Motorsport: Evans wins Irishmobiles.com West Cork rally
Melvyn Evans and his co-driver, Alun Davies, duly won the Irishmobioles.com West Cork Rally in Clonakilty with fellow overseas crews, Steve Fleck/Mark Aspinall (Subaru WRC) and Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Subaru WRC) completing the top three.
Evans did have an anxious time earlier today when a misted windscreen cost him valuable seconds on stage ten. His rally lead of 36 seconds was cut to just eleven with Fleck in the role of chief rival.
However, Evans put the issue beyond doubt when he stretched his lead to 32 seconds on the very next stage.
Pete Doughty retired from third place and the other major retirements were those of Ollie O’Donovan and Max McKillen.
There was no drama on the closing stages where Evans took a number of fastest times. Fleck and Harrison and another overseas driver, John Price completed the top four.
The best of the Irish was Tommy Graham, on his debut outing in a Subaru WRC. J.J. Fleming, in a similar role and car, was sixth.
One of the star performances came from the Mk. 2 Escort of Phil Collins, he was creditable seventh in a top ten completed by Group N winner, Mark Morgan (Mitsubishi), Derek Smith (Escort) and Barry Coleman (Subaru Impreza).
