Donnelly leads National Rally Championship

Eugene Donnelly, courtesy of his victory in the Galway Summer Rally in Portumna, is the new leader of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

With archrival, Michael Barrable crashing out on the opening stage today and early leader, Jim Harrison slipping outside the top 10 with a puncture, Donnelly inherited the lead on the third stage and duly went on to win.

At the end of the nine special stages, Donnelly and co-driver, Paddy Toner in a Subaru WRC, was over a minute ahead of reigning champions, Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin.

Adrian McElvaney (Subaru) won the chase for third by some eight seconds from championship rival, Patrick Elliott.

The throttle of McElvaney’s Subaru stuck open on the closing loop of three stages where the

star was Harrison - he was fastest on all three stages to secure fifth overall.

The rear wheel drive category was won by Denis Cronin (BMW M3), he also annexed sixth.

John Spain was the top Galway finisher, his Toyota Celica was seventh.

Leitrim’s, Sean Gallagher (Escort Cosworth), Galway’s Sean Lyons and Clare’s, Anthony O’Halloran (Opel Manta) netted the final top 10 places.

The Group N class was won by Mark Courtney (Mitsubishi).

1. E. Donnelly/P. Toner (Subaru WRC) 1h. 10m. 16s.

2. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 1h. 11m. 19s.

3. A. McElvaney/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 11m. 41s.

4. P. Elliott/M. Cahill (Subaru WRC) 1h. 11m. 49s.

5. J. Harrison/H. Bell (Subaru WRC) 1h. 11m. 52s.

6. D. Cronin/H. O’Sullivan (BMW M3) 1h. 13m. 09s.

7. J. Spain/P. Egan (Toyota Celica) 1h. 13m. 10s.

8. S. Gallagher/F. Kenny (Escort Cosworth) 1h. 13m.55s.

9. S. Lyons/J. Devine (Escort) 1h. 15m. 16s.

10. A. O’Halloran/B. Kelly (Opel Manta) 1h. 15m. 23s.

Dunlop National Rally Championship – positions after Round 8:

1. E. Donnelly 138 points.

2. M. Barrable 126 points.

=3. A. McElvaney & S. Gallagher 88 points.

5. J. Harrison 79 points.

6. N. Maguire 64 points.