Evans dominates ALMC stages

Melvyn Evans put in a stunning drive on last weekend's ALMC Stages Rally to head up a Subaru Impreza WRC 1-2-3, 1 min 28 secs ahead of James Belton in second.

Evans lead the rally from start to finish, and even held a lead of one minute by SS6. Another phenomenal time over the very next stage, SS7, allowed him to cruise over the final stage, to the finish.

Belton and Stephen Simpson, both driving cars prepared by rally winner Melvyn Evans, took their cars to second and third. Damien Cole was running second for a time, but problems with the throttle on the final stage dropped him to fourth.

Evans had made the decision to compete on the Irish leg of the REIS Get Connected Championship was to take back lost points in the championship after withdrawing from the Jim Clark Rally. However it was announced that his victory wouldn't count towards the championship table as he, and other competitors, hadn't fitted mud flaps that comply with the regulations to their cars. This now means that Cole retains the championship lead, over Simpson.

Chris Armstrong put in an excellent drive in his MK2 Escort to seal fifth. The 22 year old Cavan driver was fastest 2WD to boot, only headed by the championship leading World Rally Cars. Amazingly, it was only Armstrong's third event in the car! David Armstrong took sixth in another MK2.

Problems befell pre-rally favourites Eugene Donnelly and Thomas Fitzmaurice. Donnelly's Toyota Corolla WRC suffered even more engine problems, and on the first stage too. Subaru-mounted Fitzmaurice pulled out when co-driver Fionn Foley took ill.

Dick Mauger dominated the Historic section in his Ford Escort MK2, winning by 2 mins 7 secs over Roy Smith's Porsche 911. Philip McKibbin took third in his Ford Cortina, 3 mins 7 secs behind.

McKibbin was being guided by rookie co-driver Padraig Foran, the young Kerry lad put in an excellent performance in the hot seat on his very first rally. A short highlights video of Philip and Padraig's rally will be uploaded in the next few days. Keep an eye on this young co-driver, he could be well on his way to big things and GRN wishes him all the best!

Kevin McLaughlin put in a stunning drive to win the Junior section of the rally by 1 min 36 secs. He beat Sean Brady's Peugeot 205 into second place, with Jill White almost 5 mins behind.

Finally, on a very sombre note, news broke yesterday of the death of Peter Donnelly, father of Eugene and Charlie Donnelly.

Eugene, multiple Tarmac Champion, said of his father: "Dad was always very supportive in everything we did. That was the kind of man he was and typical of his life story. Regardless of what we decided to do, be it in business, Motorsport or anything else, he always gave constructive advice and his full support, and offering any help he could. Dad was such a loving man and will be miss terribly by all of us".

GRN sends our most sincere condolences to the Donnelly family at this difficult time.