IT IS all of 27 years since the service area for the Fastnet Rally was last located in Drinagh.
On that occasion, the event – based and sponsored by the Marine Hotel (Glandore) – was full of late drama. The Ulster pairing of David Greer/Michael Orr (Toyota Celica ST 185) edged out the Subaru WRC of Carrigaline's Frank O'Mahony/Hugh McPhillips – chasing a hat-trick of wins – by just four seconds to claim victory after the Escort WRC of Welsh driver Bob Fowden and north Cork's Jerry Hynes ground to a halt before the final stage around Glandore.
Dunmanway's Liam McCarthy and co-driver Kieran Murphy (Escort Cosworth) were some 46 seconds further behind in third.
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The rally, the final round of the Red Mills RAC National Rally Championship, saw defending champions John Gilleece/Michael Gibson (Escort Cosworth) claim back-to-back titles.
They finished ahead of championship chasers Niall Maguire/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza). Although both drivers ended with a total of 154 points, Gilleece, by virtue of the fact that he recorded six maximum scores as against Maguire's five, netted the Red Mills series and the Vard Memorial Trophy.
Ballylickey's Denis Cronin/Ciaran Kelleher (BMW M3) finished fourth overall – a superb achievement amidst the all-powerful four-wheel-drive cars. They also captured the award for the best West Cork crew.
Fowden charged through the first stage at Cullomane and was 19 seconds ahead of Drimoleague native O'Mahony, who spun and lost valuable seconds. Niall Maguire made a good start and was only two seconds behind O'Mahony with Liam McCarthy, PJ McGrath, David Greer and Vincent O'Shea completing the top seven.
Eighth-placed Gilleece was in difficulty with a suspension malady. Maguire's championship aspirations took a shattering blow on the second stage at Drinagh with a blown turbo and that, along with the addition of a one-minute road penalty dropped him two minutes and 24 seconds behind championship rival Gilleece.
Both Fowden and O'Mahony set the same time on the stage around Glandore. Liam McCarthy slotted into third with Greer up two places to fourth. Cronin made great progress from tenth on the opening stage to fifth, ahead of Gilleece.
On SS4 Cullomane, Fowden stretched his lead to 42 seconds. McCarthy increased his pace and closed to within a second of O'Mahony, while Greer and Cronin maintained their respective positions of fourth and fifth. Fowden continued to dominate and added vital seconds to his commanding lead on the repeat of the Drinagh and Glandore stages.
At the finish of SS6, his lead was one minute and 16 seconds, despite the fact that he had a problem with the fan belt. O'Mahony continued to hold second but Greer was making a considerable impression.
Fowden pressed on relentlessly, Greer slotted into second, four seconds in front of O'Mahony. Liam McCarthy spun three times and slipped to fifth spot, six seconds behind Cronin.
Drama unfolded at the start of the final stage when Fowden's Escort ground to a halt. Greer started the stage as rally leader and while O'Mahony set a very quick time on the final run over Glandore, Greer won by four seconds to deny O'Mahony a straight hat-trick of wins.
McCarthy and Cronin followed with Gilleece (fifth) capturing the Red Mills RIAC Championship as Maguire reflected on what could have been, were it not for turbo failure.
