Stage 1 - McArdle edges out Hurson, but Maurice has foot off Gass
Rally Report 27
Saturday, November 17 2001 - 12:50pm
John Dier and Will Downing - Ballinaboola

Armagh's Sean McArdle and Down's Peadar Hurson are the two who seem to be setting the early pace after the first Special Stage of three in the Crosbie Cedars Hotel Wexford Single Stage Rally. The duo are seperated by the bare minimum - McArdle recording 9'12", Hurson 9'13" on the opening stage in the Newbawn-Gusserane area. A further 14 seconds back in third is Meath's Tim McNulty in the Subaru Impreza, with McArdle and Hurson leading the way in Toyota Celicas. Another Downman, Maurice Gass, completes the Subaru 3-4 a further 17 seconds back on McNulty. Wexford interest is well to the fore, with Gorey's David James a creitable fifth in his two-wheel drive MkII Escort - only ten seconds behind the much more powerful Subaru of Gass. Willie Carroll of New Ross lies in joint sixth spot with Tipperary's Jimmy Lambert, breathing down James' neck, with both men recording times of ten minutes dead. TOP TEN PROVISIONAL - 1 8 Sean McArdle/Gerard McMonagle - Armagh Celica 9:12 2 7 Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter - Down Celica 9:13 3 5 Tim McNulty/Julian Nangle - Meath Impreza 9:27 4 6 Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr - Down Impreza 9:44 5 18 David James/Ron Guha - Gorey, Co Wexford Escort BDX 9:54 6 29 Willie Carroll/Jason Mernagh - New Ross Escort Cos 10:00 6 19 Jimmy Lambert/James Coleman - Tipperary Escort Mk2 10:00 8 39 Willie O'Dwyer/Andrew Purcell - Kilkenny Metro 6R4 10:02 9 23 John Nolan/John Smithwick - Carlow Escort 10:05 10 27 Trevor Culbert/James Glynn - Wicklow Escort Mk2 10:13 10 12 Tom Holton/Andrew Cullen - Meath Celica 10:13