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| 26/07/2010 |
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The 2010 Carlow Stages Rally will always be a memorable event for Comber’s Neil McCance after 21 years of competition Neil graced the top step of the Podium as an outright winner for the first time.
Granted Neil has never had a car capable of winning a rally on car performance alone he has always had the pace to be a formiddable force wherever he goes within his class and on the Overall result table.
The 2009 Mitsubishi Evolution Challenge Ireland Champion is back to defend his title in 2010 with five rounds completed and a further four remaining the battle is really hotting up. McCance is joint leader with young Monaghan driver Sam Moffett, However when current drop scores are considered Neil’s tally of two wins and two seconds stand him in good stead.
On the opening round the Circuit of Ireland (COI) Neil started as he meant to continue with fastest time on the opening stage, however all would not go to plan running wide and collecting a puncture midway through the day put a stop to challenging for victory and settling for a second place finish.
Day 2 of the COI also meant round 2 of the championship again Neil was quick out of the block setting fastest time on the opening stage in a deja vu scenario another puncture would cut short his charge to victory and settling for another Second place.
Round 3 was the aforementioned Carlow Stage Rally Neil took control from the outset with a lights to flag victory in not only the Mitsubishi Evolution Challenge but the rally outright. The crew was completed for the first time in 2010 by Co-Driver Jonny Hart making it a perfect reunion. After the event Neil commented “ Today is up there with my proudest moments in rallying, it is a very special result for us”
The feat of winning the evolution challenge and the event outright from lights to flag was once gain repeated by Neil on the Ravens Rock Rally cementing the championship lead.
The Seasons supreme showing hit a glitch in round 5, while once againing setting the pace from the start Neil had built up a comfortable lead until the weather decided to interupt proceedings.
Rain started to drop during stage 4 with the crew running on slick tyres and high up the field they would act as guinea pigs for finding the grip or lack of, McCance was caught out under breaking for a right hander with the tyres locking up and unable to slow the car down on the slippery surface the Evo 9 carried to much speed into the corner with the rear corner colliding with the bank and ending the event.
With a double header for the Ulster and Wexford four scoring opportunites are left and everything is to fight for
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