Donnelly leads Cork 20 international rally
After six stages of today’s first leg of the Murphy Construction Cork 20 International Rally, Tim NcNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) hold a 37-second advantage over the Subaru of Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman with Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) a further 21 seconds in arrears.
McNulty led initially. He was six seconds faster than the opposition on the opening stage where top seed and last year’s Cork 20 winner, Eamonn Boland lost over six minutes with a puncture.
Donnelly set the pace on S.S. 2 and moved into second but NcNulty extended his advantage to 10 seconds out on S.S. 3.
Donie O’Sullivan, who was lying fourth in his Ford Focus, crashed on S.S. 4 and only McGarrity and Donnelly got through the stage.
Provisionally, all drivers held up by the accident (O’Sullivan and co-driver, Paul Nagle were unhurt) provisionally received the time of the last competitor through the stage – which was McGarrity.
Donnelly, who was first through the stage was a whopping 13 seconds quicker and with “force majuere” applied, he now leads by three seconds from McNulty with McGarrity third.
Liam McCarthy, out for the first time in a Subaru WRC, is up to fourth from the Subaru of Ollie O’Donovan and the Toyota Celica of Denis Cronin, who completes the top six.
Colm Murphy leads Willie Fannin in the Group N category, both in Subarus, Alan Ring, who was expected to be amongst the pacesetters, has retired.
Out on stages 5 and 6, the lead changed when Donnelly smacked the rear of his Toyota and lost over a minute and dropped to third.
In Group N, James O'Sullivan (Mitsubishi) holds the advantage.
The rally will decide the destiny of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship that rests between Donnelly and McGarrity, the driver who finishes highest of the duo, will claim the title.
Provisional positions after S.S. 6:
1. T. NcNulty/E. O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) 57m. 39s.
2. D. McGarrity/D. O’Gorman (Subaru WRC) 58m. 16s.
3.E. Donnelly/P. Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 58m. 37s.
4.L. McCarthy/K. Murphy (Subaru WRC) 59m. 13s.
5. O. O’Donovan/D. Moynihan (Subaru WRC) 1h. 00m. 13s.
6. D. Cronin/H. O'Sullivan (Toyoita) 1h. 00m. 33s.
