Maguire wraps up 2002 Rally
The event was won by Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Subaru WRC) who were 37 seconds ahead of Maguire and his deputy co driver, Paul Nagle at the conclusion of the day’s nine stages around Fethard.
In the showroom category, Aaron McHale/Damien Connolly (Mitsubishi) secured the national title of the Dunlop series while in event terms, locals, Roy White/Des Cooney (Mitsubishi) took the honours and also finished top local crew.
Barrable, without a win for over three years was quickly into a winning mode. Extricating 17 seconds on the opening stage, his lead was extended to 36 seconds by the end of the first loop. Maguire reflected on tyre choice and brakes that hadn’t bedded in sufficiently as the reasons for the deficit. His only challenger, Patrick Elliott/Sean Moriarty lost several minutes when they clouted the rear of their Subaru.
There was a great degree of surprise as Mac McKenna (Peugeot) slotted his rear wheel drive car into a worthy third place ahead of the more powerful Escort Cosworth of David Armstrong.
White held the early advantage in Group N and fifth overall ahead of the Toyota Celica of Eddie Kinirons. Sean Gallagher (Escort Cosworth) and Group N contenders, George Tracey (Subaru) and Aaron McHale were next in general classification.
The second loop brought a much improved performance from Maguire, on two occasions he posted the exact same time as Barrable, but the rally leader eked out two more seconds on the other stage to lead by 38 seconds.
Armstrong moved into third and elsewhere, the major changes saw Gallagher move to fifth and McHale dispose White for the Group N lead, the latter demoted a few places by the addition of a one minute road penalty.
Meanwhile, two of the Class 14 contenders, Tom Randles (Escort) and David Long (Sierra) joined the list of retirements that also included Paddy O’Reilly and Jimmy Lambert.
Barrable set the seal on a fine win with two more fastest times as Maguire clinched the Dunlop title and also set fastest time on the final stage. Armstrong (third) and Sean Gallagher (fifth) remain in the chase for third overall in the national series while Mac McKenna finished a fine fourth on the event. Gaining in confidence as the rally progressed Hugh Dunne was sixth.
White made a determined effort that paid dividends as he reeled in Aaron McHale for event honours in the showroom category. McHale did enough to land the national title.
The top ten was completed by Edie Kinirons (Subaru) and George Tracey (Subaru), who edged out Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla WRC) for tenth by a mere second.
Meanwhile, in the Ford Ireland Ford focus Championship, Oliver Stanley had an eleven second win over Colm Murphy with Brendan Kelly a further seven seconds behind.
Marcus Gronholm bolstered his World Championship bid with his third successive victory in Rally Finland. The Finn moved 17 points ahead of Colin McRae, whose hopes were dealt a crushing blow when his Ford Focus caught fire on the penultimate stage. His great British rival, Richard Burns, made it a 1 2 for Peugeot, the fifth time this year the French manufacturer has taken maximum points. They now lead Ford by 25 points.
Trevor Moore won the Dogleap Rally in , at the finish of Saturday’s eight stages, he was eight seconds ahead of the Subaru WRC of Derek McGarrity. Stephen Whitford (Mitsubishi) was third.
In the MEC Race Meeting in Mondello par, there were race wins for David Collier (Dunlop RT 2000’s), John O’Hara (Formula Ireland) and Alan Dawson (Strykers). In the Formula Ireland category, O’Hara finished ahead of Championship leader, Robbie Coleman and Barry Waugh.
Having quit the Red Bull Honda outfit last week, Adrian Archibald made a winning return to the Chris Dowd Suzuki outfit in the Grand Final at the North Monaghan Motor Cycle Road Races.
Richard Britton led initially but he made an error allowing a hard pressing Archibald take the lead that he held to the chequered flag.
In the Formula Renault UK Championship at Knockhill, Keith Dempsey (11th) was the highest placed Irish driver in a race won by Jamie Green. Philip Kershaw and Matt Griffin were 12th. and 13th. respectively.
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