Rally News No.4 Final
Control Sligo Retail Park Sunday 5.30pm
Unofficial Leaderboard After Final Stage (8)
1st (3) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus
WRC) 1.02.22
2nd (2) Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Impreza
WRC) 1.02.25
3rd (145) Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Impreza
WRC) 1.04.40
4th (7) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza
WRC) 1.05.30
5th (14) Michael Curran/Fabian McShane
(Lancer N) 1.05.44
6th (6) Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza
WRC) 1.06.04
7th (28) Ian Barrett/Eoin O’Flaherty
(Lancer N) 1.06.21
8th (12) Alan Ring/Derek Brannigan (Impreza
N) 1.06.42
9th (30) Joe McHugh/Declan Gallagher
(Escort COS) 1.06.59
10th (27) Gabriel Martin/Donal Lennon
(Lancer N) 1.07.51
Ray Breen and co driver Andrew Purcell have come
out on top of a tremendous day long battle with Jim Harrison to win
this years Sligo Rally by just three seconds. This is the Focus
drivers second consecutive win in his Dunlop National championship
campaign and done his championship aspirations no harm at all.
Breen was in top form as he drove into the final control and said
“that was fantastic, that’s the sauce, my first Sligo rally and a
win – what a day”. Jim Harrison had a fantastic fight in his Man
Direct Impreza WRC and he and co driver Harvey Bell fought to the
very end but Harrison’s shoulder problems were probably enough of a
handicap to see victory slip away as the day wore on. Reigning
national champion Niall Maguire had been third but incurred a two
minute penalty at the start of SS5 and this drops him back to 6th
to let Sean Gallagher into an impressive third.
Michael Curran has dominated the GpN category
today and never looked to be challenged or put under pressure by any
of the other drivers. The young Co Down driver demoralised the
opposition with a storming run over the opening stage and he and co
driver Fabian McShane were effectively able to cruise to a fine win
today. Frank Wray was another one showing an impressive turn of
speed today as did young Ian Barrett who takes second after a
fantastic run in the Triton Lancer. Frank Wray unfortunately
departed on the final stage with mechanical problems while John
Cairns looked like taking third but broke a draft shaft on the final
two stages to let Gabriel Martin through to take fourth in GpN while
Alan Ring took a solid third today in the Munster Joinery Impreza.
Kevin Barrett has had another super run in his
Triton Impreza WRC and picks up another bundle of Dunlop National
championship points. Patrick Elliott was forced to retire his
Impreza WRC when it was found that the steering rack had broken .
After a thrilling day long battle it looks like Anthony O’Hallaran
has taken the 2wd honours from Maurice Moffatt by just 2 seconds
with Garry McPhillips just one second behind in third.
Finally for now a big thank you to all the Rally
News sponsors and a very big well done to COC Joe Corcoran and his
super team from Connacht Motor Club on another classic but sun
burned Sligo Stages Rally. Michael Patterson and Zoë Todd
