FIFRC round two Munster Rally summary

Top of the class.

Adare, 1st June 2003: John Foley from Midleton, Co. Cork has won the second round of the 2003 Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship at the Circuit of Munster Rally based in Adare, Co. Limerick.

The competitiveness of this hotly contested series was underlined with no fewer than 3 lead changes throughout the day and with another giant killing performance, as top three Ford Focus' also claimed the top three positions in Class 7.

Oliver Stanley in the Perry Motors Ford Focus set fastest time on the first stage of the day to take an early 6 second lead from John Foley in the ASA Marketing Ford Focus. Gabriel Martin caught out on the wrong tyres settled into third. However disaster struck for Championship leader Colm Murphy, who slid off on stage one loosing over 5 minutes trying to extract his Focus from the scenery.

With stage 2 cancelled the battle began again on stage 3, Gabriel Martin setting fastest time to move into the lead from Stanley and Foley third after being penalised for a jump start. Oliver Stanley fought back on stage 4 to tie with Martin for the lead. Colm Murphy in a desperate attempt to make up on lost time once again slid off the road beaching the car and immediate retirement. Ken Lyons also succumbed to the terrain on stage 4 and was forced to retire.

Foley with the bit now well and truly between his teeth set fastest time on stage 5 to close within 19 seconds of Stanley who had by now moved into the lead. Foley produced the drive of the season to set fastest time the remaining three stages to retake the lead and recorded his first Focus victory of the season.

"I am delighted, over the moon, all the hard work, sacrifice has finally paid off. This is my first and definitely there will be many more to follow. It was a pity Colm Murphy crashed out of the event I was relishing the battle. However I cannot wait for the next round," said a jubilant John Foley at the finish.

The next round of the 2003 Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship sees the crew's head to the Medieval City of Kilkenny for the Ravens Rock Rally on the 30th of June.

<pre> RESULTS ROUND 2 -- CIRCUIT OF MUNSTER

POS.    NAME            ADDRESS                  TIME
1       John Foley      Midleton, Co. Cork       00.00.00
2       Oliver Stanley  Durrow, Co. Laois        00.01.11
3       Gerry Keyes     Crecora, Co. Limerick    00.00.40
4       Gabriel Martin  Knocklyon, Co. Dublin    DNF
5       Ken Lyons       Limerick                 DNF
6       Colm Murphy     Athea, Co. Limerick      DNF
7       David Delaney   Cashel, Co. Tipperary    DNF
8       Hamilton Bell   Hillsborough, Co. Down   DNS
9       Brendan Kelly   Mullingar, Co. Westmeath DNS

FOCUS RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AFTER ROUND 2

POS.    NAME            ADDRESS                 POINTS
1       John Foley      Midleton, Co. Cork      56
2       Oliver Stanley  Durrow, Co. Laois       49
3       Gerry Keyes     Crecora, Co. Limerick   38
4       Colm Murphy     Athea, Co. Limerick     30
5       David Delaney   Cashel, CO. Tipperary   21
6       Gabriel Martin  Knocklyon, Co. Dublin   17
7       Hamilton Bell   Hillsborough, Co. Down  15
8       Ken Lyons       Limerick                0
9       Brendan Kelly   Longford                0

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