RALLY NEWS NO.6                   Ennis Finish/Sunday 6pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE  8 – LAST STAGE

1^st (3) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC) 1.11.03  

2^nd (2) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 1.11.15

3^rd (5) Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza WRC) 1.12.12

4^th (11) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.13.44

5^th (10) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 1.13.53

6^th (8) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.13.58

7^th (12) Alan Ring/Derek Brannigan (Impreza N) 1.14.49

8^th (36) Martin Doherty/Sean Moriarty (Impreza WRC) 1.14.54

9^th (15) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 1.14.56

10^th (133) Noel McCarrick/Eugene O’Donnell (Impreza WRC) 1.16.00

Late news - original roadpenalty for Charlie Donnely was removed, so Charlie now wins the rally, Ray Breen wins the Dunlop Championship.

When Ray Breen and his co driver Andrew Purcell brought their Focus WRC into the finish of this Clare Stages Rally, the imposing granite frontage of St. Flannans College provided an impressive backdrop to a fairly historic occasion. Not only had Ray Breen won the rally, he had also clinched the Dunlop National Championship even with one round remaining.  In a way it was a poignant finish to the event.  Charlie Donnelly brought his Corolla WRC into 2^nd place 48s in arrears.  If only he hadn’t got a bizarre road penalty he would have won by 12 seconds.  Charlie does have the right of appeal of course against the penalty.  Ray Breen commented. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. We came to the rally with a job to do, just go for the points and I found it really difficult not to go over the pace. Charlie Donnelly has been extremely quick, he really put it up to us on stage times.  Really, I’m ecstatic.  If anybody had said to me in Ballina at the start of the championship I would have thought they were mad. It took me time to get to grips with the car, also the new tyres.  Along with that as well it was a very competitive year, faster than normal, but is been brilliant”. 

Charlie Donnelly commented. “I don’t know what to say.  Of course I’m disappointed and I don’t know whether we will appeal”.  At that Charlie went over and said well done to Breen which was very sporting.  Charlie’s brother Eugene was standing beside the Corolla looking very crestfallen, the joint Tarmac Champion saying. “I don’t know what Charlie has to do to win one of these rallies”.  Even though Charlie was fastest through the stages today, even if he had won the rally, Ray Breen would still have been the new Dunlop National Champion. 

Niall Maguire showed all his champion flair to bring his Subaru home into 3^rd place. Colm Murphy was 4^th and won group N, Colm saying “I enjoyed the day, it was good to establish a finishing pattern.  I just haven’t got to the end of many tarmac rallies this year, so hopefully Cork 20 will go right”.  Michael Curran said. “It was a class day, really enjoyed it and I know Colm beat me by a few seconds but at least I kept him honest”.  Michael Curran has a really good lead in the group N section of the championship and is hot favourite for the Patterson RallyNews Award, but will still have to go to Skibbereen to clinch the title. Even with dropped scores current champion Willie Fannin could still retain his group N title if he got a fantastic result on the Fastnet, and Alan Ring is 2^nd in the points and he also could upset the applecart.

Kevin Barrett brought his Subaru WRC into 6^th having survived 2 punctures and having to run with a tyre borrowed from Kenny McKinstry’s car which wasn’t quite the right compound.

Finally for now well done to Jim Casey and all at the Clare club for a great rally. OK there were lots of incidents but everyone did a brilliant job to keep the event running on time throughout. Thanks also to all who helped and supported the RallyNews service.

BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net