Donnelly wins Moonraker Rally
Having finished second in the Tour of Sperrins Rally yesterday, Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Celica) went one better today by winning the Moonraker Forest Rally, the fourth round of the KBB Doors National Forest Rally Championship.
Throughout the 12 stages in counties Cork and Waterford, they were the dominant crew and they ran
out winners over the Escort WRC of John McCarthy/Dan Maguire.
The margin between them was 43 seconds.
Paul Staunton, co-driven by Bruce Burgess, in a Mark 2 Ford Escort gave an outstanding performance and finished ahead of the much more powerful cars to claim a fine third.
1 E Donnelly/P Kiely (Toyota Celica) 34M 49S
2 J McCarthy/D Maguire (Escort WRC) 35M 32S
3 P Staunton/B Burgess (Escort) 36M 41S
4 J Donnelly/G McCarthy (Escort Cosworth) 37M 12S
5 N Driver/F Corrigan (Mitsubishi) 37M 12S
6 K O'Kane/ S Griffiths (Subaru) 37M 17S
Irish crews had a difficult time in the Rally of Wales.
Austin McHale eventually finished 15th, while Rory Galligan retired on the final stage with gearbox
woes, he was inside the top 15 but more importantly, he was second in the Super 1600 category.
Gary Jennings took second place in the Peugeot 206 Cup.
In Mondello Park, Cork racer, Robbie Coleman won the first round of the new Formula Ireland category.
He beat another Cork driver, Peter Walsh with Paul Sammin of Mayo finishing third.
In the second and final qualifying group sessions ahead of tomorrow’s Grand Prix of Pau, Michael Keohane finished third while Dungannon’s, Derek Hayes headed the group.
However, as neither improved their times - due to the very hot weather - it makes little difference for the grid positions for tomorrow's 40-minute race.
Keohane’s, Carlin Motorsport team mate, James Courtney will be on the second row, Hayes on row six and Keohane on row eight.
Local French expert, Tristan Gommendy has pole position.
