For
immediate release
Kevin Barrett maintained his Irish Tarmac Championship (ITC)
lead after last weekend's Topaz Donegal International Rally,
but victory for Tim McNulty has thrown his bid for a maiden
ITC title back on track!
After missing round two and retiring from round three of Ireland's
most prestigious rally series, McNulty was left languishing
in fourth position in the Championship standings. However, victory
in Donegal has propelled him into second position in the series
tables, just two points behind leader Kevin Barrett.
Navigated by Paul Kiely, McNulty dominated much of the rally.
He briefly lost the lead to Alastair Fisher and Rory Kennedy
after stage three, but regained the advantage on the following
test.
Back in control, the County Meath pilot set about extending
his advantage at the head of the field. Renowned for having
copious amounts of bad luck, McNulty stayed on the good side
of luck on this occasion, as he powered his Subaru Impreza WRC
to an emphatic maiden Donegal victory!
Alastair Fisher and Rory Kennedy claimed second overall in their
Monte Carlo Rally winning Ford Fiesta S2000. They held a consistent
second throughout the event, and briefly held the lead after
stage three.
It has been 12 years since the Fisher name was last seen battling
for outright honours in Donegal, as Alastair's late uncle Bertie
made what was to be his final foray in the North West in 1999.
Alastair was just 10-years-old at the time!
Now 22, Alastair brought those memories flooding back when he
and Rory Kennedy, who also navigated for Bertie, topped the
timesheets after stage three. They set a number of fastest stages
times in the M-Sport supported car, and were ecstatic with finishing
second overall.
Rally of the Lakes winner Daragh O'Riordan had to settle for
third on this occasion. He enjoyed an early battle with both
Seamus Leonard and Derek McGarrity, but Leonard retired after
the fifth test.
O'Riordan moved in front of McGarrity after stage seven and
stayed there until the finish. The result places him third overall
in the Championship standings, six points behind leader Barrett.
Derek McGarrity retired with gearbox troubles on day two, so
Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally claimed fourth overall, maintaining
their Championship lead.
Behind runaway Group N winner Alastair Fisher, a titanic battle
raged for the runner-up Group N position. The tussle went right
down to the wire with Garry Jennings and David Moynihan securing
second and maximum Group N points by less than two seconds from
Phillip Morrow and Johnny Hart. Fourth for Alan Ring and Adrian
Deasy allows them to continue to hold the Production category
lead in the Championship, as well as fourth overall.
In the Modified category, Geoffrey Dolan continues to lead in
his Talbot Sunbeam. Mervyn Johnston has extended his lead in
the Historic category, while Aidan O'Connor has moved to the
head of the Classic category standings.
The Irish Tarmac Championship now takes a two month break before
returning to action on 19/20 August for the ToddsLeap.com Ulster
Rally. More details can be found online at www.irishtarmac.com.
ENDS.
Topaz Donegal International Rally - top 10
1 Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 2h40m39.9s
2 Alastair Fisher/Rory Kennedy (Fiesta S2000) 2h41m59.2s
3 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Impreza WRC) 2h43m01.2s
4 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 2h46m21.7s
5 Garry Jennings/David Moynihan (Lancer Evo 9) 2h49m04.6s
6 Phillip Morrow/Johnny Hart (Lancer Evo 9) 2h49m06.4s
7 Seamus Heron/Gerry McVeigh (Corolla WRC) 2h50m28.2s
8 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer Evo 9) 2h55m23.5s
9 Scott McElhinney/Karl Reid (C2R2 Max) 2h59m58.3s
10 Pat Kirk/Peter Ward (Lancer Evo 9) 3h00m00.8s
Irish Tarmac Championship Standings (provisional)
1 Kevin Barrett 34pts
2 Tim McNulty 32pts
3 Daragh O'Riordan 28pts
4 Alan Ring (1st GpN) 26pts
Photograph(s): Attached image depicts Tim McNulty and
Paul Kiely in their Subaru Impreza WRC during the 2011 Topaz
Donegal International Rally. Image may be used free of charge
for editorial use with credit to the photographer, Esler Crawford.
Image may not be sold, resold or used for commercial purposes.
Copyright remains with the photographer, Esler Crawford.
Championship website: www.irishtarmac.com
