Elliott wins Dunlop National Rally Championship

Patrick Elliott (Subaru WRC) secured the Dunlop National Rally Championship with a start to finish victory in today’s Athenry based Loughrea Plant Sales Galway Summer Rally, the eight round of the series.

Elliott, who has finished runner up on three occasions in the past, finally achieved his long time ambition by taking top points at the Galway event where he was co-driven by Monaghan’s, Damien Connolly.

Elliott’s title rival, Niall Maguire, a former triple champion, kept pace through the opening stages.

On the first stage, Elliott eked out a three second lead.

The second stage fell victim to a technical issue and on the third stage, Elliott extended his lead to nine seconds.

On the first stage of the second loop, both drivers shared the same time.

Maguire’s title bid ended on the fifth stage when he crashed his Subaru on a slippery section of road.

Elliott took a stage to regain his thoughts and concentrate on securing the title as he led the Subaru of Mel Evans/Sean Mullally by 59 seconds after the sixth stage.

Elliott slackened his pace to ensure his title quest with Evans setting the fastest times on the final stages.

At the finish, Elliott was 39 seconds ahead of Evans, more importantly, he secured the maximum 20 Dunlop points to clinch his inaugural national title.

Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Mitsubishi) were third.

Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Toyota Starlet) were the best two-wheel drive exponents.

1 . P. Elliott/D. Connolly (Subaru WRC) 1h. 00m. 38s.

2. M. Evans/S. Mullally (Subaru WRC) 1h. 01m. 17s.

3. A. Ring/A. Deasy (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1h. 05m. 02s.

4. M. Moffett/J. McKenna (Toyota Starlet) 1h. 05m. 12s.

5. M. McGee/D. Crawford (Ford Escort) 1h. 05m. 23s.

6. D. MacBride/R. MacBride (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1h. 05m. 30s.

7. D. Raftery/D. Raftery (Subaru WRC) 1h. 05m. 30s.

8. S. Flanagan/B. Duggan (Subaru) 1h. 05m. 47s.

9. T. Bustard/K. Bustard (Mitsubishi) 1h. 06m. 11s.

10. E. Ferry/D. Heena (Ford Escort) 1h. 06m. 21s.

Dunlop National Rally Championship (Provisional positions after Round 8):

1. P. Elliott 152 points.

2. N. Maguire 130 points.

3. K. Barrett 75 points.

4. A. Ring 65 points.

5. M. Moffett 58 points.

6. S. Flanagan 53 points.

7. T. Bustard 51 points.