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| Ulster International rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.14 - After SS14 - Saturday @ 18:09:45 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.13 Antrim/Saturday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 14 – FINAL STAGE
1st (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Fabia WRC) 1.48.09.2
2nd (2) Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.48.23.3
3rd (4) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 1.50.21.4
4th (5) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Impreza N) 1.53.01.6
5th (7) Gwyndaf Evans/Chris Patterson (Lancer N) 1.53.10.5
6th (10) Alastair Fisher/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 1.55.53.1
7th (19) Kris Princen/Bram Eelbode (Clio) 1.59.07.7
8th (22) Brian O'Mahony/John HIggins (Clio) 1.59.31.1
9th (28) Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont (Lancer N) 2.01.10.1
10th (29) Pat Kirk/Peter Ward (Lancer N) 2.01.10.9
Eugene Donnelly went into the final stage half a second behind his rival Gareth MacHale and came out at the finish of that 8 mile Lisnamuck stage 14s to the good and the winner of his third Ulster Rally. To say Gareth was disappointed at the finish was an understatement. He lost all or most of that 14s when his Focus WRC overshot the crossroads turn right junction number 4 and careered up a gravel lane. Gareth said when he came into final service. “I knew it was Eugene’s home stage. It was flat out or nothing. I left my braking two car lengths too late and when we went up the lane the car stalled. I turned off the response to get the car re-started but I knew that was that”. Eugene Donnelly was jumping with joy when he brought his Skoda Fabia WRC into service. They say fortune favours the brave. Eugene’s Skoda got a puncture but it was on the road section after the final stage. He said. “We gave it everything at the end. A couple of places especially we pushed hard. It was brilliant to win on my home stage. That’s where I grew up, rode my bike.” Eugene’s co driver Paddy Toner was equally ecstatic and said. “It was something else. Great. The last 2 stages were special. I knew we had to really go for it and we were 36s quicker than our first time over Slieve Gallion.” That Slieve Gallion stage is of course a stone’s throw from Paddy’s house and one of his Supermarkets!
The Tarmac Championship now goes down to the final round the Cork 20 in early October although Eugene now has an 18 point lead. There are 16 points for a win plus a 50 per cent bonus in Cork. Derek McGarrity was a fine 3rd.
Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas won group N in their Impreza and Mark said. “It was a very enjoyable rally, great organisation”. Gwyndaf Evans/Chris Patterson were 2nd in Group N and Gwyndaf said. “Yes we had some brake fade on the long stage but we only lost a little and fair dues to Mark I think he would have taken it. I don’t care what he says though, he wasn’t thinking about the championship!” The fact remains that Mark now leads the British Championship points going into the final round in Yorkshire, although with a bonus system in operation Keith Cronin could still take the title. Marty McCormack/Phil Clarke will take maximum Citroen Racing Trophy points and also Marty has won the British Junior Title. Kris Princen finished best of the Clio West Euro Cup series from Brian O’Mahony. Alan Carmichael had a massive battle to get his Lancer to the finish but has collected a bundle of Irish Evo Challenge points. Craig Breen finished best Fiesta contender. In the National Rally Camillus Bradley scored a fine victory with Declan McNaughton 2nd and Enda McNulty 3rd – all in Escorts. Ernie Graham won the Historics from Richard Hall with Derek Boyd and Dessie Nutt in their Porsches 3rd and 4th.
Finally for now a big thank you to all the people who helped and supported the RallyNews service this weekend. Well done to Michael Johnson and all his team for organising a superb and exciting Ulster Rally.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL www.rallynews.net
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