Donnelly wins Cavan Rally

Leading from start to finish, Derry’s Eugene Donnelly and co-driver Paddy Toner won the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally in their Toyota Corolla WRC today.

Sun, 28 May, 2006 - 21:24

Leading from start to finish, Derry’s Eugene Donnelly and co-driver Paddy Toner won the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally in their Toyota Corolla WRC today.

They were 31 seconds ahead of Patrick Elliott/Rory Kennedy (Subaru WRC) by the end of the nine-stage event.

Elliott retains his lead in the Dunlop series, however.

For the second event in a row, Dubliner Aaron MacHale and Paul Nagle finished third in their Ford Focus WRC.

The Group N category was won by Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Subaru) and the top two wheel drive exponents were Rodney Wilton/Conor McMahon (Escort).

On the final loop of three stages in this, the fifth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, Donnelly consolidated his position and emerged victorious by 31 seconds to clinch his third victory this season.

The chase for second went down to the final stage. Aaron MacHale (Ford Focus WRC) reeled in Patrick Elliott (Subaru WRC) on the penultimate stage and led entering the final stage by four seconds.

However, Niall Maguire had a slight off road excursion in his Subaru WRC and MacHale lost time and indeed, second place, as he tried to overtake Maguire’s Subaru.

McElvaney was fourth and Maguire, despite his indiscretion, held on to take fifth ahead of the Subaru WRC’s of Kevin Barrett and Martin Doherty.

There was late drama in Group N as both Willie Fannin and Alan Ring collected punctures, Fannin on S.S. 8 and Ring on S.S. 9. Fannin’s earlier pace was enough to see him through to clinch the category win ahead of Ian Barrett.

Jack Sleator completed the top ten in his Subaru WRC.

Alan Ring (Subaru) was eleventh while top two-wheel drive competitor, whilst Rodney Wilton (Escort) was an impressive twelfth overall.

Result:

1. C. Donnelly/P. Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 17m. 33s.

2. P. Elliott/R. Kennedy (Subaru WRC) 1h. 18m. 04s.

3. A. MacHale/P. Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 18m. 07s.

4. A. McElvaney/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 18m. 52s.

5. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 1h. 20m. 05s.

6. K. Barrett/B. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 20m. 46s.

7. M. Doherty/A. Cullen (Subaru WRC) 1h. 20m. 58s.

8. W. Fannin/M. Courtney (Subaru) 1h. 22m. 17s.

9. I. Barrett/E. O’Flaherty (Mitsubishi) 1h. 22m. 32s.