McNulty wins circuit of Kerry rally

Tim McNulty and Anthony Nestor won the Dingle Skellig Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally today in their new S11 Subaru.

They finished six seconds ahead of reigning Dunlop National Rally champions, Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) in the eight-stage event.

Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner in their Toyota Corolla WRC secured third place in this, the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship. It was enough for them to retain their lead of the Dunlop series.

In Group N, Kevin and Martin Kelleher (Mitsubishi) finished 36 seconds ahead of the Subaru of Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Subaru).

Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna were the top two-wheel drive crew in a Toyota Starlet.

Breen led until the sixth stage - on the opening stage he finished 13 seconds ahead of NcNulty.

Breen’s lead was cut to a second at the half way mark after he clouted his Ford Focus off a bank. He eked out a few valuable seconds over McNulty on S.S. five, but the latter’s charge on the final two stages, paid dividends.

Donnelly lost time during the day with an overshoot and his Toyota also stalled at the start line.

After losing almost 30 seconds on the opening stage, Patrick Elliott (Subaru) fashioned a fine recovery to secure fourth place.

1. T. McNulty/A. Nestor (Subaru WRC) 52m. 52s.

2. R. Breen/A. Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) 52m. 58s.

3. C. Donnelly/P. Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 53m. 08s.

4. P. Elliott/R. Kennedy (Subaru WRC) 53m. 39s.

5. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 54m. 57s.

6. M. Doherty/A. Cullen (Subaru WRC) 55m. 02s.

7. A. Machale/E. O’Donnell (Toyota Corolla WRC) 55m. 03s;

8. N. Redmond/S. Mullally (Subaru WRC) 55m. 11s.

9. M. Kelleher/M. Kelleher (Mitsubishi) 55m. 37s.

10. J Fleming/R. Ward (Ford Focus WRC) 56m. 01s.

Dunlop National Championship – provisional positions after Round 2:

1. C. Donnelly 38 Points.

2. P. Elliott 34 Points.

3. N. Maguire 27 Points.

4. M. Doherty 24 Points.

5. M. Kelleher 22 Points

6. R. Breen 20 Points.