Motorsport: Huron sets the pace in Wexford

Former national rally champions, Peadar Hurson and Ian Porter, in their Toyota Celica ST205, are the early leaders of the Cedar Hotel Wexford Rally.

They set a scintillating time on the first run, 14 seconds faster than the Subaru Impreza of Tim McNulty.

All the drivers remarked on the very slippery conditions on the stage. Maurice Gass, in a Subaru WRC, is third some 17 seconds adrift of McNulty.

Local hero, David James (Escort), is in an excellent fourth place, ten seconds behind Gass and six ahead of his class rival, Jimmy Lambert (Escort).

Times from S.S. 1:

1. P. Hurson 9M. 13S; 2. T. McNulty 9M. 27S; 3. M. Gass 9M. 44s; 4. D. James 9M. 54S; 5. J. Lambert & W. Carroll 10M. 00S .

Others just outside the top seven are: Willie O’Dwyer and John Nolan. Paul Harris was a non-starter.

The Motorsport International Show continues in the Simmonscourt Pavilion today until 6pm. The Bertie Fisher tribute is the centrepiece of the show that ends tomorrow (10am. until 6pm).

Motorsport Ireland has announced the three drivers shortlisted for the year’s Billy Coleman Award.

They are John Carroll from Kilkenny, Stuart Darcy of Donegal and Monaghan’s, Adrian McElvaney.

The winner will be be announced at the Alfa Romeo sponsored Awards for Excellence in Irish Motorsport lunch on November 30.

Also yesterday, Motorsport Ireland officially announced that they will have representation on the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association while TROA themselves, will also be represented at Rallies Committee level.

An MSA (Motor Sport Association) representative will also be appointed to the TROA as four events -Circuit of Ireland, Manx, Ulster and Jim Clark rallies take place in their jurisdiction.