Maguire and McLaughlin back on winning track

Niall Maguire and Paul McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) had a narrow two-second victory in the sixth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Patrick Elliott and David Moynihan (Subaru WRC) were second with Sean Devine and Brendan O’Connor (Subaru WRC) well over two minutes and 40 seconds adrift in third.

The Group N category was won by Noel McCarrick and Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru).

From a Dunlop National Rally Championship perspective, Maguire is now 30 points ahead of both Elliott and Jim Harrison, who was amongst the non-starters.

Elliott reduced the deficit to just four seconds after the penultimate stage and although he was quickest again on the final stage, Maguire won by just two seconds.

Sean Devine was third from Glen Allen and Kevin Barrett. Noel McCarrick won Group N and the rear wheel drive honours were annexed by Sligo’s, Dominic McLoughlin/Cyril Donnellan.

Gabriel Martin lost several minutes on the final stage and dropped to 15th. Within the Dunlop series, Fannin took the top points in the showroom category with O’Sullivan second.

N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 06m. 47s.

P. Elliott/David Moynihan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 06m. 49s.

S. Devine/B. O’Connor (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 09m. 29s.

G. Allen/D. Connolly (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 10m. 51s.

K. Barrett/B. Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 11m. 09s.

N. McCarrick/E. O'Donnell (Subaru) 1h.11m. 17s.

J. & D. McHugh (Escort Cosworth) 1h. 11m. 32s.

W. Fannin/M. Courtney (Subaru) 1h. 11m. 46s.

J. O'Sullivan/A. Deasy (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1h. 11m. 48s.

10. G. Robinson/T. Speers (Escort Cosworth) 1h. 12m. 02s.

DUNLOP NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP (Positions after Round 6):

1. N. Maguire 98 points;

=2. J. Harrison 68 points & P. Elliott 68 points;

4. C. Arthurs 66 points.