Nesbitt clinches Irish Tarmac C'ship

Andrew Nesbitt has clinched his second Irish Tarmac Championship on the Cork “20” International Rally.

The Armagh driver and his Cork co-driver, James O’Brien powered their Cuisine de France Subaru to a facile win over the similar Subaru of Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey.

Just like yesterday, Nesbitt was in total control of the rally, a one minute and two second cushion

starting today’s six stages was held over the first loop where his only lapse was an overshoot.

On most of the stages, Nesbitt was the quickest and in truth, his performances over the last three stages were laps of honour rather than real tests for the newly crowned Irish champion.

In the end, his winning margin was a minute and 28 seconds.

Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey took a deserved second place in a faultless outing with the Toyota Celica of Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter, so often the hard luck story of previous rounds, finishing third, remarkably, their first finish in the championship.

Despite transmission difficulties in their Toyota Celica ST185 Donal O’Donovan/Pat Lordan hung on for fourth ahead of the Subaru WRC of Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr who lost time with puncture.

Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes won the Group N category and also claimed sixth.

The Subaru of Ollie O’Donovan/David Moynihan had a trouble free day to finish seventh ahead of Dick Curran (Mitsubishi), Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla) and Aaron McHale, son of the legendary Austin, completing the top 10 in his Mitsubishi.

At the outset, Nesbitt required only a point to land the title, yet again, it was a case of making the

point, that he is the best on Irish lanes and that’s why he’s the 2002 Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac

champion.