RALLY NEWS NO.6 Sligo - Finish - Sunday 5.20 (No.6A - updated 5.45)

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 (LAST STAGE)

1st (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 1.06.47
2nd (3) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 1.06.49
3rd (152) Sean Devine/Brendan Connor (Impreza WRC) 1.09.29
4th (8) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Focus WRC) 1.10.51
5th (16) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.11.09
6th (18) Noel McCarrick/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza N) 1.11.17
7th (23) Joe & Dermot McHugh (Escort Cos) 1.11.32
8th (24) David McNulty/Keefe Kilcoyne (Escort Cos) 1.11.33
9th (19) Willie Fannin/Richard Price (Impreza N) 1.11.46
10th (31) James O'Sullivan/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 1.11.48

In the closest of close finishes Patrick Elliott turned on the pressure to be fastest through stages 7 and 8, but couldn't quite get ahead of Niall Maguire, the gap at the end 2s in Maguire's favour, which increases his lead in the Dunlop National Championship. In Group N Gabriel Martin was looking good 2 stages from the end, but on the final stage he dropped nearly 4 minutes, to allow local man Noel McCarrick through to win the category. Willie Fannin also in a Subaru was 2nd, and James O'Sullivan 3rd group N in his Lancer. Fannin increases his GpN lead in the Dunlop series. Gabriel Martin's time loss was down to a puncture.

Just outside the leaderboard George Robinson finished 11th. Dominic McLoughlin finished 12th and best of the 2 wheel drive cars in his Peugeot 205 rwd. Danny McBride was 13th in his gpN Impreza, Enda Keenan 14th in his Mk2 Escort and Maurice Moffett 15th in his Starlet. These 2 having a great battle through the afternoon stages.

Niall Maguire looked more than relieved when he brought his Subaru into the finish here at the Sligo Park Hotel and said. "This oul man was under pressure. The 4th stage was very difficult, we had a few big slides and the confidence dropped. It was a tough day, but still we won, and I'd like to thank everyone at Stan Harper's for getting the car rebuilt so well and so quickly after the accident at Ravens Rock 2 weeks ago."
/> Patrick Elliott commented. "I did my best, Niall won it fair and square, thoroughly enjoyed the day." Sean Devine did well to finish 3rd and said. "We had a lucky escape early on in stage 3, otherwise it went well and I'm pleased about the day". It was a great result for Glenn Allen to finish 4th in his first run in the left hand drive Focus WRC. Kevin Barrett was a very relieved man to reach the finish at all, let alone 5th, following all his gearbox problems on the 2nd half of the rally. Noel McCarrick put on a real charge at the end to finish 6th overall and win Group N, Noel 4th fastest overall on the final stage, a measure of how hard he was going.

Finally for now, many thanks to Barry Horan, Harvey Bell, Andrew Mullen, Dunlop and all who supported and helped with the RallyNews. Well done to Joe & Chris Corcoran and the great team from Connacht Motor Club for laying on a great weekend's rallying.
BRIAN & LI Z PATTERSON www.rallynews.net