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2004 Jim Clark Memorial Rally - 2-4 Jul 04

Posted: July 7, 2004 8:43 PM - 7813 Hits

Round 5 - 2004 Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
Counting Round: British Rally Championship, and the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge
Report - www.pirelliirishrally.com

Three in a Row for Nesbitt on Jim Clark Memorial Rally


Photo: Seamus Counihan
Andrew Nesbitt, from Armagh in Northern Ireland, took a commanding victory on this year's Jim Clark Memorial Rally, becoming the first driver to win the event three times in a row since legendary rally star Roger Clark's triple in 1974, 30 years ago this month.

Posted: July 7, 2004 8:43 PM

Nesbitt's domination of the event was emphatic. Setting fastest time on all but five of the twenty completed stages, the twice Irish Tarmac Champion used his asphalt expertise to commanding effect, his Subaru Impreza proving all but uncatchable on the tight Borders B roads that had been specially closed for the event.

Finishing in an eventual 4th place, current British Rally Championship leader David Higgins was reflective but nonetheless happy with his result. "This is my first tarmac event in the Hyundai Accent WRC" he said, "and despite several hiccups along the way, I have been happy with the car's performance. It handled like a dream on the final few stages." Higgins, like the rest of the crews, had been battling with tyre choice all weekend and throughout the rally, at the Charterhouse service area, wheels were coming on and off as quickly as the watching spectators' anoraks.

In stark contrast to winner Nesbitt's jubilance, reigning British Rally Champion Jonny Milner watched his hopes of a victory go up in flames, as his Subaru Impreza WRC retired on the penultimate stage of the rally with an underbonnet fire caused by an oil leak. Dogged by mechanical mishap throughout the weekend, the popular Yorkshireman admitted, in understated fashion, "it9s been a big disappointment overall."

Group N was won by Shropshire's Paul Wedgbury, who took his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 to 10th place, ahead of nearest rival Rory Galligan in a near-identical car.

The frantic battle for Super 1600 honours was eventually taken by Guy Wilks, who steered his Suzuki Ignis S1600 to victory in 8th place, ahead of Super 100 championship leader Jonnie Wigmore in his Ford Puma, who finished the event in 17th place overall.

The highest placed Scots driver, and first lady home, was Aberdeen-born Lorna Smith, who took her Group N Subaru Impreza to 17th place overall. 


1 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2.13.00.7
2 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 2.14.58.8
3 Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2.16.06.8
4 David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Hyundai Accent WRC) 2.17.39.1 
5 Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 2.18.05.7

Topics: Jim Clark Memorial Rally 

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