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RALLY NEWS
NO.11
Clonakilty Finish/Sunday 5.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 16 – FINAL STAGE
1st (7) Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 1.55.53.5
2nd (2) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 1.56.04.2
3rd (5) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Impreza WRC) 1.58.37.3
4th (6) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Impreza WRC) 1.59.03.0
5th (8) Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop (Impreza WRC) 2.03.39.7
6th (10) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian) 2.04.55.7
7th (12) Kevin & Martin Kelleher (Lancer N) 2.05.13.2
8th (25) Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Escort) 2.06.45.3
9th (22) Wesley Patterson/Ruth Guest (Escort) 2.07.34.4
10th (19) James O'Sullivan/Brian Duggan (Lancer N) 2.08.26.8
For Dublin businessman Michael Barrable and his co driver Dermot
O’Gorman it has been a real red letter day to win this West
Cork Rally. Michael has won the Fastnet rally but this is
first victory here on the West Cork event. Michael’s
Focus WRC led the rally after the opening stage and then Tim McNulty
got ahead up until stage 13. McNulty’s Subaru suffered
a puncture and Barrable caught and passed the Subaru, nudging it
on the way past. The race was on then to the finish.
On stage 14 McNulty tried too hard and dropped 5s. On stage
15 McNulty pulled 5s back to leave the gap going into the final
stage, Sam’s Cross, 28s. Barrable kept his head, drove
fast but cautiously. McNulty was 17s faster and Barrable won
the rally by 11 seconds.
At the finish ramp in Clonakilty main street Michael Barrable commented.
“I knew how quick Tim was going. I just kept the head.
Last year I got a puncture towards the end and I didn’t want
to make the same mistake again. I am delighted with the win.
Dermot and all the team did a fantastic job. It was a great rally
and Tim set a fabulous standard”. For his part Tim McNulty
commented. “I am slightly disappointed not to win but I achieved
a finish, it is a great preparation for me for the Circuit. I wouldn’t
want to take it away from Michael, he drove well, but I think I’ve
more to come”. Liam McCarthy in 3rd said. “Really
enjoyed the rally, it was a learning curve in the car and now we
are looking forward to getting our own S12 for later in the season”.
Denis Cronin in 4th was pleased enough to be back on the pace with
his Subaru but admits to making a few wrong tyre choices late on
in the rally. Jon Ingram in 5th had a wrong tyre choice for
the last stage, got caught out on the wrong rubber for the streaming
wet conditions. John Dalton in 6th drove a great rally to win the
modified section with his Darrian and he collects the new “Bones
O’Connor Trophy”.
Kevin & Martin Kelleher thought it was fantastic to win group
N again on their home rally and were delighted as well that their
James Foley prepared “The Big Fella” Lancer performed
without a hitch. Wesley Patterson was best Escort and 9th
overall. 023 Tiles supreme James O’Sullivan came into 10th
and 2nd group N, getting ahead of Washington James on the last stage.
Washington was having gearbox problems. James Stafford was also
driving a Darrian and he crashed out of 9th place in stage 15.
Finally for now well done to Brian O’Connell and all the team
from Cork MC. Very many thanks to all who helped with the RallyNews,
especially Press Officer Kevin O’Driscoll and thanks as well
to all the businesses who lend their support.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net |
