Lynch wins Almc Rally

Having re-fettled his S12B Subaru WRC following a crash on the Rally of the Lakes, Derry driver, Kevin Lynch took a comfortable victory in today’s ALMC Rally in Gormanstown, County Meath.

At the end of the nine-stage event, Lynch and co-driver, Francis Regan had amassed a victory margin of one minute and six seconds over the Subaru WRC pair of Kenny McKinstry and Noel Orr.

Brothers, Mark and Michael Courtney (Toyota Celica) were third - one minute and 18 seconds further adrift.

Meath’s, Peter Wilson (Honda Civic) was the top National Junior Rally Championship competitor, he also took a class victory.

The rally was also a counting round of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland series with Damien Tourish taking the spoils ahead of Owen Murphy.

Lynch controlled issued from the very beginning. A two second lead on the opening stage was extended to 14 seconds on the second stage.

Within another two stages, Lynch was 32 seconds ahead of McKinstry, who was worried about a noise from the transmission of his Subaru.

Colm Murphy (Mitsubishi) moved into third.

The top duo beat the bogey time on stage five, on Stage 6, Lynch pushed his advantage out to 52 seconds and went on to take victory with McKinstry finishing second.

Murphy lost third place on the seventh stage with differential trouble, nevertheless, he maintained a top ten slot.

However, a crash on the penultimate test saw him plummet down the order, he finished 63rd.

Mark Courtney (Toyota Celica) came through to finish third.

Having led the two-wheel category for most of the rally, Pat Donegan (Escort) bowed out with a broken driveshaft on the final stage.

Trevor Mulligan (Escort) was best placed to take advantage and the category win.

1. K. Lynch/F. Regan (Subaru WRC) 56m. 36s.

2. K. McKinstry/N. Orr (Subaru WRC) 57m. 42s.

3. M. Courtney/M. Courtney (Toyota Celica) 59m. 20s.

4. T. Holton/F. Kenny (Toyota Celica) 59m. 36s.

5. D. Tourish/D. McAlaney (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 59m. 40s.

6. T. Mulligan/L. Roe (Ford Escort) 59m. 56s.

7. O. Murphy/J. O'Brien (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1h. 00m. 16s.

8. M. Jasper/D. Whyatt (Metro 6R4) 1h. 00m. 37s.

9. F. Costello/S. Gilhooly (Mitsubishi Evo 4) 1h. 01m. 09s.

10. B. Cummiskey/C. Foley (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1h. 01m. 24s.