RALLY NEWS NO.13     Killarney..finish..Sunday 6.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 18 - (LAST STAGE)
1st (5) Stephen Finlay/Rory Kennedy (Focus WRC)2.21.42
2nd (6) James Cullen/Ellen Morgan (Subaru) 2.23.12
3rd (7) Stephen Murphy/MJ Morrissey (Subaru)2.24.12
4th (1) Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Celica)2.26.21
5th (18) Donie & Tim O'Sullivan (Escort Cos)2.30.35
6th (28) Hugh Dunne/Greg Shinnors (Legacy)2.31.34
7th (29) Mark Fisher/Gordon Noble (Impreza N)2.31.53
8th (14) Davy Greer/Michael Reid (Celica)2.31.57
9th (15) Frank O'Mahony/Hugh McPhillips (Impreza)2.34.03
10th (19) Johnny O'Sullivan/S.Moriarty(EscortWRC)2.36.51

After a 4 year lay off, Stephen Finlay has made his return to Irish rallying in the best possible style by winning this Killarney Rally of the Lakes. Stephen said at the finish "I've really enjoyed it, a great event, the car went well".  For his co-driver Rory Kennedy, this is the 7th time he has tasted the champagne here in Killarney - quite a memorable day for the crew and the Malcolm Wilson Motorsport team who run the Pirelli shod Focus.  James Cullen was more than pleased with his 2nd place, James still suffering the after effects of flu, and sweating hard the whole way through.  Stephen Murphy also had a good run to 3rd place, his Subaru not missing a beat throughout.  This is the opening round of course of the Tarmac Championship, and for all the top drivers the points are pretty important. Current Tarmac champion Ian Greer, having won this event last year, was slightly disappointed to be only 4th, but as he said himself "There's a lot of work to be done to the car". 

For Killarney businessman Donie O'Sullivan in 5th this was his best international results, although he did finish 4th in W.Cork last year. This time was his first in a left hand drive car. Sixth placed Hugh Dunne is on his very first international rally, so he is delighted with his finish.

Mark Fisher showed once again, by winning gpN and finishing 7th overall, that he is a very fine driver in his own right.."The car's really good"..reported Mark at the finish, going on to say "It could do with some fine tuning for Irish tarmac, but we've had a great day's crack racing David Greer today"   Further stories include - Hugh M Doherty not making the finish, the Donegal man had been 10th, but his Escort WRC developed a mechanical fault on the way to Molls Gap. This let Johnny O'Sullivan on to the leaderboard, Johnny really struggling today with power steering problems. Gerry McVeigh finished 2nd in gpN.
In the MODIFIED category of the rally, we have unofficially Eugene Donnelly winning, despite a 6 minute off road excursion. Philip Shaw finished just 20s behind Eugene after another brilliant drive. We are still awaiting the arrival of the Metro 6R4 of George Tracey, he should be there or thereabouts.
Many thanks to all who helped during the rally and well done to Mike & Noreen Marshall and all the team from Killarney & District MC. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON