Evans wins National Rally Championship in Clare

WELSH man Mel Evans driving a Subaru WRC clinched the Dunlop National Rally Championship with a third place finish in the Clare Stages Rally in Ennis at the weekend.
The Irish Court Hotels Clare Rally, the penultimate round of the series, was won by Tim McNulty and Paul Kiely, who finished seven seconds ahead of Derek McGarrity and James McKee.
The Group N category was won by the local crew of Anthony O’Halloran and Charlie McEnery (Mitsubishi), while Wesley Patterson and Martin McGarrity (Ford Escort) won the modified category.
Evans set the pace on the first test, Lickeen Road, near Kilfenora where the Welshman was two seconds quicker than McGarrity, with McNulty a further five seconds behind, the latter on his first event in quite some time. Pre-event Dunlop Championship leader, Niall Maguire was fourth, followed by Daragh O’Riordan to complete an all Subaru quintet.
Late entry Wesley Patterson (Escort) led the modified category and also held sixth overall, while Shane Maguire (Subaru) led Group N.
Rally.ie leader, Declan Boyle crashed his Escort on the second stage, while elsewhere Lloyd Hutchinson (Mini) was eleventh and Sean Flanagan (Subaru) lost time with two punctures.
On SS4, McGarrity opened up a four-second lead over McNulty. The duo set identical times on the fifth stage, while the sixth stage was cancelled due to reasons outside the control of the organisers.
Patterson continued to set an impressive pace in the modified category as he retained sixth position.
Out on SS7, McGarrity extended his lead over McNulty to six seconds. However, McGarrity subsequently spun his Subaru WRC on the penultimate test and McNulty took full advantage to move into a two-second lead. Still in the balance on the final stage, McNulty posted the fastest time to take victory by seven seconds.
Behind the top three, former Dunlop champion Niall Maguire was fourth, followed by Daragh O’Riordan (Subaru WRC), who had a brief excursion on the penultimate test. Wesley Patterson (Ford Escort) ran out a convincing winner of the modified category. He was sixth overall, followed by the Subaru of Kevin Barrett.
Clare’s Anthony O’Halloran (Mitsubishi) won the Group N category, where Sean Flanagan eventually finished down in 41st position. Pat Kirk (Mitsubishi) and Shane Maguire (Subaru) completed the top 10.
The Dunlop Driver of the Day award went to Mark Wedlock, driving a Ford Escort and seeded at 69. He finished 23rd overall.
Darren and Nicola McKenna (Toyota Corolla) clinched the Dunlop Junior Championship.
Clare Motor Club members who received awards included Pat and Sinéad Canny (Ford Fiesta st), who finished third in Class 3; Tony Tuttle and John Hurley (Ford Escort), who finished second in Class 13; Gráinne McEnery and Mike Quinn (Ford Escort), who finished second in Class 14 and also won the Mixed Crew Award; John Lernihan and Robert Ryan (Mitsubishi Lancer), who finished second in class 15 and Martin Kelly and Eoin Ryan, who received the award for the Best Unplaced Clare Crew.
The prestigeous Noel McCullagh Award was presented to the fastest Clare crew on the day, Anthony O’Halloran and Charlie McEnery, and the Dermot Molloy Award was presented to Ruan’s Martin Casey and Katie Quinn.

The results are: 1. T McNulty/P Kiely (Subaru WRC) 59:27; 2. D McGarrity/J McKee (Subaru WRC) 59:34; 3. M Evans/P Walsh (Subaru WRC) 1.00:38; 4. N Maguire/E Sherry (Subaru WRC) 1.00:58; 5. D O’Riordan/T McDaid (Subaru WRC) 1.01:46; 6. W Patterson/M McGarrity (Subaru WRC) 1.01:59; 7. K Barrett/S Mullally (Subaru WRC) 1.02:24; 8. A O’Halloran/C McEnery (Mitsubishi) 1.03:21; 9. P Kirk/P Ward (Mitsubishi) 1.04:13; 10. S Maguire/P Kelly (Subaru) 1.04:16.
Dunlop National Rally Championship (positions after Round 9): 1. M Evans 150 points (Dunlop Champion); 2. N Maguire 138 points; 3. D McGarrity 126 points; 4. K Barrett 82 points.