Ring clinches group N national title

Newly crowned Dunlop National Rally champions, Patrick Elliott and Paul Goodman (Subaru) have won the Ardara based Donegal Harvest Rally, the final round of the national series.

They finished the nine stage event 59 seconds ahead of the Subaru WRC of Kevin Barett/Sean Mullally with Seamus Leonard/John McCaffrey, also in a Subaru WRC, finishing third – seven seconds further behind.

The Pattersons RallyNews Group N award, for the highest placed Group N crew in the overall championship standings, was won by the Kerry/Cork combination of Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Mitsubishi).

Meanwhile, Danny McBride/Rory McBride (Mitsubishi) won the Group N category of the Donegal event while the top two-wheel drive competitors were Gary McPhillips/Mark Tierney (Ford Escort).

Derry’s, Kevin Lynch dominated the early exchanges.

A seven second lead on the opening stage was duly extended to 44 seconds by the end of the first loop of stages as Elliott slotted into second despite a massive overshoot.

Seamus Leonard (Subaru WRC) was third with Barrett in fourth place.

Lynch crashed out on the fourth stage and Elliott was perfectly placed to take control.

By the end of the second loop, he was 32 seconds clear of Leonard, who was being chased hard by Barrett, a margin of six seconds separated the pair.

Elliott maintained a steady pace to take his sixth victory in this Dunlop series.

Barrett snatched second as overheating problems cost Leonard the runner-up spot, he finished third – seven seconds behind his rival.

McDermott and another Donegal driver, Stuart Darcy were fourth and fifth respectively.

Having suffered a broken gear stick just a mile into the opening stage, McPhillips recovered quickly and dominated the exchanges in the two-wheel drive category.

McBride set a hot pace in Group N showroom category but Alan Ring (Mitsubishi) was never going to jeopardise his national title aspirations, he took a steady pace to finish eleventh overall, a position that ensured his championship victory.

Shaun Gallagher retired his Citroen C2 after he slipped off the road during the second loop.

Limerick’s, Mark Sheahan (Renault Clio), who was co-driven by Jonathan McGrath won the class based Border Championship.

P. Elliott/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 07m. 30s.

K. Barrett/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 08m. 29s.

S. Leonard/J. McCafferty (Subaru WRC) 1h. 08m. 36s.

PJ McDermott/P. Robinson (Subaru WRC) 1h. 09m. 55s.

S. Darcy/E. Sherry (Subaru) 1h. 10m. 20s.

G. McPhillips/M. Tierney (Escort) 1h. 11m. 24s.

D. McBride/R. McBride (Mitsubishi) 1h. 11m. 39s.

C. McGill/B. Boyle (Ford Escort) 1h. 11m. 41s.

D. Gallagher/M. Walsh (Ford Escort) 1h. 11m. 51s.

C. Bradley/C. Beattie (Ford Escort) 1h. 11m. 56s.