McNulty wins Rally of the Lakes
Meath’s Tim McNulty and co-driver Anthony Nestor gave a faultless display in their Subaru WRC today en-route to a first ever victory in the Ordnance Survey Ireland/Gleneagle Hotel Killarney International Rally of the Lakes.
They finished 42.4 seconds ahead of the Toyota Corolla of Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely with Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman (Subaru) a further 59.7 seconds adrift in third.
McNulty maintained his lead all through today’s eight stages, his Subaru not missing a beat through the classic tests.
On the second run over Moll’s Gap, S.S. 14, Eugene Donnelly took some 14 seconds out of McNulty. However, that only served as a wake up call and McNulty went on to deliver a first Killarney victory.
Donnelly’s second spot was enough to extend his lead in the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship.
McGarrity, held second for a few stages today, but Donnelly secured the spot following his performance through Moll’s Gap.
Young Welsh driver Gareth Jones gave a fine display, netting fourth. The race for fifth went down to the final stage.
That was secured by Eamonn Boland (Ford Focus) ahead of the Subaru of Stephen Murphy, who spun on the final test.
Denis Cronin (Subaru) kept the challenge of Aaron MacHale (Ford focus) at bay to clinch seventh.
Seamus Leonard (Mitsubishi) was a convincing winner of Group.
1. T. McNulty/A. Nestor (Subaru WRC) 2h. 06m. 18.6s.
2. E. Donnelly/P. Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 2h. 06m. 58.9s.
3. D. McGarrity/D. O'Gorman (Subaru WRC) 2h. 07m. 05.6s.
4. G. Jones/D. Moynihan (Subaru WRC) 2h. 07m. 34.1s.
5. E. Boland/F. Regan (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 08m. 39.5s.
6. S. Murphy/M.J. Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 2h. 07m. 42.3.
7. D. Cronin/H. O'Sullivan (Subaru WRC) 2h. 18m. 11.5s.
8. A. MacHale/C. Parry (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 18m. 22.5s.
9. S. Leonard/J. McCafferty (Mitsubishi) 2h. 20m. 32.3s.
10. N. Hicklin/D. Falvey (Subaru WRC) 2h. 21m. 35.5s.
1. P. Collins/E. Sherry (Escort) 2h. 25m. 13.4s.
2. M. Courtney/P. Kelly (Toyota Celica) 2h. 25m. 59.8s.
3. W. Patterson/L. Edwards (Escort) 2h. 26m. 32.0s.
4. M. McGee/D. O'Mahony (Escort) 2h. 26m. 56.8s.
1. R. Cunningham/R. Hyland (Mini Cooper S) 1h. 55m. 37.0s.
2. N. Creighton/G. Roberts (Ford Cortina) 2h. 04m. 35.3s.
3. P. Horsburgh/A. Preston (Mini Cooper S) 2h. 04m. 42.6s.
1. T. Falvey/D. Barry (Porsche 911) 1h. 51m. 24.9s.
2. J. Connolly/G. Connolly (Escort Mk. 1) 1h. 51m. 35.7s.
3. D. Moynihan/D. Moynihan (Escort Mk. 1) 1h. 53m. 34.0s.
1. B. Meade/C. Fitzgerald (Escort) 39m. 25.1s.
2. J. Ryan/B. McSweeney (Honda Civic) 1h. 55m. 37.0s.
3. J. O'Mahony/A. McCarthy (Civic) 40m. 14.7s.
