Elliott wins dramatic Sligo rally by one second

Cavan driver Patrick Elliott and co-driver Paul McLaughlin won the Tom Hunt Motors/Sligo Park Hotel Rally in their Subaru WRC today.

In what could prove to be a pivotal point in deciding the destination of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, they withstood the challenge of the Toyota Corolla WRC of Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner by just one second.

Elliott’s victory was his first in the national campaign and he has extended his lead over Donnelly to 12 points. Aaron MacHale/Paul Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) were a further 19 seconds behind in third.

The Group N category was won by Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Subaru) and the top rear wheel drive exponents were Rodney Wilton/Conor McMahon (Ford Escort).

British driver Jim Harrison led initially in his Subaru. Donnelly, who stalled his Toyota Corolla on two occasions, moved ahead on S.S. 2.

However, he was off the road and lost the lead to Harrison on S.S. 3.

One stage later, Harrison dropped down the order when he clouted the rear of his Subaru, and eventually retired.

That propelled Elliott into the lead he never lost despite the challenge from Donnelly, he went on to record his first ever national event win by the tightest of margins.

Aaron MacHale secured yet another third overall place finishing three seconds clear of Adrian McElvaney.

Elsewhere, Noel Redmond and Michael Barrable were fifth and sixth respectively. Willie Fannin took a convincing victory in Group N – 26 seconds ahead of Alan Ring, who finished seventh and eighth respectively.

David James (Ford Focus) was ninth and Rodney Wilton (Ford Escort) showed great pace to annex the final place in the top ten and also secure the top two wheel drive award. The top local crew were Noel McCarrick/Keefe Kilcoyne (Subaru WRC).

Result:

1. P. Elliott/ P. McLaughlin (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 11m. 24s.

2. C. Donnelly/P. Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 11m. 25s.

3. A. MacHale/P. Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 11m. 44s.

4. A. McElvaney/A. Kierans (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 11m. 47s.

5. N. Redmond/A. Purcell (Subaru WRC) 1h. 13m. 31s.

6. M. Barrable/M.J. Morrissey (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 14m. 02s.

7. W. Fannin/M. Courtney (Subaru) 1h. 15m. 11s.

8. A. Ring/A. Deasy (Subaru) 1h. 15m. 37s.

9. D. James/J. Crowe (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 15m. 38s.

10. R. Wilton/C. McMahon (Ford Escort) 1h. 16m. 01s.

Provisional Championship standings after Round 6:

P. Elliott 108 Points; C. Donnelly 96 Points; 3. A. MacHale 72 points.