Cork teenager Murphy makes rally history
Owen Murphy from Cork made history today, becoming the first ever teenager to lead the McCauley Trailers National Forest Rally Championship.
Accompanied by his 21-year-old Wexford co-driver Gary Nolan, he came second in the Carrick on Suir-based Willie Loughman Forest Rally in their Subaru WRC.
Murphy claimed top points in the series however, as rally winner Kenny McKinstry (with Kenny Hull as co-driver) was utilising the rally as a shakedown for the Sunseeker Rally in Britain and is not competing in the Irish series.
It was a predictable victory for McKinstry/Hull in their Subaru WRC, and they led from start to finish.
Ovens teenager Murphy quickly made his mark however, and was in second spot after the second stage. Indeed, he punched in the quickest time on the fourth stage (where he endured a half spin) as he held a comfortable lead over the third placed Subaru of Trevor Harding/Adrian Deasy.
Murphy gave an accomplished performance, delivering another fastest stage time later - two seconds faster than the former double Irish tarmac champion.
At the finish however, McKinstry won with a 28-second winning margin.
1: K McKinstry/K Hull (Subaru WRC) 56m 19s
2: O Murphy/G Nolan (Mitsubishi) 56m 47s
3 : J McCarthy/MJ Morrissey (Toyota Corolla WRC) 57m 06s
4: J Murphy/A Nestor (Escort WRC) 57m 58s
5: T Harding/A Deasy (Subaru WRC) 58m 06s
6: S Moore/T McHugh (Subaru) 58m 41s
7: B Lawlor/P Kavanagh (Mitsubishi) 59m 08s
8: P Norris/M Brady (Subaru) 59m 15s
9: B McGillin/D Doherty (Subaru) 59m 26s
10: E Mimnagh/K McAnesty (Mitsubishi) 1h 000m, 05s.
