FM Contracts Down Rally 2008 Results: Conor McCloskey wins to leave championship tied with Sean Devine going into the final round

Posted by Scott Coursey 19 October, 2008

sponsorlogo FM Contracts Down Rally 2008 Results: Conor McCloskey wins to leave championship tied with Sean Devine going into the final round

Conor McCloskey scored a dominant win in his Focus 05 WRC on the Down Rally to leave the championship tied going into the final round with Sean Devine, when dropped scores are taken into account.

Devine had been trailing McCloskey all day in second place but retired from the event on the second last stage when he went off the road trying to avoid a stranded previous competitors' car. He made it to the end of the stage but had to retire as the Subaru S11 was too badly damaged to continue. The other championship contender Glenn Allen didn't start in his Corolla WRC.

Cathal Rogers scored a fine second place to win Group N in his Evo 9 with John Walker in third in his similar Evo. James Kennedy was the top 2WD man in 7th in a Mk2 Escort.

The Pacenotes MSA N.I Rally Championship concludes on the Townparks Glens of Antrim Rally which will be a tarmac round this year incorporating classic stages such as Glendun and Torr Head. Conor McCloskey has confirmed that he will use his Focus 05 WRC on the event so it will be interesting to see if it has the legs of the S11 on tarmac.

Down Rally 2008 highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_AjLq_DptY

Top Ten Results FM Contracts Down Rally 2008:

1. Conor McCLOSKEY/Francis REGAN Ford Focus WRC

2. Cathal ROGERS/Eoighan ROGERS Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

3. John WALKER/Dessie WILSON Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

4. PJ GILLESPIE Mary O'KANE Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 2

5. Alan CARMICHAEL/Ivor LAMONT Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9

6. Cyril DOHERTY/Graham HENDERSON Subaru Impreza

7. James KENNEDY/John ROWAN Ford Escort MkII

8. Damien HYNDS/John MAGILTON Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6

9. Shane McGIRR/Neil CONNOLLY Toyota Starlet