Kerry Motor Club was established in 1985

ELLIOTT WINS CIRCUIT OF KERRY ON A TIE-BREAK
(Report courtesy of Irish Dunlop – sponsors of the Irish National Rally Championship)

In a close contest, last year’s event winners, Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Subaru WRC) edged out Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) on a tie-break to win the Fels Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally, the second round of the Dunlop series. On the final stage, they finished two seconds ahead of Maguire/McLaughlin, that gave both crews an identical overall time and Elliott/Goodman got the verdict on a tie-break - as they were fastest on the final stage. It was the second event in succession that a round of the Dunlop National Rally championship went to a final stage decider.
Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Subaru) finished third overall – 29 seconds further behind, that was also decided on a tie-break with Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Ford Focus WRC) finishing fourth. As a result of his victory, Elliott moves to top spot in the Dunlop series. The Group N category was won by Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Mitsubishi), they were tenth in general classification.
On the first stage, Desmond’s Grave, Barrable set the fastest time as he opened up a lead of three seconds over O’Sullivan, who remarked that he had chosen the wrong tyres for the stage. Elliott was a further twelve seconds behind in third, the Cavan driver was worried as his Subaru seemed to be down on power. Niall Maguire held fourth from Seamus Leonard and Kevin Barrett.
Out on the second stage, Mount Eagle, Barrable continued set the pace and extended his lead over O’Sullivan to seven seconds. Elliott continued in third – 13 seconds adrift of O’Sullivan while Maguire, four seconds further adrift remarked that the pace was exceedingly quick.
Leonard held fifth in his Subaru but reckoned his car was no match for the S11 Subaru WRC’s. Barrett posted a strong time to maintain sixth while Noel Redmond (Subaru S12B) had a slight indiscretion with a concrete wall that scuffed the side of his Subaru. Elsewhere, Glenn Allen (Toyota), Jack Sleator (Subaru) and Sean Gallagher (Subaru) rounded off the top ten.
In Group N, Alan Ring (Mitsubishi) led the similar car of Thomas Fitzmaurice while Willie Fannin (Subaru), who lost a few seconds with a puncture, held third in the category.
Although Barrable strengthened his position on the third stage where he led Elliott by 25 seconds, his lost the lead on the fourth test when he punctured his Ford Focus WRC. His closest challenger over the first two stages, Donie O’Sullivan was also in trouble. He slid his Subaru WRC into the Kerry scenery and lost valuable time as he tried to get back on the stage, in addition, he lost further time at the tight right hand junction nearby. Indeed, as he tried to manoeuvre his way out of trouble, Niall Maguire’s Subaru arrived and was held up as the seconds ticked agonisingly away.

At the Fels Points Hotel service halt, Elliot was the new rally leader, he remarked that the earlier problem was due to a rich fuel mixture. He led Maguire by six seconds with Barrable down in third – 18 seconds further adrift, his Ford Focus clipped a rock and the tyre deflated immediately, he continued to drive to the stage finish.
Leonard, who spun at one junction, held fourth place from Kevin Barrett, who suffered brake trouble. O’Sullivan had to be content with sixth place in a top ten that also included Glen Allen, Noel Redmond, Jack Sleator and Group N leader, Alan Ring, whose lead in the showroom category stood at a minute and nine seconds over Eamonn Daly (Mitsubishi), who had some intercom woes. Both Thomas Fitzmaurice and Anthony O’Halloran lost time with punctures.
Elliott maintained his lead through the short fifth stage but Maguire moved ahead on S.S. 6. In extremely wet conditions, just four seconds covered the stages times of Elliott, Barrable, O’Sullivan and Maguire.
At the final service halt, Maguire had a two second lead over Elliott. Barrable, joint fastest with O’Sullivan on S.S. 5 and quickest of all on S.S. 6, remained third – 15 seconds behind Elliott and nine ahead of fourth placed O’Sullivan.
Leonard and Barrett followed, the latter remarked that he decided to ease off through the streaming wet stages. Allen was seventh from Redmond and Sleator while Ring continued to dominate Group N – even though he had an anxious moment on S.S. 6.
The former National Group N champion was well clear of Eamonn Daly (Mitsubishi).
On the penultimate stage, Leonard set the pace as Maguire, Elliott and O’Sullivan all set identical times with Barrable two seconds quicker than the trio.
On a dramatic final stage Elliott clawed the two seconds back off Maguire and won on a tie-break. For Maguire, it was the third time he has been involved in this situation, in 1999 he lost out to Gabriel Snow and in 2002 he won against Jim Harrison. Elliott now moves into top spot by virtue of his victory in Kerry.

Meanwhile and despite gearbox trouble, Leonard took an excellent third place, a position that was also decided on a tie-break with Michael Barrable, who had no launch control for the final stage. O’Sullivan, after his escapade on the third stage had to be content with fifth. Elsewhere, Barrett, Allen and Redmond all picked up valuable Dunlop points. Top Kerry driver, Alan Ring (Mitsubishi) won Group N and Maurice Moffett (Starlet) won the two-wheel drive category.