RALLY NEWS NO. 15 Mt. Errigal Hotel Letterkenny/Finish/Sunday
UNOFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 22 FINAL STAGE
1st (3) Garry Jennings/Neil Doherty (Impreza WRC) 2.25.05.6
2nd (8) Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC) 2.26.26.7
3rd (5) Derek McGarrity/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 2.28.01.3
4th (7) Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Impreza WRC) 2.28.17.1
5th (1) Darren Gass/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 2.29.03.1
6th (17) Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly (Lancer N) 2.34.04.7
7th (133) Josh Moffett/Jason McKenna (Lancer N) 2.34.21.8
8th (139) Martin Doherty/Damien McCauley (Lancer N) 2.37.51.9
9th (41) Kevin O'Connor/Gerard Conway (C2R2 Max) 2.42.35.4
10th (40) Joe McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Clio R3) 2.43.14.6
UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 22 FINAL STAGE
1ST (12) Declan & Brian Boyle (Escort) 2.32.21.0
2ND (14) Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett (Escort) 2.32.25.8
3RD (22) Martin McGee/Denis O'Mahony (Escort) 2.34.48.1
4TH (16) Brian Brogan/Damien McGettigan (Escort) 2.37.05.5
5TH (26) Paul Barrett/John McElhinney (Escort) 2.37.37.6
6TH (146) Ed O’Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Escort) 2.38.19.8
7th D. Conaghan 8th Robbie Peoples 9th Wm McFadden 10th Geoffrey Dolan
After a hugely tough Topaz Donegal Rally there could not be a more popular winning crew than Garry Jennings & Neil Doherty in their Subaru Impreza WRC S14. Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty also turned in a superb performance to take 2nd place. Derek McGarrity/Paul Kiely were 3rd. This makes it a Subaru Impreza top 3. Indeed it was a top 5 with Donagh Kelly taking 4th and Darren Gass 5th. When Jennings came off the final stage he was bursting with joy. 35 year old Garry has won several National rallies and a few forestry events but he describes this win here on the Donegal International as “the pinnacle”. It is a special day as well for co-driver Neil Doherty. Neil is only the third Donegal co-driver to have won this event. Neil’s father John, whose home place is on the Glen stage, is critically ill in Letterkenny Hospital, but his only wish was that Neil would continue with the rally. To have won is a bonus that money couldn’t buy. In Tarmac Championship terms Darren Gass’ fight back to 5th o/a keeps him in the points lead with Garry Jennings 2nd. Garry also leads the GpN category in the series.
Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly won GpN here today and they lie 2nd in the category in the c/ship. The battle between the 2 young Moffett brothers, Sam and Josh, was one of the highlights of the rally. Sam just got the edge this time but no doubt Josh’s day will come. They both could have a big future in rallying. A last minute retirement was Niall Maguire. His Subaru ceased on the final stage, Atlantic Drive. Martin McGee damaged a front wheel of his Escort squeezing past the stricken Impreza, but Martin managed to keep going and finished 3rd in the National., Declan & Brian Boyle won the National by just 4s from Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett following a great battle. Brian Boyle summed the job up when he said. “We’re all home safe. That is what it is all about”. With 1 stage remaining Andy Johnston (Chevette HSR) was leading the Historic Rally by 3s from John Keatley (Escort). In the Junior category Damien Whoriskey (Escort) had a 33s advantage over Barry McLaughlin (Corolla).
Finally for now our thanks to all who helped with and supported our RallyNews service. Congratulations to CoC Eamonn McGee and to all the enthusiastic and hardworking Donegal MC team plus the many volunteers from all over the country for putting on another very successful Topaz Donegal Rally. Thanks also to Angus Sealy (Results) and Aidan Harper plus all the staff of the Rally HQ hotel, the Mt. Errigal, for all their great hospitality and helpfulness over the weekend. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
