McCarthy wins Tipp Forest Rally

Completing fastest times on all the remaining stages, John McCarthy and co-driver, Dan Maguire have won the Mitchelstown-based Sean Conlon Memorial Tipperary Forest Rally, the second round of the KBB Doors National Forest Championship.

They finished 34 seconds ahead of the Toyota Celica of Eddie Kinirons/Greg Shinnors. This is the third time in a row that they have finished in second place.

A late retirement, that of John Drislane/Paul Goodman (Subaru) elevated the similar Subaru of Kevin

O’Kane/Francis Regan into third place.

Having rolled his Escort WRC on the second stage, Dermot Kelly/John Brennan made rapid progress up the leader board and finished fourth.

John Donnelly/Greg McCarthy having lost time with no anti lag came home fifth ahead of the Escort Cosworth of James Murphy/Con Mulcahy.

The Group n category was won by John Shanahan/Liam McLoughlin, despite late clutch trouble.

1 J. McCarthy/D. Maguire (Subaru Impreza 555) 49m. 27s;

2 E. Kinirons/G. Shinnors (Toyota Celica) 50m. 01s;

3 K. O'Kane/F. Regan (Subaru Impreza) 50m. 46s;

4 D. Kelly/J. Brennan (Escort WRC) 51m. 06s;

5 J Donnelly/G. McCarthy (Escort WRC) 51m. 14s;

6 J. Murphy/C. Mulcahy (Escort Cosworth) 51m. 27s;

7 B. McCluskey/D. Duffin (Escort WRC) 51m. 45s;

8 J. McGaffin/I. Allsop (Subaru Legacy) 51m. 47s.

9 J. Shanahan/L. McLoughlin (Subaru Gp. N) 52m. 14s;

10 K. Lynch/M. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 52m. 44s.