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RALLY NEWS NO.5 Clonmel Finish/Sunday 5pm www.rallynews.net
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 (LAST STAGE)
1st (3) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 49.16
2nd (2) Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 49.30
3rd (10) Noel Redmond/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 50.31
4th (7) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza) 51.12
5th (8) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 51.25
6th (28) Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors (Impreza N) 51.55
7th (19) James O'Sullivan/Rebecca Walsh (Lancer N) 52.12
8th (41) Darragh Raftery/John Carroll (Impreza WRC) 52.29
9th (20) Kieran Molloy/Brian Boland (Lancer N) 52.32
10th (11) David McNulty/Andrew Purcell (Esc.Cos) 52.47
There was a great race to the finish flag here at the Clonmel Arms.
Jim Harrison went into the last 2 stages with a 17s lead. Patrick
Elliott was 6s faster through stage 7 and then on stage 8 it was
Harrison's turn to go fastest, by 3s, to clinch victory. Clerk of
the Course Micheal Boland passed out 2 pints of Guinness for Jim
and co driver Harvey Bell and as they sipped the black stuff in
the sunshine Jim recounted. "After missing Sligo I'm delighted,
it's just great to come back and win. Fantastic. It was a tough
rally. Obviously a few people dropped out on the first stage, but
there is nothing I can do about that, I just got my head down and
went for it. Patrick went hard, it was a great race. We had the
gearbox trouble for a couple of stages, it turned out to be a block
in line filter in the transmission hydraulic system. The car was
good over the last couple of stages. We really went for it". Patrick
Elliott said. "I'm a bit fed up being the bridesmaid. We gave it
a real go, Jim beat me fair and square". The position in the Dunlop
National Championship is that Niall Maguire still leads, Jim Harrison
is now 10 points behind, Patrick Elliott a further 2 points back.
All 3 drivers have dropped scores so it is now a race to the finish
over the final 3 rounds, Galway Summer, Donegal Harvest and Skibbereen.
Alan Ring came through strongly to win Group N today in his Subaru.
Gabriel Martin had led for most of the day, and indeed was up as
high as 4th overall, but he was desperately unlucky to have drive
shaft problems over the last 2 stages, and dropped many minutes
and right off the leaderboard. Provisionally at the minute we have
James O'Sullivan 2nd GpN.Kieran Molloy 3rd.
David James was the fastest 2 wheel drive car over the course of
the day in his Escort. James fitted slicks over the last 2 stages
and really flew, and finished unofficially in 11th overall, just
ahead of Enda Keenan. David has won class 13 from James Coleman,
Ollie Reilly 3rd. Enda Keenan caught and passed Liam Wall on the
last stage, Enda provisionally wins cl.14 from Mick McQuaid. McQuaid
had his dramas on the final stage also with a small accident.
Finally for now, many thanks to everyone in the Tipperary Light
Car and Motor Cycle Club, especially Micheal Boland, Willie Walsh,
John Ward and all the rest of the team. It turned out to be a great
rally despite the worst that Hurricane Alex could throw at it this
morning! (Our thanks also to Ciara Conlon & Dougie Hughes). BRIAN
& LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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