Posted: June 8, 2004 2:34 PM
MAGUIRE MASTERS MONAGHAN TO LEAD DUNLOP NATIONAL RALLY
CHAMPIONSHIP
Photos: Seamus Counihan
On home ground, Niall Maguire and Paul McLaughlin
(Subaru WRC) took a comfortable victory on the
Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Rally, the second round of
the Dunlop National Rally Championship. At the finish
of the day's nine stages, they were 53 seconds ahead
of the similar Subaru WRC of Adrian McElvaney/Paul
Goodman. Throughout the day, the race for third was
between the Subaru WRC of Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell and
the Hyundai Accent WRC of Cathal Arthurs/James Kelly,
with the latter gaining the advantage towards the
finish. The showroom honours were annexed by Willie
Fannin/Richard Price (Subaru).
Maguire and Harrison posted identical times on the
opening stage, Doogary, near Emyvale. Recording a
time of eight minutes and two seconds, they were 14
seconds clear of Kevin Lynch (Subaru WRC) with Adrian
McElvaney (Subaru WRC) a second adrift and sharing
fourth place with the Subaru WRC of Ray Breen.
Patrick Elliott retired the ex-Derek McGarrity Circuit
of Ireland winning Subaru S9 when the cockpit of the
car filled up with smoke. Cathal Arthurs slotted his
Hyundai Accent WRC into sixth and was followed by
Kevin Barrett, Alan Nesbitt and Dessie Keenan, who
shared seventh place. Keenan took the early advantage
in Group N - leading the Mitsubishi of Gabriel Martin
by ten seconds.
Harrison rolled his Subaru and subsequently blocked
the second stage. Out on S.S. 3., Maguire stalled at
one particular junction, the episode cost him about
fifteen seconds as fellow local driver, Adrian
McElvaney set quickest time albeit by a second from
Maguire, who explained that his error was due to the
fact that he entered the junction too quickly. Kevin
Lynch retired his Subaru midway through the stage that
also accounted for the Toyota Celica of Alan Nesbitt,
who withdrew with clutch problems.
Cathal Arthurs in fourth place reported no problems
with his Hyundai Accent; David Armstrong (Escort WRC)
was fifth even though his Escort WRC had no fifth
gear.
Sean Gallagher and Kevin Barrett shared sixth place,
the latter very fortunate not to drop time when he
damaged a rim on the opening stage.
In Group N, Dessie Keenan upheld local honour, he also
held eighth overall with an eleven second lead over
ninth placed and fellow Group N contender, Gabriel
Martin (Mitsubishi). The top ten was completed by
David McNulty (Escort Cosworth) and Mac McKenna
(Peugeot), who led the rear wheel drive category.
Maguire controlled the pace over the second loop of
stages and the double national rally champion duly
extricated twenty-seven seconds out of his rival and
fellow local, Adrian McElvaney to lead by 41 seconds.
In the chase for third, Ray Breen (Subaru WRC)
overshot a junction and lost over ten seconds and by
the end of the loop had to be content with fourth -
six seconds off new third placed incumbent, Cathal
Arthurs (Hyundai). David Armstrong continued in fifth
and despite the handicap of no fifth gear he was nine
seconds ahead of the trouble free Escort Cosworth of
Sean Gallagher.
Dessie Keenan (Mitsubishi) remained in control of
Group N, his main rival, Gabriel Martin suffered
steering woes in his Mitsubishi. Meanwhile, the top
ten was rounded off by the Escort Cosworth of David
McNulty, Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC) and top rear wheel
drive exponent, Enda Keenan (Escort). The latter was
having a tremendous duel with the Starlet of Maurice
Moffett and the margin between them was a mere second.
Maguire sealed victory with a composed performance on
the last loop and won by 53 seconds with McElvaney
making a good improvement on his stage times towards
the finish. Winner Maguire commented at the finish,
"A great loop of stages, well run and I'm delighted to
have won the rally."
Arthurs won the race for third - some four seconds
ahead of Breen, who overshot on a second occasion.
Sean Gallagher (Escort Cosworth) was fifth and David
Armstrong (Escort WRC) was sixth. Dessie Keenan
(Mitsubishi) encountered differential problems and
that gave the Group N category win to Willie Fannin
(Subaru).
Meanwhile, the final places in the top ten were
secured by Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC), Enda Keenan
(Escort), David McNulty (Escort Cosworth) and Maurice
Moffett (starlet).
1. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 1h. 15m. 54s.
2. A. McElvaney/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 16m. 47s.
3. C. Arthurs/J. Kelly (Hyundai) 1h. 17m. 06s.
4. R. Breen/A. Purcell (Subaru WRC) 1h. 17m. 10s.
5. S. Gallagher/F. Kenny (Escort Cosworth) 1h. 19m.04s.
6. D. Armstrong/C. Kelly (Escort WRC) 1h. 19m. 06s.
7. K. Barrett/B. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 20m. 08s.
8. E. Keenan/S. Moriarty (Escort) 1h. 20m. 15s.
9. D. McNulty/K. Kilcoyne (Escort Cosworth) 1h. 20m.27s.
10. M. Moffett/J. McKenna (Toyota starlet) 1h. 20m.28s.
Dunlop National Rally Championship positions after
Round 2 (Provisional):
1. N. Maguire 38 Points; 2. A. McElvaney 29 Points;
3. R. Breen 28 points; 4. C. Arthurs 24 points.