Gareth MacHale and Brian Murphy on their way to winning the Cork 20 International Rally 2009. Photo: Roy Dempster (www.roydempster.com)
Gareth MacHale led the 2009 Cork "20" International Rally from start to finish in his Ford Focus WRC 06, to win the event by just over a minute.
His victory though, was not enough to prevent Eugene Donnelly claiming a record equalling fifth Tarmac crown. Donnelly, in the all conquering Skoda Fabia WRC, drove a percentage rally (the car had a few niggles on day 1) as he knew second place would be enough to guarantee him the Irish title though, he may not have been able to match MacHale's pace if he had decided to race him.
The Maghera driver equals Gareth's father Austin in winning the championship on five occasions and he now has 19 Tarmac rally wins, just one less than record holder Bertie Fisher.
2nd Overall Eugene Donnelly and Paddy Toner in their 'Surprising Skoda'. Photo: Roy Dempster (www.roydempster.com)
MacHale set fastest time on all 15 stages achieving the same feat as Andrew Nesbitt did on the Donegal Rally in 2000, when the Armagh legend claimed all 22 stages (he also was fastest on every stage on Cork in 2003, though shared a stage with Eamonn Boland).
Gareth MacHale said at the finish: “I’m delighted with the result. We did all we could.
"This was two wins out of three rallies,” added the Dubliner.
Eugene Donnelly commented on winning his fifth Irish Tarmac Rally Championship crown: “This was a bit special for me, to have Paddy co-driving. We won the NI championship together a long time ago.
"The entire crew has done a great job. And to bring the Skoda in and make it so reliable and so fast was pretty special. A big thanks to all our sponsors as well when money is so tight,” added Donnelly.
Group N victors Owen Murphy and James O'Brien in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo during the 2009 Cork 20 Rally. Photo: Roy Dempster (www.roydempster.com)
Behind all the excitement was Cork's Denis Cronin, who finished over four minutes back in his elderly Subaru Impreza WRC. In fourth place was an impressive Darragh O'Riordan who finished as top 2WD competitor driving a Renault Clio S1600.
Owen Murphy from Millstreet, Co Cork, took Group N honours and fifth overall behind the wheel of his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.
Alastair Fisher had led Group N comfortably and was lying in fourth place when he developed mechanical problems during the day and dropped down the leaderboard, eventually finishing tenth. The Fermanagh ace still did enough to wrap up the Group N title and finish third overall in the ITRC final standings to cap off a fantastic debut year in a 4WD car.
Cork 20 National winners Phil Collins and Derek Brannigan in their sideways as ever Ford Escort Mk2. Photo: Roy Dempster (www.roydempster.com)
Phil Collins won the National section of the rally in his glorious Mk2 Escort, while Denis won the Historic category driving a Ford Escort Mk1.
Johnathan Cunningham was top Junior finisher in a Honda Civic.
Video Clip
Winners Gareth MacHale and Brian Murphy celebrate at the finish of the 2009 Cork 20 Rally. Photo: Roy Dempster (www.roydempster.com)
Cork "20" International Rally 2009 Results
1. G. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 59m. 29.4s.
2. E. Donnelly/P. Toner (Skoda Fabia WRC) 2h. 00m. 34.8s.
3. D. Cronin/C. Hurley (Subaru WRC) 2h. 04m. 41.3s.
4. D. O'Riordan/T. McDaid (Renault Clio S1600) 2h. 08m. 58.3s.
5. O. Murphy/J. O'Brien (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 2h. 11m. 32.2s.
6. J. O'Donovan/S. Hayde (Subaru Impreza N12B) 2h. 11m. 58.7s.
7. J. Buttimer/D. Buttimer (Subaru Impreza) 2h. 15m. 39.8s.
8. E. Meegan/S. Kelly (Honda Civic) 2h. 15m. 41.4s.
9. J. Taylor/J. Patterson (Mitsubishi Evo) 2h. 17m. 13.5s.
10. A. Fisher/B. McNulty (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1h. 13m. 38.9s.
2009 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship winners Eugene Donnelly and Paddy Toner. Photo: Roy Dempster (www.roydempster.com)
NATIONAL RALLY:
1. P. Collins/D. Brannigan (Escort) 2h. 06m. 07.4s.
2. B. Meade/J. Hickey (Escort) 2h. 06m. 52.3s.
3. K. O'Donoghue/J. O'Leary (Escort) 2h. 10m. 54.1s.
HISTORIC RALLY:
1. D. Moynihan/D. Moynihan(Ford Escort Mk1) 1h. 59m. 30.2s.
JUNIOR RALLY:
1. J. Cuningham/M. Cunningham (Honda Civic) 56m. 09s.
2. D. Guest/R. Guest (Honda Civic) 56m. 16s.
3. R. O'Sullivan/D. O'Brien (Vauxhall Nova) 58m. 43.9s.
Cork 20 Historic category winners Denis and Dan Moynihan in their beautiful Mk1 Escort. Photo: Roy Dempster (www.roydempster.com)
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