RALLY NEWS NO.8                  Clonmel - Finish - Sunday 5.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 - LAST STAGE
1st (2) Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Impreza WRC) 1.10.12
2nd (4) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.10.34
3rd (7) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 1.11.33
4th (8) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 1.12.12
5th (11) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 1.12.20
6th (15) Ray Breen/John Purceell (6R4) 1.13.39
7th (12) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Impreza WRC) 1.14.00
8th (6) Sean Gallagher/Sean Moriarty (Esc.Cos) 1.15.08
9th (16) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 1.1.16.17
10th (24) Tommy Kiely/Michael Cuddihy (Escort) 1.16.22
11th (19) Mac McKenna/John Loughran (Peugeot rwd) 1.17.10
12th (25) David James/Jim Crowe (Escort) 1.17.36

There were no major dramas through the last stage with Eugene Donnelly fastest and Michael Barrable 2nd fastest. Eugene's win today scores him maximum points in the Dunlop National Championship, Michael Barrable's 2nd place was enough to keep him in the points lead. Eugene Donnelly, co driven by Paddy Toner, in their Stan Harper prepared Impreza WRC, led the rally from the 2nd stage onwards. Maghera man Eugene commented when he reached the finish ramp here in Clonmel. "Delighted with the day, didn't expect to do this well. This is an older car and I would normally think that it would only be in a winning position on a wet day. The clutch went completely at the end although it didn't affect the stage time. It was certainly a very fast rally".  Michael Barrable commented "It was a lovely day, very warm, 2 out of the 3 stages I was able to work with Eugene but he cleaned me on the long stage every time. I know I'm still leading the championship, but its not over yet".  Jim Harrison said "I can't be too miserable with 3rd place, but I had a disappointing day, a bit annoyed at the fuel problem and I lost half a minute on the 2nd stage with the intercom, and catching up with Hurson's accident. But it was good, and I'm looking forward to the next Dunlop round in Galway".  Fourth placed Niall Maguire is of course the current Champion, but hasn't been doing so many events this year, and he said "It started to get better towards the end, I was getting the settings more to my liking for the brakes and  the transmission. I should have done a test before the rally". 

Maurice Gass had been ahead of Maguire, dropped behind him on stages 7 and 8 when his Subaru tyres went off the boil, and then Maurice made a bit of a charge on the final stage, but over-cooked it and slid the car on at a hairpin. Armagh man Maurice wasn't too disappointed and said "It was nice to get a few miles under my belt before the Ulster Rally, and I enjoyed the new car".  Ray Breen drove like a hero to round off the top 6 in his Metro 6R4.  Supposedly the Metro is an outdated car but it didn't appear that way today. Waterford man Ray said "It  brought back some memories, there is no power steering and my arms are hanging out of me, but it was good and it all came together, there's a lot more in the car". 

Patrick Elliott drove a nice rally to finish 7th. Sean Gallagher in 8th gets maximum Dunlop series points and is still lying well up the table. Kevin Barrett edged ahead of Tommy Kiely to get 9th, Kiely 10th and a class win after a brilliant run. 
Eoin Doyle won gpN in his series 9 Subaru Impreza. Willie Fannin was 2nd in the category, James Coleman 3rd and Derrick Jobb 4th. Kenneth Mulvaney has won the Ford Ireland Ka championship section of the rally. Finally for now many thanks to all who helped and supported the RallyNews service and very well done to all in  the Tipperary motor club, especially clerk of the course Micheal Boland.  A brilliant event. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net