Cumiskey also fell foul of the wet roads of SS7 and matched the damage to the front of his car with that of the rear, when he spun backwards into a tree near the end of the stage. However, this was top be the last stage for Ballentine/Hyland, who clipped a bale, then a stone pillar and a wall, when their car locked-up under braking for a chicane at over 100mph! Fortunately, both crew members emerged unscathed and, although damaged, their once pristine Evo could well have been worse!
With a return to dry roads for stages eight and nine, Murphy/Duggan went on a mission to claw-back time, but it was not to be, when their car clipped a bridge wall, breaking a front wheel in the process. After changing the wheel at the side of the road, they were able to carry on to the end of the event but, with so much time being lost, Murphy was again robbed of victory.
Taking a calculated approach in the latter stages of the rally, Tourish/McAllenny were able to cruise to their very first and well-deserved Evo Challenge victory, whilst Murphy/O'Brien overcome the frustrations of their lesser-powered car to finish a fine second.
In what has now become customary, Cumiskey/Foley threw caution to the wind on the final stage - claiming that they only had their car's four doors left to damage - and stormed through to take third from Carmichael/Lamont, who's fourth place was enough to see them maintain the championship lead.
Curley/Miller drove well and were satisfied to finish fifth, as were Murry/Mannion who claimed sixth but not so for Murphy/Duggan who ended their day in seventh.
It was a tough event, but I enjoyed it, said Tourish at the finish. I'm delighted to claim my first Evo Challenge win and, following a second place in Killarney, means that I'm now in with a shot at the title.
Tourish also won Group N, finished fifth overall and picked up the PIAA junior award for under 25 year old drivers.
There is now a break of two months, when the Irish Evolution Challenge resumes with round five in Wexford on September 6-7.
