2004 Circuit of Kerry - 4 Apr 04

Posted: April 8, 2004 11:39 PM

The opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, the Circuit of Kerry Rally was won by Killarney's Donie O'Sullivan and co-driver, Paul Nagle. Their Ford Focus WRC was 22 seconds ahead of former Dunlop National Rally Champions, Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) with overseas crew, Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell, also in a Subaru WRC, finishing 45 seconds further adrift in third place. The Group N showroom category was won by Gabriel Martin/Mark Kane (Mitsubishi).

On a wet and slippery Minard Castle stage, Harrison posted the quickest time and took a two second lead over O'Sullivan with Niall Maguire a further four seconds in arrears. Patrick Elliott held fourth place - he trailed Maguire by ten seconds in a top six completed by the Toyota Celica of Denis Cronin and the Subaru WRC of JJ Fleming. Welsh driver, Melvyn Evans was the first retirement, his Subaru ground to halt soon after the start of the stage. Later, Kerry driver, John Kearney (Escort) crashed out and blocked the stage and the remainder of the crews were diverted to the second stage, Connor Pas.

There, Maguire set the pace and moved into second - five seconds adrift of rally leader, Jim Harrison. O'Sullivan was just two seconds behind Maguire and some 17 ahead of the Subaru of Dunlop regular, Patrick Elliott. Denis Cronin, in his Toyota Celica, kept many of the more powerful World Rally Cars behind him, he was fifth from JJ Fleming and Group N pacesetter, Andrew Stewart, who shared equal sixth. Elsewhere, George Cullen (Subaru 555) was eighth from Kevin Lynch (Subaru WRC) and Adrian McElvaney, also in a Subaru WRC.

On the stages at Brandon Creek and Slea Head, O'Sullivan punched in pair of fastest times and arrived at the Dingle service halt with a 17 second lead over Maguire. Harrison dropped time when he slid into a wall on two occasions - both within a short distance of each other and as a result, he dropped to third - 34 seconds behind Maguire. Patrick Elliot retired when his Subaru hit a bank an indiscretion elevated Denis Cronin into fourth as a hard charging Ray Breen moved into fifth - 12 seconds adrift of the West Cork driver. The top seven was completed by Galway's, JJ Fleming and George Cullen. Elsewhere, Kevin Lynch, Adrian McElvaney and Group N leader, Andrew Stewart rounded off the top ten. Stewart had a 30 second advantage over the Mitsubishi of Gabriel Martin and the Subaru of Willie Fannin, who were just outside the top ten.

Although Harrison netted the fastest times on the repeat of Minard Castle and Conor Pass, O'Sullivan maintained his lead over Maguire that stood at 20 seconds. Harrison had reinforced his third place with his performances but was also very aware of the need to garner valuable Dunlop points. Ray Breen in his Dunlop backed Subaru WRC was a fine fourth and following the demise of Denis Cronin (Toyota Celica), JJ Fleming (Subaru WRC) inherited fifth as fellow Galway ace, George Cullen (Subaru 555) held sixth. In Group N, Andrew Stewart (Mitsubishi) maintained a solid lead of 48 seconds from Gabriel Martin, also in a Mitsubishi while Willie Fannin (Subaru) was four seconds further behind.

On the final two stages, O'Sullivan maintained his composure and took the maximum 20 points in the Dunlop series. Maguire was also pleased with his second place and Harrison confessed, "After five months out of rallying, I really wasn't on the pace early on, Donie drove a good rally and even though I had those two mishaps, I don't think that I could have kept him at bay."

Behind the top trio, Ray Breen came home a magnificent fourth - one of his best performances in a round of the Dunlop series. J.J. Fleming (Subaru WRC) and Kevin Lynch had no real dramas to duly take their respective fifth and sixth places. Adrian McElvaney admitted that he just couldn't get "into the groove" and had to be content with seventh. The only real drama on the closing stage, Slea Head, came when Andrew Stewart lost time when with a front tyre puncture and that allowed Gabriel Martin (Mitsubishi) to take top spot in the showroom category, he was also eighth in general classification in a top ten completed by Cathal Arthurs (Hyundai Accent WRC) and Willie Fannin (Subaru). Stewart was third in the category and thirteenth overall.

1. D. O'Sullivan/P. Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) 59m. 04s
2. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru Impreza WRC) 59m. 26s
3. J. Harrison/H. Bell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 00m. 11s
4. R. Breen/A. Purcell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 00m. 43s
5. JJ Fleming/R. ward (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 01m. 07s
6. K. Lynch/F. Regan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 01m. 19s
7. A. McElvaney/P. Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 01m. 22s
8. George Cullen/Pat Cashman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 03m. 34s
9. G. Martin/M. Kane (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7) Gp N 1h. 02m. 46s
10. C. Arthurs/J. Kelly (Hyundai Accent WRC) 1h. 02m.53s
11. W. Fannin/R. Price (Subaru Impreza WRX) Gp N 1h. 02m. 59s

• Results and Stage Times on results.trapedza.com
• Rallynews (by Brian & Liz Patterson)
• www.kerrymotorclub.com
• Photos by Seamus Counihan
• Photos by Ger Leahy
• Ferodo Bonus Scheme 2004
• 2004 Dunlop National Rally Championship