RALLY NEWS NO.6                                   Finish/Ardara/Saturday 6pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 – FINAL STAGE
1st (1) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 1.07.30
2nd (4) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 1.08.29
3rd (5) Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC) 1.08.36
4th (6) PJ McDermott/Paddy Robinson (Impreza WRC) 1.09.55
5th (14) Stuart Darcy/Enda Sherry (Impreza) 1.10.20
6th (10) Gary McPhillips/Mark Tierney (Escort) 1.11.24
7th (18) Danny & Rory McBride (Lancer N) 1.11.39
8th (37) Casimer McGill/Brian Boyle (Escort) 1.11.41
9th (21) Damien Gallagher/Mac Walsh (Escort) 1.11.51
10th (17) Camillus Bradley/Charlie Beattie (Escort) 1.11.56
11th (8) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 1.12.09
12th (15) Joe & Dermot McHugh (Esc.Cos) 1.12.11
 
It was certainly a day of drama and excitement here on this Ardara based Donegal Harvest Stages Rally.  Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman reinforced their newly earned Dunlop Championship crown by scoring a 59s victory over Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally.  Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty were forced to slow towards the end and accept 3rd place at the finish following overheating problems with their Impreza. Danny McBride scored a great Group N victory and Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy took 2nd in the category to clinch Group N on the Dunlop National Championship. Patrick Elliott commented. “It was a very tough day but fantastic to win here in Donegal. It looked a bit grim at first service but we hadn’t a bother with the car and we tidied our act up in the afternoon.  It was such hard going, I’ll be sore after that”.  As Patrick stood quietly by his beautiful Subaru, Charlie Donnelly, the Dunlop Champion 2 years ago, came over and put his arm around him and said. “You’re the man now, I’m history!”  Kevin Barrett was in fine form when he brought his Subaru into the finish.  Kevin was 3rd in the Dunlop National c/ship, 2nd today, and he said. “I kept the best to the last!”  Kevin’s co driver Sean Mullally told us. “For the first time in two years I wasn’t using my HANS device as it is away being painted.  At a big jump in stage 8 I really hurt myself and had to get some pain killers from Maggie (McKinstry) to get me through the last stage. I was a real tough rally”. 
 
Seamus Leonard was 2nd for most of the afternoon but his Impreza started to overheat in stage 8.  Seamus put some water in on a road section, switched the anti lag off and did his best through stage 9 but dropped 8s to Kevin Barrett which meant Seamus finishing 3rd. PJ McDermott made a real charge through the last few stages and set some good times. He was also rescued by Kevin Barrett between 2 stages when Kevin gave him his spare wheel and tyre. There could be some champagne on the go for Kevin tonight in Voodoo!” 
 
Alan Ring said he kept the car down the middle of the road and took no chances on his way to 2nd in group N.  Danny McBride said he used his head and not his feet towards the end to reinforce his group N win.  Stuart Darcy showed real flair through the afternoon stages and said it was brilliant to have the car right and Enda Sherry co-driving, a real thrill through the stages.  Gary McPhillips did a good job in bringing his Escort into best 2 wd.  It was a special day as well for Casimer McGill who took 2nd two wheel drive in his Escort, his only misdemeanour being a spin at his home Portnoo junction which cost a couple of seconds. John Cairns dropped out of the top 10 when his Subaru went on to 3 cylinders over the last 3 stages. Joe McHugh dropped out of the leaderboard as well when his Escort Cosworth lost 4th gear. Mark Sheahan looks to have won the McAree Border series but this has to be confirmed. Sean Flanagan/Brian Duggan clinched 2nd in group N on the Dunlop series despite struggling through the final stages with 2 wheel drive on their Impreza on top of all the body damage from their earlier roll. Finally for now our thanks to all who supported and assisted with the RallyNews service. Well done to new Clerk of the Course Alan Moore and all his team for laying on such a successful and demanding event. Our thanks also to Dougie Hughes for his help in distributing our RallyNews bulletins. Thanks as well to Yvonne Watters the Event Secretary and to Angus Sealy.  BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

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