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Jimmy McRae and Stephen Ferris. Presseye/Darren Kidd/INPHO
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Fez checks out the merchandise as Dubliner finishes third at Circuit of Ireland Rally

Robert Barrable and his teammate Stuart Loudon finished just under two minutes back from the eventual winners.

ULSTER FLANKER STEPHEN Ferris got over the disappointment of missing out on Ulster’s league defeat to Glasgow by checking in on the Circuit of Ireland Rally.

Ferris was given a test drive, around Belfast, with seven-time Circuit winner Jimmy McRae before the competitors got underway on the final day of rallying action. When the dust had settled, Irishman Robert Barrable had claimed a fine, third place finish.

Barrable and his Ford Fiest teammate Stuart Loudon finished just under two minutes behind eventual winners Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm on Finland [Skoda]. The Dubliner was second for most of the final day, on Saturday, but was edged out by Skoda driver Sepp Wiegland in the final stages. Craig Breen’s promising rally came to a premature end after he was forced to retire early on the last day.

Rally Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm celebrate winning Barrable and Loudon [right] spray some champagne. Presseye / Kelvin Boyes/INPHO Presseye / Kelvin Boyes/INPHO / Kelvin Boyes/INPHO

Daniel McKenna got his year as the Pirelli Star Driver off to a great start, bringing his Citroen DS3 home in sixth place overall and he was also the highest placed two wheel drive car. Another Monaghan driver, Josh Moffett, finished seventh and won the Production category in his Lancer Evo.

In a dramatic finish to the National Rally, long time leader and defending Irish Tarmac champion Garry Jennings went off the road twice in the final two stages. The errors saw Jennings drop 50 seconds to Dunlop National champion Declan Boyle the first time, and then retiring on the final stage, leaving the surprised Donegal driver to snatch a last minute victory.

– Additional reporting by Richard Burke

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