UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 14 Last stage
1st (1) Daragh O`Riordan/Tony McDaid (Fiesta WRC) 2.15.40.4
2nd (3) Keith Cronin/Marshall Clarke (Citroen DS3R5) 2.19.29.8
3rd (8) Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Starlet rwd) 2.25.38.7
4th (22) Stephen Wright/Mike Galvin (Peugeot R2) 2.28.31.7
5th (25) Cal McCarthy/Eamonn Dullea (Civic) 2.28.59.8
6th (34) Callum Devine/Paddy McCrudden (Fiesta R2) 2.30.03.5
7th (33) Martin Donnelly/Brian Doherty (Corolla WRC) 2.30.16.5
8th (16) Brian O`Keefe/Sean Hayde (Impreza N) 2.30.51.2
9th (27) Stephen Carey/Ella Ryan (Civic) 2.31.48.1
10th (45) Pauric Duffy/Kevin Glynn (Fiesta R5) 2.32.59.5
With the finish line of this Acesigns Cork 20 Rally in sight Daragh O`Riordan/Tony McDaid are in line for their 4th consecutive win on the event. Conditions were far from easy throughout the 2 days and the long stages made for quite a test of man and machine. It was a superb testing arena for Keith Cronin and the debut here of the Citroen DS3R5. With Marshall Clarke in the co-driving seat Keith certainly gave the new machine its head. He led after the opening stage but then had to play second fiddle to Daragh O`Riordan and the sheer power and speed of the World Rally Car. Still it was a great display from the top 2 crews. Keith Cronin did lose 3m in stage 12 when his Citroen ran over a rock and punctured a tyre but this did not affect his 2nd o/a.
Stephen Wright/Mike Galvin had a superb run to 3rd in the International with their Peugeot 208R2. Stephen, the Billy Coleman Award winner for 2014, has been rallying in Belgium this year and the experience seems to have benefited him enormously. He won group N here last year that was enough to secure the category in the Tarmac Championship, so is building a good affinity with this event. Young Callum Devine did well to finish 4th in the International, Callum and his co driver Paddy McCrudden finishing 2nd in class to Stephen Wright. Brian O`Keefe/Sean Hayde kept a steady hand on the tiller to secure a win in the Group N category in their Subaru and finish 5th o/a. Stephen Carey/Ella Ryan rounded off the International top 6 in their Civic and won their class.
In the National category Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore have scored a conclusive win in the National category in their Starlet. Declan & Ryan are the new Modified champions in the Clonakilty Blackpudding Tarmac C/ship. Declan & Brian Boyle are the new overall Champions and Josh Moffett/John Rowan the Group N title holders. Cal McCarthy/Eamonn Dullea have taken 2nd in the Nationals today with Martin Donnelly/Brian Doherty 3rd. In the Historics Denis Moynihan is heading for victory in his Mk1 Escort from Andy Johnson (Chevette). Latest news we had on the Juniors today is that Andy Mahon/Sean Moynihan lead in their Escort with John O`Sullivan & Kenneth Quirke having a great battle for runner up spot in their respective Civics.
Looking outside this Cork 20 Rally to WRC Rally France Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble have had a great win in the WRC3 category and JWRC. Next weekend it is the turn of the Dunlop series Harvest Rally in Donegal and also the Valvoline Forestry C/ship in Carrick on Suir. CoC Barry Duggan reports over 40 entries and the rally is well on track. Back here on the Cork 20 we would like to thank and congratulate CoC Kevin O`Riordan and the Munster MC team for putting on such a good event. Great stages, brilliant service area and superb hospitality. Many thanks also to everyone who supported our RallyNews service this weekend.
More news to follow: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Angus Sealy/Aidan Harper/Daphne & Mossie)*Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
