Down's Peadar Hurson claimed victory in the Wexford Single Stage Rally in his Toyota Celica with 32 seconds to spare over second-placed Meathman Tim McNulty this afternoon. Hurson traversed the nine-mile Coolboy stage covering the Newbawn and Gusserane areas the quickest on each of the three circuits. Down's Maurice Gass finished third a further 34 seconds back, with Gorey's David James and co-driver Ron Guha securing one of their best results by clinching fourth spot in the 2WD Escort BDX.
James had seven seconds to spare over another Wexfordman, William Carroll of New Ross, whose Escort Cosworth 2000 also celebrated dizzy heights. In sixth, just past the half-hour mark came Tipperary's Willie O'Dwyer in a Metro 6R4, 14 seconds ahead of seventh-placed Carlowman John Nolan on 30:15 - himself just two mere seconds clear of Tipperary's ever-popular Jimmy Lambert and his equally celebrated Escort Mk2.
Final Standings: 1) 7 Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter - Down Celica 27:422) 5 Tim McNulty/Julian Nangle - Meath Impreza 28:143) 6 Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr - Down Impreza 28:484) 18 David James/Ron Guha - Wexford Escort BDX29:475) 29 Willie Carroll/Jason Mernagh - Wexford Escort Cos 29:546) 39 Willie O'Dwyer/Andrew Purcell - Kilkenny Metro 6R4 30:017) 23 John Nolan/John Smithwick - Carlow Escort 30:158) 19 Jimmy Lambert/James Coleman - Tipp Escort Mk2 30:179) 12 Tom Holton/Andrew Cullen - Meath Celica 30:1810) 16 Kieran Molloy/Brian Boland - Tipp Lancer 30:2211) 22 Derek Smith/Darragh Cafferty - Wicklow Escort 30:4612) 8 Sean McArdle/Gerard McMonagle - Armagh Celica 30:5513) 35 Donal Bowens/Enda Shiels - Meath Escort Cos 31:1914) 27 Trevor Culbert/James Glynn - Wicklow Escort Mk2 31:2715) 25 James Foley/Ann Foley - Meath Honda Civic 31:3916) 53 Willie Fannin/Brian Duggan - Dublin Lancer Evo6 31:46
Filed by Shane Murray
