A tight finish to last weekend’s 2014 Midland Moto Stages Rally saw Paddy McVeigh from Tyrone come out on top over Pirelli star Daniel McKenna. The pair battled for the top spot throughout and only four hundredths of a second separated them at the final service. On the final loop McVeigh’s advantage of four wheel drive in his Subaru Impreza WRC told over Mckenna’s Ford Escort MK2. Longford man Tommy Doyle banged and popped his way to third in his high revving Renault Clio. A tight loop of mixed fast flowing and technical driving stages awaited the crews on Sunday last and the event as always, attracted a number of Mayo & District entries.
Best placed Mayo member to finish was Darragh Mullen, navigating for David Leonard in a Mitsubishi Evo, the pair finished in seventh place overall and claimed second in class 20. David Doherty from Ballinlough with Cormac Lyons alongside brought his Peugeot 306 home in 42nd place and second in class seven.
Ballyhaunis man Seamus Coffey was calling the notes for John McGeehan in a Subaru Impreza and guided him to 53rd place and third in Class 20.
Foxford’s Stephen Doherty, who had Alan Moran navigating proved that he could easily swap his usual hobby of playing Irish music for the thrill of motorsport and still get the same enjoyment, as the pair finished an excellent fifth in the junior section of the rally. Not so lucky were John Warren and Ruthann O’Connor as their Toyota Corolla succumbed to engine failure on stage seven, after knocking on the door of a top 20 place.
Duffy’s new ride unveiled
Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Killian Duffy unveiled their new WRC livery for 2014 during the week. The M-Sport prepared Ford Fiesta RRC is sure to turn heads on the global rally scene with the distinctive, world renowned, Puma brand backing.
Al-Kuwari and Duffy’s WRC2 season kicks off this weekend as they compete in the Vodafone Rally de Portugal.
