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The Crosby Cedars Hotel Wexford Single Stage |
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RallyNews No1 Service/Ballynabola/Sat 10am We're promised a big race here today on this Crosbie Cedars Hotel Wexford Rally. Not just at the front, but throughout the field. There are some stunning entries at the front of the field, but aswell asthat the action is sure to be fast and furious in the classes, especially with this being the final round of the Triton Showers South East Championship. The event is also a counter in the Ford of Ireland Ka Challenge. They will add some extra professionalism to the proceedings, and although the title has already been won by John Carroll, there is still a lot to play for. All eyes will of course initially be on the battle at the front of the field. Although Paul Harris is absent, the scrap between Tim McNulty, Maurice Gass and Peader Hurson should be mighty. There are many more good drivers in the field, but realistically it will be those three who should battle for the lead. McNulty won the recent Ballina Achill Island event, and then was having a good cut at the recent Jim Clark untill his Subaru was forced to a halt for many minutes, dropping the leaderboard, his cause not helped by a wonky gearbox. Tim did lead the Jim Clark after the opening Friday night stage, but then former National Champion Peader Hurson got his head down to take a memorable win. Warrenpoint man Hurson is driving an ex-works Celica and has really got to grips with the car. The dark horse in this equation could be Maurice Gass. he is out for the first time in a new Subaru WRC. This is the car that Richard Burns drove on last year's Swedish Rally. It was then refettled by Prodrive and has done no work since. A very, very nice machine indeed. Maurice hasn't driven the P2000 WRC in anger yet, so today is to a certian extent a test session. Behind these top three are drivers such as Sean McArdle in his Toyota, Tom Holton and a whole lot more who will in there battling for top positions. In the Triton Showers South East Championship the points as stated sre misleading, in that only four of the seven rounds count. This leaves John Carroll in a very strong position. The Killkenny man has already won the Ford Ka Challenge, and is the only driver to have three class wins to his credit in the South East. John is really on a crest of a wavew at the moment, having just been announced as one the three finalists of the Billy Coleman Award - the other two are Stuart Darcy and Adrian McElvenney. Other drivers in with abig shout at the South East are Mick Nevin and Jimmy Lambert to name just two. In the Ford Ka Challenge the spotlight now is on the battles for 2nd and 3rd, with Barry Barrable, Declan Magee, Gerry Keyes, Trevor Harding and Denise Ryan the best placed behind winner John Carroll. Co Driver today for Peader Hurson is Ian Porter as usual. while Mickey McArdle listed at 14 is a non starter - more entry cahnges to follow on the next rallynews from service Brian & Liz Patterson
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