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RALLY
NEWS NO.11
Killarney - Finish - Sunday 6.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 19 - LAST STAGE
1st (2) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 2.25.55
2nd (4) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 2.27.59
3rd (6) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (LancerWRC) 2.29.01
4th (15) JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Impreza WRC) 2.33.14
5th (9) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 2.34.48
6th (18) Johnny O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman (Escort WRC) 2.37.20
7th (46) Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors (Impreza N) 2.37.47
8th (27) James Foley/Lisa Roe (Lancer N) 2.38.20
9th (21) Aaron MacHale/Ger McMonagle (Lancer N) 2.38.41
10th (12) Ollie O'Donovan/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 2.39.18
Derek McGarrity and co driver Dermot O'Gorman gave the thumbs up
when they arrived in here to the finish ramp at the Gleneagle Hotel.
No wonder they were so buoyant. The pair had led from start to
finish on this Killarney Rally of the Lakes, their Subaru Impreza S9
never missing a beat. Derek commented "We were able to
cruise all day today, the stages and the rally were superb. The car
was brilliant and I think the Pirelli tyres won the rally for
me". Derek, the reigning Tarmac Champion, now moves into
the lead of this Pirelli Tarmac Championship with 38 points. Austin
MacHale has 30 and Eugene Donnelly, who retired his Corolla today
with a blown turbo, has 24. When Austin MacHale came in
towards the ramp, he said "Excellent rally, huge crowds of
spectators all well behaved. I was sorry to see Donie O'Sullivan
having the accident. We stopped to see if he was OK. He drove
a good rally and I know what its like to be in that position as I
was in it last year". For Eamonn Boland 3rd place was a
great result considering it was his first time out in the new
Lancer, Eamonn saying "The car was good, I should be happy with
it whenever we get a few more adjustments made". JJ
Fleming in 4th place told us "I was able to back off for the
last few stages, there was nothing to be gained, I had a gap in
front and a gap behind. It's a nice result for me, there's a bit
left in us old timers yet!"
One of the surprises of the rally was the performance of Tim McNulty
over the last few stages. Tim set 3 fastest times during the course
of the day and wasn't even in the top 100 after the first 3 stages
of the rally yesterday, having dropped 5 minutes with a first stage
accident and puncture. Johnny O'Sullivan in 6th place wins the award
for the highest placed Kerry driver. It was back in 1998 that Johnny
last won it, and this is his 5th time in all to take the award. No
wonder he was smiling. Johnny had to nurse his Escort WRC home over
the last few stages as the alternator had stopped charging and the
car wasn't going properly.
Alan Ring won the Group N category, as well as finishing 7th overall
in his Subaru, and said "I am very happy and very surprised. I
just never expected this result. A lot of the credit goes to my co
driver Greg Shinnors, I drove to the notes and there were no
dramas". James Foley came into 2nd in gpN at the end and
said "The Subarus were on such a pace yesterday I couldn't see
how we could match it. We upped the ante today, the pace was
absolutely mind blowing". 3rd placed Aaron MacHale more
or less echoed Foley's thoughts about the speed of the gpN cars.
There was disappointment towards the end for George Treacy. He
looked to be heading for a top 10 place in his new Peugeot 206 WRC,
but unfortunately the turbo blew on Caragh Lake which cost a bit of
time, and George, co driven by Jakes Kelly, has finished just
outside the leaderboard. He would like to do more events in the car
and is looking forward to Donegal.
Finally for now, many congratulations to Mike & Noreen Marshall,
yet another brilliant Killarney Rally of the Lakes. Their 25th year
at the helm. It would not of course be possible without the
hard work of a massive team of dedicated people. Well done to them
and many thanks to all who helped and supported the RallyNews
service. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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