Harrison leads Mayo rally

Mid way through the Castlebar-based TF Royal Mayo Rally, the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, British driver, Jim Harrison in his McKinstry hired Subaru WRC has a 15-second lead over the Subaru WRC of Donegal’s, Daniel Doherty.

Sun, 13 Mar, 2005 - 14:56

Charlie Donnelly in a Toyota Corolla WRC lies in third place – a further 22 seconds behind.

Harrison set the pace on the first stage and opened up a lead of four seconds on Niall Maguire, however, the reigning Dunlop champion retired on the road section between stages two and three. Meanwhile, another top retirement was that of Kevin Lynch, he bowed out with turbo problems on the first stage.

Daniel Doherty posted the quickest times through stages two and four to slot into second while Donnelly is acclimatising quickly to the Toyota Corolla normally driven by his brother, Eugene.

Ray Breen, who was outside the top ten on the first stage, has clawed his way up to fourth despite some brake problems.

Noel Redmond and Patrick Elliot both in Subaru WRC’s share fifth with Welsh ace, Melvyn Evans holding seventh.

The top 10 is completed by Sean Devine and Sean Gallagher in Subaru WRC’s and the Mitsubishi of Group N leader, Seamus Leonard.

In the showroom category, John Cairns, Willie Fannin and James O’Sullivan are next in classification.

Donie O’Sullivan (Ford Focus WRC) was a non-starter.

Times after S.S. 4:

J. Harrison/H. bell (Subaru WRC) 31m. 42s.

D. & M. Doherty (Subaru WRC) 31m. 57s.

C. Donnelly/P. Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 32m. 19s.

R. Breen/A. Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) 32m. 34s.

=5. N. Redmond/D. Falvey (Subaru WRC) 32m. 40s.

P. Elliott/D. Moynihan (Subaru WRC) 32m. 40s.