2000 Dingle Traders Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally - 9 Apr '00

Posted: April 12, 2000 5:09 PM

Fourth went to Eamon Boland in his brand new Ford Focus World Rally Car, the Wexford man using the event to test his state-of-the-art car for the forthcoming Tarmac Championship. Current National Champion Niall Maguire was next up, the Monaghan driver obviously still not fully comfortable with his new left-hand-drive Subaru.

Making his first appearance of the season Donal Donovan got his campaign off to a steady start with sixth place in his newly acquired ex-Barrable Toyota Celica.

First of the major retirements came early on when championship contender Ray Breen was forced to withdraw his Subaru Impreza after the opening stage with engine damage. The other big retirement was that of reigning Tarmac Champion Ian Greer who pulled out at the end of the penultimate stage when his service crew discovered a fault with the Toyota Celica's differential.

Also the second round of the Ford of Ireland Ka Rally Championship it was John O'Dowd who took top honours leading the one make series from start to finish.

With three of the ten rounds in the Dunlop National Rally Championship now completed, competitors will have a month off before renewing battle on the Seven Oaks Carlow Stages Rally which takes place on Sunday the 7th May.

 1. Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza Sti)....00.52.57
 2. Pete Doughty/Tim Sturla (Ford Escort WRC)............00.53.17
 3. George Cullen/Dermot O'Gorman (Subaru Impreza 555)...00.53.24
 4. Eamon Boland/Damien Morrissey (Ford Focus WRC).......00.53.33
 5. Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlan (Subaru Impreza 555)...00.54.40
 6. Donal O'Donovan/Pat Lordan (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD).00.54.47
 7. Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3)...............00.55.15
 8. Hugh Dunne/Greg Shinnors (Subaru Legacy RS)..........00.55.29
 9. Johnny O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Escort WRC)............00.55.45
10. Tim McNulty/Julian Nangle (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD)..00.55.48
11. Anthony O'Halloran/Sean Moriarty (Opel Manta 2.0)....00.56.46
12. Kieran Shaw/Crawford Henderson (Escort RS Cosworth)..00.56.47
13. Joe McGurk/Arthur Kearns (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD)...00.56.53
14. Mick McQuaid/Victor Fields (Escort MKII 2.0).........00.57.21
15. Dessie Keenan/Barry McMahon (Escort MKII 2.4)........00.57.41
16. Declan Willmott/Jim Casey (Escort MKII 2.0)..........00.57.54
17. Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Lancer EVO 6).........00.58.07
18. Stephen Carway/Paddy McDonnell (Escort RS Cosworth)..00.59.10
19. Colm Doyle/Ned Doherty (Peugeot 205 GTi).............00.59.31
20. Stuart Darcy/Trevor Bustard (Honda Civic Vti)........01.00.09

Stage Winners:
SS1 Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell - Subaru Impreza Sti
SS2 George Cullen/Dermot O'Gorman - Subaru Impreza 555
SS3 Ian Greer/Dean Beckett - Toyota Celica Gt-Four
SS4 Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell - Subaru Impreza Sti
SS5 Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell - Subaru Impreza Sti
SS6 Eamon Boland/Damien Morrissey - Ford Focus WRC 
SS7 Pete Doughty/Tim Sturla - Ford Escort WRC