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Tour of the Sperrins |
RALLY NEWS No.5 - After last stage - Saturday @ 17:42:41 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.,5 Maghera/Saturday/Finish
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Final Stage
1st (70) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 38.28.3
2nd (77) Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont (Mini WRC) 39.27.1
3rd (1) Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson (Escort) 39.41.2
4th (84) Frank Wray/Joe McNulty (Impreza WRC) 39.47.3
5th (59) Anthony Cairns/Mark Preston (Impreza) 39.47.9
6th (48) Alistair Cocrane/Paddy McCrudden (Escort) 40.20.9
7th (8) Kevin Bradley/Graham Henderson (Escort) 40.24.3
8th (80) David Armstrong/Paul Mulholland (Escort) 40.43.5
9th (83) Seamus O`Connell/Sean Magee (Escort) 40.45.9
10th (73) Fintan McGrady/Mark Hanna (Escort) 40.54.0
11th (12) Brian Muldoon/Patsy Corr (Lancer N) 41.01.5
There were dramas galore in the wet slippy conditions on this Tour of the Sperrins Rally, but the biggest drama of all happened on the penultimate stage when Desi Henry`s Impreza WRC ground to a halt almost within sight of the chequered flag. Derek McGarrity and his co driver James McKee were catapulted into the lead and consequently the victory champagne at the Walsh`s Hotel finish. McGarrity had started the last loop 20s in arrears of the flying Henry and reduced that to 17s following the short 4th stage. On stage 5 McGarrity really cut loose and was 25s faster than his first run through in the morning. Derek was going so fast along the top moorland section that he could not get the car slowed for the square corner at the end and banged the driver side door against a gatepost. It was a most un-McGarrity like episode. He was then able to cruise through the final stage to take victory by over a minute from Alan Carmichael in the Mini WRC. This increases McGarrity`s lead in the McGrady Insurance NI Championship.
Alan Carmichael also got the hammer down towards the end as he was coming under increasing pressure from Camillus Bradley. Camillus dropped 5s on the penultimate stage and 6s on the final stage to finish `14s behind Carmichael. It was still a brilliant run from Camillus Bradley and his co driver Crawford Henderson to finish 3rd o/a and best two wheel drive car, particularly considering the conditions today. Frank Wray was a solid 4th. Alistair Cochrane/Billy McCrudden were 5th and hold on to their lead in the 2wd section of the NI C/ship.
Finally for now many thanks to everyone at Magherafelt MC for putting on such a good rally and for all their help and assistance. Congratulations to CoC Stephen O`Neill for keeping it all together! Thanks also to Paddy McCollum for the results service.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
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