Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA

FIFRC season finale summary, standings

Cork, 5th October: John Foley from Midleton, Co. Cork has won the seventh and final round of the 2003 Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship and finished an amazing eighteenth overall at the Cork "20" International Rally. The final round of the ...

Cork, 5th October: John Foley from Midleton, Co. Cork has won the seventh and final round of the 2003 Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship and finished an amazing eighteenth overall at the Cork "20" International Rally.

The final round of the 2003 Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship had all the ingredients of a Grande finale as Colm Murphy (Athea) had to win the event to stand any chance of winning the series, John Foley on home soil and had a point to prove after a disappointing year, series leader Oliver Stanley (Durrow) wanted to win the final round after driving all year with the championship in mind, winner of the last round in Clare David Delaney (Cashel) wanted to make it two in a row.

With the first stage cancelled, all the Focus competitors proceeded to the second stage where Murphy was fastest from Foley with Stanley third. The stage was set for a great battle and Murphy with the bit firmly between his teeth got to work reeling in a series of fastest stage times to take a lead of thirty one seconds from Foley by stage three. However Murphy tried too hard as he dropped two minutes on stage four after sliding off the road. Foley moved into the lead and Murphy dropped to fourth. Stanley by now had moved into second with Delaney third. The remainder of day one was a nip and tuck battle between Foley and Murphy each driver taking two fastest stage times each of the remaining four stages of day one.

Day Two dawned with Foley in one minute seven second lead from Murphy with Delaney now in third position. Murphy was in an attacking mood and set fastest time on the opening stage of the day however on stage ten Colm hit a bank and damaged his rear suspension. Despite this setback he attacked once again on the remaining stages with Foley taking fastest times on stages ten, eleven, twelve and thirteen. The frustration was building within the Murphy camp and in an all our attack Colm slid off the road on the last stage of the rally and into retirement.

John cruised home to his second victory of the season with David Delaney second and Oliver Stanley third.

"I am delighted to win especially on home soil and in front of my home crowd. I would like to thank my sponsors ASA Marketing and Jon Waterman my navigator without their help it would not have been possible. It has been a tough year but it has finished on a high. I have really enjoyed driving the Ford Focus it is an amazing car. The overall result we achieved here this weekend is a testament to the handling of the car," said John.

Oliver Stanley from Durrow, Co. Laois has secured the 2003 Ford Ireland Focus Championship crown.

"It has been a long tough season for all the competitors, four different winners from seven rounds, great battles all year, spirited rivalry and of course excellent prize money." said Tom Collins, Championship Director.

<pre> RESULTS ROUND 7 -- CORK "20" INTERNATIONAL RALLY

POS.    NAME            ADDRESS                  TIME
1       John Foley      Midleton, Co. Cork       00.00.00
2       David Delaney   Cashel, Co. Tipperary    00.02.45
3       Oliver Stanley  Durrow, Co. Laois        00.01.35
4       Colm Murphy     Athea, Co. Limerick      DNF
5       Gerry Keyes     Crecora, Co. Limerick    DNF
6       Ken Lyons       LIMERICK                 DNF
7       Gabriel Martin  DUBLIN                   DNS
8       Hamilton Bell   Hillsborough, Co. Down   DNS
9       Brendan Kelly   Mullingar, Co. Westmeath DNS

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AFTER ROUND 7

POS.    NAME            ADDRESS POINTS
1       Oliver Stanley  Durrow, Co. Laois       158
2       David Delaney   Cashel, Co. Tipperary   145
3       Gerry Keyes     CRECORA, CO. LIMERICK   131
4       Colm Murphy     Athea, Co. Limerick      86
5       John Foley      MIDLETON, CO. CORK       86
6       Gabriel Martin  Knocklyon, Co. Dublin    40
7       Ken Lyons       Limerick                 19
8       Hamilton Bell   Hillsborough, Co. Down   17
9       Brendan Kelly   Longford                  0

-ford-

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Hella Motorsport ARC - NGK Rally summary
Next article Another podium finish for Jeep team at Sun City 400

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA