Post Stonethrowers Press Releases

Posted: August 15, 2000 11:46 PM

First Maximum for O'Donovan
eircom net / Oki Systems Garda Rally Team

The reward of maximum Dunlop National Rally Championship points was a consolation for Donal O'Donovan, as he emerged from the final stage of the Clonmel based Stonethrowers Rally. Having led the field for much of the event, he had missed out on overall victory by a scant eight seconds, the main prize going to local driver, Frank Meagher.

Meagher had been quickest on the opening stage, but on stage two both Eamonn Boland (Subaru Impreza WRC P2000) and O'Donovan moved ahead of him. O'Donovan then took the lead on the next stage, as Boland lost time with a spin, and Meagher punctured his Ford Escort WRC. O'Donovan (co-driven by Pat Lordan) was quickest on stages four and five, with Meagher fastest on six.

A cracked brake disc was discovered on the eircom net / Oki Systems Toyota Celica at the service halt before the final two stages. It was replaced, but luck was not with O'Donovan. He explained afterwards: "Usually there would be a fairly long road section between the control out of service and the start of the next stage, which would allow you to bed-in the new disc, but in this case the start of the stage was virtually alongside the service area."

Meagher took full advantage of O'Donovan's difficulties, and took 24 seconds out of his lead on the penultimate stage. The local man gained a further twelve seconds on the final stage, to finish eight ahead of O'Donovan, whose cause was not aided by an incorrect tyre choice. "We went for intermediates on that last one, and it turned out to be bone dry" he remarked.

As Meagher is not registered for points in the Dunlop series, O'Donovan takes the maximum twenty, his first top score this year. The result promotes him to fifth on the Championship leaderboard, just one point ahead of fellow West Cork driver, Denis Cronin.

Two rounds of the National Championship remain - the Clare Stages Rally on September 3rd and the Skibbereen Fastnet Rally on October 29th.

Follow the progress of the eircom net / Oki Systems Garda Rally Team at http://www.rallyteamireland.com

Ashby co-driver Tim Sturla & top driver Pete Doughty from Nottingham faced another nightmare trip to Ireland last weekend when they were forced out of the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally with a blown turbo.

The crew were seeded at number 3 in their Escort World Rally Car among the best entry ever seen for an Irish National Championship round. The top-level machinery included the latest, year 2000 Impreza World Rally Car.

As top seeded overseas crew, and following a great second place result on the last National round they contested, expectations were high.

However, things didn't get off to good a start with both brakes and suspension problems. These were rectified at the service halt, but half way through the third stage, whilst flat out in sixth gear, the car blew it's turbo, for the second time this year, leaving the crew unable to continue.

Co-driver Sturla said, "Another disappointment, but we've learnt quite a lot, and will have a new type of turbo for our next outing, which could be it's last, in our hands, as the car is currently for sale!"

Doughty & Sturla now take a break until September for the Wexford Rally, however Sturla once again partners Groby driver Andy Pawley in the O'Brien Dental Lab / Livesey Bros. Redland Roofing Ford Ka Championship car, in Flanders, Belgium in early September.