Motorsport: Heron is best of the Irish in Belgium

With Roy White/Michael Patterson bowing out of the Condroz Rally, the final event of the 2001 Belgian Championship, the top Irish crew at the end of the two day, 22 stage event was Seamus Heron and Gerry McVeigh.

Their Mitsubishi finished in 27th position.

Two other Irish crews, Pat and Karen Price (Mitsubishi) and Aaron McHale/Damien Connolly were 67th and 87th respectively.

The latter lost considerable time yesterday when their Honda was off the road.

Despite retiring earlier today, White finishes second in the 2001 Belgian Group N Category won by David Sterckx.

The Condroz Rally, one of the most popular rallies in Belgium, was won by Bruno Thiry (Skoda Octavia) ahead of the Peugeot 206 WRC of Larry Cols was second.

Setting his fastest time of the day on the third and final run, Ger Dwane won the Galway Rallysprint at Tynagh.

His Mini Falcon had over five seconds to spare over Pat Callanan (Special).

Another Special, that of Alan Byrne, came home in third place and the top six was completed by Ray Cunningham (Mini), Robert Bradley (Global Lights) and James McGreal (Nissan).

Declan Magee was the fastest driver in the Ford Ka category.

Newly crowned Dayton Lights champion, Townsend Bell, took his eighth pole position of the season in qualifying for the season finale at the California Speedway.

Donegal's Damien Faulkner, qualified sixth behind British racer, Daniel Wheldon.

Both drivers are chasing the Rookie of the Year, the Oval Champion Award and also second in the overall championship.

The race takes place later tonight.