McKinstry completes Cork rally hat-trick

Having won the other major rallies in Co Cork, the Cork “20” and the Fastnet Rally, Kenny McKinstry today added to that impresive list with a well merited win in the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally.

The Banbridge ace and his Limerick co-driver, Sean Mullally led from the start and even though their

Ryan’s Subaru had a slight gearbox problem, they went on to win by almost three quarters of a minute.

McKinstry set several fastest times over the event’s 16 stages to finish 43.3 seconds ahead of last year’s winner, Melvyn Evans, also in a Subaru WRC.

Eamonn Boland, who was in contention for victory entering the final stage, punctured when his Subaru clipped a rock and he dropped to third - a further 14 seconds behind Evans.

Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla WRC) was the top local driver, he survived a spin top claim fourth ahead of the Subaru’s of Maurice Gass and Steve Fleck.

Phil Collins, driving a Ford Escort, also survived a few problems to finish seventh and the top rear wheel drive exponent.

The top ten also included the Toyota Celica of Cathal Arthurs and the nimble Darrian of Damien Cole.

The Group N category was won by Bob Fowden (Mitsubishi).

1. K. McKinstry/S. Mullally (Subaru WRC) 1h. 58m.19.9s.

2. M. Evans/M. Jones (Subaru WRC) 1h. 59m. 03.2s.

3. E. Boland/D. Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 1h. 59m. 17.3s.

4. L. McCarthy/K. Murphy (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 59m.47.0s.

5. M. Gass/G. Orr (Subaru WRC) 2h. 00m. 16.0s.

6. S. Fleck/A. Card (Subaru WRC) 2h. 00m. 50.5s.

7. P. Collins/H. Davies (Escort) 2h. 03m. 48.4s.

8. T. Davies/W. Thomas (Metro) 2h. 04m. 03.7s.

9. C. Arthurs/L. Jones-Edwards (Toyota Celica) 2h.04m. 55.7s.

10. D. Cole/N. Grist (Darrian) 2h. 05m. 15.8s.