UNOFFICIAL INT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 14 (last stage)
1st (1) Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley (Focus WRC) 1.52.53.8
2nd (4) Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Fiesta R5) 1.54.39.6
3rd (2) Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Fiesta R5) 1.54.48.9
4th (3) Declan Boyle/James O Reilly (Fiesta WRC) 1.56.03.4
5th (5) Robert Barrable/Damien Connelly (Fiesta R5) 1.56.13.1
6th (7) Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Fiesta R5) 1.56.29.4
7th Daniel Cronin 8th Stephen Wright 9th Eugene Donnelly 10th Jonny Greer
UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER STAGE 14 (last stage)
1st (14) Gary Kiernan/Ryan Moore (Proton) 1.58.28.7
2nd (16) John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian) 2.00.34.0
3rd (12) Kevin Eves/Chris Melly (Corolla) 2.02.05.6
4th (24) Jason McSweeneyAnthony O Conaill (Lancer) 2.02.16.1
5th (36) John Bonner/Emmet Sherry (Escort) 2.02.23.7
6th (28) Eugene Meegan/Daragh Mullen (BMW) 2.02.45.7
This was an immaculate display by Donagh Kelly and his co driver Conor Foley in their Focus WRC. Their win today makes it 5 wins in a row, unprecedented for the West Cork Rally. Donagh did not put a wheel wrong all weekend and his back-up team did a superb job. Ironically, although this is now the opening round of the main Tarmac Championship, Donagh Kelly does not score points, as that honour is confined to R5 cars. Donagh is of course a previous Tarmac and National Rally Champion. Maximum Tarmac points this time goes to Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes in the Fiesta R5.
Donagh Kelly commented at the finish – ‘My co driver Conor and myself worked out that the first 4 stages made up a third of the rally mileage. So we really went for it there and built up a good lead. But then the hardest part of any of the 5 victories was driving within ourselves through the last day and a half, managing our pace. It was another great rally.’
Josh Moffett, to an extent, echoed Donagh’s words and he said. ‘We figured we needed to get ahead early on and it went really well. OK we had a hiccup this morning but a great afternoon.’ Current Tarmac Champion Sam Moffett said. “I am a lot happier now than yesterday, now that I am back on the pace. I made a mess of the tyre choice this morning, but that is not important. It was getting on the pace that mattered’.
Declan Boyle certainly had a mixed rally and when he brought his Fiesta WRC into the finish at Clonakilty there seemed to be wheels pointing in different directions. Desi Henry had a brilliant drive, possibly spoiled by one mistake when he spun his Fiesta, and he said. ‘I have bitter sweet feelings, disappointed to lose that bit of time but very pleased with my speed’. Robert Barrable’s 5th place nets him 3rd in Tarmac points. Willie Mavitty won GpN today in his Lancer and Callum Devine survived a blown turbo with his Fiesta to win R2. Gary Kiernan was bubbling with enthusiasm about his Proton when he came to the finish as the winner of the National Rally. Maximum Modified Tarmac points go to Kevin Eves with John Bonner 2nd.
Finally for now very well done to CoC Greg McCarthy, and indeed the whole Cork Motor Club team that put this fabulous rally together. Undoubtedly it was no easy task. Our thanks go to all of them and also to the many people who supported and helped with our RallyNews service.
BRIAN & LIZ & MICHAEL & ZOE PATTERSON www.rallynws.net Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or Facebook @Real-RallyNews
