Dessie keen in Monaghan as Maguire leads Series

Dessie Keenan, driving a hired McKinstry S9 Subaru WRC, won the Monaghan Rally today after taking the lead on the very first stage.

Sun, 20 Apr, 2008 - 21:18

Dessie Keenan, driving a hired McKinstry S9 Subaru WRC, won the Monaghan Rally today after taking the lead on the very first stage.

At the finish of the nine-stage event, the third round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, Keenan was 35 seconds ahead of the Subaru of Niall Maguire with Patrick Elliott, also in a Subaru, a mere second behind in third.

Keenan’s eight second lead from the first stage was strengthened by superb performances through the second and third stages as he increased his advantage to 38 seconds.

Second placed Maguire pointed to the loss of some 20 seconds due to a major overshoot on the third stage.

Seamus Leonard and Kevin Barrett shared third place.

On the repeat of the loop, Keenan went some 58 seconds in front as Maguire decided to concentrate on the acquisition of maximum Dunlop points.

Meanwhile, Patrick Elliott, who was down in sixth after S.S. 3, made up ground and slotted his Subaru into third as a result of changes to the suspension system.

Leonard was fourth but worried about the lack of turbo boost.

Having lost time and damaged the steering on the first stage, Glenn Allen increased his pace and slotted his Corolla into fifth ahead of the Subaru of Kevin Barrett.

Although both Keenan and Maguire punctured on the final stage, positions were unchanged, with Maguire just managing to holed second place – one second ahead of Elliott. Leonard and Barrett were fourth and fifth respectively.

Retirements included Michael Barrable (differential), Adrian McElvaney (driveshaft) and Glen Allen (engine).

Gary McPhillips (Escort) was the top two-wheel drive exponent while Fergal Costello (Mitsubishi) won the Group N category.

Maguire took maximum Dunlop points and moves into the lead of the Dunlop series. Event winner, Keenan opted not to register for the series.

1. D. Keenan/E. Sherry (Subaru WRC) 1h. 20m. 37s.

2. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 1h. 21m. 12s.

3. P. Elliott/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 21m. 13s.

4. S. Leonard/J. McCafferty (Subaru WRC) 1h. 21m. 35s.

5. K. Barrett/S. Mullally (Subaru WRC) 1h. 22m. 04s.

6. G. McPhillips/M. Tierney (Escort) 1h. 24m. 35s.

7. R. Wilton/C. McMahon (Escort) 1h. 24m. 51s.

8. D. Gallagher/P. Garry (Escort) 1h. 25m. 03s.

9. M. Kelly/D. Barrett (Escort) 1h. 25m. 16s.