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RALLY NEWS
NO.13 Cork/Finish/Sunday 5.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 16 (FINAL STAGE)
1st (2) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru WRC) 2.38.24
2nd (1) Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Corolla WRC) 2.39.50
3rd (3) Austin McHale/Joe Downey (Corolla WRC) 2.40.58
4th (4) Frank Meagher/Dermot O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 2.42.06
5th (5) Kenny McKinstry/Sean Mullally (Subaru WRC) 2.43.30
6th (14) Niall McShea/Michael Orr (Saxo) 2.46.03
7th (18) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Escort G3) 2.51.14
8th (24) Roy White/Des Cooney (Lancer N) 2.52.00
Rounding off the l/board - John Dempsey & Nigel Hickland.
Andrew Nesbitt was the dominant force throughout this Cork 20
Rally, winning in the end by a comfortable 1m26s, despite last
minute dramas when his Impreza manifold cracked the the car lost
power. Ian Greer did not achieve his hat trick of Cork
20 wins, but is still pleased to finish 2nd on his first outing
in the new car. Austin McHale got on the pace towards the end
of the rally, having sorted out his Corolla's differential/handling
problems, to finish 3rd. Frank Meagher was right in the
frame until he suffered a puncture on his Focus in stage 11,
and did not do his chances any good either when he took an excursion
into a field in stage 15.
Andrew Nesbitt completed the 16th and final stage, Coolnashamrogue,
and paused to comment "I'm delighted to have won. It has
really made the year for me after winning the championship to
take victory here in Cork". For Andrew, Cork man James
O'Brien in the co-driver's seat, the Subaru Ireland team, the
Pirelli technicians and everyone else who made it possible, it
really is the icing on the cake of a superb year today.
Roy White achieved his best result by winning group N in his
Lancer, Roy having a trouble free run in the Tim Ashton prepared
car. Niall McShea was one of the heroes of the rally on
h is way to winning his class, finishing 6th overall in his little
1600cc 2 wheel drive Saxo. Eugene Donnelly drove his heart out
this morning, he said he was going harder over this morning's
stages than he had ever driven before, including Donegal, to
fight back from a 3min. delay yesterday, to win the Modified
category. Max McKillen crashed his Puma out of the rally earlier
today but still won the F2 title in the Tarmac c/ship following
the retirement of Barry Coleman. If Killarney man Johnny O'Sullivan
keeps his Escort WRC on course and crosses the ramp here at County
Hall he will have won the Southern 4 C/ship. In the FORD
KA Championship John O'Dowd was on course to win this round and
finish 2nd in the c/ship, but crashed on the last stage. Oliver
Stanley wins today John Carroll 2nd and 2nd in c/ship. James
Travers had already clinched the title. HISTORICS: John Farrell
won the Post Historics from John Keatley with Douglas Richardson
3rd, all in Mk1 Escorts. Dessie Nutt took victory in the Historics
from Philip Wylie. Dessie also wins the Historic c/ship even
with the Killarney round remaining. Finally for now..many thanks
and well done to Alan Verso, plus all his team who have this
Cork 20 such a superb rally..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON..(thanks
also to all who helped & supported the Rally News service). |
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