Donnelly and Toner enjoy Munster win
Derry’s, Eugene Donnelly and co-driver, Paddy Toner, won the Woodland’s House Hotel Circuit of Munster, the fifth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.
Driving a Subaru WRC, they finished the eight stage Adare based event one minute and 12 seconds ahead of Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman, also in a Subaru WRC.
They secured second by the narrowest of margins from the Subaru WRC of Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor.
Donnelly took the lead on the second stage and was never headed thereafter. On the final two stages, the only major change came when Barrable edged out McNulty for second place by a mere second, the latter had an off road excursion on the penultimate stage.
In Group N, Willie Fannin (Mitsubishi) claimed victory by the narrowest of margins ahead of the similar car of James O’Sullivan.
Donnelly’s win was his third in the Dunlop series, he also won in Mayo and Cavan with Barrable, winner in Monaghan and Carlow leading at the halfway mark.
Non starters included Niall Maguire, Peadar Hurson, JJ Fleming and Patrick Elliott.
1. E. Donnelly/P. Toner (Subaru WRC) 1h. 10m.59s.
2. M. Barrable/D. O’Gorman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 12m. 11s.
3. T. McNulty/A. Nestor Subaru WRC) 1h. 12m. 12s.
4. M. Gass/G. McMonagle (Subaru WRC) 1h. 13m. 31s.
5. O. O’Donovan/D. Moynihan (Subaru) 1h. 14m. 53s.
6. L. McCarthy/K. Murphy (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h 15m.11s.
7. D. Cronin/H. O’Sullivan (BMW M3) 1h. 15m. 33s.
8. S. Gallagher/P. Nagle (Escort Cosworth) 1h. 16m.23s.
