Killarney International Rally of the Lakes - Victory for Meeke

The last minute pairing of Kris Meeke from Dungannon and Swedish co-driver Jonas Andersson dominated the Ordnance Survey Ireland International Rally of the Lakes in Killarney over theMay Bank Holiday weekend, scoring their first International win by just 13 seconds from three times Tarmac Rally champions Eugene Donnelly and Paul Kiely.

Meeke, one of Ireland's Junior World Rally Championship contenders for the last few years, took the lead on the opening stage on Saturday morning, Moll's Gap, and was only headed when his McKinstry Impreza punctured on the next stage, letting Donnelly ahead briefly.

However, the positions were soon reversed and the pair had a close battle for most of the day, until Meeke opened out a 25 second margin on the last Saturday stage. Wet weather yesterday brought the gap down to twelve seconds before the final stage, where another best time saw the youngster clinch victory.

Norwegian teenager Andreas Mikkelsen brought his Ford Focus home third, ahead of three times British champion and Global Group Irish Tarmac series leader Mark Higgins, with veteran Austin MacHale surprising many people by finishing fifth, beating both of his sons.

Gareth MacHale, a regular World Championship competitor, was sixth in his Focus, with the third family member, Aaron, losing his place in the top ten with throttle problems on the last stage.

Defending Group N Production class champion Colm Murphy of Limerick took another win in his Impreza, in eighth overall, with James Stafford winning the National event in his Darrian.

ROUND 3 OF GLOBAL GROUP IRISH TARMAC CHAMPIONSHIP:

1 Kris Meeke/Jonas Andersson (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 19m 25s,
2 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 19m 38s,
3 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 20m 03s,
4 Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 22m 13s,
5 Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 26m 04s,
6 Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 27m 41s,
7 Gareth Jones/Greg Shinnors (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 28m 11s,
8 Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Subaru Impreza Gp N) 2h 32m 17s,
9 John Joe Fleming/Robbie Ward (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 33m 27s,

10 Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Gp N) 2h 35m 12s.

Group N Production class:
1 Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey,
2 Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary,
3 James Cullen/Allan Harryman (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 2h 36m 25s.

Class winners:
Enda Hallinan/Ollie Ward (Honda Civic),

Billy Hayes/Pierce Doheny (Honda Civic),

Andrew Fanning/Alan McCormack (Ford Puma),

Ken O'Neill/Frank Curtin (Ford Puma),

Pat Callanan/Kenneth Shiel (Honda Civic).

NATIONAL EVENT:
1 James M Stafford/Frank Dwyer (Darrian T90) 2h 28m 33s,
2 Wesley Patterson/Ruth Guest (Ford Escort) 2h 30m 31s,
3 Fergus O'Meara/Liam Brennan (Ford Escort) 2h 30m 50s.

HISTORIC/POST-HISTORIC EVENT:
1 Todd Falvey/Dan Barry (Porsche 911) 1h 29m 57s,
2 Denis Moynihan/Dan Moynihan (Ford Escort) 1h 32m 26s,
3 Don Moynihan/Kevin Murphy (Ford Escort) 1h 32m 56s.

Class winners:

Tommy Mason/Joseph Dunne (Ford Escort),

John Hennessy/James Crowe (Ford Escort),

Gerard McCarthy/Aidan O'Dowd (Triumph TR7),

Niall Creighton/Greg Roberts (Lotus Cortina),

Paul Mitchell/Timmy Kelly (Mini),

JUNIOR RALLY:
1 Jason O'Mahony/Jonathan O'Mahony (Civic) 33m 39s,
2 Garreth O'Mahony/David McCarthy (Escort) 34m 43s,
3 Damien McCarthy/Eamonn Hayes (Civic) 34m 44s.

FIESTA CHALLENGE:
1 Conor Harvey/Tony McDaid 1h 07m 39s,
2 Jonathan Greer/Jonny Hart 1h 07m 40s,
3 Alastair Fisher/Barry McNulty 1h 08m 14s.

For further Information: Jacky Breathnach Deputy Manager, Motorsport Ireland on 01 6775628, jackyb@motorsportireland.com or visit www.motorsportireland.com