RALLY NEWS NO.6 Carraig-on-Suir Finish/Sunday 5.50

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 – FINAL STAGE
1st (4) Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Focus WRC) 56.24.8
2nd (2) Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Impreza WRC) 56.33.9
3rd (1) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 57.25.4
4th (9) PJ McGrath/Billy Collins (Impreza WRC) 57.57.7
5th (7) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 58.28.6
6th (28) Trevor Mulligan/Lisa Roe (Escort) 59.33.9
7th (12) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 59.45.2
8th (20) Neil Williams/Eurig Davies (Escort) 1.00.08.4
9th (5) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 1.00.45.2
10th (16) James M Stafford/Frank Dwyer (Darrian) 1.00.53.1
** Washington James/Stefan Evans possible top 10…..

On this 50th Anniversary year of the Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club this Ravens Rock Rally was always going to have extra significance so it is very special for former National Champion Ray Breen, this time with Martin Brady co-driving, to score such an important victory. The rally went right down to the wire with Ray’s Focus less than 1s ahead of Patrick Elliott’s Subaru starting the final loop of 2 stages. There was very little between the two drivers through stage 7, Slievenamon, and then on stage 8 Ray Breen pulled out all the stops to win the rally by 8s. Patrick Elliott said before the start of those final 2 stages that his main priority was maximum points in the Dunlop National Championship and that is exactly what he has achieved as Breen is not registered. Ray of course was National Champion a couple of years ago, and this year is concentrating on the Forestry series which he is currently leading. Patrick Elliott’s maximum score here means he is now tying with Niall Maguire at the top of the points table. This should make the next round, the Stonethrowers, very interesting.

The Group N situation changed on the final loop of stages when Andrew Purcell lost what looked like a convincing category lead when his Lancer suffered 2 punctures. This allowed Alan Ring and his co driver Adrian Deasy to win group N in their Lancer which should also strengthen their position at the top of the 023 Tiles Southern 4 Championship. Sean Flanagan/Brian Duggan almost certainly finished 2nd GpN in their Lancer.

When Ray Breen brought his Focus WRC on to the finish ramp here at the Carraig Hotel he commented. “I hadn’t planned to push so hard on the rally, but when the win is in your sights you have to push. You always enjoy a rally when you win it, but this was a great rally anyway”. Patrick Elliott admitted that he eased back over the final stage, that he reckoned it would have been foolish to make a race of it, maybe end up getting no points instead of the maximum 20. Third placed Niall Maguire, who set some strong times towards the end, said. “The puncture really messed me up, without it it would have been a lot tighter at the finish”.

Welsh visitor Neil Williams was really worried about his Escort gearbox lasting the pace. It did and he had a great result to finish inside the top 10. There are still a few times need to be finalised, but James M Stafford in the Darrian also finished in the top 10 which will put him in 2nd on the 023 Tiles Southern 4 series. Trevor Mulligan had a great run in his Escort and Washington James may well bring his Darrian into the top 10 as well.
Finally for now well done to Clerk of the Course George Clancy and Rally Secretary Anne-Marie Fitzgerald as well as Pat & Winnie Shiel and all the hardworking Carrick-on-Suir MC team. George Clancy in particular has been involved with the motor club from the outset and although he hasn’t been too well over the last few days, he has battled bravely to keep the rally going. Well done to all.
Our thanks to all who helped and supported the RallyNews service.
Brian & Liz Patterson www.rallynews.net

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