RALLY NEWS NO.11
Galway – Finish – Sunday 6.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE
17 (LAST STAGE)
1st (2) Eugene
Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 2.16.52.1
2nd (1) Austin
MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 2.17.27.5
3rd (3) Derek
McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Fabia WRC) 2.19.22.9
4th (8) Peadar
Hurson/Glenn Patterson (Impreza WRC) 2.20.25.5
5th (4) Eamonn
Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 2.20.59.6
6th (5) Tim
McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 2.21.26.5
7th (15) Gareth
MacHale/Paul Nagle (Corolla WRC) 2.22.33.3
8th (25) Colm
Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 2.25.33.4
9th (23) Garry
Jennings/James O'Brien (Lancer N) 2.26.40.0
10th (21) Seamus
Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 2.27.04.7
Eugene Donnelly steered his Corolla
WRC on to the finish ramp here at Eyre Square to a tumultuous
reception. Quite a sight, a beautiful darkening blue sky as dusk
creeps in, floodlights, Pirelli girls, hundreds of balloons,
thousands of people – a very special moment for Eugene and co
driver Paul Kiely. Over the last stage Eugene was able to relax
slightly. Austin did score fastest time but Eugene was on course
for another International victory and a maximum points score to
start the Pirelli Tarmac Championship. Eugene, who celebrated his
38th birthday a couple of weeks ago, told us. “I’m just
delighted, can hardly believe it. It was a very tough weekend,
Austin put us under a lot of pressure, he drove well, and at times
I couldn’t see the end. It is a great start to the year,
especially after the way it finished last season”. For his part,
Austin was equally full of praise for Eugene’s performance, and
told us. “He deserved to win, he drove very well. We tried hard
but that one spin put it beyond reach. I’m happy to be back on the
pace, very pleased with the right hand drive conversion. It was a
good rally, well run, but very tough. As well I’m delighted for
Gareth. This is his first proper rally in a world rally car and
there were a lot of good cars and drivers finished behind him”.
Third placed Derek McGarrity, also a birthday boy, 40 today, said.
“The new Skoda has tremendous potential, the power and braking are
fantastic. I know the shortcomings now, the rear suspension needs
work, more travel for the Irish bumps. We will go to West Cork and
hopefully have it sorted for the Circuit”. 4th placed
Peadar Hurson was so impressive this weekend after a long lay off,
said. “I’m still a bit rusty, braking a wee bit early, but getting
the feel of it again, learned a lot, nice to be back. Hopefully
I’ll be on the Circuit”.
Eamonn Boland in 4th
said of his weekend. “No hassle, no bother”. Tim McNulty
commented. “Of course it was a slippy weekend, the new car is
super, there’s lots more to come and we’ll do plenty of testing
between now and the Circuit to get the suspension sorted.” Young
Gareth MacHale in 7th said. “I’m ecstatic, I would have
been happy enough to finish on my number, 15th, 7th
is brilliant. Today I was setting some 4th and 5th
fastest times, hopefully I’ll be out in the WRC car again. We’ll
discuss that in the bar tonight!”
It was a red letter weekend for Colm
Murphy to win Group N and finish 8th overall in such
exalted company. Colm said. “After the first stage of the rally it
wasn’t looking too bright, we hit a wall after a jump. But then we
settled down and got into a good position to build up a buffer for
today where I knew the stages were a lot trickier. I’m looking
forward to the Circuit, but you know its only due to my brother
John and other sponsors that we’re here at all”. Garry Jennings
was 2nd GpN and 9th o/a. Garry well pleased
with his older model Lancer, and a great word to say for co driver
James O’Brien. “He’s a great man, held me back when necessary
then got me going, he’s great for the confidence”. Seamus Leonard
overcame gearbox troubles to bring his Lancer into 10th
and 3rd gpN.
Finally for now well done to all in
Galway MC, congratulations to Clerk of the Course John O’Connell,
Eleanor, Shelia and lots more….a fabulous weekend’s rallying.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
