Kerry crews had mixed fortunes on Sunday’s Loughrea Plant & Tool Hire Clare Stages Rally, the penultimate round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.
Best placed was Dave Slattery and Denis Coffey in their Ford Escort Mk2. The pair had a consistent day on the wet and changing roads to finish 17th overall and fourth in Class 13.
Mike Quinn and Kieran Doherty brought their Escort Mk2 home in 19th overall. Their performance delivered their first class win of the season, taking top spot in Class 14.
Sean Enright and Kevin Doherty also reached the finish in an Escort Mk2. A faulty gear selector hampered their progress during the middle loop and cost them a chance of a podium in Class 12. They settled for 25th overall and fourth in class.
Michelle Quinn and Caz Somers guided their Honda Civic to the finish in 57th overall and sixth in Class 2A. Their finish keeps them on course for the Women in Motorsport title in the West Coast Championship.
Louise Burke and Edwin Walsh were fifth in the Junior Rally in their Peugeot 208.
At the front of the rally, Circuit oouise Bur Kerry winners Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy were crowned Triton Showers National Rally Champions for the first time after taking victory in Clare in their Skoda Fabia.
Speaking at the finish, Doherty admitted he had kept his focus on staying clean. “Over the afternoon loop I just tried to keep my nose clear. The conditions were tricky, and I didn’t want to do anything silly. At the start of the year I wouldn’t have picked the wet rallies as the ones I’d win, but I’ve ended up winning Kerry, Sligo and now Clare, all in the damp. It seems to suit me somehow,” he said.
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Kerry Motorsport News 