RALLY NEWS NO.6 Finish/Monaghan/Sunday 6pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 Brogan 3 (final stage)
1st (4) Adrian McElvaney/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.12.05
2nd (3) Patrick Elliott/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 1.12.24
3rd (6) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 1.12.25
4th (8) Michael Barrable/M Morrissey (Focus WRC) 1.12.57
5th (11) Martin Doherty/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 1.13.43
6th (10) Aaron MacHale/Craig Parry (Corolla WRC) 1.14.03
7th (7) Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.14.21
8th (14) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Impreza N12) 1.15.16
9th (15) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N12) 1.15.29
10th (12) Hugh M Doherty/Michael McBride (Impreza WRC) 1.15.43

For 30 year old Adrian McElvaney today’s rally was a bit of a dream come true. Yes, Adrian won last year on this rally but it wasn’t a full round of the Dunlop National Championship. This time the best National Championship drivers were here and through all the dramas kept his head and came through at the end to take a fabulous victory. Co-driven by Paul Goodman, Adrian made no mistakes. To the right and left of the truck man’s Subaru there were dramas. Ray Breen’s Focus WRC looked to be moving into a convincing lead when the engine started to cut out through stages 5 and 6 costing many minutes. The problem transpired to be the fly by wire throttle motor, all part of the sophistication of the modern rally car. Be that as it may it knocked Breen out of the lead, right out of the top 10. Charlie Donnelly then led and he looked as if he was going to win, but then his Corolla WRC engine broke at the crossroads just before the finish of stage 8, Carrickroe. Five times winner of this Monaghan Rally Niall Maguire was lying 3rd at that point, and although he was quite a few seconds away from the lead it was possible that he could have pulled out all the stops and at least got a podium finish. That wasn’t to be either. His Impreza WRC blew its turbo within sight of the finish and Niall was forced to call it a day. It did appear initially that it was a tie for 2nd place between Patrick Elliott and Glenn Allen but a recount showed Elliott 1s ahead, although the results are far from final. Michael Barrable improved dramatically towards the end to move into 4th place.

When Adrian McElvaney stepped up to take the champagne here at the Hillgrove Hotel finish he said. “We kept out of trouble, made no mistakes and had a clear run for most of the day. I really enjoyed the rally, in fact it was a great event”. 2nd placed Patrick Elliott said. “It was looking bleak for a while following the puncture, but it didn’t work out too bad in the end”. Glenn Allen said. “For the last 3 stages we had the car really well sorted and it went well.”

In Dunlop championship terms Patrick Elliott moves into the lead with Martin Doherty not too far away in the points. Adrian McElvaney did his first round of this season’s championship and registered for points, so he has got a maximum score, and although he didn’t really intend to contest the series today’s success may just change his mind. Ray Breen’s total at the end was 1.15.51 which will mean the Waterford man finishing well inside the top 15, so he will get a few points to keep his championship hopes alive.

In the Group N section of the rally Alan Ring and Willie Fannin had a fabulous battle throughout the day in their respective Impreza N12s. Kerry man Ring finished with a 13s advantage and he moves into the Group N of the Dunlop series. There was glory for another local driver when Enda Keenan took the honours for the best 2 wheel drive category. Monaghan man Enda’s new Escort finished a few seconds ahead of Trevor Lancashire’s Escort, Trevor closing in at the end as he became accustomed to his 2.4 engine.

Finally for now very well done to CoC Brendan McCrudden and all the Monaghan MC team. Our thanks to Cora Maguire for all her help. Thanks also to all who supported and helped with the RallyNews service.

BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net