O’Mahony is Clare champion

WITH their third victory in as many outings, Brian O’Mahony and his co-driver, John Higgins (Subaru WRC) moved into the lead in the Dunlop National Rally Champions hip courtesy of their victory in the Auburn Lodge Hotel Clare Rally, the penultimate round of the series.
The Cork/Mayo pairing finished 19 seconds in front of the similar S11 Subaru WRC of Monaghan’s, Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry. Kevin Kelleher/Ger Conway, in an S9 Subaru WRC, were 57 seconds further behind in third.
Pre-event Dunlop series leaders, Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley retired their Subaru with transmission troubles on the fifth stage. The Kerry crew are six points behind O’Mahony/Higgins. Maguire/Sherry remain in contention for the Vard Memorial Trophy, they are 10 points behind the new leaders. The series will be decided on the Donegal Harvest Rally on October 13.
Meanwhile, Frank Kelly and co-driver, Liam Brennan (Escort), who finished fifth overall, clinched the inaugural Dunlop Mk 2 Champions Trophy, Colm Murphy/Don Montgomery (Subaru) secured the Motorsport Safety Team Group N award and Denis Collins/Tommy Commane (Ford Escort) won the Dunlop Historic series and they were also presented with the Dunlop “Drive of the Day” award.
On a wet opening stage at Spancilhill, Fitzmaurice and O’Mahony shared the lead with Maguire 14 seconds behind in third. Colm Murphy, in his Group N Subaru, shared fourth with top two-wheel drive exponent, Frank Kelly (Ford Escort) as Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC) completed the top six.
Maguire set the pace on the second stage while Fitzmaurice set a cracking pace on SS 3 to move into an 18-second lead. O’Mahony was in second place with Maguire 13 seconds further behind. Kevin Kelleher moved into fourth place despite some high-speed slides that prompted him to make a change of tyres at the service halt.
Kevin Barrett in sixth was untroubled but Roy White (MG S2000), one place behind, had no intercom for all but one kilometre of the third stage. Colm Murphy retained the lead in Group N but lost time with a bent suspension arm and an overshoot. Frank Kelly was equal seventh with Murphy in a top 10 that also featured Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) and Shane Maguire (Subaru). Late entry Josh Moffett (Mitsubishi) retired with electrical troubles.
Out on SS 4, O’Mahony set a strong pace and that, coupled with transmission woes for Fitzmaurice, put him front by a margin of nine seconds. On the next stage, Fitzmaurice’s rally ended when his Subaru continued to fail to select fifth gear,  and then his Subaru dropped into a drain as he allowed Frank Kelly to get past. Maguire was quickest through the stage and on SS 6, Kevin Kelleher punched in his fastest time in a Subaru WRC, four seconds quicker than both O’Mahony and Maguire.
At the final service halt, O’Mahony led Maguire by 22 seconds with Kelleher 29 seconds further adrift in third. Fourth-placed Kevin Barrett was forced to switch his Subaru WRC to safe mode as the coolant pressure gauge soared.
Frank Kelly (Escort) took a cautious approach – he was some 50 seconds in front of the Toyota Starlet of Declan Gallagher. Roy White retired his MG S2000 with an engine problem.
Local driver Anthony O’Halloran (Mitsubishi) was untroubled in eighth with the Group N Subaru’s of Shane Maguire and Colm Murphy completing the top 10, the latter lost time when the bonnet clip shorted across the battery and having attended to the problem, it flew open after he re-started.
Meanwhile, David Guest retired his Honda Civic after the boot lid flew off following a heavy landing over a jump, petrol fumes entered the cockpit leaving them with no option but to withdraw from the rally.
Out on the final loop, O’Mahony judged his pace to ensure his third victory in as many outings and moves to the top of the Dunlop National Rally Championship standings. Maguire took second with Kelleher third.
Ruane’s, Anthony O’Halloran/Charlie McEnery (Mitsubishi) were the top local crew, they finished ninth overall and third in Group N.

The finishing positions were:
1. B O’Mahony/J Higgins (Subaru WRC) 1.14.19; 2. N Maguire/E Sherry (Subaru WRC) 1.14.38; 3. K Kelleher/G Conway Subaru WRC) 1.15.35; 4. K Barrett/C Foley (Subaru WRC) 1.17.05; 5. F Kelly/L Brennan (Ford Escort) 1.17.31; 6. C Murphy/Don Montgomery (Subaru) 1.19.25; 7. J Pringle/M Byrne (Ford Escort) 1.19.57; 8. S Maguire/M McGarrity (Subaru) 1.20.24; 9. A O’Halloran/C McEnery (Mitsubishi) 1.21.11; 10. F Sweeney/J Cogan (Ford Escort) 1.22.47.

The Dunlop National Rally Championship (positions after Round 7 with dropped scores in brackets): 1. B O’Mahony 96pts (96); 2. T Fitzmaurice 90pts (90); 3. N Maguire 86pts (86); 4. C Murphy 75pts (75); 5. F Kelly 64pts (64); 6. J Pringle 60pts (60); 7. R White 58pts (58).

Dunlop Mk 2 Champions Trophy: 1. F Kelly/L Brennan 94pts (champions); 2. J Pringle/M Byrne 86pts.

Clare Competitors who received awards in the various classes included – Pat and Eoin Canny (Ford Fiesta), finished third in Class 3.
Anthony O’Halloran/Charlie McEnery third in Class 4 and they also received the Noel McCullagh Award for the fastest Clare Motor Club crew on the rally.
Keith Naughton/Brendan Behan (Subaru Impreza) finished third in Class 8 while Martin Kelly/Eoin Ryan (Mitsubishi Evo 7) finished second in Class 8.
Niall O’Sullivan/Ciara O’Connell (Citroen C2) were the winners in Class 9.
Edward Cogan/John Treacy (Peugeot 205 rwd) finished second in Class 12 while Tommy Flanagan/Patrick Curley (Ford Escort) were the winners in Class 8.
Frank Sweeney/Jane Cogan (Ford Escort) finished second in Class 13 and 10th overall.
John O’Sullivan/Tadgh Collins (Citroen C2)were the winners in Class 15.
Pa Horan/Lisa O’Dowd (Vauxhall Nova) were the winners of the Dermot Molloy Award.
The best un-placed Clare Motor Club Crew award went to Tom Ryan/David Ryan (Opel Corsa).