Murphy Construction Cork 20 Rally 2008 Results: Eamonn Boland wins to round off a fine year

Posted by RallyScott 6 October, 2008

Eamonn Boland finished the 2008 Global Group Irish Tarmac Rally Championship on a high by taking the victory on the Murphy Construction/Weathermaster Cork '20' International Rally last weekend.

Boland, who had already secured the Irish crown, led the event from start-to-finish in his Subaru Impreza WRC and he eventually beat Gareth MacHale's Ford Focus WRC by 15.3 seconds.

It was Boland's fifth victory of the year and it means he ends proceedings with 104.5 points in total - just over double that of his closest championship rival, who incidentally was also Gareth MacHale.

Aaron MacHale meanwhile took the final spot on the podium while former Production Car World Rally champion Niall McShea secured the Group N honours and was fourth in his Prodrive Subaru N14.

Damien Tourish was next up, taking the maximum points in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland, followed by Liam McCarthy's Toyota Corolla WRC and Kevin Kelleher. Kelleher's 7th o/a secured the Group N crown ahead of John McGlaughlin.

Alan Ring and John McGlaughlin were eighth and ninth with Guy Woodcock completing the top ten in his Ford Escort Maxi.

One of the pre-event favourites Eugene Donnelly retired his Digiprintz Fabia WRC on SS2 with engine problems. Eugene is considering a return to the tarmac championship next year with the Skoda.

The event marked the world debut of the Opel Corsa OPC S2000 as course car in the hands of veteran Austin MacHale who recorded his first International win on the Cork 20 1983 in one of GM's products of the time, a Vauxhall Chevette HSR. MacHale has recently bought a 50% stake in MSD and it is now thought that his son Gareth may use one in Monte Carlo next year, as will contest selected IRC rounds, and that Aaron (Austin's other son) will use one in Ireland according to the Sunday Life newspaper.

Cork 20 video highlights 2008:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1AWHRclbfc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XEldeEXhjg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKVzciTsI6M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP-y11ueQ3Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT4hgQYa2b8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjw98Sl_xHw

Top Ten Results Cork 20:

1. E. Boland/D. Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 2h. 05m. 12.7s.

2. G. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 05m. 28.0s.

3. A. MacHale/K. Duffy (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 09m. 47.7s.

4. N. McShea/M. Clarke (Subaru) 2h. 12m. 55.9s.