Barrable wins Carlow Rally

Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Ford Focus WRC) took a comprehensive victory in the Leighlinbridge based Carlow Rally today.

On what was their first event in almost twelve months, the Swords/Athlone pair took two stages to get into the groove before they blitzed the opposition.

They led by a slender margin on the opening stage with Longford's, Tommy Doyle in a Renault Clio offering the best opposition.

Barrable also set the pace on the second stage as his Ford Focus WRC struggled with incorrect suspension settings.

At the service halt, the suspension system was softened and Barrable stretched his advantage in all of the remaining six stages to win by two minutes and 20 seconds.

Local hero, Terence O'Shaughnessy powered his rear wheel drive Toyota Corolla to second place - well clear of the Toyota Celica of John Somers, who lost time with gearbox problems on the closing stages.

Kilkenny's, James Travers (Renault Clio) was fourth.

Doyle's Clio punctured on the second stage and duly dropped to 13th in general classification having lost in excess of two minutes in the episode, however, he made a fine recovery to claim fifth.

Damien McCarthy (Honda Civic) also lost time on S.S. 2 when a driveshaft broke, luckily, he made it to service to replace the unit and finished sixth overall - securing maximum points in the Honda Cup.

The rally also incorporated the Ford Escort Mk. 2 Challenge - in a dramatic finish, Simon Mauger edged out long time leader, Seamus O'Connell on the final stage to win by 13 seconds.

1. M. Barrable/D. O'Gorman (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 05m. 31s.

2. T. O'Shaughnessy/E. McGrath (Toyota Corolla) 1h. 07m. 51s.

3. J. Somers/J. McGrath (Toyota Celica ST185) 1h. 09m. 33s.

4. J. Travers/R. Nolan (Renault Clio) 1h. 09m. 54s.

5. T. Doyle/A. Purcell (Renault Clio) 1h. 10m. 22s.

6. D. McCarthy/E. Hayes (Honda Civic) 1h. 10m. 42s.

Ford Escort MK. 2 Challenge:

1. S. Mauger/K. Blanche 1h. 07m. 14s.

2. S. O'Connell/B. Duggan 1h. 07m. 27s.

3. S. Smyth/A. Smyth 1h. 09m. 02s.

4. M. Curran/A. White 1h. 09m. 16s.