It’s slippy out there, so say the drivers
As we wait for the crews to get going on SS4, Shanbo for the second time, interesting insights from some of the field. Steve Wood, despite his lead and the obvious grip he has over most of the field, and power to boot as well, he is frustrated a bit by having to hold back a bit due to the wet conditions, braking earlier into the bends and not powering out of the bends as hard as he would like. The weather does show some signs of improvement, it is not raining here in service, but due to the unpredictability of a Wexford autumn, not too many are yet taking the warmers of the slick tyres yet. John Dalton is slightly tempted by slicks but has opted for intermediates for this circuit, just in case the rain comes back. He reckons the Darrian could lose too much time on slicks if the rain comes back, but would not lose too much if the rain stays away and the roads dry a bit as the day goes on. He is missing the battle he should have had with James Stafford due to the latter pulling out this morning due to engine problems, would have been a cracker methinks. mark Straker in another Darrian, servicing alongside dalton, is trying to see how to get the better of his little kit car, maybe this loop will be kinder to him.
What we have so far after SS3
| O/A | Car | Driver/Codriver | Make | Class | Pos | SS3 | Road | Total | Diff 1st | Diff Prev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (=) | 1 | Steve Wood/Keith Moriarty | Subaru Impreza S11 | 7 | O/A | 8:14.5 | 0:00 | 17:31.6 | ||
| 2 (=) | 8 | Meirion Evans/Jonathan Jackson | Hyundai I20 R5 | 5 | O/A | 8:29.0 | 0:00 | 17:54.7 | 0:23.1 | 0:23.1 |
| 3 (=) | 3 | Gary Kiernan/Darren O’Brien | Ford Escort | 14 | O/A | 8:31.2 | 0:00 | 18:02.1 | 0:30.5 | 0:07.4 |
| 4 (=) | 4 | John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones | Darrian T90 GTR | 14 | 1 | 8:31.5 | 0:00 | 18:04.7 | 0:33.1 | 0:02.6 |
| 5 (=) | 5 | Frank Kelly/John McGrath | Ford Escort | 14 | 2 | 8:31.4 | 0:00 | 18:17.2 | 0:45.6 | 0:12.5 |
| 6 (=) | 10 | Tomas Davies/Eurig Davies | Ford Escort Mk2 | 14 | 3 | 8:53.2 | 0:00 | 18:44.2 | 1:12.6 | 0:27.0 |
| 7 (=) | 11 | Richard Moore/Brian Halligan | Ford Escort Mk2 | 14 | 4 | 8:53.5 | 0:00 | 18:51.6 | 1:20.0 | 0:07.4 |
| 8 (=) | 9 | Wesley Patterson/Johnny Baird | Ford Escort RS Mk2 | 14 | 5 | 8:55.1 | 0:00 | 18:56.2 | 1:24.6 | 0:04.6 |
| 9 (+5) | 17 | Patrick McHugh/Pauric O’Donnell | Ford Escort Mk2 | 14 | 6 | 8:51.1 | 0:00 | 19:02.0 | 1:30.4 | 0:05.8 |
| 10 (+3) | 24 | Paul Rowley/Daragh Mullen | Ford Fiesta R5 | 5 | 1 | 8:52.6 | 0:00 | 19:03.4 | 1:31.8 | 0:01.4 |
| 11 (-1) | 18 | Leon Galvin/Ger Foley | Ford Escort Mk2 | 13 | 1 | 8:57.5 | 0:00 | 19:03.7 | 1:32.1 | 0:00.3 |
| 12 (-1) | 23 | Tomas O’Rourke/Tomas Scallan | Mitsubishi Evo 9 | 4 | 1 | 9:02.8 | 0:00 | 19:11.7 | 1:40.1 | 0:08.0 |
| 13 (-1) | 22 | Brian O’Keeffe/Sean Hayde | Mitsubishi Evo 9 | 4 | 2 | 9:09.0 | 0:00 | 19:18.7 | 1:47.1 | 0:07.0 |
| 14 (+1) | 96 | Keith Power/Seamus O’Grady | Mitsubishi Evo 9 | 20 | 1 | 9:09.0 | 0:00 | 19:23.4 | 1:51.8 | 0:04.7 |
| 15 (+1) | 16 | Adrian Evans/Martin Henry | Ford Escort | 14 | 7 | 9:11.9 | 0:00 | 19:27.1 | 1:55.5 | 0:03.7 |
| 16 (+2) | 21 | Richard Cleary/Niamh Holland | Ford Escort | 14 | 8 | 9:11.6 | 0:00 | 19:28.6 | 1:57.0 | 0:01.5 |
| 17 (+7) | 20 | Brendan McDaid/Demien McGettigan | Ford Escort | 14 | 9 | 9:09.8 | 0:00 | 19:30.0 | 1:58.4 | 0:01.4 |
| 18 (+4) | 7 | Mark Straker/Michael Coady | Darrian T90 GT ‘R5’ | 14 | 10 | 9:12.1 | 0:00 | 19:31.8 | 2:00.2 | 0:01.8 |
| 19 (+7) | 15 | James Bradley/Maria Kehoe | Honda Civic | 11F | 1 | 9:10.6 | 0:00 | 19:32.2 | 2:00.6 | 0:00.4 |
| 20 (-1) | 27 | Tony Rees/Geraint Thomas | Darrian It’s a GTR+ | 14 | 11 | 9:18.1 | 0:00 | 19:36.9 | 2:05.3 | 0:04.7 |
| 21 (-12) | 28 | Jason O’Brien/Ger Clancy | Honda Civic | 11F | 2 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 19:40.1 | 2:08.5 | 0:03.2 |
| 22 (+14) | 12 | Simon Chapman/Neil Colman | Proton Millington | 20 | 2 | 9:08.0 | 0:00 | 19:41.0 | 2:09.4 | 0:00.9 |
| 23 (=) | 26 | Gareth Lloyd/David Byrne | Ford Escort | 13 | 2 | 9:22.9 | 0:00 | 19:42.8 | 2:11.2 | 0:01.8 |
| 24 (+1) | 19 | Roger Moran/Ashley Trimble | Ford Escort | 14 | 12 | 9:25.0 | 0:00 | 19:45.3 | 2:13.7 | 0:02.5 |
| 25 (+5) | 25 | Robert Jones/Gary Kinghorn | Ford Escort | 14 | 13 | 9:16.7 | 0:00 | 19:46.4 | 2:14.8 | 0:01.1 |
| 26 (-9) | 31 | Aled Davies/Jason Davies | Ford Escort Mk2 | 13 | 3 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 19:50.3 | 2:18.7 | 0:03.9 |
| 27 (-7) | 29 | Llyr Jones/Sion Jones | Ford Escort RS Mk2 | 13 | 4 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 19:54.0 | 2:22.4 | 0:03.7 |
| 28 (-7) | 38 | Justin Smyth/Gregory McQuillan | Ford Escort Mk2 | 12 | 1 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 19:54.1 | 2:22.5 | 0:00.1 |
| 29 (+5) | 43 | JT Warnock/Lorcan Moore | Ford Escort | 13 | 5 | 9:30.7 | 0:00 | 20:03.2 | 2:31.6 | 0:09.1 |
| 30 (-2) | 32 | Jason Tuthill/Ben Teggart | Ford Escort | 13 | 6 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:03.2 | 2:31.6 | |
| 31 (-2) | 52 | Nick Barnett/Martin Brady | Mitsubishi Lancer | 4 | 3 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:03.7 | 2:32.1 | 0:00.5 |
| 32 (-1) | 33 | Niall Fitzpatrick/Gary Fitzpatrick | Ford Escort Mk1 | 12 | 2 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:05.6 | 2:34.0 | 0:01.9 |
| 33 (-1) | 35 | Richie Dalton/Ger Brett | Subaru Impreza N11 | 4 | 4 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:06.6 | 2:35.0 | 0:01.0 |
| 34 (-7) | 40 | Sean Crowley/Crowley Emma | Peugeot 205 GTi | 12 | 3 | 9:39.0 | 0:00 | 20:06.9 | 2:35.3 | 0:00.3 |
| 35 (=) | 34 | Emmet Cronin/Seamus McTigue | Ford Escort Mk2 | 12 | 4 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:07.1 | 2:35.5 | 0:00.2 |
| 36 (-3) | 91 | Quentin Park/Shane Farrel | Ford Escort Mk2 | 12 | 5 | 9:35.3 | 0:00 | 20:07.5 | 2:35.9 | 0:00.4 |
| 37 (+1) | 92 | Barry McKenna/Mac Kierans | Ford Escort | 13 | 7 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:12.5 | 2:40.9 | 0:05.0 |
| 38 (-1) | 37 | Tommy Foley/Aarron Watters | Honda Civic | 11F | 3 | 9:36.9 | 0:00 | 20:13.5 | 2:41.9 | 0:01.0 |
| 39 (+5) | 45 | Eoin Neville/Tommy Hayes | Mitsubishi Evo 9 | 4 | 5 | 9:31.7 | 0:00 | 20:14.5 | 2:42.9 | 0:01.0 |
| 40 (-1) | 61 | Kenny O’Brien/Daragh Smith | Vauxhall Nova | 9A | 1 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:14.7 | 2:43.1 | 0:00.2 |
| 41 (+1) | 36 | Conor Moore/Leo Tector | Honda Civic | 11F | 4 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:15.6 | 2:44.0 | 0:00.9 |
| 42 (+3) | 66 | Ciaran Cloke/David Creane | Peugeot 306 GTI 6 | 3 | 1 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:17.4 | 2:45.8 | 0:01.8 |
| 43 (-3) | 47 | William Mains/Brian Kirwan | Vauxhall Nova | 9A | 2 | 9:37.5 | 0:00 | 20:17.9 | 2:46.3 | 0:00.5 |
| 44 (+7) | 58 | John Pettit/Michael Coleman | Ford Escort Mk2 | 11R | 1 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:27.9 | 2:56.3 | 0:10.0 |
| 45 (+8) | 90 | Ray Kirwan/David Busher | Honda Civic | 3 | 2 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:28.4 | 2:56.8 | 0:00.5 |
| 46 (+8) | 68 | Paul Cloke/Aidan Kent | Proton Satria | 11F | 5 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:29.0 | 2:57.4 | 0:00.6 |
| 47 (+9) | 71 | Peter Keohane/Mark McCarthy | Peugeot 106 GTi | 1 | 1 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:30.7 | 2:59.1 | 0:01.7 |
| 48 (+1) | 44 | Derek Walker/Shane Walker | Toyota Corolla Twincam | 11R | 2 | 9:41.6 | 0:00 | 20:31.1 | 2:59.5 | 0:00.4 |
| 49 (+8) | 60 | Fran Kinsella/Shay Byrne | Vauxhall Nova | 10 | 1 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:32.8 | 3:01.2 | 0:01.7 |
| 50 (-3) | 57 | John Boland/William Treacy | Ford Escort Mk2 | 12 | 6 | 9:50.0 | 0:00 | 20:34.2 | 3:02.6 | 0:01.4 |
| 51 (+8) | 70 | Eamonn Bates/James Sinnott | Vauxhall Nova | 10 | 2 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:34.9 | 3:03.3 | 0:00.7 |
| 52 (+9) | 85 | Majella Wickham/Brendan Furlong | Honda Civic | 11F | 6 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:37.5 | 3:05.9 | 0:02.6 |
| 53 (+9) | 64 | Shane Murray/William Kehoe | Ford Escort | 13 | 8 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:38.2 | 3:06.6 | 0:00.7 |
| 54 (+9) | 81 | James Boland/David Manley | Ford Fiesta | 11F | 7 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:42.7 | 3:11.1 | 0:04.5 |
| 55 (+9) | 94 | Rhys Pinter/Llion Williams | Subaru Impreza WRX | 4 | 6 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:44.4 | 3:12.8 | 0:01.7 |
| 56 (+9) | 42 | Tommy Kelly/Frank Dwyer | Ford Escort Mk2 | 9A | 3 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:45.5 | 3:13.9 | 0:01.1 |
| 57 (+9) | 74 | Iain Morris/Jeffrey Garnett | Ford Escort Mk2 | 13 | 9 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:49.4 | 3:17.8 | 0:03.9 |
| 58 (-8) | 48 | Steven Armstrong/Conor Boylan | Ford Escort Mk2 | 12 | 7 | 10:00.5 | 0:00 | 20:50.0 | 3:18.4 | 0:00.6 |
| 59 (-4) | 50 | Tony Canny/Joe O’Brien | Ford Escort Mk2 | 13 | 10 | 9:54.8 | 0:00 | 20:50.6 | 3:19.0 | 0:00.6 |
| 60 (+8) | 65 | Ger Power/Liam Fitzgerald | Vauxhall Nova | 9A | 4 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:53.5 | 3:21.9 | 0:02.9 |
| 61 (+8) | 62 | John O’Rourke/Tommy Cuddihy | Opel Corsa | 10 | 3 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:53.8 | 3:22.2 | 0:00.3 |
| 62 (+8) | 83 | Pierce Snr Doheny/Eilish Dunne | Opel Corsa | 10 | 4 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:54.6 | 3:23.0 | 0:00.8 |
| 63 (+8) | 73 | Ger Kelly/Des Curtis | Peugeot 205 GTi | 10 | 5 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:54.7 | 3:23.1 | 0:00.1 |
| 64 (+8) | 67 | Craig Macwilliam/Trevor Hamilton | Ford Escort | 13 | 11 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:54.8 | 3:23.2 | 0:00.1 |
| 65 (+8) | 78 | Paul Dempsey/Johnny McCrory | Toyota Starlet | 11R | 3 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:57.3 | 3:25.7 | 0:02.5 |
| 66 (+8) | 69 | Mick Boland/David Doyle | Vauxhall Nova | 9A | 5 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 20:57.7 | 3:26.1 | 0:00.4 |
| 67 (-19) | 39 | Ruairi Bell/Darren Garrod | Ford Fiesta | 2 | 1 | 10:12.7 | 0:00 | 20:57.9 | 3:26.3 | 0:00.2 |
| 68 (+7) | 77 | Alan Maloney/Sean Lambert | Suzuki Swift | 9A | 6 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 21:00.6 | 3:29.0 | 0:02.7 |
| 69 (-26) | 56 | Barry Hennessy/Steven Scallan | Honda Civic | 1 | 2 | 10:20.0 | 0:00 | 21:01.8 | 3:30.2 | 0:01.2 |
| 70 (-12) | 95 | Viorel Dobasu/Paddy McCrudden | Ford Fiesta | 20 | 3 | 10:06.2 | 0:00 | 21:06.5 | 3:34.9 | 0:04.7 |
| 71 (-25) | 55 | John Hayes/Andy Hayes | Honda Civic R3 | 3 | 3 | 10:22.9 | 0:00 | 21:07.1 | 3:35.5 | 0:00.6 |
| 72 (+4) | 88 | George Leech/Robert Leech | Opel Corsa | 10 | 6 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 21:07.6 | 3:36.0 | 0:00.5 |
| 73 (-13) | 54 | Nigel Molloy/Paul O’Leary | Ford Escort Mk2 | 10 | 7 | 10:15.1 | 0:00 | 21:15.7 | 3:44.1 | 0:08.1 |
| 74 (+3) | 87 | Colin Roche/Megan Conway | TBA Ford Escort MK2 | 10 | 8 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 21:17.1 | 3:45.5 | 0:01.4 |
| 75 (+3) | 86 | Owen Cardiff/Dermot Roche | Opel Nova | 9A | 7 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 21:21.2 | 3:49.6 | 0:04.1 |
| 76 (-35) | 59 | Paddy McDaid/Timmy Lunn | Ford Escort | 11R | 4 | 10:42.3 | 0:00 | 21:23.0 | 3:51.4 | 0:01.8 |
| 77 (+2) | 82 | John Barry/Eddie Byrne | Austin Mini Cooper | 9 | 1 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 21:24.6 | 3:53.0 | 0:01.6 |
| 78 (-26) | 84 | Joey Leacy/Michael Leacy | Ford Escort | 11R | 5 | 10:53.6 | 0:00 | 21:47.0 | 4:15.4 | 0:22.4 |
| 79 (+1) | 53 | Mark Ashton/Tony Kelly | Subaru | 20 | 4 | 9:34.5 | 0:00 | 21:51.2 | 4:19.6 | 0:04.2 |
| 80 (-13) | 49 | Peter Lewis/Andrew Rees | Ford Escort | 14 | 14 | 11:05.6 | 0:00 | 22:22.5 | 4:50.9 | 0:31.3 |
