UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 10 – last stage
1st (6) Sean Devine/Damien Duffy (Impreza WRC) 43.00
2nd (2) Raymond Johnson/Richard Bell (Impreza WRC) 43.25
3rd (1) Craig & Rodger Bennett (Focus WRC) 43.48
4th (3) Kieran Shaw/Crawford Henderson (Lancer WRC) 44.16
5th (9) John McGlaughlin/David McElroy (Lancer N) 44.21
6th (8) Neil McCance/Sean Ferris (Lancer N) 44.36
7th (17) John Donnelly/Oran Donnelly (Escort WRC) 45.11
8th (10) Martin Elliott/Brian Crawford (Lancer N) 45.12
9th (23) Trevor Moore/Glenn Campbell (Escort) 45.14
10th (22) Mark Barnett/Jonathan Charleston (Escort) 45.40

Donemana building contractor Sean Devine was a very happy man when he brought his Subaru Impreza WRC into the car park here at Ballymena’s County Hall. He had won his first major rally, this Glens of Antrim event, final round of the NI Championship. Co driven by Damien Duffin Devine had led the rally from the word go and finished 25s ahead of Fermanagh’s Raymond Johnson in a similar Subaru. Craig Bennett’s 3rd place in his Focus WRC also earned him 3rd in the championship. Neil McCance’s 6th overall and 2nd in group N behind John McGlaughlin earned McCance the NI Group N Champion’s title. A last minute upset was that Trevor Moore blotted his copybook with an off road excursion on the Parkmore stage to drop from a probable 4th to 9th.

When Sean Devine took a few seconds to catch his breath he commented. “Yes, that is my first decent rally win. It was a bit shaky this morning when the diffs weren’t right but after the service I felt pretty confident. I would like to do the NI championship again next year. I have a right hand drive Impreza coming. The left hand drive doesn’t really worry me but a couple of days before every rally I’m searching around for a car. Overall it was a great rally, thoroughly enjoyed it”. Second placed Raymond Johnson said. “We had a really good run in the afternoon, the car was working well, the trouble was it was half a day too late”. Third placed Craig Bennett remarked. “I thought it was a brilliant day, I want to do the championship again next year. Obviously our car was under geared for Slieveanorra, but we’ll know the next time!”

Group N winner John McGlaughlin said. “I think we hit every barrel, every chicane, out there, but it was a good rally. I’m happy to have won group N”. Neil McCance told us. “Winning group N in the championship has been a long time coming, it was a very difficult day for us trying to judge the pace. I felt I wasn’t going quick enough and wondering what other people’s times were, it was hard to get a balance.” The main thing for Neil and his co driver Sean Ferris is however that they are the champions! Martin Elliott brought his Lancer into 3rd gpN, Martin reckoning that 1st gear was on its way home by the time they got the car to the finish, but he was pleased enough with the day having done a lot of adjustments to the suspension.

Trevor Moore’s big moment came at the 3 right into the bridge at the spectator point in Parkmore. Trevor was playing to the gallery, caught a stone inside and very nearly lost the whole show. As co driver Glenn Campbell said. “We got away with it, it looks like we’ve won the class and finished in the top 10, it was a brilliant day”. Alistair Cochrane had some fuel pump problems on the last stage but got the car through the finish to win his class in the NI championship. His total time for the day 46.17. John Donnelly also had car problems towards the end but finished with a flourish to take 7th overall and said. “Just glad to be here after so many non finishes”.

Finally for now very well done to new clerk of the course Simon Michael and all the MAMC team for such a good rally. Many thanks to all who helped and supported our RallyNews service.