Donagh Kelly reigns supreme in Abbeyleix

Donegal’s Donagh Kelly (Ford Focus) and his Monaghan co-driver Conor Foley took a commanding victory in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel Rally, the opening round of the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship.

In difficult and wet conditions they reigned supreme throughout all six stages and finished with a 55.3 second winning margin over Monaghan’s Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru WRC).

The Tyrone/Donegal pairing of Paddy McVeigh/Gary McElhinney (Subaru WRC) were 7.5 seconds behind in third.

Kelly was the only driver to break the eight minute barrier for the opening stage near Rathdowney as he opened up a 7.4 second advantage over the Subaru WRC of Steve Wood with Paddy McVeigh 8.8 seconds behind in third.

George Condell in his rear wheel drive Toyota Starlet set a cracking pace to lead the Modified section and also occupy fourth overall in a top six that also included the Subaru WRC of Kenny McKinstry and the Escort of Enda O’Brien.

Former triple national champion Niall Maguire was seventh, his son Shane (Mitsubishi) led Group N and was tenth in general classification.

On the second stage, Kelly increased his lead to 33.8 seconds with McVeigh into second while Wood crashed after his Subaru under-steered, hit a bank and flipped over.

At the Rathdowney service rally, leader Kelly commented on the vast amounts of standing water on the stages while second placed McVeigh was pleased that the changes made to his Subaru were of benefit. Niall Maguire was half a second further behind in third having stalled twice on the start line of the opening stage.

Fourth placed George Condell admitted that his Starlet had a few moments on both stages. Kenny McKinstry was fortunate that an altercation with a bank on the second stage caused no damage.

Meanwhile, Enda O’Brien (Escort) completed the top six but admitted he was extremely fortunate to survive a moment on the second stage.

The top 10 also featured Barry Ryan (Escort) in seventh; eighth placed Kevin Kelleher reckoned that a delay at the start of both stages didn’t help his plight and he traversed the first four kilometres of the second stage with a slipping clutch and he switched his Subaru into road mode.

Mick O’Brien in the ex-Sam Moffett Fiesta WRC was ninth as he continued to acclimatise to his new acquisition and Kevin Barrett (Subaru) was tenth. Shane Maguire continued to lead Group N.

On the repeat of both stages, Kelly continued to set the pace and duly increased his lead to 51.4 seconds with Maguire slotting into second — 3.7 seconds ahead of McVeigh, who lost time when he caught up with the Subaru of Kenny McKinstry that was slowed in the wet conditions by wipers that were not functioning. McKinstry’s choice of an intermediate tyre rather than a wet tyre also cost the Banbridge drive some time and he dropped to seventh.

In contrast, Kevin Kelleher’s progress was on an upward curve and he was up to fourth followed by the Escorts of Enda O’Brien and Barry Ryan. George Condell, Trevor Mulligan and David Condell were also in the top ten but Paul Barrett (Subaru) retired when a turbo pipe came adrift.

Kelly sealed victory in what was a shakedown for next month’s West Cork Rally. Maguire and McVeigh completed the podium line-up. Despite cracking a wheel stud Kelleher secured fourth with Enda O’Brien (Escort) winning the Modified section and taking fifth overall.