2004 Raven's Rock Rally - 27 Jun 04

Posted: June 28, 2004 10:10 PM

Lynch/Noble, who led all through, ended with a 58 second winning margin over British crew, Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Subaru WRC) with Cavan’s, Patrick Elliott and co-driver, David Moynihan taking third place ‘ 26 seconds in arrears. Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors (Subaru) won Group N.

The principal retirement was that of Dunlop National Rally Championship leaders, Niall Maguire Paul McLaughlin, they crashed out on the day’s sixth stage, luckily, they were unscathed. Harrison/Bell are now up to second in the ten round series ‘ ten points behind Maguire/McLaughlin.

Lynch was quickly into his stride and immediately opened a six second advantage over Maguire, who was a further five seconds ahead of third placed, Ray Breen. Rain, soon after the top crews started the stage at Tory Hill made the conditions quite slippery but Lynch was very composed at the stage finish. On the second stage, he delivered another fastest time to push his advantage to 23 seconds as Maguire continued to give chase. Patrick Elliott (Subaru WRC) moved into third place ‘ three seconds behind Maguire and three ahead of the Subaru of Jim Harrison, who struggled with gearbox problems.

Cathal Arthurs and Ray Breen completed the six. Meanwhile, in Group N, Alan Ring held the advantage ‘ 15 seconds ahead of the Mitsubishi of Kieran O’Callaghan with James O’Sullivan (Mitsubishi) third.

On stages three and four, Lynch continued to dictate the pace and on arrival at the service halt in Waterford, he was 44 seconds ahead of Maguire. The rally leader was trouble free while second placed Maguire stalled at one location. Harrison continued with gearbox difficulties and was 14 seconds behind the Dunlop Rally Championship leader and 14 ahead of Cathal Arthurs (Hyundai Accent), who had a slight brush with a farmyard wall on the fourth stage.

Meanwhile, Melvyn Evans (Subaru) moved into fifth and Patrick Elliott couldn’t explain his time on the same stage, he was sixth and was overtaken by rally leader, Lynch, who was running directly behind. Richie Curran’s Escort Cosworth was seventh on the leader board from Ray Breen, who lost time when his Subaru punctured on two occasions. The top ten was completed by Kevin Barrett and Noel Redmond, both in Subaru WRC’s.

Elsewhere, after suffering intercom woes and other niggling problems, Denis Cronin (Toyota Celica) was just outside the top ten.

Alan Ring retained the lead role in Group N, even though the left hand side of his Subaru was battle scarred after an altercation on S.S. 3, at the same location that claimed the Mitsubishi of rival, Kieran O’Callaghan. Gabriel Martin (Mitsubishi) moved into second in the category from Fannin and O’Sullivan. In the rear wheel drive category, Ollie O’Reilly (Escort) was 31 seconds ahead of the Mk. 2 Escort of Eamonn Murphy.

A rear wheel puncture gave rally leader, Lynch had a few moments on S.S. 5, his Subaru slip sliding in the conditions. Johnny O’Sullivan retired his Escort WRC on S.S. 5 with transmission problems.

Dunlop National Rally Championship leaders, Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin crashed out on S.S. 6, their Subaru slid off the road where streams of water were flowing on the tarmac surface. Lynch arrived at the final service halt with the 44 second as Harrison moved into second even though he still had the transmission difficulty. Elliott improved his performance and with fastest time on S.S. 6, he moved up to third place with Cathal Arthurs and Melvyn Evans fourth and fifth respectively. Richie Curran (Escort Cosworth) was another driver to show a turn of speed, he was seventh but Ray Breen (Subaru) lost time when he overshot a junction and made a brief visit to the scenery. Finally finding his true form, Denis Cronin moved into eighth spot and suspension changes had a telling effect for Noel Redmond, who was ninth.

The chase for Group N success saw Willie Fannin take up the lead role, but it was all so close with Alan Ring’s Subaru just four seconds behind and four ahead of Gabriel Martin.

The penultimate stage was cancelled when one of the course cars got into difficulty and Lynch cruised to take a maiden national rally victory. Harrison and Elliott annexed valuable points. The drama on the final stage centred on Ray Breen, he punctured but still finished sixth and Alan Ring won the Group N category ‘ seven seconds ahead of Gabriel Martin with Willie Fannin another five seconds in arrears.

The rear wheel drive category was won by David Long (Sierra) from David James (Escort).

Non-starters included Adrian McElvaney, Liam McCarthy and Sean Gallagher.

1. K. Lynch/G. Noble (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 05m. 16s.
2. J. Harrison/H. Bell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 06m. 14s.
3. P. Elliott/D. Moynihan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 06m. 40s
4. C. Arthurs/J. Kelly (Hyundai Accent WRC) 1h. 06m. 47s.
5. M. Evans/Aled Davies (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 06m. 54s.
6. R. Curran/G. English (Escort RS Cosworth) 1h. 07m. 20s.
7. D. Cronin/H. O’Sullivan (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD) 1h. 08m. 21s.
8. R. Breen/A. Purcell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 08m. 32s.
9. N. Redmond/D. Falvey (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 08m 58s.
10. A. Ring/G. Shinnors (Subaru Impreza N10) 1h. 09m. 14s.

Dunlop National Rally Championship (Provisional Positions after Round 5):
N. Maguire 78 points; J. Harrison 68 points C. Arthurs 67 points; P. Elliott 50 points.

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