Indeed it’s the first major championship win worldwide for the Skoda Fabia WRC, which has been tended so ably all year by Derek McGeehan and his hard working team, with technical input also from Eric Wevers in Holland.
"It hasn’t really sunk in yet. Every championship we won has been momentous, and this one definitely has its place. It’s great for all the team who have worked so hard, and the sponsors who have enabled us to compete at all. Without the likes of Sligo Pallets, Kumho Tyres, Ears Motorsport, Shell Oil Fuels, The Limelight Glenties and Orchard Motorsport we wouldn’t be here at all, and also for Cork we had additional necessary support from Lakeland Tyres as our main sponsor, Eamonn Tarrant Skoda and Todds Leap. All these people have made a difference. Paddy Toner has been brilliant throughout the year. Paddy won the Northern Ireland Championship with me, and helped me clinch the National Title in 2003 now he has got the Irish Tarmac title as well. He had a tough job in Cork, but he kept me right all weekend to clinch the title."
Eugene and Paddy really had the championship to lose on the weekend’s final Cork 20 round and they were understandably nervous.
"I was very nervous at the start, knowing I had to finish, and the first stage just didn’t flow, and I knew it wasn’t a great time before I got to the end. Then things started to flow better for us, and I was very happy not to be taking any risks and be not too far off Gareth’s pace. By the afternoon loop he took a couple of seconds, on stages 5 and 6, I was one second faster on 7, but we beat the bogey, and over the last two stages of the day there was only a couple of seconds in it. I must say I enjoyed the first day with three stages, three times. We got the choice of Kumho’s right, and the car was working very well. It reminded me of the old Irish National rallies that format, and going to bed on Saturday night we were a lot more settled.2
Admitting to a slow start on Sunday’s opener, Eugene dropped almost ten seconds to Gareth, but really the job in hand was to make the finish.
"We kept ourselves close enough if he had a puncture or drama that we could slip in for a rally win, but the championship was the priority. The car ran faultlessly, and in fact it’s been very reliable all season. The only time we didn’t finish was in Killarney where we had an accident, and that was definitely my fault! The last three stages of Cork were torture though. I was never as paranoid about things as in my whole career. There were a few long straights and I was worrying about everything, listening for noises, but everything held together. I simply could hardly believe it."
It was a superb debut event for Eugene’s new sponsor, Lisnaskea based Lakeland Tyres, and Managing Director Adrian Frazer was understandably delighted.
"It’s superb to be involved with the team, and hopefully it will benefit both our-selves and Eugene. We are doing some re-branding and have recently opened a new purpose built car and truck depot, so being able to help support the team at this time is fantastic, and exciting for our business."
But the real excitement is reserved for Eugene, as his fifth Irish Tarmac title equals Austin McHale’s all time record and Eugene’s tally of 19 Irish Tarmac Rally victories is just one below the all time record set by the late Bertie Fisher, as the magic Maghera driver, steers closer towards being Ireland’s most successful rally driver. But will 2010 bring an assault for a record breaking sixth title?
"I need to let this one sink in first, and then I will think about next year! But of course I will be doing my utmost to be in Galway in February, and I relish the start of the new six round championship. I am also glad to see the organiser’s decision to keep the World Rally Cars on board. I still believe they are the most exciting, and I have been lucky to pick up my titles having great battles and competition each season."
For now this small private team with their privately run Skoda Fabia can celebrate a unique success, a success that mirrors the style of Eugene’s Tarmac Championship wins in 2004/2005 and 2006 in the outdated Toyota Corolla. |
