Fitzmaurice edges out O’Mahony

Remarkably, for the fifth time in recent years, the Carlton Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally, the third round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, ended in a tie-break.

Yesterday, after eight absorbing stages around Tralee, Abbeydorney’s Thomas Fitzmaurice and co-driver Fionn Foley (Subaru WRC) edged out the similar car of Cork’s Brian O’Mahony and his Mayo co-driver, John Higgins, to take the laurels. Both crews finished the rally with the same overall time, but, by virtue of the fact that the Kerry duo were quickest on the last stage (albeit by a second), they won on the tie-break rule.

Monaghan’s, Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru) were third.

In the Modified category, Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) were the top crew while Eugene Meegan/Brian Sharkey (Mitsubishi) won the Group N category.

With Fitzmaurice racing into a 14 second lead over Kevin Barrett on the opening stage, the possibility of a close contest looked remote. When the Kerry driver stretched his lead to 23 seconds, this time with Maguire occupying second, it appeared Fitzmaurice had the rally very much under his control.

At the Tralee service park, the McKinstry team made adjustments to O’Mahony’s Subaru. It had an immediate effect and upon the return to the Tralee service after stages three and four, he had moved into second and trimmed the deficit to 11 seconds.

He remarked: “I really tidied up my own driving.”

Meanwhile, Fitzmaurice, who endured a time-consuming spin, said, “All my good work earlier this morning is gone. I spun on gravel midway through the fourth stage.”

Maguire was only four seconds behind in third and still very much in contention with Barrett seven seconds further adrift.

In the Modified category, Frank Kelly and Declan Boyle were embroiled in a terrific duel, with the former just a second ahead. Colm Murphy, following a slow start, moved into the lead of Group N – he was three seconds ahead of Eugene Meegan. Elsewhere, Mike Quinn in ninth, struggled with brake problems. Roy White (MG S2000) and Kevin Kelleher (Mitsubishi) both retired.

Out on the stages around Camp and Blennerville, the rally developed into a fascinating contest. On S.S. 5, O’Mahony and Maguire set the pace but Fitzmaurice, only a second behind, still led O’Mahony by ten seconds. The rally leader only lost another second to his challenger on Stage 6. However, on S.S. 7. O’Mahony moved into a one second lead. In a pulsating finish, Fitzmaurice posted the fastest stage time, in overall times, both drivers had identical times but Fitzmaurice, the new leader of the Dunlop series, got the verdict on a tie-break, the fifth time that the rally was decided in this fashion.

Maguire, despite a puncture, was third. Barrett retired with engine troubles, earlier he was stymied by a slipping clutch. Kelly won the Modified and with Colm Murphy slipping off the road on S.S. 6, Meegan went on to win the Group N category.

At the finish, Fitzmaurice said: “Brian came at me hard, I had to go for it and it’s a really sweet win.”

O’Mahony said, “I’m shattered, this is hard, but then considering where I was after two stages, I’ve got to be happy, but it’s still hard to accept.”

Meanwhile, Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen (Citroen) won Rally de Portugal to move into the lead of the World Rally Championship. He finished one minute and 51.8s seconds ahead of the Ford Fiesta of Mads Ostberg with third placed Russian driver, Evgeny Novikov (Ford Fiesta) taking his first ever WRC podium position.

Norway’s Petter Solberg and his Antrim co-driver, Chris Patterson, who were back in the event under “Rally 2” were fourth, their team mate, Jari Matti Latvala, also competing under Rally 2, had to settle for 14th. place, his Fiesta had fuel pressure problems on the third leg, yet, he collected two points from the Power Stage.

Tyrone’s Alastair Fisher, one of the favourites for the prestigious FIA WRC Academy title, took a fine victory, the 23 year old Trillick driver finished 40.3 seconds ahead of Australian, Brendan Reeves.

Fisher began Saturday’s final leg with a 59.4 second advantage and adopted a risk-free strategy to clinch victory. Fisher only failed to post a top-three stage time on one occasion, three fastest stage times gave him three bonus points to add to the 25 he earned for claiming victory.

In the opening round of the Pony Express Formula Vee Championship at Kirkistown, Ray Moore set a lap record on his way to victory ahead of Lee Newsome and Ian Campbell.