Boland wins Ulster rally

Eamonn Boland has won the Ulster Rally and clinched his inaugural Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.

Co-driven by Damien Morrissey, they finished 28.6 seconds ahead of the Subaru of Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan.

Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru) were third and picked up maximum points in the British Rally Championship.

The top two-wheel drive competitor was Frenchman, Sebastien Ogier (Citroen C2R2), he finished ahead of Cork’s, Brian O’mahony (Renault Clio S1600) On this morning’s first two stages, Boland ensured he didn’t give any encouragement to second placed Kevin Lynch. The rally leader was quickest through both stages 7 and 8 and stretched his lead to some 36 seconds.

Mark Higgins retained third – some 40 seconds adrift as Guy Wilks (Mitsubishi) made a brief visit to the scenery and damaged a rear wheel. Remarkably, he hung on to fourth place.

Kenny McKinstry (Subaru), Gwyndaf Evans (Mitsubishi) and Derek McGarrity (Subaru WRC) completed the top six after S.S. 8.

In the race for supremacy in the two-wheel drive category, French ace, Sebastien Ogier (Citroen C2R2) led Cork driver, Brian O’Mahony (Renault Clio S160) by some 25 seconds.

Boland maintained a strong pace and by Stage 11, he was 40.8 seconds ahead of Lynch.

Higgins was over a minute adrift in third as he headed the British Rally Championship contenders.

Kenny McKinstry moved into fourth at the expense of Wilks while McGarrity and Evans rounded off the top six.

In this evening’s stages, Boland retained his composure and emerged victorious as he clinched his first ever Irish Tarmac Championship.

Lynch, Higgins and Guy Wilks completed the top four followed by McGarrity and McKinstry.