David Mann and Alun Cook were also not without their problems in Ireland – ongoing issues with their Subaru Impreza WRC's engine had necessitated the loan of another one for the event. However, a turbo-pipe came off a number of times on the first loop of stages and the lost time left them languishing down in 25th place at one point. A determined fight-back, with an engine that was losing oil at an alarming rate, throughout the rest of the day saw them arrive back at the finish in eighth place overall, a feat for which the driver was awarded the John Price Rallying ‘Star Drive' salver – presented by ‘JP' himself at the Awards Ceremony on the Sunday evening.
Simon Mauger, with co-driver Brian Cammack, arrived in Sligo in joint second place in the drivers' Championship and, in spite of his Ford Escort RS suffering a puncture and an over-charging alternator, had the position all to himself by the end of the day. In spite of a few ‘moments', Robert Tout took maximum points in Class N4, finishing just eight seconds behind Mauger after approximately 100 miles of special stages, some of which had been used in the route for Rally Ireland.
After a dismal start to the season, Dave Price was hoping for a change of fortune in his Ford Escort MkVI RWD – but it was not to be. Taking a couple of stages to settle in, he was just starting to get into the event when the car's rear diff. failed, forcing him into immediate retirement.
2007 BTRDA Asphalt Rally Series champions Adrian Spencer and Mark Hewitt acquitted themselves very well on their first visit to Ireland – their Subaru Impreza recorded a finish just outside the top 20 in spite of stopping briefly when a spectator waved an SOS board at them to warn of a car off the road. Fortunately, there were no injuries and Simpson/Hewitt were immediately on their way again.
![John Price / Caroline Price. MG Metro 6R4. Sligo Stages Rally. July 13 2008. [Pic credit: CMWI / actionphotos.ie]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/467687.jpg)
