UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2

1st (4) Jimmy Lambert/James Coleman (Escort) 15.37

2nd (9) Rodney Wilton/Peter Leahy (Escort) 15.44

3rd (2) David Percy/Owen Percy (Escort) 15.47

(17) Garry Jennings/David Moynihan (Peugeot) 15.47

5th (3) Mervyn Wedlock/Philip Smith (Escort) 15.49

6th (5) John Nolan/John Smithwick (Escort) 15.58

7th (8) Gordon Rogers/Philip McEntee (Escort) 16.00

8th (12) Gordon Percy/Joe Shinnors (Escort) 16.01

9th (16) James Foley/Andrew Cullen (Civic) 16.03

10th (6) David James/Ron Guha (Escort) 16.21

Most of the leading drivers reported oil or petrol on stage 2, some of the times a bit slower than expected. Not so David Percy, he set the fastest time so far, of 7.46 with Jimmy Lambert a few seconds slower than his first run recording 7.52, Rodney Wilton was also 7.52. Gordon Rogers and Garry Jennings equal on 7.54.

Rally leader Lambert commented "The oil was wicked, on the road, we pulled back". Gordon Rogers said "I can go quicker". Mick McQuaid in the DOME Escort commented "It's me that's not right". David Percy said after his stunning run "One hundred per cent, all went well that time". Mervyn Wedlock told us "Not a good run, the tyres at the back just weren't working".

Times just outside the above leaderboard include..Gerry Smyth on 16.25: Aidan Walsh on 17.07, Aidan whose Escort suffered a misfire earlier on, now has 2nd gear trouble. Last year's winner Pat Higgins is on a total of 17.16, having been off the road onthe first stage and then on stage 2 admitted "I took it handy, it's not worth risking anything now". John O'Sullivan in the Peugeot was on a total of 16.40, the Ennis man reporting "I had the moment of my life in there".

Looking outside Birr for just a moment, Trevor Moore won yesterday's Mid Antrim rally through Tardree with Gary White 2nd and John McKeown 3rd. Moore's Escort Cosworth is now on active transmission, while McKeown hired one of the Dominic McNeill Escort Cosworths, as his Sierra is still being repaired after Mitchelstown. At Mondello today Lawrence Gibson led the rallycross after the first couple of runs from Dermot Carnegie with Eddie Kinirons leading the rally car category. More news after stage 3..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON