RALLY NEWS NO.6 Sligo
Park Hotel/Sunday 6pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 – FINAL STAGE
1st (2) Patrick Elliott/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza
WRC) 1.11.24
2nd (1) Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Corolla WRC)
1.11.25
3rd (4) Aaron MacHale/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC)
1.11.44
4th (5) Adrian McElvaney/Arthur Kierans (Impreza
WRC) 1.11.47
5th (11) Noel Redmond/Andrew Purcell (Impreza WRC)
1.13.31
6th (8) Michael Barrable/M Morrissey (Focus WRC)
1.14.02
7th (15) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N)
1.15.11
8th (14) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Impreza N)
1.15.37
9th (19) David James/Jim Crowe (Focus WRC)
1.15.38
10th (26) Rodney Wilton/Conor McMahon (Escort)
1.16.01
Just outside the above leaderboard we have Noel McCarrick,
Kevin Kelleher, Enda Keenan & Maurice Moffett. Still awaiting times
for Car 42 Gary McPhilllips whose Escort could come into the top 12.
This is a red letter day for Patrick Elliott, his first
rally win of any sort, and to do it on the Dunlop National
Championship is very special. Patrick led the points starting today
so this reinforces his position at the top ahead of Charlie
Donnelly. Patrick, a building contractor from Virginia in Co. Cavan
said. “A very tough event, obviously we had a great run and really
enjoyed it. Well don to the organisers”. Charlie Donnelly said. “We
gave it everything on the last stage, but it wasn’t to be. I’m
disappointed surely but there are reasons for it all. Full credit to
Patrick, he kept his head together well during the day.” Third
placed Aaron MacHale said at the end “Big pressure all day. I was
looking for a rest from it at times, but it was brilliant”. Adrian
McElvaney showed that he has really got his act together by clocking
up several fastest times during the day. He went for it as well on
the last stage to try to get into 3rd but overshot a
square left on gravel and put his Subaru up the bank, possibly
damaging a drive shaft, so his time then was 1s slower than Aaron
which meant 3rd place escaped him by 3s. Noel Redmond in
5th said his puncture early on put a damper on things but
he’s happy enough and enjoyed the rally. Michael Barrable in 6th
felt he was “getting there or thereabouts towards the end”. Michael
went on to say that following the problem with the gear change/fly
by wire it seemed to upset some of the systems in the car and it was
stalling at hairpins for example although there is an anti stall
device in the Focus. He reckons there are some fine adjustments to
be done.
Willie Fannin and his co driver Mick Courtney had a great
run today to win group N, Ashfield Building contractors supreme
Willie said it was quite a difference from last year when he had an
accident. He did enjoy the day but found it was hard to get a
rhythm and said also “It’ll tighten up group N in the
championship”. Alan Ring currently leads the gpN points in the
championship and he said “We had a good enough run today but getting
stuck behind Gass on the first stage cost me time and any chance of
a win. The 2nd time over that stage we were 30s
quicker”. David James came through quite well at the end to get 9th
in his Focus. Interestingly David’s co driver Jim Crowe was 2nd
here 25 years ago when he was co driving for a very young and
virtually penniless Frank Meagher. Rodney Wilton rounds off the top
10 and drove a superb event today in his Escort to finish best 2
wheel drive and win class 14.
Finally for now very well done to all at Connacht Motor Club
especially new CoC Kieran Henry. The whole organising team did a
splendid job. Thanks as well to all who helped and supported our
Rally News service. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynbews.net
