RALLY NEWS NO.3                             Service/Portumna/Sunday 1.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Rahyconor
1st (1) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC)  23.50
2nd (4) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Impreza) 24.07
3rd (3) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 24.15
4th (15) Ivan Stewart/Gerard Callaghan (Esc.Cos) 24.46
5th (12) James Foley/Andrew Cullen Lancer N) 25.00
6th (7) Anthony O'Halloran/Kevin Synott (Manta) 25.07
7th (10) George Tracey/Elva Roe (Impreza N) 25.09
8th (6) John Spain/Peter Egan (Manta) 25.37
9th (5) George Cullen/Sean Mullally (Celica) 25.44
10th (14) Wesley Patterson/Bob Kelly (Escort) 26.01

Rally leader Michael Barrable was fastest through stages 1 and 2 but on stage 3 it was Patrick Elliott who was quickest on a time of 9.31 with JJ Fleming on 9.33 and Barrable on 9.36.  Elliott reports the car to be going very well, although he still wants the suspension hardened slightly here at service. Michael Barrable's Impreza WRC had a turbo problem through stage 3 hence the slow time. Michael reporting "the gauges showed the engine on to road mode and there was smoke coming into the car".  JJ Fleming reported no problems, while 5th placed James Foley, who also leads gpN, felt his Lancer's clutch starting to slip towards the end of stage 3.  When asked could he do anything, James replied "Very little, maybe ease the pedal back a bit". 

Recent retirements include the heroic Philip Shaw, 6th overall after the first stage, but his black Escort has not emerged from stage 3, mechanical trouble the suspected culprit.  Also out is James O'Sullivan, his replacement engine blowing a frost plug out of the block.  Tom Geraghy's son Mark has gone out with bearing troubles. 

Other stories include - John Dempsey in the Anglo Irish Bank backed Impreza hampered by centre differential problems. Raymond Drury is thinking of retiring his Escort at service, terminal clutch problems. Gerard McKieran was well into the leaderboard after stage 1 but his Lancer suffered a broken driveshaft and then a puncture costing over a minute and holding up Allan Treacy in the Corolla. Treacey also suffering a spluttery engine, reckoned to be fuel starvation.  George cullen softened the suspension at the front of his Celica and it is handling slightly better.  Anthony O'Halloran really suffered through stage 3 with front tyres overheating.      Stephen Bird's Escort is misfiring slightly. Wesley Patterson had a spin on the 2nd stage.  Tommy McDonald's new Escort has a blinking alternator light.

Martin Ward in the historic Manta - running ordinary road tyres, is still setting competitive times despite a spin in stage 3, and nearly crunching the wall at McMahon's shop in stage 1.  Some more times - David Percy 26.10. Aidan Walsh 26.25. Pat McDaid 26.19. David McNulty 26.25. Tommy McDonald 26.32. More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON