On paper this looked like a deceptively straightforward rally but in practice many drivers had problems, but Derek McGarrity and his co driver James McKee kept their Subaru on the right track to score a 33s victory over Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy in the Focus WRC. Alastair Fisher/Marshall Clarke led the rally brilliantly for quite a bit of the Saturday leg but their GpN Lancer was overwhelmed by the World Rally Cars of Derek McGarrity and Gareth MacHale today.
As ever on a rally as big as the Circuit of Ireland there are last minute hard luck stories. This year’s is the retirement of Richard Cathcart and his co driver Martin Brady almost within sight of the Newry finish. Richard and Martin were holding 5th overall and 2nd in GpN but their Subaru transmission started to break down on the penultimate stage and on virtually the last junction of the last stage the car just ground to a halt. There were some mixed fortunes as well in the Citroen Racing Trophy with Marty McCormack slipping to 2nd when he crashed his C2R2 Max off the road for 4 minutes in stage 13. This left Mark Donnelly leading the Citroens and he had a real struggle to make the finish as his C2R2 engine was on its last legs. Current Irish Citroen Champion Adrian McElhinney finished 3rd in the Citroens today.
In the race for Mitsubishi Evo Challenge points Dundalk man Brendan Cumiskey was fastest today to take maximum points. John McGlaughlin was fastest yesterday but his Lancer incurred mechanical problems today and he finished down the order. Neil McCance finished 6th o/a after the 2 days but was pipped on the post each day for fastest Lancer.
For 45 year old Derek McGarrity this victory on the Circuit of Ireland is his 4th and possibly the sweetest of all. He is the only driver since the rally started in 1931 to have won it 4 times. Jimmy McRae has won it 7 times but no other drivers has won it 4 times. Derek commented after the final stage. “I’m delighted. One of those rallies where everybody had problems and we had as well. Maybe I managed mine better. A great rally, a great buzz and it all ran on time”. Co driver James McKee said. “Its my first International win and it is the rally in Ireland that everyone knows”. Gareth MacHale said. “I suppose with all the problems with the car if you ad said yesterday, would you accept 2nd place, I would have broken your hand. As it is I’ve got maximum Championship points. Derek sportingly took off the Tarmac championship stickers and is not taking the points. There were 15 stages and on 14 of those I had problems” A slightly subdued Alastair Fisher broke off from washing his Lancer at the finish and said. “It was always going to be difficult foe me today in the dry and I would have settled for 3rd. That’s how it finished”.
NATIONAL RALLY: Kenny McKinstry had a huge lead but his Impreza has reportedly gone on fire on the last stage. Unconfirmed reports suggest the fire is not too serious, it was a burst power steering pipe spraying oil on the hot engine, but Kenny will almost certainly not make the finish. This will leave Raymond Conlon provisionally leading from John Waring with Emma McKinstry in close attendance. The times will need to be examined because several drivers stopped to offer help at the fire.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
