Lynch wins Raven’s Rock Rally

Derry driver, Kevin Lynch, co driven by Gordon Noble, took his maiden victory in a round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship at the Waterford based Suirway Forklifts/Eddie Garry Car Sales co-sponsored Raven’s Rock Rally, round five of the series.

Lynch/Noble, in an S9 Subaru WRC led all through and ended with a 58 second winning margin over British crew, Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Subaru WRC).

Cavan’s, Patrick Elliott and co-driver, David Moynihan took third place – 26 seconds in arrears.

Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors (Subaru) won Group N.

The principal retirement was that of Dunlop National Rally Championship leaders, Niall Maguire Paul McLaughlin, they crashed out on the day’s sixth stage, luckily, they were unscathed and they retain the series lead.

Harrison/Bell are now up to second in the ten round series – ten points behind Maguire/McLaughlin.

The drama on the final stage saw Ray Breen drop time and a place when he punctured, ironically, at the same location as a previous puncture.

The Group category went down to the wire and Alan Ring got the better of Gabriel Martin with Willie Fannin another five seconds in arrears.

The rear wheel drive category was won by David Long (Sierra) from David James (Escort).

Non-starters included Adrian McElvaney, Liam McCarthy and Sean Gallagher.

1. K. Lynch/G. Noble (Subaru WRC) 1h. 05m. 16s.

2. J. Harrison/H. Bell (Subaru WRC) 1h. 06m. 14s.

3. P. Elliott/D. Moynihan (Subaru WRC) 1h. 06m. 40s

4. C. Arthurs/J. Kelly (Hyundai Accent WRC) 1h. 06m. 47s.

5. M. Evans/Aled Davies (Subaru WRC) 1h. 06m. 54s.

6. R. Curran/G. English (Escort Cosworth) 1h. 07m. 20s.

7. D. Cronin/H. O’Sullivan (Toyota Celica ST185) 1h. 08m. 21s.

8. R. Breen/A. Purcell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 08m. 32s.

9. N. Redmond/D. Falvey (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 08m. 58s.

10. A. Ring/G. Shinnors (Subaru) 1h. 09m. 14s.

Dunlop National Rally Championship (Positions after Round 5):

N. Maguire 78 points; J. Harrison 68 points C. Arthurs 67 points; P. Elliott 50 points.