2000 Shell Donegal International Rally - 16-18 June '00

Posted: June 18, 2000 6:40 PM

Unable to do anything about Nesbitt's pace, 1999 Shell Donegal International Rally winner James Cullen took the runners up spot on the event over 3 minutes adrift. Taking 12 points for second, the Donegal hero jumps to 2nd in the Championship.

Third went to Frank Meagher, who benefited from Ian Greers off on stage 22 - the Hillsborough driver losing over two minutes and dropping to 6th. For Meagher the result marks the first points finish in the Dance to Tipperary backed Ford Escort WRC.

A strong drive by young Donegal brothers Daniel & Michael Doherty saw them take a well earned 4th place in their Keystone Subaru Impreza, the pairing giving the much more experienced Meagher a good run for his money.

Making his debut in a Subaru Impreza WRC Wexford's Eamon Boland took 5th ahead of reigning champion Ian Greer. Hugh Martin Doherty was seventh followed by Group N winner Brendan Kelly in eighth.

Natalie Barrett and Stella Boyles were the first ladies crew taking an excellent 12th overall in their Group N Mitsubishi Lancer.

The National class was dominated by the Escort G3 of Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle while Martin Freestone took top honours in the Historics category.

Result: Top 10
 1. Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)....02:46.33 
 2. James Cullen/Ellen Morgan (Subaru Impreza)...........02:50.06
 3. Frank Meagher/Dermot O'Gorman (Ford Escort WRC)......02:51.52
 4. Daniel Doherty/Michael Doherty (Subaru Impreza 555)..02:52.12
 5. Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Subaru Impreza WRC)..02:53.29
 6. Ian Greer/Dean Beckett (Toyota Celica GT-Four).......02:54.18
 7. Hugh Martin Doherty/Mike Gibson (Ford Escort WRC)....02:55.56
 8. Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Escort G3 2.4)...........02:58.42
 9. Brendan Kelly/Sean Harris (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO V)..03:04.15
10. Seamus Heron/Sean Devlin - Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VI).03:04.22