Elliott on top in Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally

Dunlop National Rally Championship leader Patrick Elliott (Subaru WRC), with co-driver Rory Kennedy, won a hotly-contested Sepam Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, the seventh round of the national series.

At the end of the eight-stage rally, which was based at the new Clonmel Park Hotel, Elliott and Kennedy had a five-second winning margin over title rivals Charlie Donnelly and Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC).

For the third year in succession, Wexford’s Noel Redmond (Subaru WRC), partnered on this occasion by Alan Keena, was third. They were a minute and 31 seconds further behind.

The Group N category was won by Willie Fannin and Mick Courtney (Subaru). They finished 10 seconds ahead of rivals Alan Ring and Adrian Deasy (Subaru). The top two-wheel-drive exponents were Maurice Moffett and Jason McKenna (Toyota Starlet).

The event resulted in a battle for supremacy between Elliott and Donnelly. Elliott made the best possible start, going 15 seconds ahead after just two stages.

On the repeat of the stages, Donnelly could only trim a second from the rally leader. He reduced the margin to 10 seconds by SS6 as Elliott tried a hard-compound tyre in the hot and dusty conditions.

On the final two stages, Elliott managed to repel Donnelley’s charge, winning by a five-second margin.

Redmond took third, keeping Michael Barrable at bay.

Willie Fannin fought his way back to win Group N. He overturned a six-second deficit to finish 10 seconds ahead of Alan Ring.

Aaron MacHale, who was fourth during the early exchanges, lost well over a minute with a puncture on SS4. He fought his way back to finish sixth.

1. P. Elliott/ P. McLaughlin (Subaru Impreza WRC) 56m. 12s.

2. C. Donnelly/P. Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 56m. 17s.

3. N. Redmond/Alan Keena (Subaru WRC) 57m. 48s.

4. M. Barrable/M.J. Morrissey (Ford Focus WRC) 57m. 53s.

5. W. Fannin/M. Courtney (Subaru) 1h. 00m. 02s.

6. A. MacHale/C. Parry (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 00m. 06s.

7. A. Ring/A. Deasy (Subaru) 1h. 00m. 12s.

8. D. James/S. Mullally (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 00m. 22s.

9. P.J. McGrath/K. Duffy (Subaru WRC) 1h. 00m. 43s.

10. I. Barrett/E. O’Flaherty (Mitsubishi) 1h. 01m. 07s.