Report
courtesy of Dunlop - Proud sponsors of the National Rally Championship
EVANS
WINS NENAGH RALLY TO TAKE EARLY LEAD
IN DUNLOP CHAMPIONSHIP
A
new season of the Dunlop National Rally Championship got underway
with the Abbey Court Hotel Nenagh Rally that was won by Welsh
ace, Mel Evans (Subaru WRC) and his co-driver, Patrick Walsh.
At the finish of the six-stage rally, Evans/Walsh were 22 seconds
ahead of the Subaru pair of Derek McGarrity/Willie McKee. Kevin
Kelleher/Adrian Deasy (Mitsubishi) were some 21 seconds further
behind in third. The Modified category was won by Mike Quinn/Grainne
McEnery (Escort) and Stephen Cullen/Seamus O'Grady (Subaru)
won Group N.
On
the opening 20km stage, where the competitors found the roads
frosty and slippery, Evans set the pace and finished the stage
some eight seconds ahead of the Subaru of Derek McGarrity, who
was driving the ex-Eamonn Boland Subaru S12B. The reigning Northern
Ireland Rally champion was on his first real outing in this
car in terms of driving it on narrow stages. Meanwhile, Donegal's,
Manus Kelly, in his Mk. 2 Escort, set a terrific pace and occupied
third spot - just two seconds further behind. Niall Maguire
and Kevin Barrett, both in Subaru WRC's, shared equal fourth
place with sixth placed, Kevin Kelleher, the reigning Paterson's
RallyNews Group N champion, leading Group N in his Mitsubishi
Evo 9.
The top ten was completed by Trevor Mulligan (Escort), Aidan
Bourke (Mitsubishi), Mike Quinn (Escort), the reigning Rally.ie
champion and Tom Flaherty (Escort). Daniel McKenna (Escort)
lost considerable time with transmission woes and ended the
stage down in 92nd. place. Barrett punched in the best time
for the second stage that was enough to promote him to second
spot - ten seconds behind rally leader, Mel Evans (Subaru).
Tyre choice was proving the decisive factor with Evans reckoning
that he could have done with more grip. Maguire was only three
seconds behind Barett as Kevin Kelleher (Mitsubishi) slotted
into fourth some three seconds ahead of Derek McGarrity, who
spun and lost valuable seconds.
Local
ace, Aidan Bourke reckoned his Mitsubishi lacked grip in the
conditions - due to his selection of a hard compound tyre. Manus
Kelly (Escort) moved into the lead of the Modified category
when Mike Quinn lost time with a broken suspension link. Their
fellow rival, Trevor Mulligan crashed out. The final places
in the top ten were occupied by Tom Flaherty (Escort) and Alan
O'Callaghan (Subaru). Patrick McKenna, who finished the stage
in third gear, made up twelve places to occupy 80th. in general
classification.
On the repeat of the two stages, Evans punched in a pair of
fastest times and opened up an impressive 33-second lead. Barrett
maintained second although he had a slight overshoot on the
fourth test. Maguire was six seconds behind but only a second
ahead of a charging Kevin Kelleher, in his Group N Mitsubishi.
The reigning Patterson's RallyNews champion, lost a few seconds
when he spun at a left hand junction. McGarrity, who admitted
he was still learning the characteristics of his Subaru, was
three seconds behind Kelleher. Quinn regained the lead in the
Modified section - aided when Manus Kelly lost time with a puncture
on S.S. 4. Ed Synan (Escort) in eighth place experienced some
electrical woes. The Subaru pair of Alan O'Callaghan and Pat
Kelly rounded off the top ten. Meanwhile, Daniel McKenna (Escort)
moved up 39 places to 41st.
Kevin Barrett retired just after leaving the final service halt
when a wheel nut sheared off one of the front wheels of his
Subaru. Out on the stage, McGarrity set a blistering pace to
move into second - 37 seconds behind Evans and two ahead of
Maguire. Kelleher and Quinn retained the lead of their respective
Group N and Modified categories.
Evans
did enough on the final stage to secure victory and maximum
Dunlop points. McGarrity took second, he was fastest on the
stage while Kelleher clinched third after Maguire's Subaru developed
turbo problems.
Quinn
got the defence of his rally.ie Modified crown off to the perfect
start, he was also fifth overall - ten seconds ahead of rival,
Manus Kelly. Alan O'Callaghan (Subaru) was seventh overall while
Washington James, who struggled during the morning stages, finished
eighth overall. Pat Kelly (Subaru) and Jason Roche (Escort)
rounded off the top ten.
Meanwhile,
Daniel McKenna (Escort) battled his way back from 91st on the
opening stage after to finish 22nd. overall, he was the recipient
of the inaugural "Driver of the Day" award.
Taken from Rally.ie
