Cavan Stages Rally - 30 May 04

Posted: June 1, 2004 4:49 PM

At the end of the day's nine stages, the championship leaders were over a minute ahead of Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Subaru WRC) with overseas crew, Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Subaru WRC) taking third spot.

The event was finely poised for six of the nine stages, but a few mistakes by his rivals towards the finish saw Maguire record a comfortable win and open a twenty points advantage in the Dunlop series over Cahal Arthurs, who was fourth in the event.

On a slippery opening stage, Crosserlough, it was the Group N Subaru of Cavan native, Willie Fannin that topped the time sheets. He was two seconds ahead of both Patrick Elliott (Subaru WRC) and Cahal Arthurs (Hyundai Accent WRC), who shared second place. Two more drivers, Dunlop National Rally Championship leader, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) and the Group N Mitsubishi of Gabriel Martin shared fourth place. British driver, Jim Harrison spun his Subaru WRC and lost vital seconds, he was sixth with Kevin Lynch (Subaru WRC) some eight seconds further adrift. Maurice Gass, in yet another Subaru WRC was eighth in the opening stage top ten that also included Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC) and top rear wheel drive competitor, Mac McKenna (Peugeot).
Unfortunately, it was a short-lived rally for Daniel Doherty, a late call from the reserve list ended en-route to the opening stage with clutch failure. There was little between Maguire and local hero, Patrick Elliott on the remaining two stages of the loop and it wasn't surprising that they shared the lead at the first service at Ballyjamesduff. Indeed, it was a pretty close affair with Arthurs only a second behind. Kevin Lynch was best of the rest, he was fourth - a mere second ahead of Harrison, who spun on the third stage and lost considerable time before he rejoined the action.

Maguire led briefly after the fourth stage but Elliott took up the lead role on the next only for Maguire to recapture top spot on the day's sixth stage. Elliott opined that he should have extricated more from the stage, nevertheless, he was only eight seconds off the lead. Arthurs was third, a broken anti roll bar cost him a few fleeting seconds.

Harrison's pace on the three stage of the second loop was much improved, even though he was penalised 30 seconds for hitting a chicane bale, he slotted into fourth spot from Lynch, who lost time with a spin on the fourth stage.

In Group N, Gabriel Martin (Mitsubishi) held the advantage over Willie Fannin, who realised that he had accidentally switched off the electronic differential switch, they were sixth and ninth respectively. In between, Maurice Gass was happy with the performance of his Subaru but remarked that he wasn't taking any risks. Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC) was eight overall and Sean Gallagher, debuting the ex-Patrick Elliott '99 specification Subaru, made his way to tenth. Elsewhere, Mac McKenna, with an overshoot on S.S. 5, saw the advantage in the rear wheel drive category swing to his opponent, Pat Donegan (Escort) albeit by a second.

On the closing loop, Maguire consolidated his lead as his rivals hit trouble. Elliott looked to have lost second place with a time consuming spin on the penultimate stage. However, Arthurs stalled his Hyundai on the start line of the final stage on no fewer than three occasions. To add to his woes, he collected a 30 second penalty for hitting a chicane. That allowed Elliott net second, his first finish in three rounds of the Dunlop series. Jim Harrison made a late charge and it duly netted him third spot and 16 valuable Dunlop points. He was a mere second ahead of Arthurs, who had to be content with fourth place.
Kevin Lynch (Subaru) was fifth and Gabriel Martin (Mitsubishi) took a fine victory in the showroom category. The top ten also featured Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC), second placed Group N driver, Willie Fannin (Subaru) and the Escorts of Pat Donegan and Camillus Bradley.

Gabriel Martin/Mark Kane took Group N honours

1 Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Subaru Impreza WRC) 63m 47s
2 Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 64m 54s 
3 Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 65m 01s
4 Cathal Arthurs/Jakes Kelly (Hyndai Accent WRC) 65m 02s 
5 Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 65m 09s 
6 Gabriel Martin/Mark Kane (Mit Lancer Evo 7) Gp N 66m 42s 
7 Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 67m 23s 
8 Willie Fannin/Richard Price (Subaru Impreza N9) GpN 67m 47s 
9 Pat Donegan/D Garvey (Escort 2.0) 67m 51s
10 Camillus Bradley/C O’Neill (Escort 2.0) 69m 33s

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• 2004 Dunlop National Championship
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