25.41.7

10th (11) Ryan Champion/Cliff Simmons (Peugeot) 25.42.0

Mark Higgins reports no real stress at the front of the 2 day rally, Mark finding the Subaru remarkably easy to drive. Alistair Ginley is settling down into the McKinstry WRC and of course getting used to his new co driver Rory Kennedy. Raymond Munro in 3rd place is finding the stages very slippy and is going to try a softer compound Pirelli for stages 3 and 4. Eamonn Boland, in 11th place, reports his Subaru WRC to be running on 3 cylinders and hopes to have it sorted before stage 3. Jock Armstrong was leading gpN car after the first 2 stages, Jock taking care not to over stress the brakes of the gpN machine. Peugeot Super 106 Cup leader today Rory Galligan was very quick out of the blocks on the first stage. Ryan Champion pulled a couple of seconds back on stage 2, while neither can ignore Mike Faulkner who has been consistently quick so far. Garry Jennings had an electrical problem with his 106 on stage 2 and dropped a few seconds.

Other stories include Ian Paterson dropping into the ditch on the big Ae hairpin where he usually spectates. Alan Barr has a clutch problem with his gpN Impreza, the mechanics had the gearbox out before the start and the problem could be related to that. Shaun Gallagher spun at least 3 times on the first stage - a very nervous start.

More news to follow..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON