The hype and press leading up to this event was unreal as it was irelands first dummy run at an attempt to get a WRC round to our great shores but with fueling concerns beforer hand of drivers only allowed to use shell it meant a few good drivers pulling out plus no Genie, McGarrity or Nesbitt NI’s top 3 men meaning that the heart and sole of what was looming to be an amazing event was lost for myself. I made it to stage 4 and 6 and the entry was poor with only a couple WRC cars and a grpN entry lacking in a lot of big names in what is a huge class. Credit has to be given to the organisers however for the day running perfectly on time and some amazing roads being used. keep and eye on www.rallynews.net tomorow for up to date results from the gravel stages round eniskillen that they are using.
Top 10 at the end of day 1 –
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt”>1<sup>st</sup> (7) Matthew Wilson/Michael Orr (Focus WRC) 1.08.55.0
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt”>2<sup>nd</sup> (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 1.09.48.2
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt”>3<sup>rd</sup> (4) Kevin Lynch/Allan Harryman (Impreza WRC) 1.09.53.5
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt”>4<sup>th</sup> (9) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 1.12.10.3
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt”>5<sup>th</sup> (8) Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle (Corolla WRC) 1.12.53.1
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt”>6<sup>th</sup> (2) Freddy Loix/Robin Buysmans (Ignis) 1.12.54.8
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt”>7<sup>th</sup> (1) Daniel Carlsson/Mattias Andersson (Lancer N) 1.12.57.0
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt”>8<sup>th</sup> (16) Roy White/Stephen McAuley (Lancer N) 1.14.22.8
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt”>9<sup>th</sup> (25) Noel McCarrick/Anthony O’Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.15.51.3
<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt”>10<sup>th</sup> (10) Sean Devine/Killian Duffy (Impreza N) 1.16.17.7
