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Robert Barrable winner of the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman award supported by the Irish Sports Council, in his Skoda Fabia S2000 with Monaghan co-driver Damien Connolly swept to a convincing victory on the weekends Sligo Stages Rally. Robert now holds second place in the Dunlop National Rally Championship just eight points behind championship leader Tim McNulty with four rounds remaining. The Barrable team went to the Sligo based event buoyed by their one IRC championship point and tenth place overall on the GEKO Ypres rally and rolled off the start ramp as number one seeds for the event which from the outset was going to be a tough challenge against the faster WRC machines of Daragh O’Riordan, Kevin Barrett and Niall Maguire. Robert posted his early intentions for the rally setting fastest stage time on the opening test and quickly followed this with fastest time through the second stage. Stage three of the three stage loop was an open and very fasts stage which would clearly favour the faster WRC cars with O’Riordan setting fastest time and slashing Roberts opening two stage lead to just 13 seconds heading to the first service halt.
Tyre choice proving critical in the warm yet slippy conditions Robert started the second loop of stages as he had on the previous loop setting fastest stage time through both special stages four and five. O’Riordan took fastest on stage six and reduced the lead to 8 seconds as the pair battled for the overall victory. “We are really taking a lot of changes on the stages in an effort to stay in front of the WRC drivers, stage three is very fast and it really suits the Subaru’s, it is the opening two stages of the loop where we can gain an advantage” commented Robert after stage six.
Robert powered the Skoda Fabia S2000 into the final loop of stages with his sights clearly set on taking the overall honours and set a blistering time through SS7 a clear 16 seconds ahead of O’Riordan, the gap with two stages remaining was now 24 seconds. Robert and Damien knew that the fast last stage would be where the rally could be won or lost so ensuring they had a sizeable gap to second place was critical. They were quickest on stage eight increasing their lead to 29 seconds with just one stage to go. O’Riordan was unable to do anything about the pace of the young Dubliner and Robert and co-driver Damien Connolly went on to win the rally by 11 seconds and took maximum championship points in the process. “I am really delighted with our performance today, this was always going to be a difficult rally to win and I knew that stage seven was going to be the critical stage so I really went for it and it paid off.” The team have done a fantastic job and the car has been brilliant, I am looking forward to my own club rally next weekend and having some fun on stages close to home.” Said Robert at the finish.
Next up for Robert is the ALMC Stages which takes place on Sunday the 17th July on stages in counties Meath and Louth. For press information contact Alan Binley by emailing pro@robertbarrable.com or log on to www.robertbarrable.com for more information
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