UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 21 LITTLE SWINTON

1^st (2) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Focus WRC) 2.01.34.3

2^nd (6) Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza WRC) 2.02.11.9

3^RD (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 2.03.39.0

4^TH (7) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 2.04.29.2

5^th (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC)  2.04.29.2

6^TH (15) Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 2.11.00.2

7^TH (21) Craig & Roger Bennett (Focus WRC) 2.12.55.1

8^TH (18) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 2.14.08.4

9^TH (29) Alan Nesbitt/Paddy Robinson (Impreza N) 2.15.41.1

10^TH (24) Ryan Champion/Craig Thorley (Lancer N) 2.16.08.2

When Mark Higgins, co driven by Bryan Thomas,  steered his Focus WRC to a halt here at the finish of stage 21, Little Swinton, he freely admitted that it had been a hard rally and that Tim McNulty in his Subaru had pushed him all the way. For 34 year old Mark the win gives him also the lead in the Pirelli British Championship.  Tim McNulty stunned many with his outright speed in the Pierse Civil Engineering Impreza WRC, while Eugene Donnelly as ever kept his act together to bring his Corolla WRC into 3^rd place and take the lead in the Pirelli Tarmac Championship by 1 point from Derek McGarrity with Tim McNulty 3^rd.  Donnelly is in a stronger position than the points would suggest, having dropped 1 score with his Circuit of Ireland non finish.  Eamonn Boland and Derek McGarrity had the closest of finishes, tying on time, Boland having the advantage as he was fastest on the opening stage where McGarrity had the puncture.

Major retirements towards the end included Phillip Morrow whose Lancer head gasket blew in stage 19. 23 year old Ulsterman Phillip and co driver Glenn Patterson had been 2 of the major heroes of this Jim Clark Rally.  Their performance was electrifying.  This was the first time Phillip had driven this car, 1^st time with Glenn Patterson co driving and of course they were both quite badly hurt in a car crash on Thursday. As it was Rory Galligan’s performance was also pretty fantastic to come through from a first stage puncture to win group N and finished 6^th overall. There were many drives worthy of note – Craig Bennett did extremely well to get his Focus into 7^th. Garry Jennings reinforces his position at the top of the group N Tarmac Championship standings with his 8^th place here today.  Another major drama towards the end was Garry Jennings having to get out of the car and get some fresh air, close to the point of collapse at the start of the last stage when his Lancer sprung a fuel leak. The interior of the car filled with fumes and Garry was a very ill young man for a few moments. When he reached the stage finish there were floods of tears, through illness and relief.

Mark Higgins commented here at service after coming off the last stage. “It was a great rally, very fast in the dry conditions, its much closer in the dry, a real race. The stages are not as technical as the Ulster or the Manx but because it is so fast there is the odd crest could catch you out. Overall a great rally. We did lose a little time on the last stage, or at least we thought we did when the throttle mechanism broke and we had to go on to manual throttle cable.”  In celebration as Mark crossed the flying finish line of this final stage he threw his Focus WRC into the most massive slides…much to the appreciation of the spectators.  Tim McNulty jumped out of his Impreza when he finished this stage, Tim and co driver Eugene O’Donnell both wreathed in smiles, McNulty punching the air and saying. “I came to race the Irish competitors, having this great dice with Mark is a bonus, but overall the best thing is maximum points in the tarmac championship”.  Eugene Donnelly said. “Fair play to Tim he drove really well, we were happy the way we went towards the end. Learned a lot more about the car’s handling, it was  a real learning curve and its good to move into the lead of the Tarmac. Derek had some problems but we were there to capitalize on it”. 

Finally for now many thanks to all who helped and supported the RallyNews service and well done to Colin Pagan and all his team for running what turned out to be a superb rally.