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RALLY NEWS NO.7 An Grianan Hotel/Finish/Saturday 6.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARED AFTER STAGE 8 – FINAL STAGE
1st (1) Gareth MacHale/Craig Parry (Focus WRC) 43.20
2nd (2) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 43.51
3rd (5) Derek McGarrity/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 44.22
4th (8) Hugh M Doherty/Michael McBride (Impreza WRC) 44.57
5th (6) PJ McDermott/Sean Harris (Impreza WRC) 44.57
6th (7) Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 45.31
7th (3) Paul Harris/John McElhinney (Corolla WRC) 45.53
8th (11) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 46.47
9th (17) Cathal Rogers/Sean Ferris (Lancer N) 47.04
10th (9) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 47.04
11th (37) Howard Clarke/Jason Harron (Lancer N) 47.08
12th (22) Camillus Bradley/Danny O’Neill (Escort) 47.30
Gareth MacHale and his co driver Craig Parry turned in a very dominant performance on today’s Donegal Harvest Rally to score a start to finish win in their Focus WRC. Tim McNulty/Eugene O’Donnell were over 30s down at the finish in their Subaru while Derek McGarrity continued his comeback and with Diarmuid Falvey on the notes took a fine 3rd place. It was a great battle towards the end between Hugh Martin Doherty and PJ McDermott in their respective Subarus, Hugh Martin just getting ahead to finish 4th on a tie break. Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy won Group N in their Lancer and Camillus Bradley & Danny O’Neill took best rear wheel drive honours.
When Gareth brought his beautiful Focus WRC into the finish here at the An Grianan Hotel he said. “I’m delighted to win, I think we were fastest or joint fastest on every stage. We changed the set up on the car and it is fairly right now. The stages were tricky enough in places, but very enjoyable and clerk of the course Leonard Wilson put on a great rally”. Tim McNulty said. “We had a good day. We tried new things in the car, different set ups with the differentials. Fair play to Gareth who got the jump on us right from the start, was on a mission, he had a great win. We might do Skibbereen now before Rally Ireland”. Derek McGarrity said he had a brilliant day on his first run in his Subaru Impreza WRC S12. Hugh Martin Doherty really got the hammer down on the final stage to pull off that great result to take 4th place. PJ McDermott admitted he backed off too much and paid the price of not being top Donegal driver. However PJ had a great run anyway, especially considering he crashed his Subaru in testing on Wednesday!
Group N winner Garry Jennings said. “I eased back towards the end, wanted to do no damage, the next rally for me is the big one, Rally Ireland. I’ve waited a year for it!” Cathal Rogers made a cautious enough start to the day but through the afternoon stages as he settled down with Sean Ferris who was co driving for Cathal for the first time, he really got the finger out and got 2nd in Group N on a tie break against Michael Curran. Howard Clarke turned in some brilliant times but had to settle for 4th GpN, 11th o/a at the finish just ahead of best two wheel driver crew Camillus Bradley & Danny O’Neill in their Escort.
Just outside the leaderboard above Manus Kelly came into 13th: Damien Gallagher 14th: Joe McHugh 15th: Paddy White 16th despite hydraulic problems with his Focus WRC: Rodney Wilton 17th and Gary McPhillips 18th which could be enough to clinch the McAree Border Championship for Gary. This though has to be confirmed as we are not absolutely sure where Ray Conlon has finished in his class. Late retirements included Eugene Ferry whose Escort retired with mechanical problems. The reason for Gavin Harris’ retirement was something breaking in the gearbox while Andrew Stewart went out with a broken prop shaft in the Skoda. Young Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan got their Escort safely through the last stage, 20 year old Daniel taking his 6th class win in his 1600 Escort.
Finally for now very well done to all the hard working Donegal MC people and of course lots of others who helped and our thanks to all who supported and helped with the Rally News.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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