RALLY crew Neil McCarthy and Alan Barnes just about managed to punch above their weight on the Mull Rally, using the car with the smallest engine on the event – before the tragic death of top co-driver Andy Mort led to the competition’s abandonment.
Seeded at car 112 out of 146 starters, by the end of the Friday night first leg, Neil and Alan, in their 649cc Daihatsu Cuore – sponsored by Penwortham Glass, Clarriots Care, Carspünk valeting products, Fibreglass Mould UK and RTO Fabs – had improved on seeding to lie 106th, with a further 30 crews in their wake.
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Neil and Hoghton-based Alan spent more than 60 hours in the run-up to the event making new pace notes to suit the car and Neil said: “Daisy, as we call her, never missed a beat all night and the notes were spot- on. It was demanding, physically, trying to keep her on the tarmac at such speeds but we enjoyed the rally before the tragic events of Saturday unfolded.”
The rally was cancelled after the fatal accident on SS7 Loch Kinloch just after 1pm on the Saturday afternoon, in which 2300 Motor Club member Andy Mort was killed and the driver of the car, Dervaig man John MacCrone, was airlifted to hospital with what were initially believed to be serious injuries.
John is now thankfully convalescing at home and is expected to make a full recovery.
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