Murphy moves into lead in Wexford Rally

Former winner, Stephen Murphy, driving a Subaru WRC, leads the Crosbie Cedars Hotel Wexford Rally at the overnight halt.

The Carlow driver and his Waterford co-driver, Mickey Joe Morrissey, who trailed early leaders, Donie O’Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Ford Focus) by some 20 seconds after the opening two stages now lead by a similar margin.

Murphy remarked that he was on the wrong tyres for those opening stages and not having rallied in wet conditions in some five years, he took time to adjust.

While the third stage was cancelled, Murphy set fastest times on all of today’s remaining stages with O'Sullivan second overnight - 48 seconds ahead of the Subaru WRC of Mel Evans.

Richie Curran, second on the opening stage is fourth from John Price in his Metro 6R4, the Welsh driver is almost three minutes off the pace.

Steve Fleck (Subaru) is in sixth place.

David James leads the rear wheel drive category, his Ford Escort is 42 seconds ahead of the Escort of Liam Wall.

Today’s man retirement was that of Noel Redmond. On Stage 5, the bonnet of his Subaru WRC flipped up and smashed the windscreen and on the next stage, a small fire under the bonnet brought his rally to a conclusion.

Day 1:

S. Murphy (Subaru WRC) 52m. 49s.

D. O’Sullivan (Ford Focus) 53m. 09s.

M. Evans (Subaru WRC) 53m. 57s.

R. Curran (Escort Cosworth) 54m. 55s.

J. Price (Metro 6R4) 55m. 13s.

S. Fleck (Subaru WRC) 56m. 19s.

Meanwhile, in Spa-Francorchamps, Portadown’s, Adam Carroll kept his British Formula 3 Championship alive with a fine victory.