Clare Stages Rally 2008 Provisional Results: National Champion Patrick Elliott wins but his victory is protested

Patick Elliott was the provisional winner of the Clare Stages Rally after a protest alleged he entered a time control at SS5 9 minutes early. Event stewards are investigating the allegation and a decision will be made in due course, according to rallynews.net.

Elliott dominated a very wet and tricky Clare Stages and he was a glad to get to the car home in one piece, as were the other finishers of the rally. Some stages had to be stopped due to the conditions and SS7 was cancelled due to oil on the stage. Title rival Niall Maguire brought his Impreza WRC S11 home in second place and never looked like troubling Elliott but the conditions may have prevented a serious challenge. Kevin Barrett was third in his S11 and Anthony O'Halloran came 4th and won Group N in his Evo 9.

Maurice Moffett took the 2WD category in his Starlet with 9th o/a. Russell Brookes was doing course car duties in one of his old Andrews Heat for Hire Sunbeam's and described his driving as having to be very precise in the conditions.

Clare Stages 2008 video:

Clare Stages Rally Top Ten Provisional Results:

1  Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman Subaru Impreza WRC S12b 8  59:11  
2  Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin Subaru Impreza WRC S11 8  59:53 
3  Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally Subaru Impreza WRC S11 8  1:01:21
4  Anthony O'Halloran/Charlie McEnery Mitsubishi Evo 9 4  1:02:26
5  Danny Macbride/James McNulty Mitsubishi Evo 8 4  1:03:46
6  Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 4  1:03:47 
7  Sean Flanagan/Brian Duggan Subaru Impreza N12 4  1:04:15
8  Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty Subaru Impreza N12B 4  1:05:05 
9  Maurice Moffett/Sherry Enda Toyota Starlet RWD 14  1:05:07 
10 Mike Moloney/Marie Casey Ford Escort Mk2 13  1:05:35  

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