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| Galway Summer Rally |
| RALLY NEWS No.5 - After SS9 - Sunday @ 17:30:02 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.5 Athenry/Finish/Sunday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 – FINAL STAGE
1st (3) Kevin Barrett/Damien Connolly/ (Impreza WRC) 1.08/03
2nd (2) Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 1.08/09
3rd (5) Kevin Kelleher/Paddy Robinson (Lancer N) 1.08.23
4th (7) Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Lancer N) 1.11.34
5th (10) Trevor Bustard/Kenny Bustard (Lancer N) 1.11.56
6th (8) Mike Quinn/Grainne McEnery (Escort) 1.12.03
7th (4) Garry Jennings/David Moynihan (Lancer N) 1.12.47
8th (9) Mike Bird/Kevin Keane (Impreza WRC) 1.13.06
9th (15) Thomas Cahill/Philip Conneely (Lancer N) 1.13.46
10th (12) Jim McKenna/Thomas Trainor (Starlet rwd) 1.14.28
Maynooth’s Kevin Barrett, co driven today by Damien Connolly, has brought his Triton Showers Subaru Impreza WRC to a fine victory today on this Mor Oil backed Galway Summer Rally. Kevin was 6s behind Niall Maguire starting the final stage, but over the 12.45km of that tortuous Kilcoona road Kevin was 12s faster than his rival to win by 6s. It really was the culmination of a very exciting day that saw Barrett in rejuvenated form to score many fastest times, but he also had a few mishaps as well including punctures. He made no mistakes on that final push though and it would be hard to find a more popular winner. It is interesting that Kevin’s co driver, Damien Connelly from Monaghan, co-drove the winner here last year, Patrick Elliott. Conditions today were extremely difficult with wet streaming shiny tar and it is understandable that Niall Maguire was a bit cautious at times. Niall crashed here last year and also he has his thoughts on the National Championship which looks like it will go down to the wire between himself and Patrick Elliott over the final 2 rounds, the Donegal Harvest and Skibbereen.
When Kevin Barrett brought his Subaru into the finish to spray the champagne outside the Raheen Woods Hotel and celebrate his first ever rally win he said. “We had some run through the last stage. We threw away 40s today. The car was fantastic through the difficult conditions. It was a good rally, the win was overdue and I’m just chuffed to bits”. Niall Maguire said. “I am as pleased for Kevin to win as I would be to win myself!” Kevin Kelleher led after stage 7 but dropped quite a few seconds in stage 8 when his Lancer collided with a bale at a chicane. Kevin said. “It was a great day’s racing”. Thomas Fitzmaurice in 5th said. “We had a good run all day but can’t match these men in front”. Trevor Bustard achieved his best result on a National round, 5th o/a and 3rd GpN. Mike Quinn in 6th was trying new paddle gear change on his Escort today and perhaps that held him back a bit but he said. “It will be lovely in the dry!” Garry Jennings fought back to 7th following his burst radiator from stage 5 but reckons the engine of his Lancer is wrecked. Mike Bird finished 8th and best Galway driver. Finally for now a big thank you to all who helped and supported the RallyNews service this weekend. Well done to Victor Farrell and all his hard-working Galway MC team for a very successful rally in very difficult conditions. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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