Westlodge Fastnet Rally 2011

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MULCAHY TROPHIES

O’RIORDAN WINS WESTLODGE HOTEL FASTNET RALLY IN BANTRY
Report Courtsy of Dunlop Proud Sponsors of the National Rally Championship

THE Bantry based Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally, the final round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship was won by Cork driver, Daragh O’Riordan (Subaru WRC) and his Derry co-driver, Tony McDaid, who fended off the challenge of Eugene Donnelly/Alan Keena (Toyota Corolla WRC) and emerged victorious by six seconds. Local crew, Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru WRC) were third, 41 seconds further adrift. Lisburn’s, Wesley Patterson/Martin McGarrity (Escort) clinched the rally.ie award within the Dunlop series. Meanwhile, Barry Meade/Liam Moynihan (Ford Escort) were the top Modified crew, they were fourth overall.   Stephen Carey/Breda O’Driscoll (Honda Civic) won the Group N category. O’Riordan was quickest on the opening stage where he took an eleven second lead over Denis Cronin (Subaru WRC) with Brian O’Mahony, also in a Subaru WRC, a further two seconds behind in third. Top seed and last year’s Fastnet Rally winner, Mel Evans was fourth – 27 seconds off the lead. Eugene Donnelly lost well over a minute when he punctured his Toyota Corolla WRC. Barry Meade (Escort) was the top Modified performer. Donnelly punched in the best time on the second test, eight seconds quicker than both O’Riordan and O’Mahony. O’Riordan led the event with O’Mahony second - 13 seconds behind followed by Cronin, who was a further 16 seconds adrift. Leader O’Riordan commented on the foggy conditions while Cronin reckoned that he was a little rusty as he hadn’t competed since early June. O’Mahony eased off a little after he thought he damaged a front suspension after a heavy landing over a jump. Donnelly moved into fourth courtesy of fastest time on the second test where Evans retired with transmission troubles. At the Bantry service park, Donnelly said, “I punctured ten kilometres from the end of the opening test, you can drive these cars on a puncture, it was great to get fastest time on the second stage.” Meade led the Modified section, his Escort was 19 seconds ahead of that of Wesley Patterson with the Darrian of James Stafford next in classification. Ninth placed Frank Kelly (Escort) was concentrating on the rally.ie award where Wesley Patterson was his main rival. The final place in the top ten was annexed by Damien McCarthy (Honda Civic). Elsewhere, Steve Simpson reckoned his car wasn’t suited to the bumpy roads of West Cork, Tommy Doyle (Renault Clio R3) was well down the leader board as the windscreen misted over, his own spectacles were also giving a similar problem.   James Belton punctured his Subaru midway through the opening stage and lost over seven minutes. Donnelly was quickest on the third stage near Ballylickey. O’Mahony had a slight off road excursion and punctured a wheel, however, he lost only two seconds to O’Riordan, who led his fellow Corkonian by 15 seconds. O’Mahony punched in the best time on the fourth test even though his Subaru was handling erratically due to the incident on S.S. 3. Having cut O’Riordan’s lead to eleven seconds, O’Mahony’s hopes were dashed as his rally ended on the fifth stage due to a broken seal in the hydraulic gear selection system. In foggy and slippery conditions, Donnelly set the pace on stages five and six. At the final service halt, O’Riordan held a 46 second lead over Cronin with a hard charging Donnelly a mere two seconds further behind. O’Riordan admitted he couldn’t relax especially with Donnelly pushing hard. Donnelly opined, “I pushed hard, especially on stage five, I came here with no expectations, I had a few moments, but we are on the pace.” Meade, who led the Modified category, was untroubled, but admitted he had to watch the pace of James Stafford (Darrian), who was 17 seconds behind. The Escorts of Sam Smyth, Frank Kelly and Wesley Patterson were next, the latter duo were in contention for the rally.ie award within the Dunlop series, Patterson reckoned he made an incorrect tyre choice. Damien McCarthy (Honda Civic) and Fergus O’Meara (Ford Escort) completed the top ten. Out on S.S.6, Donnelly set yet another fastest time, on this occasion, he moved into second – 33 seconds behind leader, O’Riordan. The penultimate test brought the Derry driver to within 22 seconds. Even though he stormed through the final stage and trimmed a further 16 seconds off the deficit, O’Riordan won by a margin of six seconds. Cronin took third. Meade was a convincing winner of the Modified section and even though Frank Kelly finished ahead of Wesley Patterson, the latter won the rally.ie award. O’Meara (Escort) came through to claim seventh. Local driver, Damien McCarthy brought his Class 11 Honda Civic home in eighth place in a top ten rounded off by George Condell (Escort and Steve Simpson (Subaru). Sam Smyth (Ford Escort) had a troubled time on the final stage and slipped to 53^rd in overall classification.

The Dunlop “Drive of the Day” award was won by Clonakilty’s, Cal McCarthy/Eamonn Dullea, seeded at 36, he finished 13^th. overall.

The Group N category was won by another local crew, Baltimore’s, Stephen Carey/Breda O’Driscoll.

1. D. O'Riordan/T. McDaid (Subaru WRC) 1h. 21m. 59s.   2. E. Donnelly/A. Keena (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 22m. 05s. 3. D. Cronin/C. Hurley (Subaru WRC) 1h. 22m. 46s. 4. B. Meade/L. Moynihan (Ford Escort) 1h. 25m. 51s. 5. F. Kelly/L. Brennan (Ford Escort) 1h. 26m. 45s. 6. W. Patterson/M. McGarrity (Ford Escort) 1h. 26m. 47s. 7. F. O'Meara/B. Doherty (Ford Escort) 1h. 28m. 06s. 8. D. McCarthy/E. Hayes (Honda Civic) 1h. 28m. 19s. 9. G. Condell/D. Stafford (Ford Escort) 1h. 28m. 50s. 10.S. Simpson/F. Curtin (Subaru WRC) 1h. 29m. 06s.