Elliott and Moynihan lead Circuit of Munster
Cavan driver Patrick Elliott and his Cork co-driver David Moynihan (Subaru WRC) are the early leaders of the Adare-based Circuit of Munster Rally, the fourth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.
They lead Galway’s JJ Fleming in his Subaru WRC by just 3.5 seconds with championship leaders, Niall Maguire and co-driver Paul McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) a mere 0.5 of a second in arrears.
No fewer than eight drivers beat the bogey time on the opening stage. Meanwhile, Elliott was quickest on the second stage near Shanagolden with Fleming just settling into the pace.
Maguire was trouble free in third unlike Jim Harrison, who had to revert to the manual gearbox in his Subaru.
Cathal Arthurs had cause for concern as smoke entered the cockpit of his Hyundai. He was fifth, ahead of the Toyota Celica ST185 of Denis Cronin.
Ollie O’Donovan (Subaru WRC) has intermittent power failure and it cost him valuable seconds. He lies seventh overall in a top 10 that also features Sean Gallagher, Kevin Lynch and David Armstrong, who is debuting the ex-Melvyn Evans Subaru WRC.
In Group N, Colm Murphy (Subaru) leads Tadhg Linehan and Willie Fannin. Gabriel Martin has retired his Mitsubishi.
One of the leading contenders in the rear wheel drive category, Aidan Walsh, lost several minutes with gear problems on the second stage.
