UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 17 – last stage

1^st (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 2.19.36.2

2^nd (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 2.21.22.2

3^rd (11) Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC) 2.21.34.2

4^th (3) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 2.21.46.9

5^th (8) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 2.22.26.9

6^th (4) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 2.22.32.5

7^th (5) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 2.27.19.8

8^th (9) Gareth Jones/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 2.27.40.7

9^th (138) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 2.28.34.1

10^th (22) James Foley/Dominic Markey (Lancer N) 2.29.15.5  

11^th (17) Hugh M Doherty/Michael McBride (Impreza WRC) 2.29.53.7

12^th (23) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 2.30.04.0

For Eugene Donnelly and his co-driver Paul Kiely this First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally has been a dream start to the season and to the defence of their Pirelli Tarmac Championship titles.  Eugene took over the lead from Tim McNulty on stage 4 and led for the rest of the event.  It wasn’t easy. Tim McNulty exerted enormous pressure through today’s stages until unfortunately crashing his Subaru out of the rally almost within sight of the finish line of stage 14.  Although the car was damaged, happily Tim and his co-driver Anthony Nestor were both OK. This left Eugene and Paul almost 2 minutes ahead of their nearest rival Eamonn Boland and it meant the Corolla WRC crew could cruise to the finish. Eamonn Boland hit the door of the crashed McNulty Subaru but otherwise he had a good run, but not an easy one, his Focus WRC always under pressure from the hard charging Peadar Hurson.  Derek McGarrity was driving a new Subaru for the rally and although he had a few slip sliding moments early in the event McGarrity came through strong today and pushed hard for 3^rd place.

When Eugene Donnelly drove his Corolla WRC out of the final stage he took time to tell us. “I’m delighted, absolutely great.  This is our 3^rd year in a row to win here in Galway. I’m especially pleased for Paul, it’s a bit emotional following his father’s death recently. The team put so much effort into this rally I can’t thank them enough. On yesterday’s stages I think I put in some of the best driving of my life and then Tim McNulty put me under pressure this morning, but I managed to bring the battle back, but unfortunately Tim crashed out. The organisation has been first class, a few delays today but I know these rallies are very difficult to run, there have been great crowds of spectators and most of them behaved themselves. We had one farmer this morning, his name was Paddy, and we had to have a bit of a chat with him, as well as the organisers, to get the first stage today up and running. On the issue of the engine we have voluntarily put the engine up for Eligibility Scrutineer Rab McDonald to check and issue a statement, so hopefully this will stop the bullshit. Once again I’d like to thank all our team and of course the organisers of the rally”. 

Outside that leading group Ray Breen had a smooth rally in his Focus WRC, just a gearbox change today the only real problem with the car. Former Tarmac Champion Andrew Nesbitt had all sorts of transmission troubles with his Subaru. By the time the McKinstry mechanics got everything sorted out it was too late in the day for Andrew to make any impression on the podium places, but it is good to the Armagh man back fighting for Pirelli Championship points. Austin MacHale held a steady position inside the top 10, and even when his Focus WRC sustained a time consuming puncture in stage 16 the 6 times Galway International Rally winner was able to hold on to 7^th. Young Welshman Gareth Jones had a troubled rally on the way to 8^th place in his Subaru. Colm Murphy’s 9^th place and winning Group N in his Impreza was a great result. The Group N category was ultra competitive throughout.  James Foley did well to finish 2^nd, Willie Fannin 3^rd.  With 1 stage to go some class leaders included: Eugene Meegan. Damien Tourish: Andrew Bushe and Simon Kehoe.

In the National section of the rally Tom Holton/Francis Kenny led for most of the way but their Toyota Celica gave transmission trouble on stages 12 and 13 and then the centre differential cried enough at Ballinasloe service and the pair were forced to retire.  This should leave the way clear for Brendan Donegan to take victory in his Lancer with Wesley Patterson 2^nd and Ollie O’Reilly 3^rd.

With a couple of stages to go local man Ray Cunningham was leading the Historic section in his Mini Cooper S with Martin Ward 2^nd in his Manta. Todd Falvey was 3^rd and Adrian Kermode/Maurice Beckett 4^th in their respective Porsche 911s.

Finally for now many thanks to all who helped and supported the RallyNews service, and many congratulations to John O’Connell and all his Galway MC team for organising such a successful and enjoyable rally. Thanks as well to John’s brother Ger O’Connell, MD of First Choice Flooring for providing such a professional overall sponsorship of the rally.