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Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally - 7 Aug 05Posted: August 8, 2005 3:52 PM - 17123 Hits
Sepam Specialist Stonethrowers Rally 2005 in association with Eddie Garry Subaru car sales.
Posted: August 8, 2005 3:52 PM
BREEN WINS TIPPERARY STONETHROWERS RALLY (Report courtesy of Irish Dunlop – sponsors of the Irish National Rally Championship) An exciting Sepam Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, the seventh round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship was won by Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC). On what was their third victory in a row, they finished the eight stage rally just five seconds ahead of the Toyota Corolla WRC of Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner. Noel Redmond/Killian Duffy (Subaru WRC) were a distant third. Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell crashed their Subaru on the second stage where the Subaru WRC of Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry crashed further on and caught fire. Harrison eventually rejoined the action but the stage was stopped due to the Gallagher accident and all competitors - with the exception of Harrison/Bell - were accredited with the stage-interrupted time. The championship duo received the interrupted time plus an additional two and a half minutes, they eventually finished fifth overall. Mike Curran/Fabian McShane (Mitsubishi) won the Group N category. The top two wheel drive crew were Liam Wall/Bob Kelly (Escort), they were twelfth in general classification. Usually, Harrison is the driver to set the quickest time on the opening stage, however, on this occasion, it was his title rival, Breen that took that honour. His Dunlop backed Ford Focus set a time of seven minutes and 18 seconds through the 13-kilometre Coolquill Castle stage, the Kilkenny driver looking very relaxed at the stage finish. Harrison was next - six seconds behind, the Macclesfield driver had a transmission worry, meanwhile, Charlie Donnelly (Toyota Corolla WRC) was a further 19 seconds adrift, like many others, he reported the stage quite slippy. Noel Redmond, in a Subaru WRC was best of the rest, he was fourth followed by top Group N contender, Alan Ring (Subaru) and the Subaru WRC's of Kevin Barrett and Sean Gallagher, who tied for seventh place. Top seed, Harrison crashed out on the second stage but still managing to get going again, albeit with a significant time loss. Donnelly upped his pace and duly set fastest time - three seconds faster than Breen. Redmond and Barrett were the only other drivers to traverse the stage as Sean Gallagher crashed and his Subaru WRC caught fire, the remaining crews were diverted to the service area. Breen's advantage after the opening loop of two stages was 21 seconds with Donnelly second and Redmond a further 21 seconds behind in third place. Alan Ring - fourth overall - led Group N by some 14 seconds from Michael Curran (Mitsubishi). The overall top six was completed by Kevin Barrett (fifth) and the aforementioned Curran, who shared sixth with Richie Curran, his Escort Cosworth suffering a broken driveshaft. The leading pair traded stage times out on the repeat of the loop and at the second service halt, Breen led by 23 seconds although he remarked that he wasn't happy with his pace on the third stage, he reckoned that the Harrison accident knocked him out of his stride. Redmond lost further touch with the leading pair, as Kevin Barrett slipped down the order when his Subaru punctured some five miles from the stage finish. There was a change in Group N as Michael Curran moved into the lead despite an overshoot on S.S. 4, his rival, Alan Ring was off on no fewer than three occasions on the stage, nevertheless, he was only ten seconds off Curran's pace, the pair were fourth and fifth respectively. Three more Group N drivers, PJ McGrath, Ian Barrett and Willie Fannin were next in general classification with the top ten being completed Joe McHugh (Escort Cosworth) and Eamonn Daly (Mitsubishi). Top seed, Jim Harrison continued and although he lost several minutes in his second stage accident, he made up several places out on stage 3 and 4. The final loop of stages centred on two stages repeated twice, on the first (S.S. 5), Donnelly set the pace and eked out a second out of rally leader, Breen with Harrison continuing to make up ground courtesy of third fastest. On the day's sixth stage, Breen spun on gravel and lost valuable seconds trying to select reverse gear. Donnelly was again the quickest driver through the stage and at the final service, the Derry driver had closed to within six seconds. Redmond was a distant third as Curran solidified his lead in Group N - he was 22 seconds ahead of Alan Ring. Although his Subaru WRC had no third gear, Kevin Barrett regained a position in the top ten, he was sixth with Harrison up to equal seventh with a subdued Willie Fannin (Subaru). Joe McHugh (Escort Cosworth) and Gabriel Martin (Subaru) filled the remaining places in the top ten. Both PJ. McGrath and Ian Barrett retired on S.S. 6. On the penultimate stage, Breen and Donnelly set equal fastest time and even though Donnelly took a second out of the championship leader on the final stage, Breen did enough to take his third victory in a row. Redmond took a distant third; Curran took an all important victory in Group N. Harrison eventually finished fifth to claim 13 Dunlop points and remain in the title hunt. Alan Ring (Subaru) came home sixth overall and Kevin Barrett (Subaru) completed the top seven. Non-starters included Patrick Elliott, JJ Fleming and reigning Dunlop champion, Niall Maguire. Dunlop Championship Positions (Provisional positions after Round 7): 1. R. Breen 118 points; 2. J. Harrison 87 points; 3. C. Donnelly 83 points; 4. K. Barrett 77 points; 5. P. Elliott & N. Maguire 63 points; 7. K. Lynch 58 Points; 8. M. Curran 57 points. Final Results 1 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) 51m 25s, 2 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 51m 30s, 3 Noel Redmond/Killian Duffy (Subaru Impreza WRC) 53m 54s, 4 Mike Curran/Fabian McShane (Mit. Lancer Evo 7) GpN 54m 23s, 5 Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 54m 45s, 6 Alan Ring/Derek Brannigan (Subaru Impreza N11) GpN 54m 45s, 7 Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 54m 46s, 8 Graham Quinn/Martin Costello (Mit. Lancer Evo 6) GpN 55m 05s, 9 Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Subaru Impreza N9) GpN 55m 06s, 10 Joe McHugh/Declan Gallagher (Escort RS Cosworth) 55m 33s. Leaders SS1-8 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) SS1 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) SS2 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) SS3 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) SS4 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) SS5 Cancelled SS6 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) SS7 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) & Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) SS8 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC)
crspics.com - Counihan Rallysport Pictures Peespeed Photography GER LEAHY PHOTOGRAPHY & PR RE raggededge.net
 Gp N Winner, Michael Curran Photo: raggededge.net PRE EVENT NEWS
With his Lancer Evo 8 MR not available, Roy White has taken to hiring Eugene Donnelly's Escort G3 for the Stonethrowers. "I never competed in a Rear Wheel Drive before", Roy told rally.ie, "My aim for the day is to have as much fun as possible in what is my local event!." The Rally starts from Clonmel @ 9am on Sunday using a 2x2 and 2x2 format. 04/08/05 Sean Gallagher is now not expected to use his newly acquired Subaru Impreza S7 this weekend, and will instead use the ex-Patrick Elliot 98 car. Marshals wanted: details on Updated Reserve list on: 26/07/05 NO Drivers Name/NAVIGATORS NAME (CAR) [CLASS] 1 JAMES HARRISON/HARVEY BELL (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [A8] 2 RAY BREEN/ANDREW PURCELL (FORD FOCUS WRC) [A8] 3 CHARLIE DONNELLY/PADDY TONER (TOYOTA COROLLA WRC) [A8] 4 PATRICK ELLIOT/DAVID MOYNAHAN (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [A8] 5 NOEL REDMOND/TBA (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [A8] 6 NIALL MAGUIRE/PAUL MCLOUGHLIN (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [A8] 7 KEVIN BARRETT/BARRY GORMAN (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [A8] 8 JJ FLEMING/ROBBY WARD (FORD FOCUS WRC) [A8] 9 RICHIE CURRAN/JERRY ENGLISH (FORD ESCORT WRC) [15] 10 JACK SLEATOR/TIMMY ENGLAND (SKODA FABIA WRC) [A8] 11 WILLIE FANNIN/MICK COURTNEY (SUBARU IMPREZA N9) [N4] 12 SEAMUS LEONARD/JERRY MCVEIGH (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 8.5) [N4] 14 MIKE CURRAN/FABAIN MCSHANE (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 7) [N4] 15 ALAN RING/DEREK BRANNIGAN (SUBARU IMPREZA N11) [N4] 16 ROY WHITE/DES COONEY (MITSUBISHE LANCER EVO 8) [N4] 17 GABRIEL MARTIN/TBA (SUBARU IMPREZA N11) [N4] 18 PJ GRATH/DAMIEN MORRISEY (SUBARU IMPREZA N11) [N4] 19 SEAN GALLAGHER/ENDA SHERRY (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [A8] 20 DON BUTLER/DAVID DOYLE (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 8) [N4] 21 EDDIE GARRY/SEAN HADE (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [A8] Juniors J1 DAVID POWER/KEVIN POWER (PEUGEOT 205) [16] J2 CHRIS GREENE/DAVID COADY (AUSTIN MINI) [16] J3 BARRY MEADE/COLIN FITZGERALD (FORD ESCORT) [16] J4 JASON KINSELLA/BOBBY MURPHY (HONDA CIVIC) [16] J5 ALLEN MACKEY/ORLAGH O CONNOR (VAUXHALL NOVA) [16] J6 COLMAN HURLEY/JOHN SPILLANE (OPEL ASTRA) [16] J7 JASON O MAHONY/JONATHAN O MAHONY (HONDA CIVIC) [16] J8 JASON RYAN/FINBARR FOLEY (HONDA CIVIC) [16] J9 BRIAN CULLEN/TBA (OPEL CORSA) [16] J10 GARY MURPHY/ROBBY MORGAN (OPEL ) [16] Full entry list and reserves and Juniors available to download from Final instructions will be available on the website later in the week. The club would also like to ask anyone that would like to Marshal on the day there will be full details of meeting points and times posted next week closer to the date.
23/06/05 Sepam Specialist Stonethrowers Rally 2005 in association with Eddie Garry Subaru car sales will be again based in Clonmel, with the Clonmel arms hotel are HQ for the Rally. The rally this year will consist of four brand new challenging stages north of Clonmel. Max number of Entries - 151 main field + 20 Juniors Rally HQ Clonmel Arms Hotel Timetable Saturday Scrunity @ Sheehan Brothers Yard, Fethard Road, Clonmel Parc Ferme @ Stokes & Quirke, Mart Yard, Davis Yard, Clonmel Drivers Briefing - 9.45 pm Sunday First Car away 9:00 Further details on:
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Stonethrowers Rally (Tipperary)
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