UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL L/BOARD AFTER LAST STAGE
1st (18) Eugene Meegan/Sarah Whelan (BMW): 2nd (19) Jack Newman/Donal Lennon (Escort): 3rd (29) Liam Howlett/Enda Kennedy (Escort): 4th (31) Jason Ryan/Peter Falvey (Starlet): 5th (24) Charlie Hickey/Johnny Hickey (Escort): 6th (50) John O’Sullivan/Eoghan McCarthy:
For Tarmac Champion Donagh Kelly and his co-driver Conor Foley in their fabulous Focus WRC this has been another momentous weekend to take victory on this Cartel.ie Killarney Rally of the Lakes. Donagh won this rally last year and on this occasion played his cards close to his chest through the first day, and then made a charge this morning over Molls Gap and Ballaghbeama to move into a lead he was not to lose. Of almost equal significance as Donagh Kelly winning the rally is Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble finishing 2nd o/a in their Ford Fiesta R5, but taking maximum Clonakilty Blackpudding Tarmac Championship points. Alastair has driven brilliantly throughout the rally and kept his nose clean and his Modern Tyres backed Fiesta out of trouble. It has been a class act from the young Fermanagh man and reinforces his success on the recent Circuit of Ireland. Sam Moffett in his Fiesta R5, co-driven by Karl Atkinson, has pushed hard throughout the rally but had to accept 3rd o/a and 2nd Championship contender.
Donagh Kelly leads the Plasticbags.ie Southern 4 C/ship. He commented after the final stage. ‘I did not expect to win today. It was a great rally and I am delighted to have won.’ Alastair Fisher now moves into the lead of the Irish Tarmac c/ship with 42 points. Alastair said. ‘A great weekend, very enjoyable stages, I am really pleased’. Sam Moffett 2nd on 40 and Stephen Wright 3rd on 38: Josh Moffett led the points starting this event but crashed his Fiesta R5 out on stage 3. Other significant retirements include Garry Jennings who crashed his Subaru off the road on Ballaghbeama. Paul Barrett’s Impreza went into a ditch at Fisher’s Bridge on Molls Gap. Keith Cronin did not retire from the rally but dropped off the leaderboard after incurring a big delay but still set some cracking times.
David Guest/Paddy Robinson in their Lancer were the clear Group N winners this weekend and they lead the category on the ITC. Pat and Gus Kearney were 2nd and 3rd GpN in their Sepam Lancers. Peter O’Kane who has former multiple Tarmac Champion, Eugene Donnelly, co-driving is provisionally 4th GpN. In the Historic Rally Frank Cunningham would appear to be heading for victory here today from David Goose, both in Escorts, and coincidentally they will be 1st & 2nd in the Historic series. Kieran O’Donoghue changed to a harder compound tyre for SS14 this afternoon and the Killarney man has extended his lead over Shane McCarthy in the Juniors with one stage still to complete.
Finally for now we would like to thank everyone who supported and helped with our Rally News service. Also to congratulate the Killarney & District MC team, under direction of new Clerk of the Course Anthony O’Connor, on the running of this excellent event. It was a great weekend and we are delighted to have been able to return to Killarney.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow Rally News on Twitter and Facebook @Pacenotes or @Real_RallyNews
