McNULTY WINS DUNLOP OPENER IN ABBEYLEIX

LEADING from the start, Tim McNulty (Subaru WRC) and co-driver, Paul Kiely won the Manor Hotel Abbeyleix Rally, the first round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.  They finished 59 seconds ahead of reigning Dunlop champions, Mel Evans/Patrick Walsh, also in Subaru WRC.  Colm Murphy/Don Montgomery in a Group N Subaru were third.  The Group N category, sponsored by Motorsport Safety Team, was won by Monaghan’s, Sam Moffett/James Reilly and the rally.ie two wheel drive category was won by Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Renault Clio R3).

McNulty was impressive on the opening stage and took a decisive 26 second lead over the Subaru WRC of Kevin Barrett with reigning Dunlop champion, Mel Evans a second further behind in third.  Colm Murphy (Subaru) set a cracking pace in the Group N category that was strong enough to elevate him to fourth overall in a top six that also featured the Subaru pair of Niall Maguire and James Belton.  Meanwhile, Wexford’s. James Stafford wth Borris in Ossory’s Frank Dwyer navigating (Darrian) led the two wheel drive category, he was seventh in general classification.  The remaining places in the top ten were taken by Steve Simpson (Subaru), Derek McGarrity (Mitsubishi) and late entry, Sam Moffett (Mitsubishi).  In all 10 UK based contested the rally.


Barrett retired in the second stage with gearbox troubles with the time sheets reflecting Belton setting the fastest time – four seconds ahead of the two-wheel drive Escort of Wesley Patterson.  In overall terms, McNulty led Belton by 26 seconds with Evans some six seconds further behind in third.  Stafford moved into fourth ahead of Group N leader, Colm Murphy.  Another Group N contender, Kevin Kelleher (Mitsubishi) retired with engine difficulties.
On the completion of the final stage of the opening loop, Evans set the pace to move into second trailing McNulty by 28 seconds with a flying Stafford in third place 34 seconds off the top.
Belton was fourth with Colm Murphy maintaining a dominant position in Group N, he was fifth overall followed by Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla WRC).   At the service halt, the top ten was completed by Simpson, Patterson, Niall Maguire and Moffett.  McGarrity was eleventh.  Maguire lost some 25 seconds with an overshoot on the second stage. 
Out on the second loop, McNulty stretched his advantage and even though the Meath ace and second place Evans both beat the bogey time on the sixth stage, McNulty led by 41 seconds at the final service halt in Rathdowney.  
Neither driver reported any problems, Evans admitted he had little chance of catching his rival.  Colm Murphy continued to set very quick times as he retained third and moved some 25 seconds ahead of Maguire.  Simpson - on his second ever Irish rally - held fifth from an untroubled Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla WRC) and Wesley Patterson (Escort), who led the two wheel drive after Stafford crashed out on S.S. 4.  Sam Moffett (Mitsubishi) was on the wrong tyres for the loop and lost time, particularly on S.S. 5; fellow Group N aces, Thomas Fitzmaurice and Shane Maguire (Subaru) completed the top ten.  Fitzmaurice was concerned by a drop in fuel pressure through stages five and six.  Meanwhile, a puncture on S.S. 4 that cost substantial time dropped Derek McGarrity to 18th in general classification.  Declan Boyle punctured on S.S. 4 while local hero, Aidan Bourke with John Kinahan on the notes (Mitsubishi) was building up his confidence after losing some 13 minutes on the third stage with a broken rear differential.

On the remaining loop of three stages around Rathdowney, McNulty continued to dominate and emerged victorious by 59 seconds.  Evans was content to have finished second and admitted McNulty’s opening stage performance was the decisive factor.  Colm Murphy took a fine third.
Just as he appeared to have secured fourth, former champion, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) lost time with turbo troubles, he eventually finished eighteenth, one place behind Derek McGarrity (Mitsubishi).  Manchester driver, Steve Simpson (Subaru WRC) was fourth followed by Monaghan’s, Sam Moffett (Mitsubishi), who won the Group N category, on the middle loop of stages, he admitted he had selected the wrong tyres.  Liam McCarthy and Wesley Patterson were next in general classification.  Ninth placed, Shane Maguire (Subaru) was the recipient of the Dunlop “Driver of the Day” award and Ian Barrett (Subaru) on his first rally in some three years, was tenth.
UK visitor James Belton (Subaru WRC) was a late retirement duo to turbo issues. 

 

The winner of the John Finnegan Memorial Cup was Roscrea’s Mark Kane who was the the highest placed Birr & District Motor Club navigator.  Highest placed Birr Club member crew went to Nenagh’s Andrew Slattery & Shaun Forde driving a Subaru Impreza.  Best Birr Club Novice Award went to Birr’s Raymond O’Brien & Nicky Egan in a Mini.

 

The Sprit of the Rally Award was presented to the Crew of 002 which was well known Durrow driver Oliver Stanley with Jenny Kent from the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel co-driving for the first time.  They contested the rally as part of the ongoing Laois Alzheimers fundraising venture in conjunction with the rally organisers Birr & District Motor Club.

 

The full list of local finishers is as follows:

 

Pos      Crew                                                   Address                       Car

24th     Mark Sheahan/Mark Kane                  Roscrea                       Citreon R2 Max

27th     Andrew Slattery/Shaun Forde                        Nenagh                        Subaru Impreza

30th      Benny Kennedy/Brendan Ryan          Nenagh                        Honda Civic

32nd      JJ Wall/Willie Fitzpatrick                    Luggacurran                Citreon C1

36th      David Percy/Pat Nolan                       Cloughjordan              Escort Maxi

39th      Daniel Gorman/Eoin Gorman             Mountmellick              Escort

42nd      Michael Fitzgibbon/Ronan Shanahan Roscrea                       Honda Civic

45th      Larry & Anthony Brady                     Portlaoise                    Escort

51st      David Forde/John Nolan                    Nenagh                        Subaru Impreza

63rd      Liam Bergin/John Fogarty                  Ballacolla                    Honda Civic

66th      Timothy & James Lowry                    Killaloe                        Honda Civic

74th      Donald Powell/Keith Baggott                        Moneygall                   Honda Civic

84th      Christy & John Kelly                          Castlecomer                Suzuki Swift

86th      Mike Garahy/Niall Keane                   Birr                              Ford Escort

89th      Edward & Paul Kelly                         Castlecomer                Peugeot 106

90th      Shane Timony/Jeffrey Case                Abbeyleix                    Toyota Yaris

92nd      Barry Foyle/Tommy Kelly                  Borris in Ossory          Vauxhall Nova

97th      Kieran Guinan/Alan Higgins              Birr                              Ford Escort

100th    Raymond O’Brien/Nicky Egan          Birr                              Mini

3rd Historic      Whitby Moynan/John Cavanagh        Nenagh            Mini                            

Non finishers included Ballacolla Crews Mark Kirwin/Brendan McCullagh due to electrical malfunctions and Brian Kirwin/Fionnualla Moloney due to engine problems.  Abbeyleix duo Brendan & Stephen Hearns retired due to a trip into the bushes!  Unfortunately for local Templemore driver Paul O’Brien his Honda Civic developed overheating problems.

 

The Birr & District Motor Club would like to thank all the residents & land owners along the Rally Route for their support, local Gardai, Rathdowney Retail Outlet, Laois County Council, Red Cross, Programme sponsors, Marshalls, Timekeepers, Radio Crews and all who made the rally an outstanding success.

 

The rally attaracted a capacity entry of 160 cars and all crews thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality afforded to them from the local people.  All crews thoroughly enjoyed the course and commended the Clerk of the Course Bill Ryan on the excellent organisation of the rally and the choice of stages.

 

Top Ten Finishers
1. T. McNulty/P. Kiely (Subaru WRC) 1h. 14m. 02s.
2. M. Evans/P. Walsh (Subaru WRC) 1h. 15m. 01s.
3. C. Murphy/D. Montgomery (Subaru) 1h. 17m. 12s.
4. S. Simpson/F. Curtin (Subaru WRC) 1h. 17m. 39s.
5. S. Moffett/J. Reilly (Mitsubishi EvoIX) 1h. 18m. 13s.
6. T. Doyle/L. Moynihan (Renault Clio) 1h. 18m. 50s.
7. L. McCarthy/D. O'Mahony (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 18m. 52s.
8. W. Patterson/M. McGarrity (Ford Escort) 1h. 18m. 58s.
9. S. Maguire/C. McEnery (Subaru) 1h.  19m. 16s.
10. I. Barrett/E. O’Flaherty (Subaru) 1h. 19m. 27s.