The 21 year old finished third overall and first of the Valvoline Championship crews. Wright was at the wheel of his Evo6 and co-driven by his sister Suzanne.
The early leaders of the Valvoline section of the rally were Frank Kelly (Escort Mk2) and Vincent McAree (Evo9). However, McAree retired on stage three whilst in the lead with a broken sump and Kelly put his Escort off on stage five. Wright then took over the lead through stages six and seven of an increasingly slippery event and he exercised great maturity to register his first win in the Valvoline Championship. Enda McNulty, who was best Valvoline driver on the previous round Omagh, rolled out on the first stage.
The Valvoline podium was completed with James Coleman, second in his Escort Mk2 and Patsy Keenan who commutes from Atlanta, third in his Evo9.
Valvoline Leaderboard in Down rally:
1. Stephen and Suzanne Wright Evo6 40.42
2. James Coleman/Kaye Shanahan Mk2 44.01
3. Patsy Keenan/Peter Ward Evo9 44.11
4. Liam Kelleher/John Duggan Mk4 45.09
5. Jer Connors/Patrick Gallaher Impreza 45.41
6. Joe Shinnors Jnr/Derry Healy VX Nova 46.56
7. Sean Benskin/Joe Fitzgibbon t Mk2 48.10
8. Derek Butler/Diarmuid O’Shea Civic 48.17
9. Ed. Colton/Claire O’Mahoney 306 48.34
2011 Valvoline Championship Class Winners.
Overall Owen Murphy (Evo9)
2WD Paul Fitzgerald (Mk2)
Class 1. Joe Shinnors Jnr (Nova)
Class 2. Liam Kelleher (Mk4)
Class 3. Paul Fitzgerald (Mk2)
Class 4. Sean Benskin (Mk2)
Class 5. James Coleman (Mk2)
Class 6. Stephen Wright (Evo6)
Class 7. John Reid (Corolla)
Class 8. Owen Murphy (Evo9)
Class 9. Derek Butler (Civic)
• Leaders F.Kelly (S1),V.Mc Aree (S2), F.Kelly (S3to5),S. Wright (S6&7).
• Retirements E. McNulty (S1),V. McAree (S3),F.Kelly (S5)and D. Stewart (S1).
• The Valvoline Championship prizegiving takes place Saturday 5th November in The Clonmel Park Hotel. Tickets available from 086 1233742 / +353 86 1233742.
