Second and third car on the road leaving the Rosslare start, John Price and Melvyn Evans, did not appear in here to service.

Nine times rally champion John Price was reportedly stopped in the stage with his Metro 6R4 tailghate up, looking at the engine.

Spectators tell us that Melvyn Evans was going strong a few junctions into the stage, but he has not appeared here at service in the Escort WRC.

That leaves David Armstrong second on the road, the Border Champion telling us that he felt just a bit rusty, but he is not too worried as it's a two-day rally - a sentiment shared by several of the more canny top drivers.

Jon Mercer for example commented: "We made a nice quiet start." His co-driver Lyn Jenkins observed: "It's a long way to go yet in this Wexford Rally!"

Other stroies include - Johnny O'Sullivan taking it a wee bit cautiously, his Escort WRC fitted with a new very high ratio rack which takes a bit of getting used to.

David James, in the G3 Escort, reckoned he had a very soft brake pedal for most of the first stage, although it firmed a bit towardfs the end.

Lyndon Barton had a very sideways moment after one of the hairpins in his Metro 6R4.

Tomas O'Rourke's Astra stopped for quite a few minutes in the stage, got going eventually without really knowing what the problem was. Something obscure and electrical perhaps.

Guy Woodcock had a really good run in his F2 Escort to back up his top six place on the Manx International Rally last week.

Jimmy Lambert set a scorching time on Stage 1 in his Mk2 Escort, but had a real struggle to get the car up the road section here to service.

Co-driver James Coleman sat on the mudguard, with the bonnet off, and with a crow bar wedged behind the alternator to keep tension on the belts.

If the mechanics can get a new bolt to fit the alternator bracket, they will keep going, otherwise they are out.