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RALLY NEWS NO.6 Ennis/Service/Sunday 6.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 – FINAL STAGE
1st (4) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 58.30
2nd (3) Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy (Focus WRC) 58.52
3rd (1) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 59.03
4th (9) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.00.11
5th (15) Willie Fannin/Paddy Robinson (Impreza N) 1.00.43
6th (10) Jack Sleator/Andrew Purcell (Impreza WRC) 1.00.51
7th (12) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 1.00.58**
8th (8) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 1.01.23
9th (17) Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Impreza N) 1.01.36
10th (22) Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Clio) 1.02.32
** Mike Curran may have road penalties to be applied, but this will be confirmed later. If so he moves to 3rd in GpN and 9th o/all but still wins the GpN Championship.
The leading drivers had a great race over the final few stages of this Clare Stages Rally. Tim McNulty and his co driver Eugene O’Donnell were not to be denied though, Tim eventually winning by 22s from Aaron MacHale. When McNulty stepped from his Pierse backed Subaru here at service he told us. “It was a good test for us today I needed that before Cork 20. The other boys were tipping along right, there was nothing wrong with the pace but then its never easy now in Irish rallying. It was a grant rally, very enjoyable”. Aaron MacHale in 2nd said. “I wasn’t risking it over the last few stages, we didn’t think we could catch McNulty. The main job was to get the co-driver’s championship for Killian that was in my head all day, not to mess up and to keep the Focus in one piece for Cork”. Patrick Elliott, who led the rally initially and then brought his Subaru into a solid 3rd said. “We took it relatively handy through the last stage. I am happy with the day I wasn’t trying to race too hard”.
Behind the top three it was Kevin Barrett who brought his Triton Showers Subaru into 4th and move himself into 3rd overall in the Dunlop Championsh9ip. Willie Fannin in 5th had a great charge through the afternoon stages to win group N. Alan Ring had led the category but his Subaru encountered transmission troubles and Alan finished just outside the leaderboard. Michael Curran was 7th o/a and 2nd in GpN which is good enough to win Michael and co driver Fabian McShane the Group N National Title and the Patterson Rally News Award for the Dunlop Championship. Ian Barrett was relieved to come into 9th overall and get on to the pace following an early hiccup. Alan Ring was 11th o/a and 4th GpN. Paul Kiely 13th o/a and 5th GpN.
Anthony O’Halloran was best of the rear wheel drive crews in his Manta Anthony 12th o/a with Mike Quinn 14th in his Escort and Martin McGee 15th. Finally for now well done to Jim Casey and all the hard working officials of the Clare MC. Our thanks to all who helped and supported the Rally News service.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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