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| Clare Stages Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.6 - Finish - Sunday @ 17:25:37 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.6 Finish/Ennis/Sunday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 – Final stage
1st (1) Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.11.38
2nd (3) Niall Maguire/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.12.31
3rd (2) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 1.14.05
4th (6) Wesley Patterson/Martin McGarrity (Escort) 1.14.27
5th (10) Mike Quinn/Grainne McEnery (Escort) 1.14.47
6th (4) Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly (Lancer N) 1.14.58
7th (9) Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) 1.15.15
8th (15) Anthony O'Halloran/Charlie McEnery (Manta) 1.16.00
9th (17) Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Starlet) 1.16.03
10th (5) Shane Maguire/Conor Foley (Impreza N) 1.16.49
Tim McNulty and co driver Paul Kiely have scored a memorable win here today in Ennis. They finished 53s ahead of Niall Maguire/Barry Goodman in a similar Impreza and critically Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally were 3rd in their Subaru over 2m back. McNulty’s win clinches the Dunlop National Rally Championship even with 2 rounds still remaining. Kevin Barrett could have denied McNulty the championship honours today but when a turbo pipe slipped off on his Impreza two stages from the end, that put the matter beyond doubt.
Meath man McNulty commented here at the Auburn Lodge Hotel finish. “It was a good even t today but difficult in the conditions. It was great to get the championship under my belt, a lot of work has gone into it and I also have the Cork 20 Rally on my mind which is 2 weeks away.” This is Tim’s first National championship victory. For his co-driver Paul Kiely it is his 2nd time to be National Co-Driver Champion. The first time was 24 years ago when he sat with Alan Johnston. Ironically Vincent Bonner won the title that year as a driver, but Rory Kennedy could not co-drive on the last event which handed Paul the title.
Niall Maguire, a multi National Champion, gave it a good go today but brake troubles intervened. At one point his mechanics Super Glued a seal into the front brake caliper to keep Niall’s Subaru on the road! It worked but of course Niall always had it in the back of his mind as he whistled down the Clare stages. Wesley Patterson in his Escort finished best of the 2 wheel drive contenders and he said at the finish. “The Clare Rally has always been good to me over the years, no matter how bad a season I’ve been having something always turns up trumps in Clare!” Mike Quinn/Grainne McEnery were 2nd Escort home that extends their lead in the Top Part West Coast C/ship. Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan have won Class 13 in their Escort. Frank commented at the end. “We had a good run but were constantly inconsistent and even scraped the car off a wall on a gravelly square left on the stage before last. But the stages were great”. Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly won GpN today in their Lancer that extends their lead in the Dunlop National series. Sam said. “Everything was one hundred per cent but we were tweaking the new suspension all day”.
Finally for now well done to Clerk of the Course Dermot Kelleher and all his hard working Clare MC crew along with all the volunteers from further afield for putting on such an excellent event. Our thanks to everyone that helped and supported the RallyNews service. Thanks also to Angus Sealy for his help with results.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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