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RALLY NEWS NO.15 Letterkenny Finish/Sunday 5.45pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 22 (FINAL STAGE)
1st (1) Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen C4 WRC) 2.48.38.4
2nd (2) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 2.50.45.3
3rd (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 2.54.23.2
4th (16) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Corolla WRC) 2.59.14.4
5th (17) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 3.01.33.9
6th (26) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 3.05.00.2
7th (164) Mike Curran/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 3.07.45.5
8th (21) Sean Devine/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 3.08.08.4
9th (30) James Cullen/Allan Harryman (Lancer N) 3.08.37.7
10th (42) Stuart Darcy/Steve Furey (Lancer N) 3.08.45.8
The thousands of spectators were treated to a fantastic weekend’s
rallying here on this Shell Donegal International Rally. World Rally Champion
Sebastien Loeb and his co-driver Daniel Elena powered their fabulous little
red Citroen over the Donegal roads to score a wonderful victory. Mark
Higgins and Rory Kennedy led the rally initially in their Pirelli/MIS
Subaru but had to give best to the French Citroen team which was no disgrace.
For Mark a big consolation is maximum Tarmac Championship points to consolidate
his lead in the series ahead of Eugene Donnelly.
There was a massive battle today between Kevin Lynch in his Focus and
Eugene Donnelly in his Reid Motorsport Subaru. Eugene had just got ahead
of Kevin by 3.3 seconds following the High Glen stage, but then on the
penultimate stage, Port Lake, Kevin powered the Ford over a crest to find
a huge rock which had somehow been pulled out and was right on his racing
line. Kevin smashed a front wheel when he hit the rock. He stopped and
changed the wheel, got going but then the steering rack cried enough.
Ironically when he was having his dramas Donnelly was having his as well.
His Subaru had blown a turbo and he dropped a minute on that Port Lake
stage. Happily for the Tarmac Champion there was service just after the
stage and he was able to get a new turbo fitted for the final test over
Atlantic Drive.
The very charming Citroen PR lady Marie-Pierre Rossi explained when she
had confirmation of Sebastien Loeb’s Citroen finishing the last
stage in first position. “Sebastien enjoyed the rally, found it
good to compete on an event where there is so much enthusiasm. This has
been a good exercise for Citroen, we have learned a lot about the Irish
terrain and how to work at the set up of the car. The different weather
conditions will give us a good idea of what to expect in November”.
There were lots of dramas further back over the last few stages Hugh Martin
Doherty was forced to pull out following a fine drive which saw him holding
7th place. Hugh Martin’s Subaru having gear change problems, then
when that was fixed the manifold broke and he went OTL. Niall Maguire
had been 9th but his Subaru was parked up after the High Glen stage with
mechanical problems. Seamus Heron retired his Focus when he clipped a
rock on Atlantic Drive, damaged the power steering pump which then spilled
out its fluid and set the car on fire. Seamus was able to put out the
conflagration but his rally was over.
In Group N Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh did a superb job all weekend to
lead the category from start to finish. Garry Jennings had bad luck when
he was knocked back with a puncture. Mike Curran drove brilliantly to
come into 2nd GpN. James Cullen was 3rd in the category and just pipped
Stuart Darcy, Stuart losing valuable seconds on the last stage when he
had transmission trouble which caused an overshoot.
Young Toni Kelly was battling her way into the finish as we type, her
Honda suffering clutch troubles but a good 27th o/a and 2nd in class.
Sean Devine staged a remarkable recovery to come into 8th. Phil Collins
has at last finished the Donegal Rally and with Derek Brannigan co-driving
they have won the National Rally with Damien Gallagher/Mac Walsh 2nd.
Martin McGee/Damien Crawford were 3rd.
RPM is going to broadcast the television programmes on the Donegal Rally
(UTV) this Thursday 21st June at 11 pm and then for a further 2 weeks.
The rally will go out on other channels and of course there will be repeats.
Finally for now we would like to thank all the hard working officials
of the Donegal MC for their efforts in staging such a great rally and
thanks as well to all who supported and helped with our Rally News service.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net |
