Donnelly wins Carlow Rally

A keenly contested Seven Oaks Hotel Carlow Rally, the fourth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, was won by Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner(Toyota Corolla WRC).

They finished 28 seconds ahead of the Subaru WRC of Dunlop Championship leader, Patrick Elliott and his co-driver, Paul Goodman.

Aaron MacHale/Eugene O’Donnell (Ford Focus WRC) were third, a further 11 seconds behind.

Elliott retains his lead in the series - 12 points ahead of Donnelly with Martin Doherty (Subaru) in third spot – eight points further behind.

Nine crews beat the bogey time on the opening stage and did likewise on the repeat. Breen led until the penultimate test when he crashed out of the rally and a hard charging Donnelly was best placed to take advantage and secure his second win of the year.

The Group N category was won by Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Subaru), his closest rival, Kevin Kelleher, rolled his Mitsubishi on Stage 4. Remarkably he finished the stage – nine seconds behind Ring but he eventually retired with a blown turbo.

Gabriel Martin, in his new Mitsubishi Evo 9, was second in the category.

Welsh driver, Gwyndaf Evans and co-driver, David Jones won the Mk. 2 Ford Escort Challenge - they were also the quickest two wheel drive exponents. Alistair McRae retired when an oil pipe came adrift.

1. C. Donnelly/P. Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 54m. 55s.

2. P. Elliott/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 55m. 23s.

3. A. MacHale/E. O’Donnell (Ford Focus WRC) 55m. 34s.

4. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 55m. 39s.

5. M. Doherty/A. Cullen (Subaru WRC) 56m. 08s.

6. M. Barrable/M.J. Morrissey (Ford Focus WRC) 56m. 22s.

7. K. Barrett/B. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 57m. 27s.

8. A. Ring/A. Deasy (Subaru) 57m. 27s.

9. D. James/J. Crowe (Ford Focus WRC) 57m. 48s.

10. G. Martin/D. Lennon (Mitsubishi) 58m. 10s.

Dunlop National Rally Championship Positions (after Round 4):

1. P. Elliott 70 points.

2. C. Donnelly 58 points.

3. M. Doherty 50 points.

4. N. Maguire 42 points.

5=. A. MacHale & A. Ring 40 points.