Elliott is best in Mayo

Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Subaru WRC) have won the TF Royal Hotel & Theatre Mayo Rally, the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, that was based in Castlebar.

They ended the eight-stage rally with a six seconds winning margin over the Subaru WRC of Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru WRC).

Kevin Barett/Sean Mullally (Subaru WRC) took a late third place after they edged out the Opel Corsa S2000 car of Gareth MacHale/Barry Goodman on the final pair of stages.

Elliott dominated from the start and held a commanding 19 second lead over rival, Niall Maguire after the completion of four stages.

Then, on S.S. 5, the Cavan driver inexplicably spun his Subaru a full revolution.

Remarkably, the only damage was the loss of a front bumper.

However, it changed the handling capabilities of his Subaru and he was forced to curtail his drive through the sixth test.

By then, Maguire had closed to within three seconds.

With both drivers selecting slicks, a tyre that transpired to be the incorrect choice, Elliot gleamed a second on the penultimate test and two from the final stage to win by six seconds.

Gareth MacHale debuting his Opel Corsa S2000 car, took a few stages to acclimatise. The nature of the stages wasn't suited to the car while a hard suspension system also made it difficult.

He was set to take third until Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC) reeled him in on the final stages.

Garry Jennings (Mitsubishi) was fifth and garnered top points in the Patterson's RallyNews Group N series.

Brian O'Mahony (Renault Clio S1600) won the two-wheel drive wards.

1. P. Elliott/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 55m. 22s.

2. N. Maguire/E. Sherry (Subaru WRC) 55m. 28s.

3. K. Barrett/S. Mullally (Subaru WRC) 57m. 37s.

4. G. MacHale/B. Goodman (Opel Corsa S2000) 57m. 45s.

5. G. Jennings/M. Brady (Mitsubishi) 58m. 32s.

6. D. McBride/J. Gallagher (Mitsubishi) 1h. 00m. 22s.

7. B. O'Mahony/J. Higgins (Renault Clio S1600) 1h. 00m. 41s.

8. T. Fitzmaurice/F. Foley (Mitsubishi) 1h. 01m. 31s.

9. P. Elliott/B. Doherty (Mitsubishi) 1h. 01m. 32s.

10. R. Woods/M. Byrne (Ford Escort) 1h. 01m. 32s.

DUNLOP NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP (Positions after Round 2):

1.P. Elliott 40 pts.

2. N. Maguire 36 pts.

3. K. Barrett 32 pts.