1 Chris Snow/Sean Brunton Honda Civic 52:38
2 David Moffett/Patrick Brides Toyota Starlet 52:50
3 Cal McCarthy/Eamonn Dullea Honda Civic 53:38
4 John Doogan/Padraig Doogan Ford Escort 1:01:34
5 Sean Diver/Brian Thompson Honda Integra 1:04:34

J1 David Moffett Patrick Brides Starlet 16
J2 John Doogan Padraig Doogan Escort 16
J3 Chris Snow Sean Brunton Civic 16
J4 Kevin McLaughlin Paul Creamer Suzuki Swift 16
J5 Sean Diver Brian Thompson Integra 16
J6 Kevin Eves Corolla 16
J7 Cal McCarthy Eamonn Dullea Civic 16

The penultimate round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, the Bailey NiteClub Redcastle Oceanfront Spa Hotel Donegal Harvest Rally on Saturday next (October 8th) has attracted an entry of some 130 competitors. Although Tim McNulty has won Vard Memorial Trophy, the Motorsport Safety Team Group N award, the rally.ie two-wheel drive category and the Dunlop Junior National title have all to be decided.


Last year’s winner in Donegal, Garry Jennings is the top seed, the Fermanagh ace is set to drive a McKinstry prepared Subaru WRC as he prepares to battle against many of the Dunlop regulars.

Maynooth’s, Kevin Barrett (92 points) is seeded at number two as he tries to overhaul second placed Sam Moffett in the race for the runner-up spot in the Dunlop series. Moffett, with 95 points, is not amongst the seeded entry and with his closest rival, Robert Barrable not contesting the event, Moffett will be crowned the Motorsport Safety Team Group N champion without turning a wheel.


Former triple champion, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC), currently fifth in the Dunlop standings, finished second in the last round in Clare, last year, he finished second to Jennings in the Donegal event.


One of the big battles in Donegal will centre on the two-wheel drive category, Gary McPhillips, Rodney Wilton, Wesley Patterson, Manus Kelly, Washington James, Declan Boyle and Camillus Bradley complete the top ten.
With the exception of Washington James, who will drive his nimble Darrian, the rest are in Ford Escorts.


In terms of the rally.ie two-wheel drive award, Tyrone’s, Frank Kelly (56 points) is five points ahead of Lisburn’s, Wesley Patterson with Sam Smyth on 47 points and Washington James with 42 points. Kelly set some very impressive times on the latter stages in Clare. Patterson is the favourite to close the deficit in a battle that is likely to go right down to the wire.


The race for supremacy in Donegal between Gary McPhillips, Rodney Wilton, Manus Kelly, Declan Boyle and Camillus Bradley will be intense, Boyle is the reigning Dunlop two-wheel drive champion.


Meanwhile, Monaghan’s, Shane Maguire (Subaru) is seeded at eleven, currently second in Class 4 to Moffett, he will be hoping to move up a few places in the overall standings. Donegal’s, Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi), making a rare outing in a round of the Dunlop series, is seeded behind Maguire.


Another plethora of Escorts in the hands of Brian Brogan, Michael Conlon, Frank Kelly and Martin McGee are next on the entry in a top twenty that also features Dunlop regular, Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet), Joseph McGonigle (Citroen C2R2) and Robbie Peoples(Ford Escort).


Within the Dunlop series, top spot in two of the modified classes has already been decided. In Class 9, Lloyd Hutchinson (Mini) has taken the laurels while Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla WRC) has secured Class 15.


The Redcastle based nine stage event is the final and deciding round of the inaugural Dunlop Junior National Rally Championship. The top four drivers are - Monaghan’s, Johno Doogan (Ford Escort), who leads the way on 28 points from Meath’s, Chris Snow (Honda Civic), who has 23 points, Monaghan’s, David Moffett (Toyota Starlet) has amassed 20 points and Cork’s, Cal McCarthy (Honda Civic) has 18 points.
Doogan took maximum points (10) in Carlow and Clare and second place (8) points in Galway. Snow netted second place points in both Monaghan and Carlow and third placed (7) points in Carrick on Suir. Moffett scored maximum points in Monaghan and Carrick on Suir and McCarthy took a maximum score in Galway and eight points in Carrick on Suir, he retired whilst leading the last round in Clare.

With one week to go, the Donegal Motor Club have just announced more details of the 2011 Bailey Niteclub Redcastle Oceanfront Spa Harvest Rally.


With entries closed, the entry list stands at over 120 competitors, and organisers are busy for the ‘recce’ week-end, with this number of crews expected in the Inishowen peninsula for Saturday 1st October, ahead of the main event itself on Saturday 8th October based at the Bailey Niteclub Redcastle Oceanfront Spa Hotel.

Clerk of the Course, John Crumlish has been busy this week, with many details of the event in full operation, and in touch with all of the officials for the week-end.


“A few last minute details are being looked at, but we have been busy seeding the entry field, in time for the forthcoming week-end.” John continued, “ the Hotel has been helping us as well, preparing for the main event on the 8th, as we need a broadband and satellite link in place for the results and command centre at the headquarters, this is vital to the operation and smooth safe running of the whole rally. We will have a total of 240 competitors on the day with an army of almost 200 officials to look after, and it is important that we get through the event safely and have all points covered. With all those people plus all the spectators in the area, it’s going to be busy!”



On the point of spectators, John appealed directly to spectators, “to watch from safe location, and obey the officials, who are there for your protection, and have an enjoyable days sport.”



John hoped that the rally would bring good support to the Inishowen Peninsula, and that local businesses would benefit from the influx of visitors.


John again thanked the Bailey Niteclub Redcastle Oceanfront Spa Hotel for their support, all the residents along the route of the rally, the Garda Siochana, Donegal County Council, along with all the officials who assist with the running of the event.

The Clerk of the Course for the Donegal Motor Club’s 2011 Harvest Rally, has made an appeal to intending ‘last minute’ entrants to the Harvest Rally planned for Saturday 8th October, to get their entries in immediately as the official closing date has passed.



COC John Crumlish, said,
“I know there are some drivers and co-drivers who have left the submission of entries to the last minute, leaving myself and the organising committee with the task of trying to seed the entries from competitors who have submitted ‘on time’, while some others are holding off and then causing us problems by having to reseed the entries after the Entry List would normally be published next week.”



John continued,
“I know of a number of competitors who have not placed their entry in the post because they were competing in other events, but we must be able to go ahead and plans schedules, road closings and take final delivery of stationery and other printed matter now ahead of the event. As for anyone waiting, don’t expect a reseed if you are not in on time!



Today, I am giving a special extension to the closing date, up to Tuesday night, 27th September. This has to be a ‘cut off’ point to get a seeding list prepared for the field of competitors, so we can publish later this week. Get your entry in now!”