Elliott wins Circuit of Kerry on a tie-break
Tie-breaks were very much the theme on the Tralee based Fels Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally, the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.
For the second year in succession the event was won by Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Subaru WRC). After the completion of the eight special stages, they were level on time with Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Subaru WRC).
However, as they were faster of the pair through the final stage, they were awarded victory.
Third place position was also resolved by way of a tie-break with Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Subaru) getting the verdict over Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Ford Focus WRC).
Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Mitsubishi) won the Group N category.
Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Starlet) won the two-wheel drive category.
Michael Barrable was quickest through the first pair of stages and opened up a seven second advantage over Donie O’Sullivan (Subaru). However, both hit trouble on the repeat stages.
On S.S. 3, O’Sullivan slid into a bank and lost time trying to reverse out of the situation. As he tried to get around a very tight right hand bend, Niall Maguire’s Subaru was in his rear view mirror.
Barrable, who led Elliott by 25 seconds after Stage 3, then dropped to third with a time consuming puncture on Stage 4.
At that point, Elliott led Maguire six seconds but the former triple national champion was in top spot by the conclusion of Stage 6.
With two stages remaining, Maguire had a two second lead.
Both drivers set identical times on the penultimate stage but an unrelenting Elliott claimed two seconds on the final stage to level matters and win on the tie-break.
Leonard, who had to contend with gearbox trouble, was third as Barrable’s Focus lost launch control.
O’Sullivan was fifth and Kevin Barrett finished sixth.
1. Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Subaru WRC)1h. 01m. 23s.
2. Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 1h. 01m. 23s.
3. Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Subaru WRC) 1h. 01m. 52s
4. Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 01m. 52s. 5. Donie O’Sullivan/Barry Goodman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 01m. 59s, 6. Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru WRC) 1h. 02m. 33s. 7. Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 02m. 40s. 8. Noel Redmond/Diarmuid Falvey (Subaru WRC) 1h. 02m. 54s. 9. Jack Sleator/Andrew Purcell (Subaru WRC) 1h. 04m. 15s. 10. Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) 1h. 04m. 35s.
Dunlop National Rally Championship Positions after Round 2:
1. P. Elliott 36 points.
2. N. Maguire 36 points.
3. G. Allen 26 points.
4. N. Redmond 24 points.
