Nesbitt wins PlayStation2 rally experience

Armagh’s Andrew Nesbitt (Subaru WRC) took his second victory in the Punchestown Rally Experience when he finished almost seven seconds ahead of another former winner, Austin MacHale (Ford Focus WRC).

Freddy Loix led after the second stage but Peugeot officials ordered that his times were not to be shown on the results and his performance in the remainder of the event was purely based on entertaining the crowds.

Gareth MacHale (23) led at the half way mark - benefiting from a re-run in better conditions but he took a wrong slot on the course on S.S. 5 and was penalised and dropped outside the top ten.

Nesbitt took control and the fifth stage and increased his lead on the sixth and although Austin MacHale set identical times on final stages, it came to no avail.

Rallycross driver, Mike Manning was third in a top six that also included James Foley, Johnny O’Sullivan and John McCluskey.

Alister McRae had a few problems and finished 16th overall.

1. A. Nesbitt (Subaru WRC) 19m. 06.5s.

2. A. MacHale (Ford Focus WRC) 19m. 13.3s.

3. M. Manning (Escort WRC) 19m. 34.6s.

4. J. Foley (Mitsubishi) 19m. 49.6s.

5. J. O'Sullivan (Escort WRC) 19m. 59.3s.

6. J. McCluskey (Peugeot) 20m. 13.6s.

7. J. Sleator (Mitsubishi) 20m. 22.0s.

8. S. Darcy (Mitsubishi) 20m. 36.4s.

9. D. James (Ford Escort) 20m. 54.4s.

10. M. Courtney (Toyota Celica) 21m. 01.7s.

In Cork, Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Subaru) won the Windscreen Centre Cork Forest Rally to secure the McCauley Trailers National Forest Championship.

The winners were over three minutes ahead of the Subaru of Pat Norris/Declan Tumulty with Kevin O’Kane/Mark Hanna just managing to deprive Dermot Kelly/Greg Shinnors of third spot.

The Group N category was won by Brendan Murphy (Subaru) he was 3.9 seconds ahead of the Mitsubishi of Pete Willoughby.

1. K. Lynch/F. Regan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 14m. 43.9s.

2. P. Norris/D. Tumulty (Subaru Impreza) 1h. 18m. 17.3s.

3. K. O'Kane/M. Hanna (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 18m. 37.8s.

4. D. Kelly/G. Shinnors (Escort WRC) 1h. 18m. 42.8s.

5. A. McElvaney/P. Goodman (Subaru Impreza) 1h. 19m. 17.9s.

6. J. Murphy/C. Mulcahy (Escort Cosworth) 1h. 19m. 38.9s.

7. B. Lawlor/P. Kavanagh (Escort) 1h. 20m. 06.8s.

8. B. Murphy/P. Condon (Subaru Impreza) 1h. 20m. 14.5s.

9. P. Willoughby/P. Nagle (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1h. 20m. 18.4s.

10. J. McGlaughlin/D. McElroy (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1h. 20m. 27.2s