McCarthy wins Carrick on Suir Forest Rally

Cork’s John McCarthy/Dan Maguire made an impressive start to the KBB Doors National Forest Championship with a dominant victory in the Suirway Lifts Carrick on Suir Forest Rally. Debuting a Subaru Impreza 555, they controlled the rally from the opening stage.

Sun, 23 Feb, 2003 - 19:28

At the finish, they had amassed a winning margin of one minute and 32 seconds.

McCarthy’s service crew made adjustments to the steering rack and even though victory was never in doubt, the changes saw them move well ahead of their rivals.

Second placed went to the Toyota Celica of Eddie Kinirons/Greg Shinnors, they spun on one of the

closing stages, however, they were never in danger of losing second.

One of the battles over the nine stages saw one of rallying’s brightest prospects, Garry Jennings

(Peugeot Kit Car), who was co-driven by Gordon Noble, edge out former champion, Kevin O’Kane and his co-driver, Stephen Griffith.

John Shanahan, driving a Subaru, lost time early in the event with turbo problems, he fashioned a spirited recovery to claim fifth.

That was a mere second ahead of another crew who had to claw their way back into the top ten - former winners of the event, Dermot Kelly/John Brennan brought their Escort WRC home in sixth place.

John Donnelly (Escort WRC), John McGaffin (Subaru Legacy) and the Toyota Starlets of Paul Mulcahy and Alan Mulcahy were the other finishers in the top ten.

1. J. McCarthy/D. Maguire Subaru Impreza 555) 53m.35s.

2. E. Kinirons/G. Shinnors (Toyota Celica) 55m. 07s.

3. G. Jennings/G. Noble (Peugeot) 55m. 59s.

4. K. O'Kane/S. Griffith (Subaru) 56m. 20s.

5. J. Shanahan/L. McLaughlin (Subaru) 56m. 56s.

6. D. Kelly/J. Brennan (Escort WRC) 56m. 57s.

7. J. Donnelly/G. McCarthy (Escort WRC) 57m. 37s.

8. J. McGaffin/T. Graham (Subaru legacy) 58m. 26s.

9. P. Mulcahy/K. Walsh (Starlet) 59m. 56s.

10. A. Mulcahy/D. Harrington (Starlet) 1h. 00m. 12s.

The Hewison Autotest Championship in Rathcoole, Dublin was won by J.J. Farrell.

1. J. J. Farrell (Mini Special) 616.7 seconds.