UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 16 – FINAL STAGE
1st (2) Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 2.12.38.4
2nd (4) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 2.14.39.5
3rd (3) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian) 2.15.57.4
4th (10) Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Impreza WRC) 2.18.04.3
5th (15) Washington James/L. Jones-Davies (Darrian) 2.22.18.1
6th (20) Ed O'Callaghan/Ger Clancy (Escort) 2.22.34.4
7th (36) Damien McCarthy/Eamonn Hayes (Civic) 2.23.58.8
8th (9) Brian O'Mahony/John HIggins (Clio S1600) 2.24.01.1
9th (27) Leonard Downey/Mark Murphy (Escort) 2.25.32.8
10th (18) John Buttimer/Declan Buttimer (Impreza) 2.26.18.9
Tim McNulty and his co driver Paul Kiely have scored a brilliant victory here on this West Cork Rally, Tim’s first time on the victory rostrum in Clonakilty. He led after the first stage and then Denis Cronin, also in a Subaru, got ahead for 3 stages. McNulty then took over the lead that he wasn’t to lose. Denis Cronin had the drama yesterday of completing 2 stages with only 3 drive shafts on his Impreza. Then today the software controlling the differentials started to faulty and Denis had great difficulty controlling the car. He hung on to finish 2nd with Welsh visitor John Dalton a heroic 3rd in his Darrian. McNulty commented here at the Clonakilty finish. “This is a great rally to win, there are a lot of very good names on that trophy. I think this is where I did my first rally with Mark Nangle. I feel now I'’ ready for the Circuit, this was what I needed and I can build on it". Denis Cronin said. “I am thrilled with my pace over the weekend, my confidence was back”. John Dalton commented. “The car was faultless. I’m delighted to finish in this position in such good company and I’ve won the Bones O’Connor Award. There was good opposition this year. The rally, the stages, the organisation were all fantastic”.
Daragh O’Riordan who was a brilliant 4th in his new acquired Subaru said. “The car didn’t miss a beat. I’m more comfortable with it now. I know it will take 3-4 rallies to get really going, but I have it home in one piece and 4th place was a bonus”. There were many heroic drives on the rally. Just some of them were Damien McCarthy/Eamonn Hayes finishes 7th o/a and winning cl.11 in their Honda. Ed O’Callaghan/Ger Clancy drove a very strong rally to take 6th and win cl.13. Sean Flanagan/Liam Brennan have dropped out of the top 10 but we think they may have won GpN in their Subaru but this has to be confirmed.
Finally for now our congratulations and thanks to CoC Darren McCarthy, his brother Greg, and all the organising team for doing such a superb job in organising this 2010 West Cork Rally. Many thanks as well to all the people who supported our Rally News service and helped us over the course of the weekend. Thanks as usual to Dougie Hughes for distributing the Rally News.
