UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 18 FINAL STAGE

1^st (3) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.54.59.5

2^nd (5) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 1.55.07.4

3^rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.55.37.9

4^th (9) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 1.55.46.5

5^th (6) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.56.23.4

6^th (8) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 1.56.31.4

7^th (7) Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC) 1.56.44.3

8^th (1) Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Focus WRC) 2.00.46.5

9^th (18) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 2.02.27.0

10^th (20) Alan Nesbitt/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 2.03.01.06

There was a real grandstand finish to this Ulster Rally with Eugene Donnelly and co driver Paul Kiely just pipping Tim McNulty & Anthony Nestor by 7.9 seconds. Derek McGarrity was a strong 3^rd at the end having survived some niggly engine problems.  Seamus Leonard was delighted to have won group N in his Lancer from Alan Nesbitt’s Impreza. 

Eugene Donnelly was just bursting with elation when he reached the finish control here at the Armagh City Hotel, saying. “It hasn’t sunk in yet, to win my home event the Ulster International, its just a dream.  There was terrific tension over the last few stages Tim pushed us hard, it was one of my most difficult rally finishes ever. I really enjoyed the first day, there was no big pressure, but then that all changed with the chance of winning. A great rally”.   Eugene’s result increases his lead in the Pirelli Tarmac c/ship.  Tim McNulty brought his Pierse backed Subaru into the control and said “I gave it everything towards the end, the Pirelli tyres, the car, everything worked well, I’m not too disappointed. Its not easy to race Eugene Donnelly”.  Derek McGarrity said. “There was just 40s covered the top 4 cars at the end, yes I had hassle with the engine and it is a mystery as to what the problems was, but really it was a good event”.  Eamonn Boland also had a good rally, enjoyed his Focus. Austin MacHale brought his Focus into the finish here and could hardly speak, he was so angry, having been baulked by a slower car on the final spectator stage, Austin cursing the whole idea of mixing slow cars in with world rally cars down a narrow twisty stage. It could have been critical for Austin as young Matthew Wilson was only 7s behind him starting that final stage, and there were British championship points at stake. Austin is still in 2^nd place in the PBRC. 

What a rally 18^th year old Matthew Wilson had, fighting back from his injuries and to turn in this sort of performance recording 1 fastest time when everyone else was really going for it was a brilliant achievement.  Matthew also caught a car on the final stage and was actually slower than MacHale through the test. Peadar Hurson was delighted just to finish the rally. He hasn’t finished an event for a long time and didn’t even change tyres going into the last loop of stages, so dropped a few seconds but happy to make it through. Mark Higgins was a little disappointed to finish down in 8^th place having led for so long, but there wasn’t \much Mark could do towards the end even though his Focus was back to full health. Still Mark gets a load PBC points and maintains his lead.

Seamus Leonard and co driver Gerry McVeigh survived some brake problems to turn in a superb group N winning performance. Co driver Gerry saying “There’s life in the oul dog yet”.  Equally Alan Nesbitt was very pleased with his 2^nd place and it means that it keeps group N on the Tarmac Championship going to the final round in Cork.  Garry Jennings was 3^rd gpN and 11^th overall and he leads the group N category on the Tarmac. Garry is going to switch to his newer Evo8 for the Cork 20.  David Higgins managed to battle back to 12^th overall and 4^th gpN with some quick times towards the end.  Happily his daughter Alicia is on the mend in hospital.    

John Keatley & Maurice Beckett won the Historic section of the national rally in their Mk1 Escort.

Finally for now well done to the NI MC especially CoC Gary Milligan and rally director Alan Elliott and his wife Eithne.  Our thanks to them and all who helped and supported the RallyNews service. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net