Successful season for Leonard and Donaldson

Editorial Department • Published 1 Oct 2009 12:30 0 Comments

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As the Donegal Harvest Rally on October 10 fast approaches it brings to a close a very successful year for Jonny Leonard and Jackie Donaldson in their Nissan Micra. Having won their class in the Border Rally Championship and finishing second in their class in the National Rally Championship their season is ending on a high.

They narrowly missed out stealing first in their class in the National Rally Championship towards the end of the season but luck was not on their side. They missed two rounds in Birr and Kerry at the beginning of the season, prior to even deciding to participate in the Championship at all, and this left them on the back foot for the remainder of the year. The pair soon fought back with class wins on the Mayo Stages Rally, Limericks Circuit of Munster and the Tipperary Stone Throwers leaving it was all to play for. Unfortunately mechanical difficulties on the Carrick-on-Suirs Ravens Rock Rally, Sligo Stages and Galway Summer Rally saw their luck changing and indeed the points needed to secure victory slipping away, leaving the pair having to accept a very respectable second in class in the championship.

The Border Rally Championship on the other hand was not so unfortunate. With class wins on the Mayo, Monaghan and Cavan Stages the Championship was sown up in July with a finish in the Sligo Stages Rally.

Throughout the year Jonny has shown great potential in the Nissan Micra having put up some tremendous times. Finishing an amazing 39th overall on Limericks Circuit of Munster his talent on the tar is evident.

Jonny will be moving to competing in a Ford Fiesta for the 2010 season. The car has already been in his very capable hands recently with its inaugural rally being the Lakeland Stages Rally on September 12. The outing was also Jonn's first rally on the gravel this season and has shown that he is capable of matching the times of much more experienced Fiesta Trophy competitors meaning the 2010 season should prove to be an interesting one.

The crew could not have achieved their results this season without the very generous sponsorship from FAL Plant & Tool Hire and the mechanical guidance from RGD Motorsport.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 01 Oct 09

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