Victory for Donnelly in Mayo Rally
The Castlebar-based TF Royal Hotel Mayo Rally was won by Derry driver, Charlie Donnelly today.
Partnered by Paddy Toner, they brought their Toyota Corolla WRC back to Castlebar with a 20 second winning margin over the Subaru WRC of Patrick Elliott/Rory Kennedy.
Glen Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC) were over a minute adrift in third what is the opening round of the 2006 Dunlop National Rally Championship.
The Group N category was won by defending champions, Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Mitsubishi), who were 39 seconds ahead of Kevin and Martin Kelleher, also in a Mitsubishi.
The top two wheel drive exponents were Mark Alcorn/Kevin McCafferty (Toyota Corolla), finishing just outside the top ten.
Defending Dunlop champion Ray Breen made a good start and led by 11 seconds after the opening stage as Donnelly endured a brief off-road excursion.
Breen extended his lead to 20 seconds on the second stage, but crashed out on the next test.
Patrick Elliott took up the lead role as Donnelly lost time when his car’s dipstick worked itself loose.
However, he moved into the lead on S.S.4 and even though Elliott stayed close for two further stages, Donnelly put the issue beyond doubt on the penultimate test.
:
1. C. Donnelly/P. Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 03m. 49s.
2. P. Elliott/R. Kennedy (Subaru WRC) 1h. 04m. 09s.
3. G. Allen/D. Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 05m. 20s.
4. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 1h. 05m. 29s.
5. M. Curran/F. McShane (Mitsubishi) 1h. 05m. 48s.
6. M. Kelleher/M. Kelleher (Mitsubishi) 1h. 06m. 27s.
7. M. Doherty/A. Cullen (Subaru WRC) 1h. 06m. 52s.
8. A. Ring/A. Deasy (Subaru) 1h. 06m. 58s.
9. N. McCarrick/P. Robinson(Subaru WRC) 1h. 07m. 11s.
10. J. M. Stafford/J. F. Stafford (Mitsubishi) 1h. 07m. 42s.
