2000 Ford Ka C'hip - Round 3 Carlow Stages - 7 May '00

Posted: May 10, 2000 12:46 PM

James in the Barry Pender Motors Ford KA set a blistering pace catching all the other crews napping on the opening stage to settle into a secure and dominant lead. John O’Dowd from Moate, James’s closest challenger made a poor start allowing James a fourteen second lead after the first loop of stages. John fought back on the next reducing the deficit to just six seconds, however John crashed out on stage six handing the victory and the Championship lead to James after three rounds.

“The Championship is developing into a great battle, I had to fight every inch of the way to secure my second win of the season. My Ford KA performed faultlessly all day, however I had a close call at the flying finish of stage two when I glanced off a bank damaging the front of the car but I was lucky and I was able to continue” said James

Pat Quinlan in the BDBC Ford KA was involved in a great battle all day with Oliver Stanley Both drivers swapping times throughout the day, eventually after a titanic battle they started the third and final loop of stages on equal time. Quinlan took the advantage taking the fastest stage time on stage seven and secured second place from Oliver Stanley by eight seconds.

John Carroll in the Dooley Motors Ford Ka and Liam Denning in the Fort Motors/Dennings Garage Ford KA tied for fourth place overall.

The Ford Ka has performed brilliantly over the last three arduous rounds of the 2000 Ford Ireland KA Rally Championship, which underlines the total reliability, strength, and driveability of the Ford KA” said Declan Foley, Ford KA Brand Manager

The 2000 Ford of Ireland Ford KA Rally Championship is the first, one make, manufacturer supported Championship in the history of Irish Rallying. Designed to promote young Irish rallying talent, the Championship is part of Ford's stairway to success that sees the Ford Motor Company providing young drivers with competitive rally machinery throughout their racing careers. The Carlow Stages was the third out of eight events throughout Ireland

Position Name		Address		Time
1	James Travers	Kilkenny	0
2	Pat Quinlan	Clonmel		0.51
3	Oliver Stanley	Durrow		0.08
4	John Carroll	Kilkenny	0.02
=	Liam Denning	Dublin		0.00
6	Barry Barrable	Dublin		0.44
7	Gus Kearney	Clonmel		0.18
8	Trevor Harding	Cashel		0.19
9	Keith Colton	Clonmel		0.56
10	Denise Ryan	Athy		0.49
11	Eoin Dooley	Cork		8.49
DNF	John O’Dowd	Moate		DNF
DNS	Noreen Mc Daid	Letterkenny	DNS
DNS	Ken Lyons	Limerick	DNS