O’Donovan wins Clare Rally

London-based Limerick driver, Ollie O’Donovan and his Cork co-driver, David Moynihan won the eight stage Ennis-based Clare Rally.

Driving a Subaru Impreza WRC, they were almost a minute ahead of Meath’s, Tim NcNulty/Eugene O’Donnell, also in a Subaru WRC. The Subaru WRC of Leitrim’s, Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry claimed third place.

O’Donovan went into the lead at the end of the third stage where early pacesetter, Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill crashed their Subaru WRC out of the lead.

Tim McNulty posed a major threat to O’Donovan, but a puncture on the day’s fourth stage dropped him out of contention, although his recovery actually yielded second spot.

Without any real pressure, O’Donovan was able to back off long before the finish.

Denis Cronin in his Toyota Celica was fourth and the battle for Group N was won by Cork’s, James O’Sullivan, his Mitsubishi was 35 seconds ahead of the Subaru of Willie Fannin.

1. O. O'Donovan/D. Moynihan (Subaru WRC) 1h. 01m. 17s.

2. T. McNulty/E. O'Donnell (Subaru WRC) 1h. 02m. 07s.

3. S. Gallagher/E. Sherry (Subaru WRC) 1h. 02m. 14s.

4. D. Cronin/H. O'Sullivan (Toyota Celica ST185) 1h. 03m. 13s.

5. J. O'Sullivan/B. Duggan (Mitsubishi) 1h. 03m. 32s.

6. W. Fannin/M. Courtney (Subaru) 1h. 03, 57s.

Derry’s, Kevin Lynch (Subaru WRC) finished seventeenth overall in the Rally GB while another Northern Ireland driver, Kris Meeke, in an Opel Corsa, was three places further adrift in general classification and second in the Junior category.

Donegal’s, Rory Kennedy was the top Irish co-driver, he partnered Alister Ginley to twelfth overall.

Roscommon’s, Emmett Queenan is the 2004 Formula Ireland champion, in Mondello Park today, he finished second in the opening sprint race and capped a fine year with race and championship victory in the feature race.

Sprint Race:

1. A. Dwyer 11m. 07.216s.

2. E. Queenan 11m. 11.083s.

3. B. Waugh 11m. 15.743s.

Feature Race:

1. E. Queenan 13m. 51.681s.

2. A. Dwyer 13m. 53.159s.

3. M. Sheehan 13m. 55.525s.