UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL LEADERBOARD AFTER SS24
1st (14) Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan (Escort) 2.48.01.0
2nd (20) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian) 2.50.46.5
3rd (28) Brian Brogan/Damien McGettigan (Escort) 2.53.15.2
4th (16) Rodney Wilton/Conor McMahon (Escort) 2.53.23.4
5th (30) Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Escort) 2.53.58.4
6th (29) Martin McGee/Damien Fleming (Escort) 2.54.09.6
7th (37) Eugene Ferry/Derek Heena (Escort) 2.54.10.1
8th (36) Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) 2.56.15.7
9th (77) David Graham/Mark Vaughan (Escort) 2.57.56.7
10th (33) Geoffrey Dolan/Conor Murphy (Sunbeam) 2.58.06.9
Tim McNulty told us before this Topaz Donegal Rally that he would give a large part of what he owned if he could get the winner’s trophy. Well, here he is at the Mt. Errigal Hotel, the winner of the event. Along with co-driver Paul Kiely Tim has dominated proceedings most of the way through. Alastair Fisher did lead for a couple of stages early on but Tim pulled clear on the 2nd run over Fanad and never looked back. This is Tim’s first time to win Donegal. His Subaru ran impeccably over the tough 3 days. Preparation expert Derek McGeehan left nothing to chance.
Alastair Fisher & Rory Kennedy gave Tim a real run for his money but perhaps the turning point for them came on Saturday morning when the intercom in their Fiesta S200 gave trouble in SS9 and they lost 20s. Besides that the diminutive Fiesta simply lacked the top speed of the Subaru. Cork man Daragh O’Riordan set a string of fastest times today but for Daragh and his co driver Tony McDaid it was too little too late as regards victory, but still it was brilliant for them to finish 3rd. Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally struggled with a leaking cylinder head seal on their Subaru on today’s stages, but their 4th place was good enough to retain their lead in the Tarmac Championship. Kevin has 36pts: Tim McNulty 32: Daragh O’Riordan 28.
Alan Ring changed the gearbox in his Lancer today and finished 8th o/a in the International and he maintains a strong position in the GpN section of the Tarmac C/ship. Phillip Morrow lost time this morning with gearbox trouble on his Lancer and he has had a massive battle with Garry Jennings through the day for 5th place o/a and best conventional GpN car. Late retirements included. Denis Biggerstaff whose Subaru succumbed to a blown head gasket. Conor Harvey’s Escort went out for the same reason and this handed the Class 13 lead to Frank Kelly.
Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan drove superbly to win the National Rally in their Escort. Visiting Welsh crew John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones in their Darrian pushed hard and finished 2nd but never seriously challenged Monaghan crew McKenna/Grennan. Brian Brogan/Damien McGettigan finished 3rd National in their Escort despite some brake problems. Scott McElhinney/Karl Reid also upheld Donegal honours by winning the Citroen Racing Trophy.
Finally for now well done to CoC Danny Gormley and his Donegal MC team for organising and running this Topaz Donegal Int. Rally and making such a good job of it. Our thanks to all the people who assisted and supported our RallyNews service. Thanks also to Michael Patterson: Dougie Hughes: Daphne Millar & Mossie O’Connell.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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