The in-form Donegal driver Donagh Kelly (Ford Focus WRC) and his Derry co-driver Kevin Flanagan netted maximum points on the Deebert House Hotel Circuit of Munster Rally, round four of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.
They were fastest through all nine stages and finished with a winning margin of one minute and 59.4 seconds over the Subaru WRC of Kerry’s Alan Ring and his Cork co-driver Adrian Deasy. The Tipperary/Cork duo of Roy White/James O’Brien (MG ZR) were 54 seconds further behind in third.
The Motorsport Safety Group N category was won by Aidan Wray/Kieran McGrath (Mitsubishi EvoIX); Roscommon’s Cormac Phelan/Katja Auhl (Citroen C2R2) took the honours in the Junior section and the Historic category was won by Niall Keane/Conor Keane (Talbot Sunbeam).
Kelly was quickest on the opening stage where the Mk. 2 Escort of Tipperary’s Barry Ryan was second, however, he crashed on the second stage with Maguire moving into second.
Kelly arrived at the Kilmallock service halt with a commanding lead of 41.6 seconds with Maguire second and Roy White (MG ZR) third – 8.1 seconds behind Maguire.
Continuing his domination, Kelly, with three more fastest stage times, extended his lead and at the final service he led Maguire by a minute and 16.2 seconds. Maguire had an overshoot on S.S. 6. Ring improved and slotted into third - 23.7 seconds behind Maguire with White occupying fourth.
Niall Maguire’s rally ended just metres after the start of S.S. 7 when his Subaru stopped with a suspected electrical malady. Kelly went on to claim maximum points – he was also quickest through the Power Stage (S.S.9). Ring claimed second spot, he gained an additional two points for second fastest on the Power Stage. White, despite a spin on the final stage managed to repel the charge of Kevin Kelleher (Subaru WRC) while fifth placed Kevin Barrett netted a bonus point from the Power Stage.
Ed O’Callaghan (Escort) had a clean final loop to win the Modified section and completed the top six. In Group N Aidan Wray (Mitsubishi EvoX) reeled in Pat O’Connell on the final stage to claim the category. Wexford’s Graham Scallan (Mitsubishi EvoX) won Group R and secured his first top ten finish in the car.
The Kilkenny/Tipperary duo of Mark Geraghty/Robert Nolan (Vauxhall Nova) won the Triton Showers Drive of the Day award
1 D Kelly/K. Flanagan (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 04m. 53.5s.
2 A Ring/A. Deasy (Subaru WRC) 1h. 06m. 52.9s.
3 R White/J. O'Brien (MG ZR) 1h. 07m. 46.9s.
4 K Kelleher/R. Fitzpatrick (Subaru WRC) 1h. 07m. 49.4m.
5 K Barrett/S. Mullally (Subaru WRC) 1h. 07m. 55.2s.
6 E O'Callaghan/G. Clancy ( Ford Escort) 1h. 08m. 15.9s.
7 C Armstrong/J. Fulton (Ford Escort) 1h. 09m. 36.5s.
8 G Scallan/T. Scallan (Mitsubishi EvoX) 1h. 09m. 57.9s.
9 A Wray/K. McGrath (Mitsubishi EvoX) 1h. 09m. 59.1s.
10 P O'Connell/P. McCrudden (Mitsubishi EvoIX) 1h. 10m. 00.6s
