News from the Weekend.

Welshman Melvyn Evans beat all the home drivers to win Sunday’s opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, Birr MC’s Abbey Court Hotel event based in Nenagh. His Impreza WRC finished 22 seconds ahead of Belfastman Derek McGarrity in another Impreza.

Evans led right from the start, but a tremendous battle for second place saw Kevin Barrett forced to retire after four of the six stages with broken wheel studs, while three times National champion Niall Maguire lost more than a minute on the final stage with a blown turbo, dropping behind Group N Production class winner Kevin Kelleher.

MIDLAND AUTOTEST

In a dramatic finish to Midland MC’s Hewison Championship Autotest at Longford, Eddie Peterson snatched a final test win by 0.8s when Steven Ferguson fumbled a gearchange, after they had taken turns to lead during the day. J J Farrell wasn’t able to make it three wins in a row, having to settle for third place, another 3.7s down.

SPORTING TRIAL

Brian Conlon dropped just a single mark in the Garda Siochana MC Three Rock Trophy Sporting Trial at Aughfarrell, Brittas, Co Dublin on his way to becoming the eighth different winner of the season, with the ultra-consistent Alan Kilkenny two marks behind in runner up position. Richard Pain got the better of the Erskine twins in a three way tie for third spot.