1^st (3) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 1.10.29

2^nd (10) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC) 1.12.16

3^rd (2) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza WRC) 1.12.27

4^th (5) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 1.12.54

5^th (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza WRC) 1.13.48

6^th (8) Sean Devine/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 1.13.50

7^th (9) Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 1.13.54

8^th (17) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.14.02

9^th (11) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 1.14.07

10^th (12) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 1.15.59

Kevin Lynch and co driver Gordon Noble in their Stan Harper prepared Subaru Impreza WRC dominated this Cavan Rally, joint fastest with Charlie Donnelly on the first stage and then quickest on every one after that.  Quickest even on stage 7 where he slammed the side of his Subaru against a bank on a square right corner. Charlie Donnelly and co driver Paddy Toner rued their 2^nd stage puncture. Their Corolla WRC developed 6^th gear problems later in the rally, so it is extremely doubtful if they could have challenged Lynch anyway.    Jim Harrison also had a few dramatic moments crashing his McKinstry Subaru on stage 3 and thereafter playing a slightly more cautious game in his chase after championship points. As it is Ray Breen moves into the Dunlop Championship lead, provisionally with 44 points. Kevin Lynch will come up to 2^nd with 40, Harrison 3^rd with 36. 

Kevin Lynch commented when he brought his Subaru into the finish here at Hotel Kilmore. “The stages were fast and technical, it was really enjoyable to drive, a good rally.”  Charlie Donnelly said. “Following the puncture we also had a broken brake pipe, between that and the 6^th gear problem victory wasn’t to be”.  Jim Harrison’s co driver Harvey Bell said “We would have liked to have had a go at Charlie but finishing and getting points was more important”.  Waterford man Ray Breen commented “We had some quick stage times and some not so quick. There was a lot of driving in the stages, I’m just about whacked now, a tough rally”. 

Last year’s winner and current Dunlop National Champion, Niall Maguire, said here at the finish. “It was a good rally today, they were tough stages. I just simply hadn’t got the speed. It was a fair pace at the front but I think I know where I’m losing the time, braking too early coming into junctions, and just being a bit cautious”.  Still Niall battled his way up to 5^th place having been 9^th after the opening stage.  Sean Devine had been up as high as 4^th but he slipped back in the latter part of the rally as his Subaru engine became more and more tired, the car not pulling 100mph towards the end. Melvyn Evans was slightly disappointed to have dropped from 6^th to 7^th over the last few stages, the Welshman having put his Subaru off the road briefly in stage 8 and then stalled on the start line of stage 9.  Kevin Barrett had a very determined run throughout the day and had a great battle with Sean Gallagher towards the end, Kevin just getting ahead of his rival to take 8^th overall by 5s.

Willie Fannin rounded off the top 10 and took group N victory in his Subaru Impreza.  Willie suffered from a sore back throughout the day and almost misjudged things towards the end, easing back ever so slightly while his closes gpN rival, young Mike Curran, piled on the coals and was 9s faster on the final stage to finish just 8s in arrears of Fannin. James O’Sullivan had been 3^rd gpN but his engine has reportedly blown on the final stage to allow Alan Ring into 3^rd in the category.

Enda Keenan would appear to have won the battle of the 2 wheel drives, his closest rival Maurice Moffett slowed and possibly stopped towards the end with fan belt trouble on his Starlet.  The battle for 2^nd in that class then went to a duel between Martin Ward in his BMW M3 and Douglas Richardson in his Escort, but we have to wait for final times on that one. Thomas O’Rourke brought his Opel Astra into his customary class win, but not without last minute dramas, having to stop several times on the road section to put water into the radiator. David McNulty has won cl.15 from Joe McHugh, both in Escort Cosworths. Finally for now well done to Marty Sherlock and all at the Cavan MC for a great rally and our thanks to all who have helped and supported the RallyNews. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSONU www.rallynews.net