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Rally News
No.6 Finish Limavady Saturday 5.30pm
Unofficial Leaderboard After Stage Ten
1st (1) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 40.11
2nd (2) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 40.45
3rd (7) Neil McCance/Sean Ferris (Lancer N) 42.45
4th (16) John McGlaughlin/David McElroy (Lancer N) 42.30
5th (3) Kevin O’Kane/Martin Hanna (Impreza WRC) 42.51
6th (21) Conor Kelly/David Vance (Lancer N) 43.28
7th (8) Sean Devine/Paddy Robinson (Impreza N) 43.31
8th (25) Andy Magee/Joe McAleese (Escort Mk2) 44.05
9th (15) Martin Elliott/Brian Crawford (Lancer N) 44.18
10th (32) Frank Kelly/Aiden Friel
(Escort Mk2) 44.34
Kevin Lynch has scored a unique hat-trick of wins with another
resounding victory on this years Dogleap Rally. Partnered as usual by
Francis Regan and driving the KPL backed Impreza WRC, Lynch was either
fastest or equal fastest on every stage today to secure his place in
the Dogleap history books. Considering that his first victory here
was his first ever rally win, Lynch has indeed come along way and was
ecstatic here at the finish when he told us “another great Dogleap but
boy has it got sharp at the thick end, Glenn drove a great rally, but
we put fresh tyres on for the final two stages just to make sure“ and
with that the rally winner lay down on the grass to ease his bad
back. Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly have brought their Corolla WRC
into a fairly close second today, he and Lynch were on a different
level to all the other crews. Glenn still tops the Northern Ireland
championship tables with this result and was the first to congratulate
Lynch on his victory. Glenn was a bit sheepish at the finish after
what he described as a really wild spin on the final stage saw him
drop a few more seconds but took his hat off to Lynch and paid him all
the winners compliments.
Neil McCance and John McGlaughlin had one of the battles of the day
for the ultra competitive GpN title and both drivers gave it all they
had and were actually both equal second fastest over the final stage
but the honours ultimately go to McCance who clocks up another
Northern Ireland championship GpN victory. Both drivers were
immediately out of their cars at the finish and McCance summed it up
when he said “I could not have gone any harder today as McGlaughlin
strode over and shock his hand and admitted “neither could I, great
battle, well done”. Kevin O’Kane takes fifth today but only at the
last post after a great run from Tony Armsby came to nothing when the
Englishman rolled his Lancer on the final stage and unfortunately
blocked the stage but the crew are both perfectly okay. Talking of
oversees visitors well done to the young Welsh crew Martin and Richard
Lewis who have won class three in their Nova. Conor Kelly just pipped
Sean Devine for third in GpN while Brendan Connor is reportedly off
the road in the final stage and out of a good top ten position. Andy
Magee takes a fine 2wd win today from Mark Barnett and we think Trevor
Moore is third with Frank Kelly fourth.
Finally for now many thanks to all those who have helped and
supported the Rally News service today and in particular well done to
COC Michael Carlin and his team from Maiden City Motor Club on another
great Dogleap Rally. Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd
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