PN 118 Xmas Dec 2013 by Simon Mooney

BUMPeR cHRIstMAs IssUe!

HOPKIRK’s 1964 MONTE

Pacenotes R A L L Y M A G A Z I N E 9 771473 725080

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Issue 118 | DeC 13/JAN 2014

ANÊ ACTIONÊ PACKEDÊ 2013 16 RALLY RePORts InsIDe THIS MONTH

12 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEWS IRISH TARMAC / BRC / SCOTTISH / DUNLOP NAT / BTRDA MSA ASPHALT / N.IRELAND / IRISH FOREST / BORDER MSA HISTORIC / RAC HISTORIC / SCOTTISH TAR

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RACEBOOTS Sparco Top Driver ..................... 115.00 Sparco Slalom............................. 93.00 Alpinestars SP ........................... 102.00

GLOVES Alpinestars Tech 1 Start .............. 49.00 OMP Wins Evo ............................ 60.00 Sparco Land................................ 40.00 Sparco Flash ............................... 49.00

UNDERWEAR OMP Nomex Top ......................... 42.00 OMP Nomex Pants ...................... 35.00 Balaclava (FIA) ............................ 17.00 Nomex Socks .............................. 10.00

CODRIVER ACCESSORIES

Stack Clubman Tachometer ..... 180.00 Stack Integrated Dash Display . 725.00 Additional Stack Gauges in Stock

Don Barrow Potis ................from 87.50 Avanti Map Lights................from 21.00 Co-Pilote Stopwatch ................... 70.00 Fastime 2 Stopwatch .................. 15.00 OMP Brief Bag ............................ 23.00 Sparco Director Bag ................... 32.00

CORSA PARTS TRANSMISSION Quaife F13/15 Synchromesh 5sp ................... 1225.00 Gear Kit with Final Drive Ratio 4.5-4.8 Quaife GM Gear Lever .............. 350.00 Helix Paddle Clutch Plates from 125.37 F15 L.S.D Unit (Plate Type)....... 475.00 BRAKE COMPONENTS Alcon Front Tarmac Brake Kit . 1250.00 (4pstn caliper, 300x26 disc, caliper mtg bkt) Balance Bar Pedal Box (GrpA) . 175.00 Dash Adjuster Click Type ............ 30.00 Girling Reservoir.......................... 15.00 Alloy Handbrake Kit .................. 100.00

TRIPMETERS Terratrip 101 Plus ........................ 95.00 Terratrip Retro............................ 165.00 Brantz Int 2 Pro (with probe) ..... 165.00 Brantz Int 2 ‘S’ Pro (with probe) 192.00 Brantz Rally Timer ....................... 95.00 Monit T-100 ................................ 320.00 Monit T-200 ................................ 400.00 Monit Q-10 ................................ 155.00 Monit Q-20 ................................ 185.00

FUEL PUMPS AND ACCESSORIES Weber 45 DCOE........................ 250.00 Red Top Competition Pump Kit .. 68.50 Red Top Pump ............................ 55.00 Bosch Injection Pump ............... 105.00 Injection Fuel Pump Kit ............. 325.00 Filter King .................................... 42.00 S/Steel Overbraid Fuel Hose (p/m) .. 8.50 Fuel Sampling Kit ........................ 65.00 Millers CVL .................................... 6.50

HELMETS / HANS Peltor G79 White with Hans ...... 415.00 Stilo WRC DES .......................... 465.00 Helmet Box.................................. 40.00 Peltor Adaptor ............................. 30.00 Helmet Hammock ....................... 26.00 Hans Device .............................. 275.00

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SEATS OMP Champ ............................. 225.00 Sparco Rev................................ 220.00 Sparco Pro 2000 ....................... 300.00 Sparco Pro ADV ........................ 360.00 Sparco Sprint ............................ 130.00 Recaro SPG .............................. 565.00 Alloy Side Mounts ....................... 35.00

F/F Grp4 Atlas Axle Casing.from 450.00 Grp1 Atlas Axle Casing .....from 425.00 Grp1 2pc Halfshaft (18 tooth) ... 105.00 Grp4 F/F Halfshaft (18 tooth) .... 120.00 Grp1 Halfshaft Flange ................. 77.00 Grp4 Halfshaft Flange ................. 60.00 ZF Motorsport L.S.D Unit ........ 1500.00 Gripper Atlas L.S.D ................... 585.00 ZF Side Gear ............................... 75.00 Ford C.W.P 5.1 & 4.6 Set .......... 225.00 Ford C.W.P 5.3 & 4.9 Set .......... 375.00 Tran-X Club Gearkit 5spd .......... 765.00 Tran-X English L.S.D ................. 425.00

Mk2 Bias Pedal Box (cable) ...... 250.00 Mk2 Bias Pedal Box (hyd)......... 300.00 Mk1 Bias Pedal Box (hyd)......... 300.00 Tube Adjuster .............................. 29.00 Flexible Click Dash Adjuster ....... 30.00 Ap & Girling Reservoir................. 15.00 Alloy Pro Hyd Handbrake Kit .... 100.00 Hyd Handbrake Kit...................... 52.00 Ralloy Vertical Handbrake......... 116.00 Master Cylinder .625, .700, .750 . 42.00 Alcon 13” Front Brake Kit.......... 850.00

Sabelt 75mm 6pt Clubman (FIA) 99.00 TRS 4pt (FIA)............................... 78.00 TRS 75mm 6pt Magnum (FIA) .... 90.00 TRS 75mm Superlite 6pt (FIA) .. 115.00 TRS 6pt Hans Only Magnum (FIA) . 96.00 TRS 6pt Hans Only Superlite (FIA)125.00

PELTOR INTERCOMS Peltor FMT 120 Amp ................. 170.00 Practice Headset ....................... 125.00 Battery Eliminator ........................ 40.00 Stilo WRC AMP ......................... 130.00

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Alloy Spring Seat (3” deep) ........ 16.00 Alloy Lock Ring ............................. 8.00 Alloy Top Cap (D-hole) ................ 13.00 Alloy C Spanner .......................... 12.00 Bilstein 300/70 Insert................... 92.00 Bilstein 300/100 Insert................. 95.00 Alloy Top Mount (2pc, Grp4)....... 72.34 Alloy Top Mount Nut+Spacer ....... 7.50 Electric Power Steering Kit........ 677.00 H/D Bronze Bush Steering Rack 255.00 Grp4 Steering Joint Cast ............ 27.00 Gen Ford Grn Track Rod End ..... 26.00 In Situ R/J Gen Ford TCA Kits... 150.00 In Situ R/J Q/H TCA Kits ............. 60.00 Grp4 Tension Strut Kit ............... 320.00 Bilstein Grp1 Rear Damper ......... 85.00 Bilstein Grp4 Rear Turret ............. 85.00 Bilstein Coil Over Damper......... 142.00 Watts Linkage Kit Atlas ............. 225.00

(inc 267 x 21 disc, disc bell, alloy 4pt caliper)

Alcon 15” Front Brake Kit.......... 950.00

(inc 304 x 28 disc, disc bell, alloy 4pt caliper)

Millers CVL Turbo .......................... 8.75 Pro Boost .................................... 12.00

SUSPENSION COMPONENTS Adjustable Strut Casing (GrpA) .. 80.00 Bilstein Insert 270/120............... 100.00 21/4 Coil Springs ................from 22.00 Alloy Spring Seat ........................ 16.00 Alloy Lock Ring ............................. 7.00 4” Steel Top Cap ......................... 25.00

Alloy Top Mount (spherical bearing) 75.00

Bilstein Front Strut + Insert ...... 178.00 Bilstein Rear Damper .................. 89.00

STEERING WHEELS OMP Corsica Steering Wheel ... 100.00 OMP WRC Steering Wheel ......... 97.00 OMP Steering Wheel Hub ...from 35.00 Works Type Deep Dished S/Wheel . 103.00 Dished Steering Wheel ............... 85.00 Semi Dished Steering Wheel ...... 85.00 Flat Steering Wheel ..................... 85.00

WHEELS

SAFETY COMPONENTS Sparco 16pt Roll Cage.............. 500.00

Safety Devices CDS Weld In Cage 500.00

Revolution Grp4 4 Spoke....from from 76.00 Revolution Grp4 5 Spoke....from from 89.37 Minilite 13” Wheels..............from from 80.00

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BUMPER CHRISTMAS ISSUE!

HOPKIRK’S 1964 MONTE

Pacenotes M A G A Z I N E

R A L L Y

LUCKY

9 771473 725080

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ISSUE 118 | DEC 13/JAN 2014

ANæ ACTIONæ PACKEDæ 2013 16 RALLY REPORTS INSIDE THIS MONTH

12 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEWS IRISH TARMAC / BRC / SCOTTISH / DUNLOP NAT / BTRDA MSA ASPHALT / N.IRELAND / IRISH FOREST / BORDER MSA HISTORIC / RAC HISTORIC / SCOTTISH TAR

PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH SINCE 2003

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contents

56 RALLYSPORT ASSOCIATION nutts corner

08 MARTIN HOLMES rally GB afterthoughts

61 WRC RETRO BY M HOLMES hopkirk’s 1964 monte win

14 WRC wales rally GB

64 CLUBMAN RALLYING namcc rally trial

16 CLUBMAN RALLYING rally GB national

the team...

22 SCOTTISH RALLY C’SHIP galloway hills stages

Deputy Editor - Xav joined the team in October ‘12. Having worked on the IRC and WRC for world rally radio he will now also be ‘on the ground’ covering UK events in 2013. Rallies editor (UK) Phil James joined the team in 2003. Phil is a seasoned photo-journalist and has been immersed in the UK rally scene for decades. Advertising Manager Jason Curran joined Pacenotes in July 2009. He is a former karting champion and FF1600 racer, but now races a Clio. Senior designer Jeremy Purdy joined Pacenotes seven years ago. His skills ensure that Mooney Media remains at the forefront of graphic design. Martin Holmes is a renowned author and journalist in the world of rallying. He gives an exclusive insight to past and present rallies and competitors. Kevin O’Driscoll is another Cork born man. He is passionate about the sport, has an endless knowledge of rallying, and specialises in ‘retro’ articles. Pacenotes is published on the last Wednesday of each month. This magazine is copyright MooneyMedia Ltd 2013. Contents may not be reproduced in any form or stored on any electronic system, without written permission. All rights reserved. No responsibility is accepted for any unsolicited material. Reasonable efforts are made to ensure the contents are accurate, but the publishers can accept no responsibility for the effects arising there from. Reasonable care is taken while accepting advertisements, but no responsibility can be accepted for any resulting transactions. distributed by: Newspread (NI), EMNews & Newspread (ROI), Warners Group Plc (GB Mainland) & (Benelux Countries)

PUBLISHER / EDITOR simon mooney simon@mooneymedia.com t: +44 (0) 28 4066 0390 m: +44 (0) 7803 891 893 (office hours) DEPUTY EDITOR xavier mccartan xavier@pacenotes.net mobile: 07515998572 RALLIES EDITOR (UK) phil james phil@pro-rally.co.uk mobile: 07771 768 657

ADVERTISING MANAGER jason curran sales@pacenotes.net tel: +44 (0) 28 4066 0390

RALLY MAGAZINE

04 NEWS latest rally news

Issue 118 - Dec/Jan

Publisher Simon Mooney launched Pacenotes in 2003. Ten years later, it remains as the definitive rallying read for the UK and Ireland.

Pace notes

26 BTRDA cambrian rally 30 N IRELAND C’SHIP down rally 32 CLUBMAN RALLYING tempest & malton rallies 34 DUNLOP NATIONAL fasnet stages 38 BRC rally sunseeker 40 CLUBMAN RALLYING kerry mini stages 42 RAC RALLY classic rally action 46 NATIONAL ASPHALT cheviot stages 48 CLUBMAN RALLYING clens of antrim rally 50 SCOTTISH TARMACK kingdom stages 51 MINTEX MSA HISTORICS sunseeker 54 MANX RALLY C’SHIP pokerstars rally

ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWS... 66 IRISH TARMAC C’SHIP 72 BRITISH RALLY C’SHIP 76 SCOTTISH C’SHIP 80 DUNLOP IRISH NATIONAL 86 BTRDA GRAVEL 90 BTRDA ASPHALT 92 N IRELAND RALLY C’SHIP 96 IRISH FORESTRY 100 BORDER C’SHIP 103 CRAIG BREEN COLUMN 104 MINTEX MSA HISTORICS 106 WWRS RAC HISTORICS 108 SCOTTISH TARMACK C’SHIP 114 SOUTHERN 4 C’SHIP

108 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE treat yourself this christmas

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004 // NEWS ROUND-UP

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FULL CHAT

Dunlop stay with National Series

Seasons Greetings! Welcome to the final 2013

edition of Pacenotes Rally Magazine! This month we have a packed issue with championship reviews across the UK and Ireland, and we also wrap up the last of the rally events. We have a fantastic feature on Paddy Hopkirk’s Monte Carlo win and much more, so there is plenty to keep you reading over winter! Congratulations to all the championship and class winners of 2013, and we look forward to seeing you in 2014. On behalf of the Pacenotes team I would like to wish all our readers and advertisers a veryH appyC hristmasa nda Peaceful New Year. Simon editor@pacenotes.net

FREE Demon Tweeks 2014 Catalogue If your reading this, you should have received your free copy of the 2014 Motorsport Catalogue from Demon Tweeks. Its pages are packed with everything the rally man would ever need...enjoy! If you need other copies, log on to www.demontweeks.co.uk

pacenotes DEC / JAN 2014

Ulster Wins Rally of the Year... Again! Members of the Todds Leap Ulster Rally’s organising committee were left speechless at the end of season awards night when Rally NI was named Rally of the Year. The BRC Rally of the Year award was first presented in 2003 with the Ulster Rally taking the honours in 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2012. This year the same Todds Leap Rally N.I team had cause for double celebration. Clerk of the course, Lewis Boyd, accepting the award on behalf of the organisers and hundreds of volunteers for the fifth time on his 50th birthday.

Horace Saville 1944 - 2013

As many people involved with the BTRDA Rally Series will now know, Horace Saville died suddenly on Sunday night, aged 69. Horace was a stalwart supporter of UK rallying and of BTRDA forest events in particular over many years. For the past ten years he was probably best known as the smiling and unflappable co-driver with Tom Naughton, with whom he won the BTRDA Production Cup in 2009 in an N4 Mitsubishi E9. He was originally from the Isle of Man and started rallying there at the age of 19, coming over to the UK in his Mini and winning his class on the 1963 Cambrian Rally. From then on he rallied a variety of cars including a Mini Cooper, Lotus Cortina and Hillman Imp before he switched to co-driving. Since moving to Lancashire many years ago he has been an active member of Bury Motor Club and he was always happy to give his time to help anyone, especially younger competitors. Pacenotes would like to extend our Sympathy to his family & friends circle. He will be greatly missed.

Dunlop are to continue its sponsorship of the Irish National Rally Championship. Steve Lynch, marketing and public relations manager said, “The Dunlop National Rally Championship is one of the most prestigious and important motorsport championships in Ireland. We are delighted to be in a position to extend the title sponsorship. Donegal’s, Declan Boyle and his cousin, Brian Boyle, were presented with the overall awards for 2013 with Declan received the Vard Memorial Trophy. Boyle said, “We will certainly compete in the Dunlop series in 2014. It’s a great championship and we will be back for more.”

Murphy’s Beaming RAC Success!

Cork’s Owen Murphy and James O’Brien took on the challenge of the Roger Albert Clark Rally in the Ee -Works Sunbeam of John Leahy. Owen joined a packed entry to tackle the forests using maps rather than the usual pace notes system that he is familiar with and did a stunning job to finish fifth overall and first in class. Owen admitted that the first night of the event was difficult as the maps didn’t have the same kind of accuracy that descriptive notes would have, so it was a matter of staying out of trouble and leaving the big push for the following morning. John Leahy was delighted with the boys result and went on the say how it was great to see the Sunbeam break the Escort monopoly. It would be great to see Owen back in the car in 2014, so watch this space...

DISCOUNT FERRIES WITH ALL MAJOR COMPANIES

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Gesture to Sligo Competitors The recently appointed clerk of the course of Sligo Stages Rally 2014, Robert Lyttle, supported by Connacht Motor Club committee have decided to provide a €100 voucher towards their 2014 entry to those who completed the six stages of the 2013 Sligo Stages Rally. It was decided in the aftermath of the 2013 event, when it was necessary to cancel the final loop of stages in the interest of safety and the protection of road surfaces. The decision on that hot July Sunday was not taken lightly, but it was broadly accepted as the correct one as temperatures soared nearing the thirties. While the 2014 Sligo Stages is a dropped round of the Dunlop National, it is still a counting round of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship. C.O.C. Robert Lyttle , with the benefit of years of experience in rally planning, will spend a lot of time in advance of the new year selecting a the route. Full details will be available at www.connachtmotorclub.com.

Raftery wraps up the Sunseeker! Galway youngster Dean Raftery and co-driver Aileen Kelly claimed victory at Rallye Sunseeker, the final round of the BRC Challenge, with a 19 seconds winning margin ahead of Russ Thompson. Having also taken victory in the Ulster Rally, Raferty said. “It’s nice to have won on gravel as well as asphalt, it shows we have a good pace on both surfaces.” Raferty is now looking towards 2014 and plans to step-up to the British Rally Championship in an R2 car.

Billy Coleman Award Finalists Announced Motorsport Ireland has announced the three finalists for the Billy Coleman Award for Ireland’s Young Rally Driver of the Year they are Robert Duggan, Josh Moffett and Stephen Wright. The drivers will go forward to the Motorsport Ireland Dunlop champions of Irish Motorsport Awards. Duggan won the junior category of the Dunlop National Rally Championship. The 20-year-old scored maximum points in four of the eight rounds to take the title. Moffett won the Group N Production class in both the Dunlop National

Rally Championship and the Valvoline Irish Forest Championship, and he was runner up in that class in the Irish Tarmac Championship. Stephen Wright aged 24-yearsold won the Group N in the Irish Tarmac Championship. The winner will receive €50,000 worth of support to compete in stage rallies nationally and internationally in 2014. The two runners up will receive free entry into a number of events during 2014. All three finalists will also receive advice from Tom Walsh, Co-ordinator for the Billy Coleman Award.

Trip to Blackpool Prom for NWS competitiors! Plans for the 2014 Legend Fires North West Stages are gathering pace with news on two different fronts. Next year’s Blackpool based event, which runs on February 7/8, retains it’s base at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, but will have a brand new service park that’s almost in the shadow of the seaside resort’s iconic tower. A deal has been struck with the local council to use the Promenade’s Middle Walk that will bring the event to the edge of the town centre and provide a better viewing experience for spectators. The move is a throwback to the sixties when the same area served as the parc ferme for RAC Rally of 1968. More recently the Middle Walk has been used as part of a stage on both the Lombard Revival Rally and the North West Stages. The rally has also attracted an associate sponsor for

2014 in the shape of Lookers Citroen, who will be providing the rally with staff cars and corporate hospitality facilities. Lookers’ local business manager Matthew Kiziuk said, “We’re delighted to be supporting such a fantastic event that brings rallying to the people in Blackpool, Fleetwood and Preston. Citroen has a strong rally pedigree, particularly with the current DS3, and this event dovetails perfectly with the Lookers dealership network in the region.” Regulations will be available from the beginning of December at www.nwstages. co.uk

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ally RCALENDAR >> DECEMBER 7

KILLARNEY H ISTORIC KILLARNEY

7/8

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LINCOLN GREEN STAGES BLYTON PARK

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MMP REWARD DAY KIRKISTOWN

>> JANUARY 12

BRANDS HATCH WINTER STAGES CHELMSFORD

NEW Y EAR S TAGES KIRKISTOWN

JACK FR OST S TAGES CROFT

• • • • • •

Dover - Calais: DFDS/LD Lines Portsmouth - Leharve: LD Lines Harwich - Hoek: Stena Channel Islands - St Malo: Condor Lines Ireland: Irish Ferries, Stena Isle of Man except TT and manx GP

>> BOOKINGS & INFO Tel: 01759 301 010 Fax: 01759 301 030 Email: info@just-ferries.com Web: www.just-ferries.com DEC / JAN 2014 pacenotes

006 // NEWS ROUND-UP

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Tasty New Title Sponsor for Irish Tarmac Series.. Barry & Mike Lindsay Takes Tarmac Title! Barry and Michael Lindsay clinched the AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Championship on the final round, the UTS Cheviot Keith Knox Stages Rally run over Northumberland’s Otterburn Military Ranges. The 2013 championship had its most competitive conclusion for many years with six drivers and four co-drivers all in with a shout of winning their respective title. Lying twelfth in the championship standings at the beginning of August their chances of winning looked remote, and the subsequent cancellation of the Lindisfarne didn’t help their cause. Undeterred they battled on and having finished twelfth overall on the Tyneside and seventh on the Pendragon they closed the gap on championship leaders Chris Anderson and Chris Thirling to just a single point. In the end it was some typical Otterburn weather, fog and rain that played right into Lindsay’s hands. The 106 pilot revels in such adverse conditions over the fast flowing ranges roads, but he had to concede the early advantage to Anderson’s flying start. In the end his sustained pressure paid dividends as Anderson crashed out allowing the Carlisle driver finish eighth overall, enough to secure son and father Driver and Co-driver titles.

Twelve Year old Daniel Harper makes History!

The Clonakilty Blackpudding Company are to be the title sponsors of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, Irish Tarmac Modified Challenge & Irish Tarmac Historic Rally Championships for 2014. Gerard Seaman, Championship Manager, said “These are exciting times for the Championship and we are delighted to have a title sponsor on board for the coming year. It’s great that the Clonakilty Blackpudding Company have the faith in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship to sponsor the series for 2014”. David Gray, Chairman of the T.R.O.A. said “We are particularly delighted to have a sponsor on board after a drought of several years. In particular it is great that a prestigious Irish family owned has decided to come on board to sponsor the Irish Tarmac Championship. Edward Twomey from Clonakilty Blackpudding Company commented “Clonakilty Blackpudding as a company are delighted to be the new title sponsor of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. It is a great honour to share our name with such a prestigious and historic championship which has such a large following throughout the island of Ireland and beyond these shores”.

Newby & Fagg Crowned Manx Champions!

With nine victories to his credit since taking to the wheel of the TEG Sport Subaru Impreza last year, Carnforth’s Arron Newby celebrated his tenth and one of the most important victories of his career with a performance that clinched the Eurostars Motorsport. com Manx Rally Championship. Coming into the 2013 PokerStars Rally, the 18-year-old Lancastrian and his Manx co-driver Rob Fagg only needed a top ten result in the Pirelli-sponsored and TEG Sportprepared Subaru Impreza to clinch the title, and the plan was to play it safe and do what was needed. Newby decided the best way to

win the championship was from the front. With maturity beyond his years, Newby played it safe by running Pirelli intermediates throughout the event and he was never headed meaning he added the PokerStars Rally to the Chris Kelly Memorial Stages and Dave Corris Autos Forest Rally earlier in the season as well as becoming the youngest winner of the Manx International Rally in September. The result was Newby’s sixth successive victory and confirmed his status as one of Britain’s hottest young talents with a sensational record over the past 18 months.

Twelve-year-old Daniel Harper, grandson of rally man Raymond Reid and son of rally engineer Stan, from Annahilt made history in 2013, by winning the Ulster Quad Championship, the Ulster Kart Championship and the Northern Ireland Karting Championship in one season. Added to this a victory in the Irish Kart Grand Prix, giving the coveted GP plate and the CDMC karting championship. Harper said, “It was an excellent year, with no mechanical issues, or incidents and very enjoyable. Next year I will be moving up a class to the 200cc Blaster’s, so that will be a new challenge to look forward to” commented Daniel. The family background as said is in rallying, but Daniel, a big fan of Sebastian Vettel, has his sights set on the world of racing at present. He said, “I would love to get into Formula Ford Racing when I’m old enough, then try to progress in racing and would love to make it all the way into Formula 1.” GOT SOME NEWS... SEND IT TO: EDITOR@PACENOTES.NET

pacenotes DEC / JAN 2014

11329 W

11329 Winter A4 Advert v2.indd 1

20/09/2013 14:10

008 // OPINION // BY MARTIN HOLMES

RALLY GB AFTERTHOUGHTS WORDS & IMAGES :: MARTIN HOLMES

Success GB RE-VAMP

We can breathe again. Right from the moment the decisions was made to re-vamp Wales Rally GB – by far the most important rally event in the British Isles - there were breaths being held. The change all sounded like a good idea, and in the end we had a return to smiling faces and happiness in the camp.

The competition excitement

on Wales Rally GB this year was muted because there was little to be won or lost by most competitors, but the traditional visual drama was enjoyed by a lot more people than in the past few years. This resurgence of interest came after the policy decision to move north towards areas much more accessible to spectators, and as a result of a lot of local groundwork to create awareness of what was about to happen. A major success was the Road to Wales project, as a way to bring Britain’s top national drivers into the same world as the WRC. It worked perfectly with just one proviso, that we had no British driver in a WRC, meaning no Brit which the general media could safely say had a chance of winning their home event. The only Brit who had a top ten result in the pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

2013 WRC in a non-world rally car finished eighth, the best of the non-WRC drivers. That was Elfyn Evans, who had already shown his credentials (back in Sardinia) of his capability in a WRC. In one sweep the RtW campaign broke through the eternal problem of integrating national championship events and their cars into a WRC event, especially meaningful on an end-of-season event. Mark Higgins showed that there is hidden British talent still out there. He had not rallied in a WRC event since 2008 and finished tenth overall. Tom Cave showed his talent in a more powerful car to the full. With such a resurgence it was inevitable that some things went wrong. The choice of the spectator stages on the Saturday and Sunday proved to be too much of a good thing, the car parks in the forests proved badly inadequate and as

A major success was the Road to Wales project, as a way to bring Britain’s top national drivers into the same world as the WRC. It worked perfectly with just one proviso, that we had no British driver in a WRC...

if there weren’t pressure enough the failure of the FIA’s official timing system on the Sunday was catastrophic. Issuing the media with hand prepared estimates of stage times and overall positions after the results systems were hacked took one back 30 years or more. The decision to finish the rally in Llandudno and not close to the service park in Deeside was one which was bound to be difficult, with the service park being emptied of its occupants while the rally was still going on. Difficult to know how things could be done better, but this was not one of the better novelties. Bleak, windswept Deeside was a problem zone, but it was hard to know how to accommodate the service park better. It’s saving grace was that it was convenient for access – and politically it was in the Principality. Seeing no cars during the day in

the service park was no way to attract commercial tradesmen. Back to the think-tank on that one. Times are changing everywhere in the business. Just look at the results list. Five Fiesta R5s were in the top 12 places, six months ago R5 did not exist. And what a letdown for the mighty Citroen team! All through the year we have seen organisational disasters but none so much as now, when Dani Sordo was penalised five minutes before the start, for an administrative error by the team. Shades of Monte Carlo (2002) and Australia (2009). And the story about Robert Kubica beggared belief. On the very occasion he had the chance for his major breakthrough in World Rally Car competition, with such a lot of things to master, his so-called faithful codriver Maciej Baran walked off and left him 11 days before the start. Disappointing.

The popular Citroen DS3 R3Ts were in a similar shade of disarray, quite apart from their continued difficulty in passing through water crossings. These cars were there for such a range of reasons,

WRC3, Citroen Top Driver, British Road to Wales, sometimes a combination of more than one reason. Just for the record, top finishing DS3 R3T driver, Class 5 and runner-up in the Top Driver

series was Quentin Gilbert (16th), winner of the Citroen Top Driver prize was Sebastien Chardonnet (20th – having already won the WRC3 title), top finishing British championship driver and also WRC3 category winner was Jukka Korhonen (28th, in fact a Finn), second WRC3 finisher, after a very difficult rally, was Keith Cronin (36th - whose team Charles Hurst Belfast had already won the WRC3 Teams’ Cup). All very confusing! We now head towards 2014. Deeside was the last chance we had of seeing many drivers in the environment in which they have been familiar in recent years, and apart from Thierry Neuville and the VW drivers, very few drivers actually knew if they would be on the move or not. One thing is clear, however, 2014 is sure to be as interesting with the arrival of Hyundai as 2013 has been with

the arrival of VW. The media world is continuing to turn upside down and the pressures are on the Promoters of the championship, who have so far been very quiet in the things they have already achieved, to make sure that the sport keeps adjusting to the new style media world. A lot of things in the sport need re-thinking. Who actually achieves publicity for the sport – is it the media or the teams or the Promoter? For how long does the PR world believe it directs the sport and things they say is the only news to read? It was good to see the spectators in their masses in the dank Welsh forests, just like their fathers and their grandfathers always used to do – but with all the traffic on the roads in North Wales this year, will there be a next generation of fans? P DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

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014 // REPORT // WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

WALES RALLY GB

WORDS :: XAVIER MCCARTAN // IMAGES :: WRC TEAMS

A Perfect End to Ogier’s Year... RESULTS 1

Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia VW Polo R WRC ........ 3:03:36.7 2 Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila VW Polo R WRC ........ 3:03:58.5 3 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul Ford Fiesta RS WRC... 3:05:01.2 4 Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson Ford Fiesta RS WRC... 3:05:24.9 5 Andreas Mikkelsen/M. Markkula VW Polo R WRC ........ 3:05:40.1 6 Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst Ford Fiesta RS WRC... 3:11:14.2 7 Dani Sordo/Carlos Del Barrio Citroën DS3 WRC....... 3:12:04.6 8 Elfyn Evans/Daniel Barritt Ford Fiesta R5 ............ 3:14:49.8 9 Jari Ketomaa/Tapio Suominen Ford Fiesta R5 ............ 3:15:52.9 10 Mark Higgins/Carl Williamson Ford Fiesta R5 ............ 3:16:57.7

WINNERS: SEBASTIEN OGIER & JULIEN INGRASSIA

By the time the crews finished the Great Orme stage on the newly revamped Wales Rally GB, and headed to Llandudno for the finish, it was the Volkswagen Polo R of Sébastien Ogier that claimed victory and his ninth win of the season. Having secured the drivers’ title

last month in France he cruised to take the last event of the season. Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila claimed second, and rounded off a near perfect debut season for Volkswagen Motorsport in the FIA World Rally Championship. Bidding farewell to M-Sport and the Qatar World Rally Team before they head to 2014 with a Hyundai WRC drive Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul came home third on an event based in North Wales for the first time. This year’s event was eagerly anticipated, with the classic stages such as Hafren, Sweet Lamb and Myherin. The Thursday night opened the event with visits to Gwydyr, Penmachno and Clocaenog. The crews had to contend with high wind and rain. Ogier set the pace immediately, the Frenchman sat the quickest time in qualifying, electing to run second on the road. He was fastest on the opening two stages and second on the final stage to inch out a slim advantage at this early stage in the event. Neuville claimed a win on the third stage to move into second place, despite clipping a big stone on the second stage that launched the car into the air. Like everyone, Latvala found the grip ever changing pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

This is the perfect end to a perfect season. I am very happy, and extremely proud of this win, as the Rally Wales is one of the toughest on the calendar. Things have not always gone to plan here for me in recent years - Ogier

2ND: JARI-MATTI LATVALA & MIKKA ANTTILA

and held third. Hirvonen was fourth, and in fifth place Østberg was struggling with a gearshift problem. Mikkelsen was sixth, just ahead of Robert Kubica. The Pole was making his debut in a WRC in Wales, and he was setting an impressive pace with such little experience in a powerful machine. Evgeny Novikov, local hero Elfyn Evans, and Martin Prokop rounded off the top ten. Friday was the longest day of the event, with limited service too, in the shape of a mid-day remote in Newtown. Ogier started the day with a small advantage, but was again immediately on the pace, winning the first stage in the opening loop. While he was beaten by Dani Sordo and Latvala in the following two stages, the

afternoon saw the Frenchman blitz the opposition with a string of three fastest times to take a commanding control of the leaderboard. Latvala’s fastest time on SS6 saw him overhaul Neuville. Mads Østberg was fourth, battling with fellow Fiesta driver Evgeny Novikov, the duo split by 3.7 seconds. Andrea Mikkelsen was also in the fight for fourth, a further 1.1 seconds behind. The dramas of the day were exclusive to Citroën when Kubica, with a new co-driver, rolled on the first stage of the day, and then Hirvonen had what he called “the most violent accident ever” two stages later. Both crews were unhurt, but Hirvonen was stiff and sore following his sixth gear off, when co-driver, Jarmo Lehtinen made a mistake and omitted the word tightens from a call. Kubica restarted on Saturday, but went off again and he was out for good on SS11. Sordo, in ninth, was their only remaining contender, although the Spaniard was carrying a five-minute penalty for chassis infringement rules with Yves Matton apologising for the oversight. Saturday saw Ogier has maintain his pace, and despite a string of three fastest times on SS12, 13 and 14, Latvala was

Disappointment for Cronin and Clarke... Sébastien Chardonnet and

3RD: THIERRY NEUVILLE & NICOLAS GILSOUL

unable to close the gap on his team-mate during a very up and down day. Neuville has had an uneventful day, but a charging Andreas Mikkelsen was now just 20 seconds behind him. The likeable Norwegian started the day in sixth and fastest time in the opening stage catapulted him into fourth position. Another day with minable service time saw the crews remain cautious in their approach with Mads Østberg fifth, chasing Mikkelsen hard, and he had a comfortable advantage over sixth-placed Martin Prokop. Dani Sordo is seventh ahead of a trio of Ford Fiesta R5s that included impressive performances from Elfyn Evans, Jari Ketomaa and Mark Higgins. Tom Cave held an equally impressive twelfth despite time loss in his R5 during the day. The final day of Wales Rally GB, included Clocaenog as the power stage where Ford took a clean sweep of the 1-2-3, but it was not enough to deny Ogier, what turned out to be a comfortable victory, with Latvalla ensuring a 1-2 for VW and Neuville third. Behind the leading trio, Mads Østberg moved into fourth after Andreas Mikkelsen spun in the first stage of the day, and maintained his position ahead of his fellow Norwegian to the finish of the

WELSH WIZARD - ELFYN EVANS

4TH: MADS OSTBERG & JONAS ANDERSON

event. Martin Prokop claimed sixth and Dani Sordo did well to claim seventh after incurring a five-minute penalty before the start of the event. Elfyn Evans and Daniel Barritt were eighth in the R5, with Ketomaa and Suominen in ninth, and Mark Higgins and Carl Williamson rounded out the

Second place at the final round of the season is a decent result, but I had hoped for more at my ‘second home rally - Latvala first ten. For Ogier the victory was sweet, and a good end to a great season. He said, “This is the perfect end to a perfect season. I am very happy, and extremely proud of this win, because the Wales is one of the toughest on the calendar. Things have not always gone to plan here for me in recent years.” Latvala in second added, “Second place at

A TASTY CAR... ROBERT BARRABLE

the final round of the season is a decent result, but I had hoped for more at my second home rally. Our pace was basically okay, but unfortunately I made too many small mistakes to put Sébastien under any real pressure. I was really hungry to win this rally for a third time in a row, but he produced a perfect performance.” For VW motorsport director, Jost Capito, the season has been good. At the finish he said, “You could hardly wish for a better end to what has been a fantastic WRC season for us. A one-two, with all three drivers in the top five. We can have high hopes for all three Volkswagen drivers in the 2014 season. I am also very proud of our entire team.” For Neuville in third place it was an emotional end to his season. He said, “I felt after qualifying that we would be able to secure a good result here, and that is what we have done. Most importantly though, it means that we have maintained our second place in the drivers’ championship. That was our goal coming here and, as always, the team have done a fantastic job to make it happen. “At the beginning of the year, M-Sport and Qatar took Nicolas [Gilsoul, co-driver] and I under their wing like two little children, and we cannot thank them enough for their support and their belief in us. In 13 rallies the car has been absolutely faultless. It will be very emotional for us to leave this team – they have given us so much.” The 2014 World Rally Championship season will start in Monte Carlo.

Thibault de la Haye won the Citroën Top Driver series at Wales Rally GB. The French crew will take part in some rounds of the 2014 WRC 2 championship in a DS3 R5 as part of the prize for winning. It meant bitter disappointment for Keith Cronin and Marshall Clarke in their challenge for the same prize at Wales Rally GB. They were the only crew that could deprive Chardonnet, but that all came to and end on day two when they went off, and ended any hope they had of a realistic result. Despite a precautionary visit to hospital for Clarke, the pair re-joined under super rally rules after some sterling work by the DGM Motorsport mechanics, in the outside hope of a result in the refettled DS3. There was some good news however when Charles Hurst Citroen Belfast took the FIA WRC 3 team prize heading home the likes of ADAC Team Weser-ESV and Santeloc. For Cronin though it was not the result the team hoped for. He said “It was not our weekend, but for the water splash earlier in the year, it could have been very different this weekend. Fair play to Chardonnet though, he drove well all year and I congratulate him on taking the win.”

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Burtons

016 // REPORT // WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

WALES RALLY GB 3-DAY NATIONAL WORDS :: XAVIER MCCARTAN // IMAGES :: IAN GRAINGER

Timing The World

•

•S •T •O •F

WINNERS: EUAN THORBURN & PAUL BEATON

Thorburn Dominates

Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton

A massive thanks must go

out to WRC Partner, Certina Watches, who invited Pacenotes to join them for a weekends fun at rally GB. We where treated to a fantastic weekend with a special trip to the Phil Price rallyschool, VIP dinner with Team Citroen and of course watching the 3 days of rally action. Special thanks to Tony Sulkey, UK Brand Manager and Rene Furler, Regional Manager. - It’s time to do it again soon lads!

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

dominated the three day Wales Rally GB National Rally in their Ford Focus WRC. They headed home the Subaru Impreza WRC of renowned tarmac expert and Welshman Melvyn Evans with Aled Davies by well over four minutes. Third were Paul Davy and Roger Allan in another Subaru. Thorburn had enjoyed a good fight with Barry Groundwater and

expert Paul Benn and Richard Cooke holding fifth, and happy with their progress despite finishing the third stage on a wheel rim. The Saturday took in classic stages such as Gartheniog and Dyfnant for the crews, and Thorburn and Beaton continued with the pace that they had on the Friday. By now the lead was nearly three minutes, and the pair were

to withdraw and his son Max duly obliged. There were six stages on the Sunday including the famous Great Orme. Thorburn/Beaton took the victory in their Ford Focus WRC by a considerable margin from Melvyn Evans in a Subaru WRC, with Paul Davy third. Paul Benn took fourth and an impressive Mat Utting finished in fifth. John Morrison was sixth in his Mitsubishi, Philip Brown was seventh in another Subaru, while top 2WD car was that of David Stokes. Tim Freeman was ninth in an Escort and the similar car of Simon Tysoe finished in tenth. P

2ND: MELVYN EVANS & ALED DAVIES

3RD: PAUL DAVY & ROGER ALLAN

happy with outings on the stages so far. Delays at Chirk Castle, one of the events spectator stages meant some crews running in the dark, a situation that was not ideal because some crews had lights and other did not. Nonetheless the crews enjoyed the runs and remarked at how many spectators had been out on the stages with Shaun Martin adding, “It is unreal how many people are out spectating. I have never seen so many at an event like this for a ling time.” Martin had been running well, but he suffered a misfire that cost him and Anthony Concannon time in their Subaru Impreza. The battle continued between Groundwater, Evans, Davy and Benn for the rest of the day, and Max Utting found himself in sixth in his father’s Subaru Impreza. His dad, Wug, had actually placed the entry, but illness forced him

Ea Or

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RESULTS 1

Neil Shanks in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX until they stopped on the final stage. The event began with three stages on the Friday, and from the outset Thorburn marked his intention with fastest time by over forty seconds from Sara Williams and Dai Roberts’ Subaru. Sadly for Williams and Roberts a broken drive-shaft put an end to any chance of a good result on stage three. With 71 crews starting the event, some did not get a run in stage three due to accidents, but it was Thorburn leading from fellow Scot, Groundwater with Melvyn Evans in third. Evans was enjoying a rare run out on the gravel and said, “I don’t often venture onto the loose, but we are enjoying it and apart from a few spins it is going fairly well.” Paul Davey and Roger Allan were in fourth, with preparation

Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton Ford Focus WRC ........ 1:56:10.7 2 Melvyn Evans/Aled Davies Subaru WRC .............. 2:00:52.5 3 Paul Davy/Roger Allan Subaru Impreza.......... 2:03:04.4 4 Paul Benn/Richard Cooke Ford Focus WRC ........ 2:03:13.8 5 Max Utting/Bob Stokoe Subaru Impreza.......... 2:03:44.0 6 John Morrison/Peter Carstairs Mitsubishi Evo IX ....... 2:04:37.0 7 Philip Brown/Hamish Campbell Subaru Impreza.......... 2:05:31.2 8 David Stokes/Guy Weaver Ford Escort RS1600 ... 2:08:55.9 9 Tim Freeman/Paul Wakely Ford Escort RS1800 ... 2:09:54.6 10 Simon Tysoe/Cliffy Simmons Ford Escort Rs1800 ... 2:10:32.3 Class Winners B1 Euros Evans/Dylan Lewis Proton Satira .............. 2:19:04.1 B2 Philip McVay/Emma Morrison Ford Fiesta ................. 2:11:22.1 B3 Chris Wigmore/Steve Lyons Ford RS2000 .............. 2:18:07.1 B4 Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton Ford Focus WRC ........ 1:56:10.7 H1 Rikki Proffitt/Phil Harrison Porsche 911............... 2:29:49.4 H2 David Stokes/Guy Weaver Ford Escort RS1600 ... 2:08:55.9 H3 Tim Freeman/Paul Wakely Ford Escort RS1800 ... 2:09:54.6

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018 // REPORT // WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

WALES RALLY GB 2-DAY NATIONAL WORDS :: XAVIER MCCARTAN // IMAGES :: M&H PHOTOGRAPHY

Welsh Delight For Parry And Evans The two day Wales Rally GB National Rally ran over the Saturday and Sunday stages, and it featured 29 starters. The event began with the Gartheniog stage at just over 14km. It was eventual winners Keith Parry and Eryl Evans that set the fastest time to lead, with Dylan Davies and Llion Williams second in a Ford Escort MkI. WINNERS: KEITH PARRY & ERYL EVANS

A string of fastest times by Parry and Evans through Dyfi, Dyfnant and Chirk Castle meant they had a substantial lead come the return to Deeside on the Saturday evening from Davies and Williams in an Escort. Others though did not fare so well with Kevin and Michael Pugh in a Vauxhall Astra shearing a drive-shaft on the first stage, and he had to replace the gearbox on the Saturday night while Carl and Rob Tuer struggled with the grip in their MG ZR, but they felt they at least entertained the thousands of spectators. Through the Saturday though, Thomas Preston and Jamie Forrest steadily improved their times to hold third overall going into the

Sunday stages. Biggest cheers on the stages seemed to be reserved for Suze and Matt Endean in a Nissan Micra, who continued to drive round the ruts they found on the stages and returned to Deeside ready for the Sunday. Dyfnant, Penllyn as well as Great Orme amongst others awited the crews on the Sunday of Wales Rally GB, and it was Parry and Evans who continued to lead from the front with Davies and Willaims keeping up the pressure in second, while Preston and Forrest were third. This order would remain to the end, and taking fourth would be the Ford Escort of John Rowlands and Aled Edwards, with Carl and Rob Tuer in fifth. Hywel Davies and Lowri

2ND: DYLAN DAVIES & LLION WILLIAMS

PACENOTES SAYS

Last year Wales Rally GB organisers quite rightly took a lot of stick over what was then a poor event. They listened, and in a remarkably short space of time moved the event north, produced new stages and informed people to the changes. The important thing is though that they listened to the critical issues that were given to them that needed to be dealt with. Earlier in the year Pacenotes Rally Magazine were invited to be part of those meetings and pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Davies brought their Ford Escort Mk2 home in sixth. For Parry though the victory was sweet and he said at the finish, “I am delighted to win, but we really did enjoy the event. We pushed on a bit today right, but we are happy to win.” Equally content was Davies in second in an Escort. He admitted to really enjoying the stages, “The stages were great, and packed with spectators urging us on with big slides. It has been a really good fun event and we are happy with second to Keith.” Beyond the first six Joe Evett and Calvin Houldsworth brought their MG ZR home in seventh, with the Vauxhall Astra of Jason Youde and Julian Broadhurst in eighth. Ross Macdonald and

3RD: THOMAS PRESTON & JAMIE FORREST

discussions to improve Wales Rally GB through the course of the year. We had a chance to see the changes made for this year. The event was very well received by competitors and fans alike. There were literally tens of thousands of spectators on the stages, traffic jams, queues to get into stages, and tales of fans walking miles to access vantage points to see the cars. The service park was free to get in, and as a result most days it was packed especially on the Saturday evening when it was estimated that

Matthew Johnstone grabbed ninth in a Honda Civic, with Justin Fowler Bishop and Tudur Rees rounding off the first ten using a P MG ZR.

RESULTS 1

Keith Parry/Eryl Evans Subaru Impreza.......... 1:14:53.2 Dylan Davies/Llion Williams Ford Escort MkI ......... 1:17:58.9 3 Thomas Preston/Jamie Forrest Mitsubishi Evo IV ....... 1:20:32.0 4 John Rowlands/Aled Edwards Ford Escort 1967 ....... 1:22:49.4 5 Carl Tuer/Rob Tuer MG ZR S1600 ............ 1:24:02.1 6 Hywel Davies/Lowri Davies Ford Esocrt MkII ........ 1:24:58.5 7 Joe Evett/Calvin Houldsworth MG ZR........................ 1:25:55.1 8 Jason Youde/Julian Broadhurst Vauxhall Astra GSi...... 1:26:10.5 9 Ross Macdonald/M. Johnstone Honda Civic ................ 1:27:07.5 10 Justin Fowler Bishop/Tudur Rees MG ZR........................ 1:28:12.7 2

Class Winners B1 Joe Evett/Calvin Houldsworth MG ZR........................ 1:25:55.1 B2 Carl Tuer/Rob Tuer MG ZR S1600 ............ 1:24:02.1 B3 Dylan Davies/Llion Williams Ford Escort MkI ......... 1:17:58.9 B4 Keith Parry/Eryl Evans Subaru Impreza.......... 1:14:53.2 H1 Graham Goodall/Peter Gilbert Austin Healey 3000 .... 1:48:28.9 H3 John Baker/John Seyyan Ford Escort MkII ........ 1:28:58.5

over 10,000 fans piled in to see the teams and stars in action. There was a real buzz about this year’s event, something that has long since been missing. Don’t get us wrong, there were issues, such as timing, Chirk Castle and delays that caused a few headaches, but it should not detract from what was a superb event enjoyed by many and seen by thousands. Well done Wales Rally GB, you listened, went away, came back and delivered.

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5th O/A and 1st in class, Roger Albert Clark Rally 2013

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DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

020 // GAME REVIEW // RALLY GAME

WRC 4 GAME WORDS :: JASON CURRAN

WRC 4: Virtually Awesome! Would you want to have a pop at rallying on the icy roads of the Monte Carlo Rally without having to leave your favourite armchair? Sounds a bit far fetched doesn’t it?

5 LUCKY COMPETITION WINNERS

Christopher McLaughlin, Co. Donegal Imran Saeed, Duns, Scotland Corey Hamilton, Ballymena David Alan Hughes, Gwynedd Chris Fisher, Hertfordshire

In reality, maybe not, all you have to do is get your hands on a copy of the NEW WRC 4 game and rally through the famous stages around the world to get your heart pumping! WRC 4 is the latest version of the official World Rally Championship game and thanks to those lovely people at PQube we got our hands on a copy. Here at the Pacenotes office we don’t have the luxury of a games console, because to be honest, if we did, not much work would be done, let alone the arguments over who gets to go first. So when our copy arrived, our Sales Manager Jason headed home to tackle the stages on his Xbox 360 along with his brother Scott who was an exkart racer. Now, as I’m sure some of you are aware, Jason is very competitive, but since selling his Evo 8 he hasn’t had much chance

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

to get the adrenaline going…until now! After a spot of practice, it was down to business and Jason will admit it was hard to put the controller down... we think he was developing a little addiction! Scott managed to get in a few stage times, and in the process had a few near misses although I think he will need more than a spot of duck tape and cable ties to fix the car. The stages are so realistic and the car controls and set-up is extremely user friendly making it accessible for the amateur to the advanced game player. From the initial home screen to the stage start we found the navigation easy to use and the graphics are first class giving you a realistic atmosphere. Gamers can select whether or not they want braking assistance, stability help, select the timing of pace notes delivery, not to mention

varying levels of physical damage and the change of weather. In other words it can be programmed for the outright beginner or the most experienced of gamers. Jason elected to use the hand held controller, where as Scott preferred using the Steering wheel and pedals. Braking assistance was essential for both controllers as should you have it too aggressive as you would end up with a trip of the side of a mountain. With a couple of different stages selected, some very quick stage times where set. Both Jason and Scott sung the game’s praises as they rallied through the stages. Jason will admit that he thought the last version was going to be hard to beat, but WRC4 proved even better with jaw-dropping graphics, realistic sounds and impressive handling. The current crop of WRC events, drivers cars are all included

(even the new Hyundai WRC is in there) as well as a selection of WRC2/3 cars. That gives you lots of driver options, you can be anyone from Keith Cronin to Seb Loeb or even take part in the career mode and have a go at beating the nine time world champion yourself! So the outcome....we highly recommend buying a copy! We know some you may think we are just saying that due to the large advertisement on the page opposite, but it is not. If you like competing in events from the comfort of your home, then make sure you treat yourself to WRC 4.... or maybe drop a few subtle hints to someone who’s likely to give you a Christmas present! As for Jason & Scott? Let’s just say it was a test on their patience and both still claim to have won. Only they know what really happened! P

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022 // REPORT // ARR CRAIB MSA SCOTTISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

GALLOWAY HILLS RALLY WORDS :: ROBIN WYLIE // IMAGES :: LINDSAY PHOTO SPORT

Armstrong wins dramatic sixth Galloway Hills... WINNERS: JOCK ARMSTRONG & JOHN RICHARDSON

Event sponsor Jock Armstrong clinched his first win of the year at the 40th Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally, the final round of the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship. Five-time Scottish champions

David Bogie and Kevin Rae had led throughout until the end of the last stage, but were forced to pull over on the way to the finish in Castle Douglas when the oil-warning light came on in their Ford Focus WRC. Fearing an expensive repair, the Dumfries driver decided to take caution, and switched everything off. He said: “It just wasn’t worth risking a broken crank. Up until that point, we had a great run on superb stages at the end of a successful season, so we have absolutely no complaints.” He was fastest outright through four of the seven stages on a day of heavy blustery showers, which made for difficult driving conditions. For his part, Armstrong, codriven by John Richardson, was delighted to take his sixth win on his local event behind the wheel of his re-built Subaru Impreza. Armstrong said: “A win is a win in my book, and I couldn’t be happier”. He continued, “I’ve had a bad year – without any success in the Scottish championship and the crash on the Merrick – so this is very welcome, particularly with the rally celebrating an anniversary. After some adjustments at service, we were going better in the afternoon. David and I recorded the same time on the second run pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

through the super-special stage in the quarry at Dalbeattie, and I took eleven seconds out of him on the final stage, so we were slowly clawing it back”. Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy finished as runners-up, 1m 25

seems we’ve salvaged something out of a really tough year”. The final podium place went to Oban crew Shaun Sinclair and Chris Hamill in a Mitsubishi Evo 9. It was their first competitive outing in two and a half years. The

CL2: MARK MCCAFFREY & G. O’DONNELL

CL3: IAIN HAINING & MAIRI RIDDICK

CL4: PETER STEWART & K. MARCHBANK

CL5; WILLIAM POLLOCK & HELEN BROWN

seconds further back in their Mitsubishi Evo 9, to secure third overall in the championship. Faulkner said: “It’s been a tricky event – very slippery in places with the rain – and there was plenty to catch you out in the super-special stage.” He continued, “But we’ve achieved what we came to do, which is to make sure of third place in the championship. It

only problems they had was an intercom glitch and a puncture. They finished two seconds ahead of Barry Groundwater and Neil Shanks, also in an Evo 9, who were third of the SRC-registered crews. Going into the event, the Stonehaven driver was just one point behind Faulkner in the fight for third spot in the series. Groundwater said: “Mike set the standard in the morning. He was

absolutely flat out, and I couldn’t get near him.” He added, “I picked up in the afternoon, but it was too little, too late. We were in the same situation on the Merrick last year and I put the car off the road trying to catch him, so sometimes you’re better just to be a bit more cautious and accept where you are”. Donnie MacDonald in fifth overall had a “bad day” in his Evo 9 alongside Andrew Falconer. There were front suspension problems in the morning, followed by a puncture on the second run through the super-special stage. He said:“We put a wheel into the rear wing as well, it’s been a disaster.” Fellow Highlander Andy Horne co-driven by Jim Howie, was more enthusiastic about his day behind the wheel of his DAM 4100Gti on the way to sixth overall – a welcome result after a couple of previous non-finishes: “The stages have been slippery, but all in all it has been a good day for us and the car has behaved, which is the main thing. It was well worth the trip down”. Andrew Gallacher, with Phil Sandham on the notes, was a further ten seconds behind to take Group N honours in his Evo 9. Gallacher said: “If it hadn’t have been for a puncture on the second stage we could have made it into the top five, but apart from that we had a pretty good day.” Gallacher

RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

2ND: MIKE FAULKNER & PETER FOY

3RD: SHAUN SINCLAIR & CHRIS HAMILL

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

CL6: STEVE BANNISTER & L. SUTHERLAND

CL7: IAN HENRY & JAMES MCDERMOTT

is the son of the late three-time Galloway Hills winner Drew. Newton Stewart’s Craig McMiken and Kirriemuir navigator Craig Wallace were eighth overall and seventh in the points using a Lancer E9. The only drama they reported was contact with a tyre wall on the superspecial stage which damaged the bonnet of the car. Ninth-placed John McClory and David Hood, in a Group N Subaru Impreza N15, were hot on their heels with just one second between them on the final Dalbeattie test. Dougal Brown, co-driven by 2013 SRC junior co-driver champion Lewis Rochford, rued a minute penalty, without which, the Inverness duo would have finished eighth rather than tenth overall. Once again, Steve Bannister and Louise Sutherland were the best of the two-wheel-drive competitors in a historic-specification Ford Escort Mk2 despite driving for six miles through the second stage with a rear punture. Bannister said, “Having already won the 2WD championship, today was all about securing the ladies co-driver title for Louise, and we have done that. So it has been a good event for us.”

For Peter Stewart, the Galloway Hills was his first SRC event of the season, and he marked the occasion by taking Class 4 honours

A win is a win in my book and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve had a bad year – without any success in the Scottish championship and the crash on the Merrick – so this is very welcome, particularly with the rally celebrating its anniversary - Jock Armstrong in his Ford Fiesta R2. The Dumfries driver said: “We have had a few moments along the way today, but I couldn’t be any happier.” He

was teamed up with Thornhill navigator Kenneth Marchbank. Class 3 champions Iain Haining and Mairi Riddick capped a remarkable season by making it eight wins out of eight in their Vauxhall Nova. Haining said, “I guess you can’t better that!” Fifty crews finished the rally, with twenty-one retirements. Among those who failed to finish were Jon Burn, Chris Collie and Alistair Inglis. Mark McCulloch’s Subaru Impreza ended-up on its side on the fourth stage. Group N contender Fraser Wilson and codriver Steven Broll’s rally was very short. The crew’s Lancer E8 had a greabox problem 200 yards into stage one. Another casualty was Ivor Clark, who with fellow Gretna competitor Keith McCleary won the inaugural Galloway Hills Rally in 1974 using a Ford Escort. Forty years on the pair came to grief on the first run through Dalbeattie in their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 4. See our championship review report in this issue of Pacenotes Rally Magazine to read how the championship points added up after a year of rallying.

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

CL8: DREW STRUTHERS & JIM JOHNSTON

CL9: ROBERT HARKNESS & MIKE CURRY

CL10: ANDREW GALLACHER & P. SANDHAM

Jock Armstrong / John Richardson Subaru Impreza................ 47:20 Mike Faulkner / Peter Foy Mitsubishi Evo ................. 48:45 Shaun Sinclair / Chris Hamill Mitsubishi Evo ................. 49:30 Barry Groundwater / Neil Shanks Mitsubishi Evo ................. 49:32 Donnie MacDonald / Andrew Falconer Mitsubishi Evo ................. 49:59 Andy Horne / Jim Howie Dam 4100 GTi .................. 50:31 Andrew Gallacher / Phil Sandham Mitsubishi Evo ................. 50:41 Craig McMiken / Craig Wallace Mitsubishi Evo ................. 51:12 John McClory / David Hood Subaru Impreza................ 51:26 Dougal Brown / Lewis Rochford Mitsubishi Evo ................. 51:47 Liam Regan / Damien Duffin Peugeot 206..................... 52:16 Ian Paterson / James Haugh Subaru Impreza................ 52:20 Steve Bannister / Louise Sutherland Ford Escort Mk................. 52:21 John Morrison / Peter Carstairs Mitsubishi Evo ................. 53:08 Brendan Cumiskey / Conor Foley Mitsubishi Evo ................. 53:11 Richard Dickson / Sanny Dobie Subaru Impreza................ 53:20 Ian Baumgart / David O’Brien Subaru Impreza................ 53:43 Walter Henderson / Linzi Henderson Subaru Impreza................ 54:08 Lee Hastings / Brian Findon Subaru Impreza................ 54:23 Alasdair Anderson / R. Sutherland Subaru Impreza................ 54:27 Stuart Paterson / Craig Service Subaru Impreza................ 54:48 Iain Haining / Mairi Riddick Vauxhall Nova .................. 54:57 Robert Harkness / Mike Curry BMW ................................ 55:09 Peter Stewart / Kenneth Marchbank Ford Fiesta ....................... 55:53 Darren Martin / Martin Steele Mitsubishi Evo ................. 56:34 Kris Tennant / Malcolm Vie Lancia Delta Integrale....... 57:15 Allan McDowall / Gavin Heseltine Ford Escort RS 1800 ........ 57:24 Tom Coughtrie / Calvin Cooledge Ford RS 1800 ................... 57:59 Matthew Kesson / Ronnie Roughead Ford Fiesta R2 .................. 58:04 Jim Robertson / Colin Maxwell Citroen C2R2.................... 58:18 Donald Peacock / William Paul Peugeot 205 GTi .............. 58:27 Charles Blair / Mark Roberts Peugeot 205 GTi .............. 58:29 Kieran Renton / Carin Logan Ford Fiesta R2 .................. 58:40 Alexander Curran / Laura Marshall Vauxhall Corsa ................. 58:46 Billy Thomson / Jim Little Mitsubishi Evo ................. 58:49 Ian Cattanach / Lisa Watson Talbot Sunbeam ............... 59:00 Scott Peacock / Keith Riddick Peugeot 205 GTi .............. 59:30 Kieran O’Kane / Matt Reid Opel Ascona 400 .............. 59:32 William Pollock / Helen Brown Ford Escort Mk 1.............. 60:04 John Clark / Chris Lees Audi Quattro Turbo........... 60:44 Jim McDowall / Charlotte McDowall Chrysler Avenger.............. 62:16 Mark McCaffrey / Gordon O’Donnell Ford Escort Mk 2.............. 62:50 Simon Hay / Calum Jaffray Peugeot 205 GTi .............. 63:01 Douglas Watt / Donald Munro Ford Escort Mk 2.............. 63:04 Drew Struthers / Jim Johnston Talbot Sunbeam ............... 64:25 Steven Bellshaw / Sandy Urquhart Peugeot 205..................... 64:30 Ian Henry / James McDermott Peugeot 206..................... 64:39 Douglas Cameron / D. Ross Cameron Ford Escort Mk 2.............. 65:04 Angus Lawrie / George Myatt Vauxhall Nova .................. 65:19 M. Thaarique Fazal / Paul Hudson Peugeot 205 GTi .............. 69:09

DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

026 // REPORT // REIS/GET CONNECTED BTRDA GRAVEL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

CAMBRIAN RALLY

WORDS :: PHIL JAMES // IMAGES :: PRO-RALLY.CO.UK

Event: Cambrian Rally. Date: 19th October 2013. Venue: Llandudno. Surface: Mixed. Stages: 9. Stage Miles: 45. Organisers: North Wales Car Club. Championships: REIS-Get Connected BTRDA Rally Series; Millers Oils BTRDA 1400; BTRDA Historic Cup; BTRDA Rally First Challenge; MG ZR Rally Challenge; MSA Welsh Rally Championship; Welsh Historic Rally Championship; ANWCC Forest Rally Championship. Starters: 108. Finishers: 75.

Thorburnæ Takesæ Titleæ Thanksæ toæ Tie-Break!

WINNERS: EUAN THORBURN & PAUL BEATON

The 2013 BTRDA Rally Series

finished in dramatic fashion on Llandudno Promenade with Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton winning the Cambrian Rally in their Ford

RF1.0:æ PETERæ JONESæ &æ JOEæ DAVIS

RF1.4:æ JAMESæ WATKINSæ &æ RICHARDæ SUTER

Class RF1.0:

Peter Jones and Joe Davis headed a Micra 1-2, finishing over two minutes ahead of Bart Lang and Simon Cox. Both crews had early problems with Jones pickingup a puncture on SS2 and Lang suffering a misfire on SS1.

Class RF1.4:

A class-winning performance from James Watkins and Richard Suter saw the driver take championship class titles in the BTRDA, Welsh National and Welsh Clubman series. The Micra crew finished four seconds ahead of the similar car of Sion Ellis and Peredur Davies while Neil Andrew and Richard Smith finished third in a Mazda 2. Project2:Layout 1

27/11/12

Focus WRC01, and with it the coveted BTRDA Gold Star title. To win the title the Scots crew had to win the rally, and they did so in fine style, heading the standings

15:43

Having already secured the BTRDA RF1.0 title with six wins Mick Smith accepted an invitation from Tom Jordan to tackle the event in a Geoff Jones Motorsport Micra. Co-driven by Jordan, Smith stepped-up to the challenge in admirable style taking a 19 second winning margin ahead of Trackrod victors David Martin and Richard Simmonds in their Vauxhall Astra Mk1. Sion Matthews and Rob Hopewell were just a further two seconds adrift in their Escort Mk2.

Class 1400S:

David Bennett and Alistair McNeil survived a ‘huge moment’ on SS4 as a much-relieved Bennett said, “The car ran wide coming into a 90 right over a bridge and we dragged into a ditch. I kept Pagewere 1

What REIS can do for you... pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

1 2 3 4

from start-to-finish. Their intentions were never in doubt, stamping their authority on the proceedings with fastest time on each of the first four stages and thereafter doing more than enough to protect their advantage. Stephen Petch and Ian Windress kept them honest with a string of second fastest times, and even set fastest time through SS5 before retiring their Focus WRC08 with a failed alternator. Connor McCloskey and Francis Regan meanwhile had a torrid time in some monsoon like weather conditions trying to cope with having to operate their Subaru Impreza WRC’s windscreen wipers by means of a string of shoe laces! The rally started with the 4.79 mile Crafnant test north of Betws-y-Coed where Petch spun,

1400C:æ MICKæ SMITHæ &æ TOMæ JORDAN

Class 1400C:

RESULTS

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

1400S:æ DAVIDæ BENNETTæ &æ ALISTAIRæ MCNEIL

it nailed, but then had to jump on the brakes, beaching the car on the sump guard with one wheel over the edge of the bridge, before managing to reverse out.” That incident probably cost the Corsa crew a top ten finish, but they took the overall 1400cc awards, allowing Nova pairing Dan Evans and Tom Marrott to collect the top class awards. They in turn had early problems with a faulty intercom, and poor tyre choice, but were comfortably ahead of Harry Gardner and Elliot Graham’s Peugeot 106 that was slowed by a first stage puncture. Nova crew Gareth Webb and Rich Jones collected the final class awards.

Class N3:

Cameron Davies and Michael Gilbey brought their Fiesta ST

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Euan THORBURN/Paul BEATON Ford Focus WRC ........... 0:45:08 Connor McCLOSKEY/Francis REGAN Subaru Impreza WRC.... 0:46:50 Alex ALLINGHAM/Chris WILLIAMS Subaru Impreza............. 0:46:55 Matthew ROBINSON/Sam COLLIS Ford Escort Mk2............ 0:48:03 Keith PARRY/Eryl EVANS Subaru Impreza............. 0:48:18 Dylan DAVIES/Mark GLENNERSTER Ford Escort Mk1............ 0:48:43 Ian JOEL/Graeme WOOD Ford Escort Cosworth ... 0:48:55 Tomas DAVIES/Eurig DAVIES Ford Escort ................... 0:49:06 Paul DAVY/Roger ALLAN Subaru Impreza............. 0:49:12 Robert BARRETT/Pamela HILTON Ford Escort Mk2............ 0:49:43 David BENNETT/Alistair McNEIL Vauxhall Corsa .............. 0:49:50 Marko JERAM/Steve GREEN Ford Fiesta R200 ........... 0:49:55 Rob DENNIS/Andy BOSWELL Ford Escort Mk2............ 0:50:11 Steve PEREZ/Paul SPOONER Lancia Stratos ............... 0:50:31 Dan EVANS/Tom MARROTT Vauxhall Nova .............. 0:50:49 David Lloyd ROBERTS/Dei JONES Ford Escort Mk2............ 0:50:50 Jim McNEIL/Tom HUGHES Subaru Imprez .............. 0:50:50 John ROWLANDS/Llion WILLIAMS Ford Escort ................... 0:51:06 Tony MACWHIRTER/Steve GREEN Mitsubishi Evo IX .......... 0:51:27

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N3:æ CAMERONæ DAVIESæ &æ MICHAELæ G

home over five minutes ahead of the Suzuki Swift of gravel rally debutant Rhys Yates and co-driver Brynmor Pierce.

Class N4:

With Alex Allingham and Chris Williams picking-up overall awards, the first in class prizes went to Paul Davy and Roger Allan (see main report). Tony Jardine and Olympic Gold Medallist Amy Williams claimed the runners-up prizes after finishing twentieth overall in their Lancer Evo 9.

Class B10:

Marko Jeram and Steve Green made a winning debut in a Fiesta R200 they built from scratch in the week before the rally, after surviving two offs on SS4, and setting third fastest time on SS9. Contact us on

0115 965 1020 Monday to Saturday or visit reis.co.uk for more information

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REIS is a trading name of Chaucer Insurance Services Limited authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

and dropped around 15 seconds leaving him trailing Thorburn by 13 seconds at the stage finish. Oliver Mellors and Craig Parry were a further two seconds adrift in the Proton Millington with McCloskey another four seconds down, and being hard pressed by the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 of Luke Francis and John Roberts. The nearby, never rallied before, Llyn Elsi test followed from where the top five emerged unchanged despite Francis dropping around 20 seconds when the engine stopped due to a master switch malfunction. The rally then headed south, for the longer of the two scheduled Penmachno stages, where Thorburn was fortunate to lose little time with a late puncture, and Petch dropped a handful of seconds when he stalled at a hairpin. A break in the rain allowed McCloskey a clear run and he edged ahead of Mellors before heading off to service at Ruthin in hope of finding a cure for his wiper maladies. The service break provided some respite, but the torrential

ONæ DAVIESæ &æ MICHAELæ GILBEY

N4:æ PAULæ DAVYæ &æ ROGERæ ALLAN

Peugeot 205 pairing Thomas Lloyd and Craig Maggs recorded another second place, while Mark Davies and Pete Cotton finished third in their Escort Mk2.

Class B11: (see main report) Davies/Glennerster; Barrett/ Hilton; Dennis/Boswell. Class B12:

Pre-event favourites Ieuan Rowlands and Emyr Hall retired their Escort Mk2 with a broken bottom ball joint, allowing BMW 325i pairing Steve Ellis and Steve McNeil to take a clear victory. They finished over eight minutes clear of fellow 325i incumbents Graham Goodall and Peter Gilbert.

rain that followed scuppered any hopes McCloskey harboured of a challenge for supremacy. Regan was forced to relinquish his note reading duties while pulling the wiper strings, and as a result the Irish crew haemorrhaged time

2ND:æ CONNORæ MCCLOSKEYæ &æ æ F.æ REGAN

through Hafotty and Alwen South, and they slipped behind Mellors. The leaderboard showed Petch in second place, but his alternator failure meant his rally was run. With spectator issues causing the cancellation of the following Penmachno test, a repeat of Llyn Elsi and reverse run through Crafnant would complete the gravel stages. Mellors reign as official main challenger to Thorburn was short lived when he

B10:æ MARKOæ JERAMæ &æ STEVEæ GREEN

Class H1:

Gary Edgington/ Caroline Bannister headed a Hillman Avenger 1-2 finishing almost two minutes ahead of Graham Thatcher/ Rob James, who’s early pace was blunted by an incorrect set of spark plugs, limiting the engine’s power output. They then suffered a damaged exhaust, an off in SS7, and no intercom for the final stage, but were rewarded for their efforts with the 2013 Welsh and Pirelli Gravel H1 titles.

struck a rock hidden in the verge of a narrow road section smashing a wheel and bottom arm, forcing the Proton into instant retirement. Francis also departed the fray at this point with a broken oil cooler side-lining his Lancer.

3RD:æ ALEXæ æ ALLINGHAMæ &æ CHRISæ WILLIAMS

Heading back to Llandudno, for the final stage over the tarmac toll road of the Great Orme, Thorburn’s lead looked unassailable, and so it proved with McCloskey finishing 1m 42s in arrears. They may have missed out on the bigger prize, but McCloskey and Regan could at least draw consolation in becoming the first Irish crew to win the Welsh Rally Championship. They ultimately drove for a finish after hearing

B11:æ DYLANæ DAVIESæ &æ MARKæ GLENNERSTER

Class H2:

David Lloyd Roberts and Dei Jones topped a trio of Escort Mk2s, after runners-up Rex Ireland and Adrian Scadding were slowed by a puncture in SS1. John Baker and Seyyan John finished in third place.

Class H3:

Matthew Robinson and Sam Collis took the overall two-wheel-drive awards, while Tomas and Eurig Davies claimed the overall historic awards. That allowed Lancia

ominous gearbox noises, but still had to withstand a determined challenge from Alex Allingham and Chris Williams, who finished a close third after changing their Impreza’s suspension settings at service. Two historic crews made top ten finishes in Ford Escort Mk2s, with Silver Star champion Matthew Robinson and co-driver Sam Collis taking fourth place, while Tomas and Eurig Davies claimed eighth. Fifth-placed Keith Parry and Eryl Evans secured B13 honours in their Subaru Impreza, while Class B11 winners Dylan Davies and Mark Glennerster survived a SS7 puncture to finish sixth in their Ford Escort Mk1. Ian Joel and Graeme Wood made a rare BTRDA appearance in their Ford Escort Cosworth and finished seventh at the end. Paul Davy and Roger Allan put their pre-Rally GB National test to good use by finishing ninth in their Subaru Impreza ahead of the Ford Escort Mk2 of Robert Barrett and Pamela Hilton. P

B12:æ STEVEæ ELLISæ &æ STEVEæ MCPHEE

Stratos pairing Steve Perez and Paul Spooner to collect the top class awards, their only problem coming with a broken catch that saw Perez’s door fly open in Penmachno. Ford Escort Mk2 incumbents Terry Brown and Tomos Whittle collected the class runners-up prizes with the third in class awards going to Ford Escort Mk1 crew Roger Mathews and Paul Morris. P

Class B13:

Parry/Evans; Joel/Wood; McNeil/ Hughes (see main report).

H3:æ STEVEæ PEREZæ &æ PAULæ SPOONER

B13:æ KEITHæ PARRYæ &æ ERYLæ EVANS

H1:æ GARYæ æ EDGINGTONæ &æ C.æ BANNISTER

H2:æ DAVIDæ LLOYDæ ROBERTSæ &æ DEIæ JONES

2WD:æ MATTHEWæ ROBINSONæ &æ SAMæ COLLIS

1400CC:æ æ DAVIDæ BENNETTæ &æ A.æ æ MCNEIL

1STæ HIST:æ TOMASæ DAVIESæ &æ EURIGæ DAVIES

DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

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Clubman Corner stuartæ loudon Favourite Rally and why?

Cambrian Stages 2013 Winners Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton 2nd Connor McCloskey and Francis Regan 3rd Alex Allingham and Chris Williams

See all the action on Motors TV

Rally Finland because the stages are savage with awesome crowds!

Favourite Rally Driver and why? It has to be Colin McRae, a family friend and one hell of a driver. He was sp exciting to watch!

Favorite moment in Rallying?

Winning the 2013 Tunnocks Mull Rally with John MacCrone. My first ever rally win and what an event to do it on - the perfect rally weekend!

Best Event attended?

MOTORS TV Schedule (All at 9pm except *10pm)

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Season Review 20th December

Season Review 27th December*

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Rallye Monte Carlo. I watched twice and competed once. It is a real classic that everyone should see once in their life.

Age: 25 Occupation: Maintenance Engineer at Tunnocks Favourite Food: Spaghetti Bolognese Road Car: Audi S3, but have an Impreza P1 for playing at the weekend

Who helped you in Motorsport?

My dad has been a huge help and inspiration to me over the years. Plus professional help from Seb Marshall, Robert Reid and Nicky Grist have helped me when starting out on world events.

Biggest Disappointment in Rallying for you? Losing out on the WRC Academy co-driver World Rally Championship on the last round in 2012 after going off.

Best bit of advice ever given to you?

My dad said, “Iff you’re nervous at a stage start, just have a laugh to yourself, it’ll make you feel much better... It does!

Sponsors are?

Thomas Tunnock Ltd of course!

030 // REPORT // CARRYDUFF FORKLIFT N.I. RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

DOWN RALLY

WORDS :: WILLIAM NEILL // IMAGES :: NEILLPICS.CO.UK

Flaming Good Run! Sixty-year-old Kenny McKinstry made it three Down Rally wins by 39 seconds with future son-in-law, Kenny Hull, despite almost stalling an S14-version Impreza on the final stage.

RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

WINNERS: KENNY MCKINSTRY & KENNY HULL

The Banbridge team led from start-to-finish, and totted-up four stage wins at an event much supported by the rally preparation company, from sponsoring stages to regularly competing. On stage one, Curraghard, McKinstry was the only front runner to finish the test after number two seed Desi Henry blocked the road with a broken steering rack. On the following three stages

CL: MICHAEL NUTT & DAVID NUTT

Class One

Of the three cars in C1, Michael and David Nutt were the fastest on each stage in their Castlerockbased Honda Civic. The pair finished almost five minutes ahead of Gerry Faloona and Sean Tracey, despite a ten second road penalty for a late regroup. Faloona, had trouble too, with an off close to the start of the penultimate stage. The only other class entry, Calvin Beattie/ Domnhall Lennon, retired pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

McKinstry was fastest to produce a cushion of 42.9 seconds. All that remained was two reversed runs (5.4 miles each) of an earlier stage in Tollymore Forest Park. He wasn’t fastest on either, but he had enough in hand. The final two stages were won by Gareth Sayers and Gareth Gilchrist to finish second. The Lancer driver was delighted to top the stage times, and take two seconds from McKinstry’s margin.

CL2: DEREK MCGARRITY & JAMES MCKEE

on stage one when a tyre came off a rim.

Class Two

Derek McGarrity and James McKee earned another set of trophies – this time in the Group N category. Kieron Graffin and Paddy Robinson were second (see main report for more).

At the finish Sayers said, “I definitely felt I was playing it safe, and I could have gone faster.” He later added, “I still can’t believe we were fastest on two stages.” The second podium place came after a difficult morning for Sayers. On the first stage he had a flat tyre, and then on stage four his throttle stuck on six occasions. “It was very scary,” reported Sayers. It was a fantastic season for

CL3: JOHN CROSSLE & JOE GALLAGHER

Class Three

Two cars finished C3 with John Crossle and Joe Gallagher on top after going fastest in the category on the final three tests. Mark Robinson and Brian Galbraith kept out of trouble in their Chrysler Sunbeam in second, 1m 34 seconds down on Crossle’s Ford Escort. Early leader Jordan Hone retired when he slid off on a stage four corner, and he couldn’t get his Micra moving again.

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Kenny McKinstry / Kenny Hull Subaru Impreza S14....... 39:12.4 Gareth Sayers / Gareth Gilchrist Mitsubishi Evo................ 39:52.1 Jonny Leonard / Niall Burns Mitsubishi Evo VI ........... 40:36.9 Derek McGarrity / James McKee Subaru Impreza ............. 41:02.3 Kieron Graffin / Paddy Robinson Mitsubishi Evo IX ........... 41:05.0 Paul Killen / Barry Savage Ford Escort MkII ............ 41:22.6 Raymond Doyle / Marc Nugent Ford Escort MkII............. 41:45.4 Kevin Barrett / Sean Mullaly Subaru Impreza P2000 .. 42:15.4 Martin McKenna / Michael Gilmore Subaru Impreza .............. 42:30.9 Andrew Bustard / David Young Ford Escort MkII............. 43:33.0 Alan Smyth / Peter Thompson Citroën C2R2 .................. 43:36.3 JT Warnock / Andy Hayes Ford Escort MkII............. 44:12.9 Paul Barrett / Declan Tumilty Mitsubishi Evo VI ........... 44:13.4 John Gordon / Robby Knox Ford Escort MkII............. 45:51.2 Mark McDonald / Robin Pitts Ford Escort ..................... 46:07.2 William McClurkin / Louise McClurkin Ford Escort MkII............. 46:27.8 Shane Cullen / Russell Harold Ford Escort MkII............. 46:33.8 John Crossle / Joe Gallagher Ford Escort MkII............. 46:52.8 Conor Lavery / Richard Nelson Peugeot 205 ................... 47:15.5 Mark Robinson / Brian Galbraith Chrysler Sunbeam.......... 48:27.1 Michael Nutt / David Nutt Honda Civic Type R ........ 51:43.3 Gerry Faloona / Sean Tracey Vauxhall Astra ................ 56:37.9

CL4: RAYMOND DOYLE & MARC NUGENT

Class Four

C4 was won by Raymond Doyle and Marc Nugent. The pair kept their Ford Escort G3 sideways right to the finish line, and nearly removed the stage end board on one occasion. Second were Alan Smyth and Peter Thompson in their nimble Citroen C2.

Class Five

Paul Killen and Barry Savage led class five from start-to-finish

2ND: GARETH SAYERS & GARETH GILCHRIST

22-year-old Jonny Leonard and co-driver Niall Burns. They finished third in the rally, 44.8 seconds back, while concentrating on sealing third in the Northern Ireland series. Leonard said, “It wasn’t easy driving with a championship in mind.” He also won C9, the Group A award and junior category – there will be lots of trophies to collect at the ANICC presentation. Derek McGarrity and James McKee sealed victory in the Northern Ireland Rally Championship for the third time before the rally started. The only man who could have taken the win away was Derek McGeehan, but he didn’t start. See the championship report for more on how the story unfolded. Back to the rally, and McGarrity finished fourth with a flat tyre in a hired Group N car from Robbie McGurk. On the final stage he nipped ahead of Group N champions, Kieron Graffin and Paddy Robinson by 2.7 seconds. Niall Henry and Damien Duffin

CL5: PAUL KILLEN & BARRY SAVAGE

despite a gearbox issue. Andrew Bustard and David Young were next in line, 2m 10 seconds from the class win, but almost 40 seconds ahead of JT Warnock and Andy Hayes in a third Ford Escort.

Class Six

Shane McGirr and Jackie Elliott had a healthy lead in C6 before they went off the road on stage

3RD: JONNY LEONARD & NIAL BURNS

(Mitsubishi Lancer) had been leading the Group N race until they went off into a ditch 100 meters from the finish of the last stage after a puncture. Castlewellan’s Paul Killen and Barry Savage played to their home

Seventh-placed Raymond Doyle said, “We were on a wing and a prayer a few times.” The Escort G3 was 30 seconds up on Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally in an exRichard Burns P2000 Impreza that had stalling issues, and an early

I definitely felt I was playing it safe, and I could have gone faster. I still can’t believe we were fastest on two stages - Gareth Sayers crowd on the final stage, waving at friends and putting on a show. The pair finished sixth despite gearbox damage early in the event, and a twenty second penalty cost them fourth after leaving service late due to repair work. A special trophy was awarded to the fastest C5 car on the Drumkeeragh stage - the Bernie McMullan Memorial Trophy went to the Killen and Savage team.

CL6: MARK MCDONALD & ROBIN PITTS

five. The error allowed Shane Cullen and Russell Harold to move into the commanding position, only to be hit by trouble on the final stage. Their Escort crossed the line with damage, and the class win was gone. Mark McDonald and Robin Pitts were there to pick up the pieces in a G3-version Escort, to win by 26.6 seconds. Cullen and Harold’s finish - despite

puncture. Martin McKenna and Michael Gilmore gave their local rally a blast in a Subaru Impreza WRC, once owned by Emma McKinstry – daughter of the rally winner. They finished ninth, 15.5 seconds from Barrett, after working their way into the first ten on the afternoon stages. A big slide and nearly putting their Ford Escort into a ditch didn’t

CL8:L KEVIN BARRETT & SEAN MULLALLY

having to hold a door shut - earned the pair second and seventeenth overall.

Class Eight

Kenny McKinstry and Kenny Hull’s rally win had them on top of the C8 times. Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally took second in the category (see main report).

stop Andrew Bustard and David Young from taking tenth on the final stage by a mere 3.3 seconds. Alan Smyth felt the stages didn’t suit his Citroen C2, but he was happy to be placed eleventh at the finish in what was his first gravel event in the car. JT Warnock and Andy Hayes slid at a hairpin and ended-up on the grass, but quickly got going again to finish twelfth ahead of Paul Barrett and Declan Tumilty, who went wide on the final corner of the third stage. Shane McGirr and Jackie Elliott were third in their trusty Starlet before they left the road on stage five. McGirr said, “We had a good year, but you can’t finish them all.” Brendan Cunningham and Jason Gillespie retired in a stage one ditch. Brendan Cumiskey and Ronan O’Kane had an early finish with fuel pipe problems, and Martin Laverty’s Mitsubishi Lancer suffered engine damage on the opening stage. P

CL9: MARTIN MCKENNA & M. GILMORE

Class Nine

The C9 trophy winners all featured in the first ten cars home. Gareth Sayers and Gareth Glichrist added another trophy to a great day for them with the class win. Jonny Leonard and Niall Burns finished second, and Martin McKenna and Michael Gilmore’s Subaru Impreza WRC had the final class trophy in third, less than two minutes back.

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MAXXI

032 // REPORT // CLUBMAN RALLYING

JLT TEMPEST RALLY & MALTON FOREST RALLY WORDS :: ALISON MARLOW & CLIVE HODSDON // IMAGES :: RALLYGALLERY.COM

High Speed Action Thrills at Tempest Rally High speed rally action proved a popular attraction in Hampshire when a vast number of rally teams took part in the Aldershot-based JLT Tempest Rally. The event attracted a host of WRC cars, the very latest in 2WD technology, classic rally models and an unrivalled combination of established and rising rally drivers and co-drivers together with the popular Armed Forces Rally Team. Two individual rallies – one for two-wheel-drive cars and a second for the more powerful four-wheeldrive cars, produced two worthy winners after 10 high speed stages in forests on the Hampshire/ Surrey border. Robert Swann and Aled Edwards won the Tempest4 rally for four-wheel-drive cars in their Subaru Impreza, finishing just seven seconds ahead of Jamie Anderson and Chris Brooks in a Mitsubishi Evo IX. Third overall went to Tristan Bailey and James How, who were also in a Mitsubishi. In Tempest2 it was Callum Black who was the victor for the second year running with Paul

ROBERT SWANN & ALED EDWARDS

CALLUM BLACK & PAUL WAKELY

Wakely alongside in a Citroen DS3. Second place went to Leigh Armstrong and Chris Armstrong,

with Simon Smith and Sylvia Earle third overall. Rally manager Barry Guess said the event, his 25th at the helm, had once again been a great success for competitors and spectators. “The event ran well from start- to-finish and the feedback from everyone involved has been tremendous,’’ said Barry. “Robert has been a long time supporter of the event and it’s great to see him take his first Tempest Rally win, and we’re delighted Callum has

already pledged to come back next year and attempt a hatrick of wins. Both crews are worthy winners of their respective events, but neither win was easy and we had some close competition throughout the day.’’ Speaking at the finish, Tempest4 winner Robert Swann said that a comfortable lead heading into the final stage quickly disappeared after mechanical issues. “It was touch and go at one point, but I’m really happy to win this event after trying for many years,’’ said Robert. “Despite a few issues the car has tremendous power and traction. Although most of my rallying is on tarmac, this is one gravel event I always enjoy.’’ Tempest2 winner Callum Black commented that after a bit of slow start with a spin on an early stage he soon got into the flow. “I’m so chuffed to win again and my dad also finished in the first ten, so it’s been a good family day out,’’ he said. “I’ll definitely be back and I will try to make it three in a row next year.’’

Maiden win for the Millington Proton On stage one Ollie Mellors (Millington Proton) gained a nine second lead over Stephen Petch, who was out for the first time in a Fiesta R5 despite a puncture on the final third of stage one. Petch said, “I could do with a Focus, rather than a Fiesta.” However, times were closer in the next two stages, and by half-way, Mellors held just an 11 second lead. In an impressive third place was Jim McNeil just a further five seconds down. Competitors reported very slippery and muddy conditions after the opening stage. Steve Bannister said, “ That was slippery, in fact more than I thought. I nearly got caught out.” Matthew Robinson reported, “It was awesome with perfect stages and no dust.” Other crews seemed less concerned by the conditions. John Dowson said, “I was disappointed that there are no sweeties at the end of the stage.” The fun atmosphere the Malton Forest Rally creates was also exemplified by Mark Mazzitelli and Peter Butler. Mazzitelli said, “I pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

WINNERS: OLLIE MELLORS & REG SMITH

had broken shockers on stage one, but we’re going to try and change them in service. If we can’t we’ll carry on anyway because we are loving it.” In the historic section Steve Bannister (Escort Mk2) led Matthew Robinson (Escort Mk2) by just two seconds after the first stage in Langdale, but the hope for a battle between the two was ruined by Robinson’s retirement with a broken drive-shaft on stage two. This left Bannister with a 12 second lead over Peter Smith also in an Escort Mk2, extended

to 50 seconds by the end of the first Cropton stage. Ben Mellors, who, like Robinson, was doing a shakedown for the Roger Albert Clark Rally, had fought hard to repair both himself and his car after his Trackrod accident was a further 28 seconds back. After stage four Jim McNeil initially dropped a couple of places because of a one minute penalty for arriving early into the second service, allowing Peter Stephenson (Focus WRC) into third. In the historic section Ben Mellors leap frogged Peter Smith into second

place to lead him by 20 seconds. Unfortunately, Mellors retired after an accident on stage five which left Steve Bannister with a dominant win in the historics (and fifth overall) by 1m 30 seconds over Peter Smith, with Steve Magson an excellent third in a Mk1 Escort, rather than his more familiar Chevette. Going into the final stage, Wrelton Moor, Ollie Mellors had a 14 second lead over Petch, so it was all to play for, especially as McNeil’s penalty had been cancelled, and he was restored to third. In the end Petch beat Mellors on the stage by seven seconds, not quite enough, leaving Ollie Mellors with his first ever win by seven seconds. Jim McNeil was a further 47 seconds behind after an outstanding drive. Another outstanding drive too from Mat Smith, who finished ninth overall, and first in class by a massive 5m 49 seconds in his Ford Ka. It was an exciting end to a fabulous day in the sunny and golden forests of North Yorkshire.

MAXXIS-13-467 OE wellies HR_Layout 1 03/05/2013 10:21 Page 1

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034 // REPORT // DUNLOP NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

FASTNET RALLY

WORDS :: MARTIN WALSH // IMAGES :: MARTIN WALSH

Class Winners C2: ADRIAN LEVIS & DAN O’DONOVAN

WINNERS: DENIS CRONIN & COLMAN HURLEY C3: STEPHEN CAREY & BREDA O’DRISCOLL

C6: DANIEL CRONIN & SHANE BUCKLEY

C8: DENIS CRONIN & COLMAN HURLEY

Cronin Speeds To Fastne The Dunlop National Rally Championship concluded in Bantry where event locals, Denis Cronin and his co-driver, Coleman Hurley (Subaru WRC) took a 29.8 second victory over the Ford Fiesta WRC of Daragh O’Riordan/Tony McDaid. Third-placed, Clonmel’s Roy White (MG S2000) and his Cork co-driver, James O’Brien, secured maximum Dunlop points to clinch third in the series. Meanwhile, in the rally.ie category of the Dunlop series – awarded to the top two-wheeldrive crew in overall standings – victory went to Donegal pair, Declan Gallagher and Ryan Moore (Toyota Starlet) with fourth overall. Their only rivals for the title, Cavan’s, Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne crashed their Ford Escort out of the rally on the seventh stage.

C9: MARTIN LORDAN & RORY HENNESSY

C10: GARY KIERNAN & NIALL TIERNEY

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

3RD: ROY WHITE & JAMES O’BRIEN

On the opening stage, Hugh Hunter (Subaru WRC), winner of the last Dunlop round, the Galway Summer Rally, set the pace – his Subaru set the road that skirted Bantry Bay - alight long Bantry Bay. At the finish near Durrus, he led the rear-wheeldrive Toyota Starlet of Declan Gallagher by 18.6 seconds with back-to-back Fastnet champion, Daragh O’Riordan (Ford Fiesta

WRC) occupying third. On a pre-event test, O’Riordan’s Fiesta broke a rear drive-shaft. Roy White slotted his MGS2000 into fourth spot, followed by late entry Denis Cronin (Subaru WRC). The Ford Escorts of Jonathan

C11F: VINCENT MCSWEENEY & M. KEARNEY

2ND: DARRAGH O’RIORDAN & TONY MCDAID

RESULTS 1 2 3 4

stnet Rally Victory

5 6 7 8 9 10

Pringle and Wesley Patterson were next in classification. The top ten was completed by Jer O’Donovan (Subaru), Jason McSweeney (Mitsubishi Evo VIII) and John Hickey (Ford Escort). Hunter was also quickest on the second stage, while

Cronin moved into second – 27.3 seconds behind and 4.4 seconds in front of O’Riordan. Hunter’s rally ended on SS3, Mount Gabriel when his Subaru WRC developed transmission problems. Cronin set the pace on the stage, and arrived at the Bantry

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Denis Cronin/Colman Hurley Subaru Impreza.......... 1:17:41.7 Daragh O’Riordan/Tony McDaid Ford Fiesta WRC ........ 1:18:11.5 Roy White/James O’Brien MG S2000 .................. 1:19:49.5 Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore Toyota Starlet ............ 1:20:31.0 Wesley Patterson/Alan Whyte Ford Escort ................ 1:22:50.0 Jason McSweeney/Ronald Riordan Mitsubishi Evo ........... 1:24:50.9 Eddie Power/Mark Wiley Toyota Corolla ............ 1:25:33.1 Jer O’Donovan/Mark Bowen Subaru ....................... 1:25:36.9 Vincent McSweeney/M. Kearney Honda Civic ............... 1:25:38.0 Dan O’Brien/Mark Dennis Ford Focus ................. 1:26:02.7 Andy Mahon/Andy O’Donoghue Ford Escort ................ 1:26:27.2 Anthony O’Halloran/Declan O’Regan Opel Manta 400.......... 1:26:45.6 Daniel Cronin/Shane Buckley Honda Civic ................ 1:26:53.0 John Stafford/Richie Codd Peugeot 205............... 1:27:04.0 Fintan Canty/Denis O’Mahony Ford Escort ................ 1:27:11.7 Colin Byrne/Brian Quinlan Citroen C2R2.............. 1:27:29.6 Stephen Carey/Breda O’Driscoll Honda Civic ................ 1:27:40.7 Steve Wood/Keith Moriarty Citroen C2R2 Max ...... 1:28:15.9 Gary Kiernan/Niall Tierney Ford Escort ................ 1:29:01.7 Philip Cross/J.j Cremin Subaru ....................... 1:29:09.1 Johnny Curran/Mikey Walsh Ford Escort ................ 1:29:50.6 Adrian Levis/Dan O’Donovan Honda Civic ................ 1:29:51.3 Paul Manton/Aileen Kelly Citroen C2R2 Max ...... 1:30:17.1

C11R: ANDY MAHON & ANDY O’DONOGHUE

C13: DECLAN GALLAGHER & RYAN MOORE

C14: WESLEY PATTERSON & ALAN WHYTE

C15: EDDIE POWER & MARK WILEY

C17: ELLIS BELTON/GWYNFOR JONES

C20: ROY WHITE/JAMES O’BRIEN

DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

036 // REPORT // DUNLOP NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

FASTNET RALLY

WORDS :: MARTIN WALSH // IMAGES :: MARTIN WALSH

6TH: JASON MCSWEANEY & RONALD RIORDAN

4TH: DECLAN GALLAGHER & RYAN MOORE

CL4 & 8TH: JER O’DONOVAN & MARK BOWEN

town service park with a lead of 24.1 seconds over O’Riordan with Gallagher 12.1 seconds further behind in third. Cronin remarked that he was still braking far too early at the various junctions, but was happy with his performance. That was in sharp contrast to O’Riordan, who admitted he was very unsettled on the opening loop. Third-placed Gallagher was untroubled. Fourth-placed Roy White (MG S2000) was stymied by a dirty windscreen as Jonathan Pringle (Escort) seemed to have no answer to the pace of his rally.ie rival, Declan Gallagher. Wesley Patterson (Escort) was sixth in a top ten that was completed by Jason McSweeney (Mitsubishi), John Hendy (BMW M3 Compact), Jer O’Donovan (Subaru) and the Ford Focus of Dan O’Brien. On the repeat loop of three stages, Cronin topped the time sheets on the Goat’s Path and

ADRIAN LEVIS & DAN O’DONOVAN

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Mount Gabriel tests, while O’Riordan set the best time over Mount Gabriel. Cronin ran out of sequence on the Mount Gabriel as he attended to an intercom problem. At the final service halt in Bantry, the Ballylickey ace led O’Riordan by 27.2 seconds, the latter made changes to the suspension setup that seemed to improve the handling capabilities of his Fiesta WRC. A charging Roy White moved into third with rally.ie duo, Gallagher and Pringle next in classification. Wesley Patterson (Escort) admitted he was not willing to mix it with Gallagher and Pringle. Seventh-placed Jason McSweeney, on his first outing in a Mitsubishi, was delighted with his performance. The remaining places in the top ten were annexed by Jer O’Donovan (Subaru), Vincent O’Shea (Ford Escort) and Vincent McSweeney (Honda Civic), who

led Class 11F. O’Riordan took 2.9 seconds out of Cronin on S.S. 7, and 6.3 seconds on the penultimate stage to cut the deficit to 18 seconds. However, Cronin sealed victory with the fastest time on the final stage to take his third win on the event. O’Riordan, who celebrated his 32nd birthday, had to be content in second, with White taking third in the rally and the Dunlop National Rally Championship. Gallagher had a super run to claim the rally.ie award, unfortunately, his title rival, Jonathan Pringle (Escort) crashed on the first stage of the final loop. Elsewhere, Wesley Patterson (Ford Escort) was fifth and Dunmanway’s, Jason McSweeney (Mitsubishi VIII) was sixth. The remaining places in the top ten went to Eddie Power (Toyota Corolla), Group N winner, Jer O’Donovan (Subaru), Vincent McSweeney (Honda Civic) and Dan O’Brien (Ford Focus WRC). Vincent McSweeney and Andrew Mahon (Ford Escort) were the respective winners of Class 11F and Class 11R - front and rearwheel-drive. The Dunlop Drive of the Day award went to Steve Wood/Keith Moriarty (Citroen C2R2 Max). Non-starters included Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC), James Stafford (Darrian T90 GTR). Also failing to make the start were Pat Donegan (Ford Escort) and Eoin Doyle (Ford Focus WRC). P

JEREMIAH O’FLYNN/SHANE MCCARTHY

RESULTS Class 2 1 Adrian Levis/Dan O’Donovan Honda Civic ................ 1:29:51.3 2 Brian O’Mahony/Michelle Gallwey Honda Civic ................ 1:37:14.6 Class 3 1 Stephen Carey/Breda O’Driscoll Honda Civic ................ 1:27:40.7 Class 4 1 Jer O’Donovan/Mark Bowen Subaru ....................... 1:25:36.9 2 Philip Cross/J.j Cremin Subaru ....................... 1:29:09.1 Class 6 1 Daniel Cronin/Shane Buckley Honda Civic ................ 1:26:53.0 2 Colin Byrne/Brian Quinlan Citroen C2R2.............. 1:27:29.6 Class 8 1 Dan O’Brien/Mark Dennis Ford Focus ................. 1:26:02.7 2 Eddie Twomey/Alistair Wyllie Subaru Impreza.......... 1:30:26.7 Class 9 1 Martin Lordan/Rory Hennessy Ford Escort ................ 1:31:10.5 2 Shane Stanley/Liam Fouhy Honda Civic ................ 1:33:15.9 Class 10 1 Gary Kiernan/Niall Tierney Ford Escort ................ 1:29:01.7 2 Denis O’Brien/Derry Healy Opel Corsa ................. 1:30:24.8 Class 11F 1 Vincent McSweeney/Michael Kearney Honda Civic ................ 1:25:38.0 2 Colin Moynihan/Liam Moynihan Honda Civic ................ 1:31:06.7 Class 11R 1 28 Andy Mahon/Andy O’Donoghue Ford Escort ................ 1:26:27.2 2 93 Richard Harney/Brian Harney Ford Escort ................ 1:30:25.2 Class 12 1 Jim Cronin/Daniel Barrett Ford Escort ................ 1:37:49.4 2 Jerry O’Mahony/Willie Buchannan Ford Escort ................ 1:39:03.0 Class 13 1 Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore Toyota Starlet ............. 1:20:31.0 2 John Stafford/Richie Codd Peugeot 205............... 1:27:04.0 Class 14 1 Wesley Patterson/Alan Whyte Ford Escort ................ 1:22:50.0 2 Anthony O’Halloran/Declan O’Regan Opel Manta 400.......... 1:26:45.6 Class 15 1 Eddie Power/Mark Wiley Toyota Corolla ............ 1:25:33.1 2 Mick Cremin/Derek Tobin Mitsubishi Evo ........... 1:34:05.7 Class 20 1 Jason McSweeney/Ronald Riordan Mitsubishi Evo ........... 1:24:50.9 Class 17 1 Ellis Belton/Gwynfor Jones Ford Escort ................ 1:03:22.4 2 David Dee/Rita Dee Austin Mini Cooper .... 1:13:54.8 Class 16 1 Kevin Eves/Chris Melly Toyota Corolla .............. 55:21.8 2 Conor Moore/Ella Ryan Honda Civic ................... 57:04.9 3 David Fleming/Kieran Doherty Honda Civic ................... 57:26.3

OSIAN PRYCE & DALE FURNISS MSA BRC SILVER FLAG WINNER

BRC RORY GALLIGAN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD

RALLY NI WINNER

RALLY YORKSHIRE WINNER

RALLY SUNSEEKER WINNER

www.osianpryce.com OSIAN WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT...

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DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

038 // REPORT // BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

RALLYE SUNSEEKER WORDS :: SIMON MOSS // IMAGES :: JAKOB EBREY

2ND: TOM CAVE & IEUAN THOMAS

3RD: J. KORHONEN & M. SALMINEN

WINNERS: OSIAN PRYCE & DALE FURNISS

Pryce’s Hat-Trick, Korhonen’s Title Jukka Korhonen and Marko Salminen broke the 12 year Finnish drought at the top of the MSA British Rally Championship, finishing the final stage of Rallye Sunseeker International in third, securing overall and class titles in their Citroën DS3 amid jubilant scenes. Korhonen and Salminen delivered on their 2012 promise to lift the BRC trophy. Korhonen appeared relieved,

but delighted at the finish of the event saying; “I really don’t know what to say right now. It has been one of the longest days ever, but it is just an amazing feeling. I am so proud to add my name to the trophy that has the likes of Hannu Mikkola and Ari Vatanen on it. “The competition has been so close. It has been a very good year. Marko has done a fantastic job t and I must thank the Autosport Technology team too because the car has been perfect.” Rallye Sunseeker was a nailbiter from start-to-finish with three drivers in with a shout at the BRC title. But the Finns had the upper hand ahead of the Poolebased rally, needing a third place finishto guarantee the worldrenowned rallying accolade. Mercifully dry during Saturday’s action, the weather threatened to turn throughout Friday, but rain stayed away just long enough for a packed ceremonial start on Poole Quay. Overnight the heavens opened, leaving the stages wet and slippery, ready to catch out the unwary. Keenly aware of the conditions, Welshmen Osian Pryce and Dale Furniss dominated from the start of the 60 mile event to take their third straight victory in the Ringwood forests, their hat-trick helped secure second in the

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

championship. After beating Tom Cave/Ieuan Thomas on the stages, both ended a tense season on 92 points. In a reversal of the pair’s 2012 Rally Yorkshire tie break, this time it went in favour of Pryce, based on his higher number of maximum scores this season. After the first loop of stages Cave had been fifth in his Morris Lubricants DMS machine, but with a total of less than eight seconds

4TH: ALASTAIR FISHER & GORDON NOBLE

covering the top five, it was still all to play for. A fastest time on the longest stage catapulted him to third, managing to ease past Korhonen for second by the half way point. It was down to Alastair Fisher/ Gordon Noble and Cave/Thomas to attempt to take the title from Korhonen, both crews needed to win to have any chance of winning thw series. But from the very first stage it was clear Pryce had other ideas, making his mark on

the opening test with a time 1.9 seconds clear of last year’s winners and number one seeds, Mark Donnelley and Dai Roberts. DGM Sport driver, Donnelly, looked like he had the measure of his Pirelli Star Drive prize DS3 at last, but the pace at the front was so hot he was quickly swallowed up by an onslaught of Citroëns. Their eventual fifth place belied the fierceness of the competition

5TH: MARK DONNELLY & DAI ROBERTS

though, the margin between him and fellow Northern Irish crew Fisher/Noble was never more than two seconds until near the end of the ten-stage rally. In a season where tenths have replaced seconds on some events, Donnelly’s DGM Sport team-mate Fisher missed a podium place by just 0.2 seconds, unable to make a significant dent in Korhonen’s stages times on a surface that sapped power from the frontrunners’ Citroën DS3s.

Despite being just 25, Jonny Greer could be considered a BRC veteran and he was reasonably pleased with sixth after climbing from eighth early on. The Ulsterman and Scottish co-driver Kirsty Riddick managing to keep Culina Palletforce Racing crew John MacCrone and Phil Pugh at bay after overhauling them on stage three. Callum Black and James Morgan ended the day in eighth place. The 22 year-old Brackley man was surprised and delighted to take the Mantis Performance Car Care award along with a cheque for £250 at the Poole Quay finish. County Monaghan’s Daniel McKenna and Arthur Kierans held their nerve in the BRC RallyTwo and BRC Class Six title fight, a controlled run allowed rivals Steve Røkland and James Aldridge the event win, but second place was enough to seal the series for the Irish pairing. They also secured the Fiesta SportTrophy, following in the footsteps of drivers who have gone on to success on the world rally stage. Victory also meant a free entry for Wales Rally GB, part of the joint BRC and WRGB Road to Wales campaign. Røkland was fastest of the RallyTwo runners throughout the day, managing ninth overall, and the International Rally Drivers’

CLASS A06: STEVE ROKLAND & JAMES ALDRIDGE

Club Newcomers Award on the rally, with an untroubled run in the Fiesta R2. The quietly spoken 21-year-old has, however, shouted about his performance in his home Norway, adding his name to the Prodrive-supported BRCLIVE Media Trophy finalists through great media exposure in 2013. Rally Yorkshire’s Pirelli Star Driver nomination, Alex Parpottas, had a new co-driver, Alexander Kihurani, helping the him to third place in the ultra-competitive category. Another good drive demonstrated a growing maturity from the Hertfordshire Fiesta pilot. Twingo Renaultsport R2 Trophy winners Chris Ingram and John Connor were fourth, making a welcome sight in the forests in the fantastic Renault Twingo R2 Evo. They bettered fifth placed David Carney and Ray Fitzpatrick during the first half of the day’s stages, managing to keep them at bay, despite Carney’s faster times after lunch – times that gave them maximum points in the RAVENOL Oils Newcomers Trophy. The battle for the BRC Teams Cup went to DGM Sport, courtesy of great performances throughout the season by Fisher and Donnelly. Only the highest placed driver scores for this trophy, so enabling Cave’s Morris Lubricants DMS single car entry to stay in touch right to the finish, finishing just three points adrift. With all scores counting towards the trophy, MacCrone’s retirement in Ulster cost Culina Palletforce Racing a

DANIEL MCKENNA CELEBRATES HIS A06 CHAMPIONSHIP WIN

chance at the title, but the team worked hard to secure third. As the top of the championship has been dominated by the awesome Citroën DS3 R3T, it is no surprise that Citroën UK retains the MSA British Manufacturers Rally Championship. No surprise, but no less impressive, because it is the car of choice for the majority of front-runners. The front-wheeldrive 210 horsepower machines have been fast, reliable and brilliant to watch. In addition to providing the car that dominated the series,

BENJAMYN MCKAY - STAR DRIVER

Citroën’s support of its eponymous Racing Trophy meant Pryce took a massive €5000 in parts vouchers, a share of the €63,000 made available at the start of the season. As overall Citroën Racing Trophy champion, Korhonen also gained a free entry to Wales Rally GB, the final round of the World Rally Championship, plus €8000 start money and 20 Pirelli tyres. Pryce grabs an additional €5000 start money and 12 Pirelli tyres with third-placed Cave rewarded with €3000 start money and eight

Pirellis for the November event. Rallye Sunseeker International also saw the conclusion of the season-long battle for the MSA British Junior Rally Championship and Twingo Renaultsport R1 Trophy UK. Harry Threlfall and Andy Bull had a mountain to climb to beat their rivals to the titles, reliant on Ben and Jason Mckay’s retirement to clinch the series. But the situation did leave them free to push harder, knowing Mckay would be in safe mode. Bookending the season with wins, the ebullient man from Taunton was as pleased as ever on the Poole podium. It was team Mckay that groaned under the awards in Dorset. Having missed the pre-rally recce, they admitted to pottering round for a finish – not fast, but exactly the required approach in the circumstances. Another recipient of a free entry on Wales Rally GB for the Junior title, the Twingo prize also awaits in the south of France – an arrive-and-drive run in a Twingo R2 on Rallye du Var (final round of the French Rally Championship). Having secured the BRC Class Nine, junior category and Twingo titles at the finish, the 21-year-old was preparing to head back to Oswestry when he had the surprise of the day. As reward for his mature first season en-route to the British Junior title, the Pirelli Star Driver judges awarded him the final place in the coveted shootout, a fantastic opportunity to be part of the selection process.

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But the awards didn’t stop there. Third in the RAVENOL Oils Newcomers Trophy on Rallye Sunseeker was enough to give Mckay the title ahead of David Carney, both passing season-long leader Jon Armstrong, who retired his Fiesta on stage three. Armstrong’s retirement was one of just four on the rally. Tim Cathcart, Kit Leigh and Ruary MacLeod’s Fiestas were all sidelined – a mix of mechanical and driver error contributing to the losses. P

RESULTS 1

Osian PRYCE/Dale FURNISS Citroen DS3 R3T ........ 0:58:48.8

Tom CAVE/Ieuan THOMAS Citroen DS3 R3T ........ 0:59:03.2

Jukka KORHONEN/Marko SALMINEN Citroen DS3 R3T ........ 0:59:27.7

Alastair FISHER/Gordon NOBLE Citroen DS3 R3T ........ 0:59:27.9

Mark DONNELLY/Dai ROBERTS Citroen DS3 R3T ........ 0:59:38.8

Jonny GREER/Kirsty RIDDICK Citroen DS3 R3T ........ 1:00:13.5

John MACCRONE/Phil PUGH Citroen DS3 R3T ........ 1:00:19.7

Callum BLACK/James MORGAN Citroen DS3 R3T ........ 1:01:00.1

Steve ROKLAND/James ALDRIDGE Ford Fiesta R2 ............ 1:02:09.6

10 Daniel McKENNA/Arthur KIERANS Ford Fiesta R2 ............ 1:02:47.4 11 Alex PARPOTTAS/A. KIHURANI Ford Fiesta R2 ............ 1:03:08.6 12 Chris INGRAM/John CONNOR Renault Twingo .......... 1:04:03.6 13 David CARNEY/Ray FITZPATRICK Citroen C2R2 Max ...... 1:04:52.3 14 Harry THRELFALL/Andy BULL Renault Twingo .......... 1:14:22.1 15 Benjamyn McKAY/Jason McKAY Renault Twingo .......... 1:22:28.9

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DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

040 // REPORT // CLUBMAN RALLYING

BANNA BEACH RESORT KERRY WINTER RALLY WORDS :: SEAN MORIARTY // IMAGES :: JOE LAGANA

Local Hero Wins Kerry Winter Rally 2ND: ED O’CALLAGHAN & GER CLANCY

3RD: STEPHEN MCCANN & LISA O’DOWD

WINNERS: MIKE QUINN & TONY HEALY

Event local ace Mike Quinn and his neighbour and co-driver Tony Healy took a welldeserved victory at the Banna Beach Resort Kerry Winter Rally. Torrential rain greeted the 106

starters as they faced four stages in the Ballybunion and Ballyduff areas of north Kerry. In the end it was Quinn who mastered the tricky conditions best. He set second fastest time on the opening stage, but slotted into a lead he would never relinquish after early leader Edward O’Callaghan hit trouble. It was Quinn’s 18th time starting his home event, but aside from victory in the modified section of the Killarney Historic Rally in 2009, this was his and Healy’s first win. The crew picked-up the Donal O’Flaherty Memorial Trophy, one of the most coveted awards in Kerry motorsport at Sunday’s award night at the Banna Beach Hotel, and are only the second all Kerry Motor Club crew, after John Kearney and Denis O’Connell in 2005, to win this traditional end of season event. Second-placed Edward O’Callaghan and his co-driver Ger Clancy were one of starts of the show. They set the fastest time on stage one, some 15 seconds quicker than Quinn. Disaster struck on stage two, when their Ford Escort

aquaplaned on standing water. They hit a bale chicane, which launched them through a wall and into a field. They were able to make their way back on to the stage through an open gate, but the whole episode cost them over 30 seconds. They set a string of top times, and entered the final stage just 11 second off Quinn in third place, and eventually finished just three second behind the local team. As a result they leap-frogged

C6: STEPHEN CAREY & BREDA O’DRISCOLL

the Mitsubishi Lancer of Stephen McCann and Lisa O’Dowd, who were complaining of a misfiring engine at the end of the day’s action. Shane Maguire endured a though day at the office, his Subaru Impreza suffered diff problems on stage one and a turbo failure on stage two, but an eventual eighth

overall was enough to secure his second Top Part West Coast Rally Championship title. Local crews to do well included Shanagolden’s Ed Synan and his Kilflynn co-driver Denis ‘Connell, who finished sixth overall in their Ford Escort. Moyvane’s Mikey O’Connor Junior and Gerry Lynch were 11th, and won C15 in their Lancer. Aoife O’Donoghue from Killarney made her co-driving debut and guided her father Kevin to 12th place. Listowal’s David Murphy and John Gleeson were up next, and won the Kerry Motor Club award, while father and son team Charlie and Johnny Hickey were 17th out of the 84 finishers. Ardfert’s John O’Flaherty and Tommy Commane lost out on the junior award on a tie-breaker, and finished 23rd overall, one place in front of Killarney/Tralee pairing of Tadgh O’Sullivan and Senan Raggett. Johnny Fitzgerald, the driver who raised so much money for a Cancer Charity by raffling his codriver’s seat for the rally, finished the event too with debutant codriver Lisa O’Shea on the notes. P

RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

C8: PAT KELLY & JONATHAN KELLY pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

RICHARD WHELAN & SARAH WHELAN

PJ O’DOWD & JOHN YOUNG

Mike Quinn/Tony Healy Ford Escort ...................... 29:47 Edward O’Callaghan/Ger Clancy Ford Escort ...................... 29:50 Stephen McCann/Lisa O’Dowd Mitsubishi Evo ................. 29:55 Alan Callaghan/Cathal McGrath Subaru Impreza................ 30:00 Pat Kelly/Jonathan Kelly Subaru Impreza STI ........ 30:03 Ed Synan/Denis O’Connell Ford Escort Mk2............... 30:17 Barry Ryan/Keith Moriarty Ford Escort Mk2............... 30:23 Maguire/Martin McGarrity Subaru Impreza................ 30:31 Paul Purtill/Raymond Scott Ford Escort ...................... 30:37 Jim McKenna/Thomas Treanor Ford Escort Mk2............... 30:40 Mike Jnr O’Connor/Gerry Lynch Mitsubishi Evo ................. 30:59 Kevin O’Donoghue/Aoife O’Donoghue Ford Escort ...................... 31:19 David Murphy/John Gleeson Ford Escort Mk2............... 31:22 Michael Carbin/Emmet McCooey Mitsubishi Evo ................. 31:25 Richard Whelan/Sarah Whelan Honda Civic ...................... 31:32 Stephen Carey/Breda O’Driscoll Honda Civic ..................... 31:52 Charlie Hickey/Johnny Hickey Ford Escort RS ................. 32:18 Paul McCann/Thomas McCann Ford Escort Cosworth ...... 32:26 William Cavanagh/Olivia Coen Ford Escort Mk2............... 32:40 Gerard McDonagh/Sharon Egan Subaru Impreza................ 32:49 Derek Butler/Jenna Browne Honda Civic ...................... 32:49 Damien Boyle/Joseph Boyle Honda Civic ...................... 32:52 John O’Flaherty/Tommy Commane Toyota Starlet RWD .......... 32:52 Tadgh O’Sullivan/Senan Raggett Ford Escort Mk2............... 32:54 Colin Moynihan/Liam Moynihan Honda Civic ...................... 32:57 John White/Andy Donoghue Honda Civic EK4............... 32:58 Diarmuid Keohane/Peter Keohane Ford Escort RS Mk2 ......... 33:04 Jason Roycroft/Nicole O’Shea Honda Civic EK4............... 33:06

CONGRATULATIONS Mike Quinn & Tony Healy 1st O/A Banna Mini Stages Rally

Ed O’Callaghan & Ger Clancy 2nd O/A Banna Mini Stages Rally

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DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

042 // REPORT // HISTORIC RALLYING

ROGER ALBERT CLARK RALLY WORDS & IMAGES :: PAUL LAWRENCE

Bannister’s Joy After Glorious Three Days...

WINNERS: STEVE BANNISTER & KEVIN RAE

Steve Bannister and Kevin Rae repeated their 2007 victory on the Roger Albert Clark Rally victory after another glorious three days of rallying through Yorkshire and the Scottish borders. Bannister was peerless in his

Ford Escort Mk2 over 160 miles of special stages, made even tougher by ice on Sunday morning. Over the opening two legs, Matthew Robinson/Sam Collis and Jason Pritchard/John Millington chased Bannister hard, but the same deceptive crest in the Pundershaw stage claimed them both, Pritchard rolled out on the first run and Robinson on the second time through the 12-mile stage. “After the fight with Marty McCormack last year, and losing on the last stage, this has made up a little bit,” said Bannister. “This is the best event of the year for historic cars, so it is great to win it again. “It’s been a brilliant event,” continued the winner. “We’ve had no problems at all. To be fair, Kevin Theaker builds the car so well that we just do tyres and petrol, and that’s about it. I was very disappointed when Matthew Robinson went out. Both Matthew and Jason Pritchard were giving me a good fight, so it was great when the three of us set the same time in Hamsterley as that showed how close it was.” The tenth anniversary of the rally, which recreates the RAC events of the 1960s and 1970s, was pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

4TH: TIM PEARCY & NEIL SHANKS

6TH: DARREN MOON & PHIL CLARKE

7TH: CHARLIE TAYLOR & STEVE BIELBY

another huge hit with competitors and thousands of spectators. The Friday evening featured six stages in the Dalby complex, while Saturday’s route headed north into Kielder before an overnight hault in Carlisle. Sunday was the sting in the tail with 70 competitive miles in the border forests. The opening leg of the Roger Albert Clark Rally is usually a tough start, and this year’s loop in the darkness of the Dalby complex proved no exception. Bannister set the pace on the first Dalby stage by a whopping 20s, but Robinson quickly overcame a wrong tyre choice to charge through the next five stages and chip away at Bannister’s lead, which was

a modest 16s by the time crews returned to Pickering. Pritchard settled into a fine third from Tomas and Eurig Davies, while Meirion Evans and Iwan Jones were a cracking fifth on only their third gravel rally. In the open section of the rally, Barry Stevenson-Wheeler and John Pickavance took an early 21s lead from the fellow Escort Mk2 of Dave Hemingway/Simon Ashton. In Category 1 Ian Beveridge and Peter Joy forged their Volvo PV544 ahead by just 11s from the Lotus Cortina of Bob Bean/Malcolm Smithson. Out of luck was Jeremy Easson, who suffered prop-shaft failure on his Datsun 240Z and Steve Perez had an off in his Lancia Stratos, which put the car out of the rally. However, with repairs completed overnight Perez sportingly returned to run as course car on the Saturday. The story of day two, and the battle at the head of the rally was played out in two runs through the daunting Pundershaw stage on Saturday afternoon. By the time the survivors arrived at Carlisle, Bannister had a lead of almost four minutes. But the day had started differently in front of a huge

2ND: PAUL GRIFFITHS & RICHARD WARDLE

crowd in Duncombe Park where Robinson pulled back a couple of seconds from Bannister. On the asphalt of Croft, Robinson dropped a little time while Pritchard showed himself as a candidate for the lead contest. It was Pundershaw that really shook things up. As a hailstorm swept across the 12.5 mile stage, Pritchard was caught out by a deceptive crest and rolled out of the rally. On the second run in full darkness Robinson did much the same thing and at a stroke, the opposition to Bannister was out. Just to prove a point, Bannister was fastest on both runs through Pundershaw to end the leg with a lead of 3m58s. Up to second, despite a tricky day went Paul Griffiths and Richard Wardle by 44s from Davies. Seamus O’Connell and Owen Murphy made it two Irish drivers in the top five. In Category 1 Bean edged his Lotus Cortina ahead of the Volvo PV544 of Beveridge, while in the open section Nick Jarvis and Craig Thorley headed birthday boy Hemingway by just over a minute. The Sunday delivered an icy start ahead of a glorious day in the Scottish borders and Bannister retained full control to make certain of victory. “It was amazing really, especially with the ice on the Sunday morning,” reported Bannister. “The ice in Kershope and Newcastleton was really bad. Craik was probably the least icy of them all, but even during the afternoon stages there were little patches of ice here and there to catch you out if you were not careful.” Griffiths, too, had a great day to make sure of second from the attacking O’Connell. Tim Pearcey/ Neil Shanks fought back to fourth after losing time with a lowspeed roll in the Duncombe Park

3RD: SEAMUS O’CONNELL & PAUL WAKELY

stage on the Saturday morning. O’Connell duly laid the ghost of a torrid 2012 event and repeated his previous best of third overall after another attacking drive. Out of luck was Davies, who rolled out

After the fight with Marty McCormack last year and losing on the last stage, this has made up a little bit. This is the best event of the year for historic cars, so it is great to win it again.It’s been a brilliant event, we’ve had no problems at all - Steve Bannister in Craik, while Murphy dropped to fifth with two punctures. His lack of experience on notes and local knowledge had given Murphy a mountain to climb, but both car and driver had performaned exceptionally. Into sixth overall came Darren

Moon and 2012 winning co-driver Phil Clarke. Their Escort Mk2 lost three and a half minutes on the opening Duncombe Park stage thanks to a detached HT lead. They then fought back and may well have taken third without the delay. Moon dedicated his result to his late rallying friend David Marshall, who died earlier this year. For the ninth time in nine starts, Charlie Taylor and Steve Bielby bagged a top ten finish in their Escort Mk2 with yet another strong and consistent performance. Packing out the lower reaches of the top ten were two crews who suffered badly on the Friday night. Rob Smith/Alun Cook dropped six minutes with an off in Staindale and Matt Edwards/Will Rogers dropped even more time with an engine bay fire after an electrical fault. Both crews then started superb recovery drives that would move them up by the finish with Edwards eighth and Smith tenth. Edwards had gone from 62nd to eighth with a mighty drive. “How we did that after losing five and a half minutes on the first day I really don’t know,” he said. Splitting Edwards and Smith to take ninth overall were Guy Woodcock and Graham Dance,

RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Steve BANNISTER/Kevin RAE ... Ford Escort MK11 ......... 2:49:07 Paul GRIFFITHS/Richard WARDLE Ford RS1800 Escort ...... 2:53:19 Seamus O’CONNELL/Paul WAKELY Ford Escort MK2 ........... 2:55:55 Tim PEARCEY/Neil SHANKS Ford Escort RS1800 ...... 2:56:47 Owen MURPHY/James O’BRIEN Talbot Sunbeam Lotus .. 2:57:04 Darren MOON/Phil CLARKE Ford Escort RS 1800 ..... 2:57:34 Charlie TAYLOR/Steve BIELBY Ford Escort ................... 2:58:10 Matt EDWARDS/Will ROGERS Ford Escort ................... 2:58:27 Guy WOODCOCK/Graham DANCE Ford Escort RS2000 ...... 2:58:57 Rob SMITH/Alun COOK Ford Escort RS .............. 3:00:05 Stefaan STOUF/Joris ERARD Ford Escort RS1600 ...... 3:01:32 Theo BENGRY/Les FORSBROOK Ford Escort Mk 2........... 3:02:00 Chris & Ali CORNWELL-BROWNE Ford Escort RS1600 ...... 3:02:10 Peter SMITH/Patrick WALSH C5 Ford Escort MK1 ........... 3:02:18 Phil SQUIRES/Mick SQUIRES Ford Escort RS1800 ...... 3:03:05 Peter EGERTON/Jamie EDWARDS Ford Escort ................... 3:14:05 Chris SKILL/Garry MIDDLETON Ford Escort 1600 .......... 3:15:07 Bob BEAN/Malcolm SMITHSON Ford Lotus Cortina ........ 3:17:14 Darren GRIMSTON/Tony WALKER Ford Escort Mexico ....... 3:18:44 Kim BAKER/Paul HEATH Ford Escort Mk1............ 3:22:00 David J. GOOSE/R. H OLDERSHAW Ford Escort 1600 .......... 3:24:13 David LUCKING/Paul GARSIDE Ford Escort MK2 ........... 3:27:12 Stewart SCOTT/Mark CASEY Ford Escort RS2000 ...... 3:30:19 A. ADRIAANS/Anne Marie MAGIS Datsun .......................... 3:41:33 Stephen HIGGINS/R. ROUGHEAD SAAB 96........................ 3:41:42 Jim VALENTINE/Jonathan LODGE Saab 96 Sport ............... 3:45:33 John EVERARD/Mark SHARPLEY Alfa Romeo 1600 3:48:05 Steve GRAHAM/Tony GRAHAM Lancia Fulvia ................. 4:03:30 David WATKINS/Paul TRAIN Ford Escort ................... 4:13:48 Nykle MEIJER/Fons GOSGENS Austin-Healey MK III ..... 4:54:48

5TH: OWEN MURPHY & JAMES O’BRIEN

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044 // REPORT // HISTORIC RALLYING

ROGER ALBERT CLARK RALLY WORDS & IMAGES :: PAUL LAWRENCE

11TH: STEFAAN STOUF & JORIS ERARD

who delivered yet another giantkilling performance in their Pintopowered Ford Escort Mk2, which ran like a train as they dominated class D3. They were sixth overall at the end of the Saturday, but lost out to power the following day, and slipped to ninth to record a finish. Other major winners included Belgian Stefaan Stouf and Joris Erard, who won Category 2 with 11th overall in their Ford Escort Mk1. However it was close because husband and wide crew Chris Browne/Ali CornwellBrowne were 38 seconds off while they just kept Peter Smith/ Pat Walsh at bay over the closing stages to take second. The elated Browne summed up his first and the tenth Roger Albert Clark Rally: “We loved everything about it! This is an incredible rally and we’re coming back next year.” After early suspension problems at Duncombe Park, Martyn Hawkswell and Nick Welch finally emerged to win the open section and complete a hat-trick of wins in their Ford Escort Mk2. Jarvis set the early pace and escaped from a high speed off at Croft with only minor panel damage to the back of the car. However, their rally ended with a roll in the Florida stage on the Sunday and Hawkswell went back ahead having fended off the combined challenge from the Escorts of Stevenson-Wheeler/ Pickavance and Hemingway/ Ashton. Class B1 for the small-engined Category 1 cars was an all-Saab 96 affair with the two-strokes of Stephen Higgins/Ronnie Roughead and Jim Valentine/Jonathan Lodge

25TH: STEVE HIGGINS & R. ROUGHEAD pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

12TH: THEO BENGRY & LES FORSBROOK

having battled it out. Ultimately Higgins had a great run to win by a handy margin with a typical attacking drive, while stalwart RAC supporter Valentine chalked up another finish despite a catalogue of problems. The event would not be

years earlier in a PV544. Dutchmen Nykle Meijer and Fons Gosgens were hugely popular with the fans in their Austin Healey 3000. The pair overcame a catalogue of problems, notably a blown diff at the stat of Pundershaw, to win Class B5.

We loved everything about it! This is an incredible rally and we’re coming back next year - Chris Browne complete without 75-year-old Bob Bean, a veteran of more than 50 years of rallying, and he won Category 1 with another polished performance. But on the first night the Volvo PV544 of Ian Beveridge and Peter Joy was in front. Bean moved ahead on the Saturday and the Volvo then suffered a snapped cam-shaft on Sunday, which brought to an unfortunate end their homage to Tom Trana winning the original RAC Rally 50

17TH: CHRIS SKILL & GARY MIDDLETON

Steve and Tony Graham, members of the select ten out of ten RAC club, guided their Lancia Fulvia to Class C victory despite losing the brakes in Staindale on the Friday evening. A clutch change meant Darren Grimston and Tony Walker had a late night with their Ford Escort Mexico, but they bounced back to win Class C2, but finished with a blown exhaust. Dave Watkins and Paul Train should have been in the

18TH: BOB BEAN & M. SMITHSON

battle in their ex-Mikkola Mk1, but alternator failure on Friday left them too far behind to challenge. Instead, they had a ball over the remaining stages, often catching and passing a gaggle of slower cars. Kim Baker and Paul Heath (Ford Escort Mk1) bagged a fine victory in Class C3. Baker had a great event driving the XS Racing car for the first time. A heart-inmouth moment in Pundershaw kept Kim on her toes, but a top 20 overall finish was a fine result. Sadly things did not end well for class rivals Phil Jobson/Ali Proctor with a heavy off in Craik when caught out by a patch of ice. Their only-just rebuilt ex-Noel Edmonds Escort Mk1, affectionately known as Snowy was left in a sorry state. Armand Adriaans and AnneMarie Magis won class C4 in their Datsun 240Z. The similar car of Jeremy Easson and Mike Reynolds was an early casualty when the car’s prop-shaft failed on the Friday evening, while Tim Mason and Graham Wild led until their Porsche 911 crashed on the ice of Sunday morning. Reynolds was at least able to grab a ride in the Perez Stratos when it ran as a course car through the Saturday and Sunday morning stages before a half-shaft failed. Chris Skill and Garry Middleton (Ford Escort Sport) had a ball on their way to Class D2 spoils. The car was only ready to rally three days before the event started. The Montescorts car ran superbly, and Middleton coped remarkably well on his first ever rally. The pair enjoyed running at the head of the field with the Category 1 cars. P

28TH: STEVE GRAHAM & TONY GRAHAM

30TH: NYKLE MEIJER & FONS GOSGENS

Owen Murphy & James O’Brien 1 9 8 0 E X WO R K S TA L B O T S U N B E A M L O T U S S H AT T E R S C O N T E M P O R A RY E S C O R T M O N O P O LY

1st

CLASS D4

5th

OVERALL

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COTT Y R P H Y, P E T E R S , ALAN TREAC H Y, J E R R Y M U ROID BEAMISH EY RS: JOHN LEA W I L S O N, G E A L E G I TEAM LEADE N, N O E L D O R N N , E D I R IAN HOULIHA HN MCB M O A J D : S Y, C S I A N E A D H MEC E, CIARA RMA KIRSTEIN LOGISTICS: I

THANKS TO

SHERWOOD ENGINES HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DRIVERS IN THE ROGER ALBERT CLARK RALLY... 1

Paul Griffiths & Richard Wardle 2nd O/A

Tim Pearcey & Niel Shanks 1st O/A in Historic Cat 3

Darren Moon & Phil Clarke 1st in Class D5

Seamus O’Connell & Paul Wakely 3rd O/A

Chris & Ali Cornwall-Browne 1st in Class C5

Charlie Taylor & Steve Bielby 2nd in Class D5

Steffan Stouf & Joris Erard 1st O/A in Historic Cat 2

Peter Smith & Patrick Walsh 2nd in Class C5

Theo Bengry & Les Forsbrook 1st in Class E5

. . . . . . . ALSO A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO . . . . . . . 4

. . . . . . . ALSO A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO . . . . . . . 6

Wishing all our customers a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year E: sales@sherwoodengines.co.uk T: +44(0)1353-864888 F: +44(0)1353-864888 M: +44(0)7801-455202 Unit 5 - Faraday Business Park, Faraday Road, Littleport, Ely, Cambs. CB6 1PE DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

046 // REPORT // REIS/GET CONNECTED MSA ASPHALT RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

UTS CHEVIOT KEITH KNOX STAGES RALLY WORDS :: ANDREW HAILL // IMAGES :: PRO-RALLY.CO.UK

WINNERS: DAMIAN COLE & ELLIOTT EDMONDSON

Cole Claims Fourth Consecutive Title! Victory on the UTS Cheviot Keith Knox Stages Rally, the final round of the REIS – Get Connected MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, was enough to clinch a fourth consecutive title for Damian Cole. At the end of what has been the most competitive championship for years, Cole arrived in Otterburn as one of four drivers still in with a chance of lifting the trophy. The day dawned misty and

damp, but it was quite obvious that the pace would be electric right from the off. Thirteen stages, totalling 92 miles, were on the menu and Cole was immediately on it, setting FTD on each of the first five tests. Initially, his main opposition came from late-entry Peter Taylor, but his challenge came to an abrupt end on SS4 when the Carlisle driver’s Focus WRC left the road at high speed. The Impreza WRC of fellow championship aspirants Steve Simpson/Patrick Walsh moved-up to second, but any hopes of lifting the title soon disappeared after a large quantity of oil was found to be leaking from a crack in the gearbox casing. It was game over. Simon Mauger/Brian Cammack then took the spot in their Escort – Cammack was the only person in a position to challenge Walsh for the co-drivers’ title, but he would have to take a maximum score to

A7: ALEX LAFFEY & JACK MORTON

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2ND: JOHN STONE & CARL WILLIAMSON

squeeze the season-long leader into second place, and even then it would only be by a single point. Clutch trouble hampered the Escort’s progress as the day wore on, allowing John Stone’s Skoda to close in. By the time the pair reached the finish, they were on identical penalties, with Stone getting the nod for second with a quicker time on the opening stage.

Nevertheless, neither Cole nor Stone’s co-drivers were championship-registered, giving third-placed Brian Cammack top points – and the title. While we congratulate him on his success, especially in a two-wheel-drive car, at the same time spare a thought for Patrick Walsh. Having been at the top of the BTRDA Silver Star Championship points throughout

A8: PAUL BIRD & ALED DAVIES

B9: IAN BARNARD & ANDY BULL

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Damian COLE/Elliott EDMONDSON Ford Focus .................... 1:22:53 John STONE/Carl WILLIAMSON Skoda Fabia WRC.......... 1:23:13 Simon MAUGER/Brian CAMMACK Ford Escort Mk2............ 1:23:13 Michael GLENDINNING/F. DOUGLAS Subaru Impreza............. 1:23:58 Darren DOHERTY/Stewart MERRY Subaru Impreza............. 1:26:04 Alex LAFFEY/Jack MORTON Ford Fiesta S2000 ......... 1:27:34 Alan OLDFIELD/Ken BILLS Darrian T90 GTR ........... 1:28:25 Barry LINDSAY/Michael LINDSAY Peugeot 106 GTi ........... 1:28:32 Paul BIRD/Aled DAVIES Ford Focus .................... 1:28:59 John PATERSON/Richard WARDLE Ford Escort Mk2............ 1:29:50 Ian WATSON/James BRAITHWAITE Subaru Imprezza ........... 1:30:58 Jim SHARP/Craig WALLACE Mitsubishi Evo .............. 1:31:13 Roger KILTY/Lynette BANKS Ford Escort RS .............. 1:33:39 Bill LYMBURN/Helen Lara LYMBURN Ford Escort Mk2............ 1:35:05 D. BELBIN/John STANGER-LEATHES Subaru Impreza............. 1:36:27 Chris DAYKIN/Daniel MEGANNITY Subaru Impreza............. 1:36:27

B10: BARRY LINDSAY & MICHAEL LINDSAY

Project1_1-829516752.e$S:Layout 1

24/10/13

10:19

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3RD: SIMON MAUGER & BRIAN CAMMACK

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B11: JOHN PATERSON & RICHARD WARDLE

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B12: ALAN OLDFIELD & KEN BILLS

Cheviot Stages Winners 1st Driver Damian Cole 1st Co-Driver Brian Cammack 2nd Driver John Stone 2nd Co-Driver Jack Morton B13: MICHAEL GLENDINNING & F. DOUGLAS

the season, he was to miss out on that honour by the narrowest of margins on the Saturday and then, less than twenty-four hours later, his hopes of succeeding James Morgan to the Asphalt crown also went up in smoke – literally! The other two drivers hoping to return home from the north-east of England as champion were Paul Bird and John Indri. Bird’s day began badly when his Ford’s power steering pump failed prior to the start. Bird was sixth before fastest times on four stages followed. It all went wrong on the last test when the Focus slid off into a ditch. It eventually regained the road, but Bird took a maximum for his troubles, losing six minutes to the leaders. Ninth gave him second in the championship. John Indri and Josh Davison were fifth with two stages to go when the car was withdrawn due to transmission problems. In the Millington Rear-Wheel Drive Challenge 30 drivers scored points and, in the end, it came down to a fight between Simon Mauger and John Indri. Mauger finished the final round to win over Indri. Second-place points went to Richard Felgate/Mark Mason, with the Escort of the Doroszczuks, Paul & Julian third. At the start of the season, Alex Laffey/Jack Morton appeared in their new Fiesta S2000. The pair

3rd Driver Simon Mauger 3rd Co-Driver Craig Wallace

N4: JULIAN BARNETT & TOM WOOD

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finished sixth overall and first in class on Otterburn. Morton, aged just 18-years-old finished third in the co-driver race. Tim Daltry was already confirmed as BTRDA FWD champion and winner of both the AB Motorsport Peugeot 205 Challenge and Class B11 prior to the start. Craig Jose/Nigel Hewett took top points in Class B10, while Andrew and Reg Irving were second in B9, behind the flying Nova of Ian Barnard/Andy Bull. Andrew Irving earned himself the final Fuchs Titan Race Award for Best Improvement on Seeding of the year. Although the perennially popular Class B13 had already been settled, second and third still had to be fought over with Chris Daykin/Dan Megannity and Neal Arden/ Giles Corbett.Both were upstaged Jim Sharp’s Lancer of Jim Sharp/Craig Wallace but, as far as the other two were concerned, Daykin finished the rally and Arden finished in a ditch. However, having missed a round earlier in the season, Megannity couldn’t get ahead of Corbett, but he closed the gap. Julian Barnett won N4 and he was awarded the John Horton Motorsport Management Star Drive trophy as a result.

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DON’T MISS IT! Cheviot Stages 8th November Season Review 20th December MILLINGTON RWD CHALLENGE

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048 // REPORT // CLUBMAN RALLYING

RIVER RIDGE RECYCLING GLENS FORESTRY RALLY WORDS :: WILLIAM NEILL // IMAGES :: NEILLPICS.CO.UK

McKinstry on Par...Again! Kenny McKinstry’s third win of the year came in the space of four weeks when he came out on top at the Glens Forestry Rally with a 48 seconds victory.

RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

2ND: GARETH SAYERS & GARETH GILCHRIST

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

3RD: ENDA MCNULTY & PAUL SHERIDAN

WINNERS: KENNY MCKINSTRY & KENNY HULL

The Subaru Impreza S14 driver

kept the young drivers at bay for most of the day, winning seven of the eight stages with Kenny Hull calling the notes. On stage two he lost time to the stage winner, Liam Regan, after he had to restart his Impreza at a square left. McKinstry held the lead after stage two all the same, and he continued to add to his tally over the three runs through the Springwell and Cam tests. At the halfway point he had six seconds over Liam Regan, but the lead increased when Regan’s problems occurred. The Peugeot 206 4X4 driver broke a drive-shaft on the second run over Cam Forest – a stage he had enjoyed before the damage. Regan, who also had mechanical issues at the Bushwhacker said, “At the moment I have no luck.” Gareth Sayers was promoted into second while Regan dropped down the leaderboard. Sayers and Gareth Gilchrist followed McKinstry to the finish – same as the Down Rally – using a Mitsubishi Lancer despite touching a grass bank. On the Springwell stage, Sayers’ times suggest he was more at ease on the shorter blast of 4.7 miles compared to the longer 7.1 mile Cam stage. Enda McNulty and Paul Sheridan were sixth after stage one, but on the second run of Cam they were second fastest, 2.6 seconds from McKinstry. The increase in pace moved the Subaru up two places on one stage to third, where it remained at the line. pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Donegal International Rally winner Sam Moffett (Mitsubishi Lancer) was only ever a few seconds from McNulty, but despite a final push, going second fastest on stage six, he could not get ahead – 2.7 seconds was the gap. It wasn’t all bad news for Liam Regan and Damien Duff after the troubles they faced. The pair headed home with fifth. The first two-wheel-drive crew

CL2: SAM MOFFETT & JAMES O’REILLY

Moynihan put their British Rally Championship forest experience to good use to finish seventh. The Citroen DS3 pair were only 4.8 seconds from McToal at the finish. Marty McKenna and Michael Gilmore scored their best result this season with eighth despite a wild moment at a downhill section on the last stage. Martin Cairns was fourth fastest on stage one, despite a

CL4: ALAN SMYTH & PETER THOMPSON

door opening on his S14. He later retired with brake pipe failure.

Classes… CL5: PADDY TCTOAL & CONNOR O’LOAN

were Paddy McToal and Connor O’Loan in an Escort. McToal said, “The jumps scared the life out of me, but Desi Henry was pushing us hard, so we had to go fast.” McToal put it down to a great first loop that provided a cushion he maintained. The Escort was also first of the newly formed River Ridge Recycling team. Desi Henry and Liam

Michael McCarroll/ Ronnie Craig were the only C1 finishers. The Fiesta crew spent some of the day catching a car in front, but they got ahead to finish 20th overall. Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly were the clear winners in C2. They claimed the trophy by more than three minutes using an E9-version Mitsubishi Lancer. Derek Crossen was guided by Andrew Bushe in an older E6 Lancer to second, while all the other class contenders fell by the side. David Kerr and Benny Grainger were fastest on all, but the last stage in C3. The 205 was crowed

Kenny McKinstry / Kenny Hull Subaru Impreza WRC.... 42:19.5 Gareth Sayers / Gareth Gilchrist Mitsubishi Evo .............. 43:07.5 Enda McNulty / Paul Sheridan Subaru Impreza............. 43:15.5 Sam Moffett / James O’Reilly Mitsubishi Evo IX .......... 43:18.2 Liam Regan / Damien Duffin Peugeot 206 4x4 ........... 43:28.1 Paddy McToal / Connor O’Loan Ford Escort MkII .......... 44:28.4 Desi Henry / Liam Moynihan Citroën DS3................... 44:33.2 Marty McKenna / Michael Gilmore Subaru Impreza............. 45:00.8 David Crossen / Chris McSherry Ford Escort MkII ........... 45:05.4 Bob Riddles / Gary McElhinney Ford Escort MkII ........... 46:10.1 Derek Crossen / Andrew Bushe Mitsubishi Evo VI .......... 46:29.9 Brendan O’Hagan / Paul Hone Mitsubishi Evo VI .......... 46:36.6 Alan Smyth / Peter Thompson Citroën C2R2................. 47:49.8 Alan Atcheson / Dean Henderson Ford Escort MkII .......... 47:54.2 John Gordon / Robby Knox Ford Escort MkII ........... 47:57.3 Mark Barnett / Tommy Speers Ford Escort MkII ........... 48:12.3 David Kerr / Benny Grainger Peugeot 205.................. 49:04.2

Steph

the class winning car by 1m 35 seconds. Eoin McGuckian and Eoin McGuckian Junior finished second despite almost overshooting a junction in Cam Forest. Adam Lyons and David Turkington also suffered an overshoot in their 206 before taking third in class. Alan Smyth and Peter Thompson were the only finishers from the four starters in C4. The pair finished 13th overall on their second gravel rally in a C2. At the finish Smyth said, “I was starting to get the hang of it on the last two stages.” Paddy McToal/ Connor O’Loan were fastest in C5 on every stage to not only win the two-wheeldrive prize, but take the class spoils too. Alan Atcheson and Dean Henderson steered another Mk2 into second, 3m 25 seconds back on the winners. To top off a great first rally season for John Gordon, he took third, only 3.1 seconds off Atcheson’s pace. David Crossen and Chris McSherry won C6 by over one minute. Second, and the only other finishers, were Bob Riddles and Gary McElhinney – they also finished tenth overall. Desi Henry and Liam Moynihan comfortably won C7 from Eamon Doherty and Damian McCauley. The gap was 5m 28 seconds from the Citroen DS3 to the older Mk2. Kenny McKinstry and Kenny Hull won C8, and the C9 prize was claimed by Gareth Sayers and Gareth Gilchrist. Mark Barnett/ Tommy Speers were the only finishers in C10. P

Balde

Cast of Champions...

Stephen Wright | Irish Tarmac GPN Champion

Derek McGarrity | NI Rally Champion

Jukka Korhonen | British Rally Champion

MARTYN’S FOTO’S

Seb Chardonnet | WRC 3 Champion

Arron Newby | Manx Rally Champion

Timur Timurzyanov | European RallyX Champion

Baldev Charger | Kenyan National Rally Champion

Gaurav Gill | APRC Champion

Umberto Scandola | Italian Rally Champion

The Strength of Experience Tel: +44 (0) 1952 582825 Fax: +44 (0) 1952 582821 www.speedlinecorse.co.uk • info@speedlinecorse.co.uk

050 // REPORT // THE BLUE SCOTTISH TARMACK RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

KINGDOM STAGES

WORDS :: ASHLEIGH MORRIS // IMAGES :: DAVIE HATRICK

Team Inglis In Top Spot! The 2013 Blue Scottish Tarmack Rally Championship drew to a close at the Glenrothes Motor Sport Club Kingdom Stages at Crail.

RESULTS 1

Alistair Inglis/Colin Inglis Mitsubishi Evo 5 .............. 76:56 Stuart Baillie/Lachlan Cowan Subaru Impreza................ 77:08 3 John Paterson/Scott McMinn Ford Escort Mk2............... 78:07 4 Ross Marshall/David Hunter Ford Escort ...................... 78:47 5 Kenneth Moore/Dick Wardle Hillman Avenger ............... 81:40 6 Lee Hastings/Brian Findon Subaru Impreza................ 81:43 7 Bruce Edwards/Jim Smith Darrian T9 ........................ 81:50 8 Jamie Stewart/Kevin Mollison Peugeot 205..................... 82:14 9 Neil Thompson/Katie Stimpson Vauxhall Corsa ................. 82:30 10 Ian Forgan/Kathryn Forgan Ford Ka ............................ 82:44 2

Kingdom Stages Class Winners

WINNERS: ALISTAIR & COLIN INGLIS

Alistair and Colin Inglis took

the victory, their third out of the last four rallies at Crail. They had close competition from Stuart Baillie and Lachlan Cowan, but they managed to secure the win by 12 seconds. Alistair said, “It’s the hardest day’s rallying I have ever put in. Between aquaplaning and sixth gear drifts it was very interesting. I had a fantastic battle with Stuart Baillie. We had an electrical fault, but apart from that it all went smoothly. We did the Galloway Hills Rally last weekend, and we had some fairly serious damage there. The guys have done a fantastic job of getting the car ready.” Stuart Baillie said, “Given the conditions I was delighted with

second. On stage five and six, in the torrential rain, I was struggling with grip with the tyres I was using. The stages were the most enjoyable ones I have ever done at Crail and the rally ran really

sixth in a Subaru Impreza, and Bruce Edwards/ Jim Smith were seventh in the Darrian. Having led the championship since April, heading into the final round Ian and Kathryn Forgan

It’s the hardest day’s rallying I have ever put in. Between aquaplaning and sixth gear drifts it was very interesting. smoothly.” Several other STRC competitors had good results despite treacherous conditions. Kenneth Moore and Dick Wardle finished fifth in a Hillman Avenger, Lee Hastings and Brian Findon were

were still at the top of the points tables, with Ian nine points ahead of Steven Hay in the drivers’ standings. Ian and Kathryn had a bad accident at the same venue earlier this year, but they had better luck this time, finishing tenth and third in class - enough to

2ND: STUART BAILLIE & LACHLAN COWAN

5TH: KENNETH MOORE & DICK WARDLE

10TH: IAN & KATHRYN FORGAN

6TH: LEE HASTINGS & BRIAN FINDON

7TH: BRUCE EDWARDS & JIM SMITH

19TH: JAMES THOMPSON & SHONA HALE

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Class 1: No finishers Class 2: Scott Macbeth/Ross Macdonald Vauxhall Nova ........................ 84:38 Class 3: Ross Marshall/David Hunter Ford Escort ............................ 78:47 Class 4: Kenneth Moore/Dick Wardle Hillman Avenger ..................... 81:40 Class 5: Gordon McElrath/Colin Smith Vauxhall Chevette ................... 91:56 Class 6: Lee Hastings/Brian Findon Subaru Impreza...................... 81:43

claim their first STRC title. Ian said, “I’m over the moon. I knew I had to have a good run here, but not push too hard. It’s hard to find the right balance, but we came here to win the championship and that’s what we did.” The 2014 championship kicks off on January 4 at the Knockhill Stages. The 2014 calendar will include a two-day event at a new venue named Machrihanish. The rally will take place during the month of July. P

31ST: GERRY GAFFNEY & ALAN TODD

MINTEX MSA BHRC CHAMPIONSHIP // REPORT // 051

RALLYE SUNSEEKER

WORDS & IMAGES :: IAN HARDEN

Hill Wins Sunseeker And Title! CAT1: DESSIE NUTT & GERALDINE MCBRIDE

WINNERS: RICHARD HILL & PAT COOPER

CAT3: GARETH JAMES & STEFFAN EVANS

Ford Escort Mk1 driver Richard Hill fully justified being the bookies’ favourite to win the 2013 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship driver’s title by scoring a dominant victory at the Rally Sunseeker Historique. On special stages made slippery by recent heavy rain, Hill and co-driver Pat Cooper stormed into an immediate lead in Category Two, consolidating it throughout the rally with a consistent series of fastest stage times. Eventually, their 1m 13.7s margin of victory over David Stokes/ Guy Weaver’s Escort Mk1 gave Hill maximum points, confirming him as the 2013 BHRC champion driver. In Category Two, for 1968-’75 cars, Hill proved to be virtually untouchable. Despite an all-out effort from Stokes, who set a series of third and second overall fastest times during the morning, Hill stretched his lead mile by mile. A stall, and later a half-spin failed to faze him as he raced through the forests, becoming the only driver in the historic field to go under six minutes for Somerley Park. As he pulled into the final holding control at Creekmoor service area, it was clear he was still very much aware of getting over the finish ramp. “Winning the title isn’t quite signed, sealed and delivered yet. We still need to get to Poole Quay.” Behind Stokes, whose persistence was rewarded with second on the day and winning Category Two for the season, Nick Danks/ Martin Corbett in their new Escort successfully held Wayne Bonser/ Rich Aston’s similar machine at bay until Bonser stormed through stage six 30 seconds faster, taking the position and holding on to the finish.

In Category One (pre-1968 cars), Rikki Proffit/ Phill Harrison and Dessie Nutt/ Greraldine McBride fought for supremacy. This time, crucially, with the winner possibly taking the BHRC title. Nutt proved quicker early on, his Porsche 911 handling the bumpy opening stages better than Proffitt’s similar machine. At first service Nutt reported no mechanical problems, while

CLIVE KING & BOB WARD

Proffitt’s engine was refusing to run cleanly above 5,500 revs. This problem combined with a stage two spin, and he had to dodge a flock of sheep in stage three, Somerley Park to put his championship chances in peril. With the engine woes cured Proffitt struck back in the middle of the day, taking a four-second lead into the final pair of stages. But it all went wrong on the final test, Ringwood North 2. At the finish Nutt reported seeing Proffitt’s car parked at the side of the track, his day and championship over. “When we spotted Rikki we drove the rest of the stage very carefully to make absolutely sure of winning the

category,” he said. Edmund Peel/ Janet Craine brought their 911 home third, after a thoroughly enjoyable day-long tussle with Clive King/ Bob Ward’s Mini Cooper S. King held third for most of the event, driving at maximum attack even though he had one ear open for a recurring ‘clonk’ from under the car. “We got massive air over a jump on one stage,” he reported. “I don’t think it was quite as flat out as I’d hoped.” Eventually though, Porsche-power paid dividends and Peel overhauled the Cooper crew in the closing miles. In Category Three, Gareth James/ Steffan Evans took their Escort Mk2 RS 1800 to its fifth win of the year, but only after having to chase down the in-form pairing of Ernie and Will Graham, who set-up a strong early lead in their BDG-powered Escort Mk2. James came into first service looking puzzled, after his engine inexplicably died on stage two, before equally unexpectedly firing up again. “I looked under the bonnet, but couldn’t see anything wrong, tried the starter and it fired straight away,” he reported. Knowing he needed to win the category to stand any chance of taking the driver title James went on a big push on the afternoon stages. But Graham was still flying, and it took the Welsh crew until the final test, Ringwood North 2, to overhaul him. Despite the disappointment of not taking the driver crown, James was very pleased that his

result and maximum points haul meant Evans became the BHRC champion co-driver. Behind the leading pair, a tremendous day-long battle raged for third between a non-BHRC registered crew in a BDG-powered Ford Escort Mk2, and Shawn Rayner/ Declan Dear’s Pintopowered example. Never afraid of taking on, and beating the more powerful Twin Cam cars, Rayner went on maximum attack from the start, having what he later described as numerous “Banzai moments” including a high speed overshoot at a square left corner on stage three, and then putting his car up onto two wheels after hitting a bump while nearly flat out on the final test. Eventually the other crew held on, but by only 48 seconds after 53 competitive miles.

RESULTS CAT 1 1 Dessie NUTT/Geraldine McBRIDE Porsche 911............... 1:01:36.3 2 Edmund PEEL/Janet CRAINE Porsche 911............... 1:05:20.2 3 Clive KING/Bob WARD Austin Mini Cooper ............... 1:05:38.6 CAT 2 1 Richard HILL/Pat COOPER Ford Escort Mk 1........ 0:55:27.7 2 David STOKES/Guy WEAVER Ford Escort RS1600 ... 0:56:41.4 3 Wayne BONSER/Rich ASTON Ford Escort ................ 1:01:13.5 CAT 3 1 Gareth JAMES/Steffan EVANS Ford Escort RS1800 ... 0:56:26.1 2 Ernie GRAHAM/Will GRAHAM Ford Escort RS ........... 0:56:40.8 3 Leigh ARMSTRONG/C. ARMSTRONG Ford Escort Mk 2........ 0:58:21.9

DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

052 // REPORT // EUROPEAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

RALLYE DU VALAIS WORDS :: ERC SERIES // IMAGES :: ERC SERIES

RESULTS 1

Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm ŠKODA Fabia S200 3h13m42.8s Olivier Burri/André Saucy Ford Fiesta RRC ........ +3m28.2s 3 Craig Breen/Lara Vanneste Peugeot 207 S2000 .. +3m36.2s 4 Jérémi Ancian/Olivier Vitrani Peugeot 207 S2000 .. +6m21.1s 5 Jaroslav Orsák/Lukáš Kostka ŠKODA Fabia S2000.. +6m26.7s 6 Nicolas Althaus/Alain Ioset Peugeot 207 S2000 .. +6m42.9s 7 Florian GononMichel Horgnies Subaru Impreza R4 STI+7m57.7s 8 Pascal Perroud/Quentin Marchand Peugeot 207 S2000 +13m59.9s 9 Sylvain Michel/Sandra Arlettaz Citroën DS3 R3T ..... +13m17.7s 10 Romain Salinas/Benjamin Micheli Renault Mégane ...... +14m12.4s 2

WINNERS: ESAPEKKA LAPPI & JANNE FERM

Lappi Laps Up Rally...Kopecky Champ! The all-action 2013 FIA European Rally Championship reached its climax in Switzerland with rising star Esapekka Lappi underlining his huge potential by winning an action-packed Rallye International du Valais alongside co-driver Janne Ferm. Lappi began Saturday’s final leg – the longest of the rally at 146.30 kilometres – with an advantage of 43.7s over Andreas Aigner. Although Aigner trimmed Lappi’s lead to 35.7s when the ŠKODA Motorsport ace overshot a junction this morning, the Finn’s tenure of top spot was never truly threatened and he cemented his second ERC victory by going fastest of all on the final stage in his Michelin-shod Fabia Super 2000. “It’s been quite a good two weeks,” said Lappi, who won the China Rally Longyou six days ago. “I never believed I would win here and this is absolutely fantastic. For sure it’s special on Tarmac, my first proper win. It’s very good to end the season like this. We’re improving on Tarmac and this is good for next season. The plan for next year is to do some races with ŠKODA. I have a contract with them and the ERC would be a good option.” Florian Gonon secured ERC Production Car Cup honours after fellow Subaru driver Aigner crashed out one kilometre from the start of stage 14. Sylvain Michel clinched the ERC 2WD spoils in a Citroën DS3 by overhauling Laurent Reuche on the final stage when the two-time Valais winner’s Renault Clio R3 developed an engine fault. Ekaterina Stratieva won the ERC Ladies’ Trophy, while there were strong performances from GPD Mit Metal Racing Team and Team Renault Sport Technologies. While Lappi shone out front, pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Aigner was also impressive in his production-based Subaru. The Austrian was second overall when he hit trouble. While he and driver Barbara Watzl were uninjured, their Yokohama-shod car suffered extensive damage and they retired.

With Aigner out, Olivier Burri moved into second with Vasily Gryazin climbing to third. Unfortunately for Russian teenager Gryazin, a crash close to the start of stage 15 left his Ford Fiesta S2000 sporting damage to the rear. Although Burri began the final two stages more than one minute clear of Craig Breen, an engine misfire robbed his Fiesta RRC of vital power. But the eight-time Valais winner held on to the runner-up spot albeit by a significantly reduced margin of eight seconds following a tense finale. “It was getting worse and worse on the last two stages,” said Burri. “I don’t know if we would have

3RD: CRAIG BREEN & LARA VANNESTE

Watzl’s non-finish means Aigner’s former navigator Jürgen Heigl wins the ERC Production Car Cup for Co-drivers. “We said we would try today because Andi is already the Production champion,” explained Aigner’s team boss Manfred Stohl. “We never give up, but finally luck was not on our side. It’s very disappointing because it was a great performance by them.”

finished if we had another stage.” For Breen, his capture of the final podium spot marked a reversal of fortune after a time penalty and broken power-steering added more than three minutes to his total time and dropped him out of contention for victory. His failure to score the 27 points needed to overhaul Bryan Bouffier in the battle to finish runner-up to champion Jan Kopecký in the final standings means he

settles for third overall. “Third place is not what I came here for or hoped for before the rally,” said Breen. “It’s not an improvement from the beginning of the season, but taking everything into account it’s not so bad.” Peugeot Rally Academy teammate Jérémi Ancian was saddled by four minutes of penalty but fought back from this setback and a puncture on stage 14, which he stopped to change, to snatch fourth spot from Jaroslav Orsák on the last stage. Ancian scored a total of seven stage wins in his 207 Super 2000, including both runs through the new Verbier stage today. His battling performance earned him the prestigious Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy. Orsák, meanwhile, marked his first ERC appearance in a Fabia S2000 and his comeback from injury with fifth place and a stage win for GPD Mit Metal Racing Team. Nicolas Althaus finished sixth with Gonon seventh and Pascal Perroud eighth after a minor off-road excursion. Behind ERC 2WD winner Sylvain Michel in ninth, Romain Salinas came home a highly creditable 10th overall on his ERC debut for Team Renault Sport Technologies. Stéphane Lefebvre was leading the R2 category when he retired with engine failure on his Peugeot 208. The 2014 ERC season begins in Austria with the 31 Int. Jännerrallye, Oberösterreich from 3-5 January followed by Rally Liepāja in Latvia from 31 January-2 February. P

054 // REPORT // EUROCARS MOTORSPORT MANX RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

POKERSTARS RALLY

WORDS :: SEB TURNER // IMAGES :: MARTYNS FOTOS

Newby Plays the Perfect Hand... 2ND: STEVE COLLEY & ANDREW COWLEY

3RD: KEX WALKER & DANNII MATTHEWS

WINNERS: ARRON NEWBY & ROB FAGG

At the final round of the Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship 46 crews tackled some of the toughest tarmac stages in the UK. There was championship titles still to be decided and with the usual unpredictable Manx weather included it was an action packed weekend. The Friday night saw crews

tackle six stages in two loops of three. The Lhen (SS1 and 4) was a fast and flowing 4.6 mile stage, followed by the 6.9 mile Glascoe (SS2 and 5) which included a loop round the tight and twisty Glascoe Chappel, followed finally by the Mountian Stage (SS3 and 6). This 10.42 mile stage included Tholt –y-will, Brandywell and Druidale, and is quickly become a popular stage on the third time it has featured. The Saturday morning saw crews take on The Mines, The Garey, (both using the same start line meaning crews started 30 apart) and The Round Table twice followed by a re-group, and then there was two runs on the Knocksharry and Peel stages. At the end of the event it was 18-year-old Arron Newby with event local navigator Rob Fagg, the later just returned from the

latest round of the Canadian Rally Championship where he crashed out. Both Arron and Rob secure the 2013 Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship for their TEG Sport Subaru team. Steve Colley/Andrew Cowley kept pace with Newby, tying on time after the first three stages, however transmission problems forced them to complete the event in rear-wheel-drive. Both Newby and Colley are committing to the championship in 2014 so there will be more battles to come from the pair. Carine (Kex) Walker/Danielle Matthews secured a fantastic podium in their BMW is among their best results with strong pace. After another season the event local regulars are yet again runners-up in the championship, showing reliability is key to any successful campaign. Stu Bainborough/Chris Heyes

took fourth despite handling issues in their Lancer on the second outing. The pace, however is starting to show, and despite a large spin on the Round Table stage it was a steady drive. Sean Kelly/Emma Kennaugh finished fifth in their new Lancer E9. The inevitable teething problems of a new car caused issues for the crew, who had to run the entire rally in RWD after a setting failure. The class awards went to Steve Brown/Paul Stringer (Class A – Nissan Micra), Dean Quayle/ Barrie Ford (Class B – Pugeot 106), Ian Chadwick/Kevin Horgan (Class C – Honda Civic), David Hughes/Andy Barnard (Class D – BMW) and Stu Bainborough/ Heyes (Class E – Lancer). For further information see www.manxrallymedia.com P

RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

NO 1 NEWBY & FAGG pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

4TH: STUART BAINBOROUGH

Arron Newby/Rob Fagg Subaru Impreza............. 1.49.54 Steve Colley/Andrew Cowley Mitsubishi Evo 9 ........... 1.52.53 Kex Walker/Dannii Matthews BMW 325 ...................... 1.57.42 Stuart Bainborough/Chris Heyes Mitsubishi Evo .............. 1.58.19 Sean Kelly/Emma Kennaugh Mitsubishi Evo .............. 2.00.31 James Munden/Dan Hutchins Subaru Impreza............. 2.03.58 David Craine/Geoff Leece Ford Escort Cosworth ... 2.04.50 David John Hughes/Andy Barnard BMW E30 325i .............. 2.05.21 Dean Quayle/Barrie Ford Peugeot 106 Rallye ....... 2.07.00 Andrew Dudgeon/Adam Yates Honda Civic ................... 2.07.31 Ian Chadwick/Kevin Horgan Honda Civic ................... 2.08.15 Jason Daley/Steve Luton Honda Civic ................... 2.09.36 Euros Hughes/Paul Roberts Vauxhall Nova ............... 2.11.53 Martin Freestone/Kim Freestone BMW 325i ..................... 2.13.19 Christopher Corrin/Jimmy Mcevoy BMW 316 ...................... 2.15.11 Stephen Brown/Paul Stringer Nissan Micra ................. 2.15.18 Greg Pye/Ken Cottee Seat Ibiza ...................... 2.15.30 James Quirk/Jessica Quirk Suzuki Swift Gti............. 2.18.03 Boosh Kerruish/Dan Hurst Peugeot 205.................. 2.18.54 Phil Merrills/William Kelly Honda Civic Type R ....... 2.19.39 Terry Phillips/Ian Notman VW Golf GTI .................. 2.20.45 Grant Leece/Nick Pledger Vauxhall Astra ............... 2.22.26 Tim Healy/Rob Jackson Vauxhall Corsa .............. 2.24.55 Craig Lemaire/Alan Lemaire VW Golf Gti ................... 2.27.18 Michael McKenna/Kevin Bardon Vauxhall Astra ............... 2.27.56 Stephen Bettridge/Michael Keig Vauxhall Corsa .............. 2.32.01 Tim Andrews/Cara Boalch Nissan Micra ................. 2.35.44 D. Paul Turner/Leonard R Stanway Vauxhall Astra ............... 2.38.54

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056 RALLY // REPORT // RALLY SPORT ASSOCIATION

RSA NUTTS CORNER

WORDS :: WILLIAM NEILL // IMAGES :: NEILLPICS.CO.UK

Rage Machine Reigns!

OVERALL WINNER: DARREN HUTCHINSON

RALLY CAR WINNER: JAMES KENNEDY

Despite a two-wheel moment after hitting a kerb, Darren Hutchinson was fastest in his Rage by 2.2 seconds at the Rally Sport Association’s return event to Nutts Corner Race Circuit. The venue was part of the building blocks of the RSA in the early years of the series, and after several years away from the Crumlin venue it brought out regulars, old-timers and some newcomers to form an entry of 123 starters. With Hutchinson in front, John McAndrew steered a Lowcost into second ahead of David Kinloch’s flame throwing Extreme buggy. Kinlock secured third by 11.5 seconds from the first of the rally men. It may have been the buggies and specials that formed the podium finish at the end, but on the frosty first stage, James Kennedy in his Ford Escort Mk2, was fastest by 3.3 seconds. But he had eventual winner, Hutchinson, in his mirror not only because he was running close behind on the road, but he was catching the times. Kennedy was fourth fastest at the end, but he was presented with the winning trophy because C7 cars were excluded from the overall result as part of the event regulations. Despite going off and getting stuck in a gravel trap on stage one, and a spin on stage two, Rodney White settled himself into his usual controlled fashion to finish fifth in his Talbot Sunbeam. Just less than ten seconds behind in sixth was Simon Gordon in a Vauxhall Astra that was not afraid to lift a wheel. There was not much in it between John Waters and Hugh Watson - both in Ford Escorts. On pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

the penultimate test Waters was faster by 0.1 seconds, and on the last attempt he piped Watson again by 0.6 seconds, to finish ahead by 0.3 seconds after more than fifteen minutes of close racing. Watson had to settle for eighth after going second fastest on stage one. Aaron McLaughlin (Mitsubishi Colt) was a rare sight on a rally

third, ahead of Michael Boyle. Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Kennedy kept Dunlop National Rally Championship winner, Declan Boyle, at bay by 2.4 seconds to win the class. She moved up into C2 for senior 1200cc cars after progressing from the junior class. Thomas Lowry (Vauxhall Nova) finished third, 2.1 seconds back on

DARREN COLLINS

DECLAN MCBREARY

BARRY LEESON

NOEL CONAGHY

stage in ninth, placing himself ahead of Sean Coleman’s buggy, that survived a two-wheel moment on the third run.

Classes

In C1 for juniors Jamie Grant proved he was the fastest by putting his karting experience to good use. He won the category by 4.2 seconds in his Vauxhall Nova, while second-placed Patrick O’Brien opted for a newly-painted Corsa. Dean McDowell finished

Boyle, after doing course car duties at the Glens Forestry Rally the previous day. Jonny Vaughan’s Mini was untouchable in C3 with the sprint car handling well on the tight circuit to win the class by 53.3 seconds. Second was David Stevenson in a newly built Vauxhall Corsa. Keith Neill celebrated his birthday with a return to the circuit in third using his son’s Vauxhall Nova - 9.2 seconds from Stevenson.

C4 had forty starters, and it was Simon Gordon who topped them all in his Astra, followed by four Honda Civics over 22 seconds back. Martin Gallagher was second, ahead of John Rooney. Alan Woods was just 0.1 seconds shy of collecting a trophy in fourth after a stage two slide. Hugh Watson was on top form (as usual) in C5. The Escort man kept his day as sideways as possible to finish ahead of Adrian Grant by 9.5 seconds. Jonny Cargo in another Ford Escort slotted into third ahead of David Christie, who spun his Escort while trying to catch a car in front on a morning run. Ford Escort driver James Kennedy collected another trophy for winning C6, 12.7 seconds from Rodney White. John Waters was third, 10.5 seconds up on Stanley McKeown’s Toyota Corolla. The first three overall finishers were C7 contenders. Darren Hutchinson headed John McAndrew, with David Kinloch third. C10 had only two entries. Aaron McLaughlin (Mitsubishi Colt) went faster than Zac McKee in his newly-acquired Subaru Impreza. The winning margin was 1m 11 seconds. The event was the first round of the 2013/14 RSA Speedy Parts Winter Championship, and it is scheduled to continue into March next year with events at Aghadowey Race Circuit, Moneyglass and Nutts Corner all part of the calendar. P

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BY MARTIN HOLMES // WRC RETRO // 061

pAddY HOpkIRk’S 1964 MONTE WIN WORdS :: MARTIN HOLMES // IMAGES :: MARTIN HOLMES

HopkIrk’s

Half Century Fifty years ago, the British motor industry received one of its most impressive boosts through success in motorsport, when Paddy Hopkirk won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini Cooper S. It was success in a different style to which we are accustomed these days, but success in the way that achieved the required acclaim in those days.

t was not only on account of diligent and intelligent planning, but also in gaining the maximum benefit from the rules as they were written. It was a most encouraging boost at a time when British industry and British international prestige needed it. And it wasn’t just the significance of the

success at the time. Success of British drivers in British-built cars on rallies abroad at the top level has been significantly scarce before and since. There was Roger Clark’s victory with an Escort on the Acropolis 1968 and Colin McRae’s victories notably on the 1999 Safari with the Focus, each time in Fords, a global rather than an exclusively British brand.

dec/jan 2014 pacenotes

062 // WRC RETRO // BY MARTIN HOLMES

PADDY HOPKIRK’S 1964 MONTE WIN WORDS :: MARTIN HOLMES // IMAGES :: MARTIN HOLMES

Hopkirk did it all for Britain, with BMC success well enjoyed by the contemporary media industry. BMC deserved success for the thought and preparation work put into the Monte Carlo project. One of the major features of the event in those days were the concentration runs from alternative starting cities scattered across Europe, any one of which could spell disaster if bad weather blocked the roads. Stuart Turner, the BMC competition director, ordered that his cars should start from various different locations. It was a massive operation in all aspects. There were seven official entries from BMC (four 1071Ss, two Mini Cooper 997s, an MGB and an entry was also run in a MG1100 for a journalist. These entries were scattered between starting points in Oslo, Paris and Minsk, the city now in Ukraine. It entailed massive logistical and administrative work. Hopkirk was sent to the USSR. And as if the preparation for the event wasn’t taxing enough, the BMC team assigned to Minsk found themselves involved in a heavy round of social functions as well…!

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

There was a lot of innovation in the BMC team for this rally. The car assigned to Hopkirk was one built for asphalt rallies and had already won a class prize, and finished third overall on the Tour de France. Special heated windscreens were produced, but were later removed as being a distraction when conditions were milder. Lucas produced new brighter single filament headlight bulbs with the spotlights used for dipping the lamps. Lightweight sumpguards designed for the Mini Moke vehicle were fitted and special radiator muffs installed to maintain heat in the engine. The drivers were sent on exhaustive practice sessions over the stages using pacenote systems which were being systematically developed in those days, with special attention to words incapable of being misunderstood. Pre-rally preparation extended as far as using special coloured spectacles for the drivers, to improve vision when suddenly plunged from bright lights into darkness. The Mini was the chosen weapon for BMC’s challenge. After all they always had a much more

By this time there were aluminium engines around, I suppose technically we were much better, but the Mini had a very good little engine and gearbox which was reliable and strong powerful car to use, the Healey 3000, but the weather, the narrow roads of Monte Carlo and the regulatory index handicap of the event made the Healey unsuitable. Four months later, Paddy took a Healey to the more suitable Austrian Alpine and won. The event for Hopkirk was

difficult. Navigation behind the Iron Curtain was stressful whenever wrong turnings were taken, a problem which extended even to road sections in France, to the embarrassment on one occasion for Paddy! When the rally reached the start of the Common route at Reims in France and the special stages began, the enormity of the challenge was evident. In addition to works entries from other British manufacturers such as Ford, Hillman, Sunbeam, Reliant and Rover, and the regular continental rally competitors such as Saab, Volvo, Citroen, Lancia and Mercedes were some special opponents. In fact the main rivals for the BMC team were a team of eight Ford Falcon Sprint Futuras. The line-up of drivers in the Falcons was impressive, including Ljungfeldt and Peter Harper, and F1 racing drivers Jo Schlesser and Graham Hill. These cars had a vastly superior performance to all the others, but were subject to a strict index handicap. For them their challenge was eased because the clearer conditions on the special stages favoured their powerful engines, but not fully enough to overcome the regulatory handicap. 299 cars started the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964. The Falcon of Ljungfeldt set the pace straight away, chased by Esko Keinanen in a Chrysler Valiant, Hopkirk and Tom Trana’s Volvo. At the end of five orthodox special stages the index handicap factor put Ljungfeldt down to fifth place

overall with Hopkirk in the lead ahead of Erik Carlsson, his wife and fellow Saab driver Pat Moss third and Hopkirk’s team-mate Timo Makinen fourth. Then came the final test, a series of races round the Monte Carlo Grand Prix course. The final stage races were chaotic. The timing went wrong and one race had to be repeated in which Falcon driver Harper crashed. Another time the red flag was shown instead of the chequered flag and drivers stopped prematurely. Over the six special stages the Falcons were fastest on every one, Ljungfeldt had jumped up to second overall with Carlsson finishing third and Makinen fourth. When total times were calculated the car of Bo Ljungfeldt was nearly two minutes faster than Hopkirk. The rest of the Falcon challenge was in disarray, no others finished in the top ten, Hill went off the road twice, Schlesser finished 11th. It was a brave attempt by Ford USA, but they had not taken full account of the index handicap regulation of the rally. BMC had done their pre-rally homework, prepared themselves accordingly, and won the rally. Back to the 21st century and we recently asked Paddy what made the Mini so special as a rally car. “The team were very good. Stuart Turner was a wonderful team manager, the BMC team mechanics were second to none. The drivers weren’t too bad either and I was lucky enough to be

there at that time. It wasn’t just one thing, it was a combination. When we were rallying in the early sixties the Mini was a unique car. Alec Issigonis had designed a front engined car, transverse engine, engine over the driving wheels. It was something very different then. The DKWs had front-wheeldrive, but we didn’t see them very often. Saab was terrific and Erik Carlsson won a lot, but the Saab was a pretty slow car. Erik just went flat out everywhere in it and it was very good at road holding and very well prepared. The Mini however was quicker. John Cooper proposed putting a Formula Junior engine into the basic Mini, sold the idea to the factory and BMC homologated the Mini Cooper. The engine was very strong, but remember that was not everything. It was always interesting that a lot of private entries in rallies had much quicker cars than the works cars, but ours were reliable. They were all completely hand-built. The difference

The team were very good, Stuart Turner was a wonderful team manager, the BMC team mechanics were second to none. The drivers weren’t too bad either...and I was lucky enough to be there at that time. was it was rewired, everything was checked and strengthened. I will always remember the year we were all disqualified in Monte 1966, when Timo took a standard Cooper S out of the showroom in Monte Carlo and it was quicker than the rally car because the standard car was lighter. You had enough power to go fast enough, but it wasn’t the fastest engine. By this time there were aluminium

engines around. I suppose technically we were much better, but the Mini had a very good little engine and gearbox which was reliable and strong.” The Mini Cooper 1071S was a ten month wonder. First rallied on the Coupe des Alpes in June 1963. The 1964 Monte Carlo Rally was only the fourth, the only major event the model won outright, and the last time the factory ran these cars before the 1275S model was introduced and appeared on the Tulip Rally in April 1965 – which Timo Makinen won outright. It was the right car at the wrong time, because it did not fit into the new international class categories at that time. This led to BMC dividing their efforts between the 1275S in the 1300c class, where it was immensely successful in rallying, and a special shorter-stroke 970S model in the 1-litre class, where it was more successful on the race track. BMC’s competition activities continued at full strength until the end of 1968 with the arrival of Triumph’s influence within the company, and the factory closed at the end of 1970. Winning Monte Carlo 1964 came at a cost. There was tragedy at the event when Doug Hamblin, the deputy workshop foreman died in a road accident ironically still in Britain when on his way to man a service location in France. News of which was kept quiet from the team at the time. And not all the BMC crews fared well. Pauline Mayman had a road accident in Holland and was hospitalised with a broken leg and lacerations. No other rally success before or since however has achieved the same impact in Britain. It was what the industry and the nation desperately needed. P

DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

064 // REPORT // CLUBMAN RALLYING

MCKINSTRY MOTORSPORT RTT WORDS :: WILLIAM NEILL // IMAGES :: NEILLPICS.CO.UK

Concrete Win for McKinstry Duo British Touring Car racer Colin Turkington said he had a new found respect for event winner, Kenny McKinstry, after he hitched a ride in an S14-version Impreza around the Turkington family business premises.

RESULTS 1

2ND: EMMA MCKINSTRY

3RD: MERVYN WEDLOCK

WINNER: KENNY MCKINSTRY

It was a McKinstry 1-2, with

Kenny beating his daughter Emma’s times by 11 seconds in their dual entered Subaru. The format was five timed runs with the best four to count, and a reversed loop with the best two of three times to count, after the final two stages were cancelled due to slippery conditions. Kenny McKinstry was fastest on all eight runs, with Emma getting as close as 0.6 seconds on stage two. Emma, a former winner of the North Armagh Motor Club RTT previously held at Kirkistown Race Circuit was rarely far from her dad’s times. Emma was said to be “delighted” to follow her dad home in her first S14 outing. The only moments to note were a slight overshoot and a stage three spin. Mervyn Wedlock’s neat and tidy approach got him third, but even the Cavan Mk2 man had the tail out on occasions. He was 45.6 seconds from second place, but kept Chris Simms, who had a small spin on an afternoon test, at bay by 2.6 seconds. Simms said, “I had a trouble free day, but I was under pressure throughout it with the Armstrong boys - as usual. I nearly got the

top two-wheel-drive spot, but Wedlock had that already covered.” Simon Gordon scored his best result in fifth since moving to a Vauxhall Astra earlier this season. Just 0.4 seconds would have matched Simms’ pace despite touching a bale that damaged his driver’s door. Gordon was impressed with the car’s capability in the damp conditions. Interestingly Gordon and Simms were the only drivers in the first ten finishers to swap positions from the morning to reversed afternoon loop. William Armstrong was on a rare outing. His efforts brought him home sixth while Alan Acheson, who said he pulled the pace back towards the end, was in an Armstrong sandwich – between William and Brian Armstrong, all Escort-mounted. Armagh’s Brian Black (Toyota Starlet) didn’t have to travel far to finish ninth, 5.4 seconds ahead of Raymond Nelson’s Ford Escort Mk1. Less than five second separated the next four cars. Andrew Mackarel knows how to put on a sideways show, and he slid into eleventh ahead of Alan Simms, who had a spin at a hairpin on

stage one. Declan Smith went off into bales on his seventh run, but got back on the road again to finish ahead of Mark Greer. Chris Nelson was another to spin in fifteenth. Martin Cairns retired the second McKinstry Motorsport S14-version Impreza with a missfire issue that occurred on the second run after setting fourth fastest time on stage one. Brendan O’Hagan was on for a good finish before he damaged a tyre on stage five.

Classes…

Brian Black comfortably won C1 in his usual Starlet by 1m 16 seconds, after going fastest in the category on every test. Second and third place was taken by a dual driven Vauxhall Corsa. Mark McAleer finished 3.9 seconds ahead of Johnny McAleer. The other two entries, and two retirements, in C1 were both North Armagh Motor Club Mini men. Brian Carson had a heavy landing into a concrete bollard at the final corner of stage three. Clive Latimer’s Mini suffered damage on stage six after an overshoot. On only his first RTT event,

Kenny McKinstry Subaru Imperza ....... 13m 45.5s 2 Emma McKinstry Subaru Impreza........ 13m 56.9s 3 Mervyn Wedlock Ford Escort Mk2....... 14m 42.5s 4 Chris Simms Ford Escort Mk2....... 14m 45.1s 5 Simon Gordon Vauxhall Astra .......... 14m 45.5s 6 William Armstrong Ford Escort Mk2....... 14m 53.8s 7 Alan Atcheson Ford Escort Mk2....... 14m 54.2s 8 Brian Armstrong Ford Escort Mk2....... 14m 59.2s 9 Brian Black Toyota Starlet ........... 15m 07.9s 10 Raymond Nelson Ford Escort Mk1....... 15m 13.3s 11 Andrew Makrael Opel Ascona ............. 15m 19.6s 12 Alan Simms Ford Escort Mk2....... 15m 21.3s

Stephen Conn was the winner of C2 by 4.3 seconds in his Peugeot 106 after early leader, James Wilson, crashed his similar car on stage two. Second went to Honda Civic man Kyle Elder, but only just. One second behind in third was Gavin Devlin, who had an overshoot into bales. The first five finishers in C3 all featured in the first ten overall, and were all Escort-mounted. Chris Simms was at the top of the class by 8.7 seconds, from William Armstrong. Alan Acheson wasn’t far behind – 0.4 seconds to be exact. Brian Armstrong was fourth ahead of Raymond Nelson in the biggest class of the event with 13 drivers. Three seconds was enough for Mervyn Wedlock to win C4 from Simon Gordon. Andrew Mackarel was up next in third. See main report for more on overall positions. Kenny McKinstry was the fastest driver in C6, but the event regulations had the overall winner give up the class trophy. The trophy however was kept within the family - Emma McKinstry took home the prize as the only other category finisher. P

s CL1: BRIAN BLACK pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

CL2: STEPHEN CONN

CL3: CHRIS SIMMS

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066 // SEASON REVIEW // IRISH TARMAC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

IRISH TARMAC REVIEW

WORDS :: XAVIER MCCARTAN // IMAGES :: PACENOTES LIBRARY

Jennings Fuels 2013 Tarmac Crown Garry Jennings won the 2013 TROA Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, but not until the decider took place in Cork where it went to the wire before he could lay claim to the title.

1st

CHAMPION: GARRY JENNINGS

Opening the season was the Safety Direct Galway International, and at the start of the year it was a one-day campaign where Jennings struggled to a disappointing sixth overall in the newly acquired Subaru Impreza S12B, handling issues blighting his event. The big news in Galway was the appearance of multiple British champion Keith Cronin and Marshal Clarke in a Subaru WRC, along with Eugene Donnelly and Mark Kane making another appearance in the Mini WRC. Darren Gass was back as well in the same Subaru WRC he used to win the 2012 championship, and the defending champion admitted he had his work cut out to maintain a 2013 title tilt.

In Galway Cronin drove with maturity to take the win from Donnelly in a Mini, with Declan and Brian Boyle slotting into third in their Subaru WRC. The

action also featured a terrific battle between these three. Glengormley’s Derek McGarrity was fourth in another Subaru with James McKee. Donagh

2nd

2ND: DONAGH KELLY

It’s all Wright for Gp N 2013 Title The battle in the Group N section was season-long. While the WRC cars tend to grab some of the glory on events, quite often the actual battle in the confines of Group N is more intense and harder fought. There is no doubt that some of the best exponents of Group N in the tarmac championship thoroughly entertained all year. Driving the ex-Garry Jennings Mitsubishi it was Stephen and pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Susanne Wright, who took th years title. The runner-up spot went to Sam Moffett in his similar car. It was a fitting result for a crew who improved all year and remained consistent. Alan Ring and Adrian Deasy took victory on the opening round at the Safety Direct Galway International Rally. They headed home Josh and Sam Moffett in second and third with less than 30 seconds covering the first three,

and indication, if ever one was needed that it was close at the top. Stephen Wright took fourth overall in Group N in Galway, and Shane Maguire was fifth. The series moved to Killarney and the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes, and it was here where Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly took a win, when mechanical issues forced the retirement of Alan Ring and Adrian Deasy. They also suffered clutch issues. In Killarney

Kelly was fifth in an S11 version of the Subaru WRC. It was to be the last we saw of Cronin in the championship because he moved to the world stage with in a Citroën DS3.. There was talk of new cars for crews appearing for the next event in the championship with stages planned in and around County Down for the Easter Stages. The event was no set to be part of the FIA ERC championship, but a tough test was been planned for the Easter weekend. Sadly snow left no option, but to cancel the event at short notice. The positive outcome of this, was that the Easter Stages team and the volunteers remained in place, and helped out many farmers Wright would finish runner-up to Moffett, and have nearly a minute in hand over third-placed Josh Moffett and John Rowan, who lost time on Molls Gap with a puncture. Fourth place in the group went to Rory Byrne in a Mitsubishi E10 version, who along with James Byrne were starting to get onto terms with the newer car. Fifth in Group N went to the amiable Willie Mavitty and William Lynch. The battle for this year’s title was now about to open up, and the Monaghan domination of the June classic continued when Stephen and Susanne Wright took the win

and residents, who were visibly suffering from the impact the weather had and the positive and helpful attitude from the organisers was the topic of discussion for the locals many weeks after Easter had passed with many grateful for the help that had been forthcoming from the rally community. From the despair in Galway, it was on to the delight at the Cartell. ie Rally of the Lakes for Garry Jennings and Neil Doherty in the re-worked Subaru when they took a deserved victory by nearly a minute over Derek McGarrity and James McKee, also in a Subaru WRC. Jennings’ Subaru had been changed from LHD to RHD for the event, and perhaps this did indeed play a major part in the new confidence Jennings had. Darragh O’Riordan had been in charge of the event in his Ford Fiesta WRC from the start and looking for his third victory in Killarney with him and Jennings locked in battle until he slid off on the second Sunday stage and his event was over. Heating issues for Jennings meant a controlled drive to the end, but the points in Killarney were very important and the haul meant his title charge was back on track as he took the lead in the championship from McGarrity. Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan

3rd

3RD: SAM MOFFETT

took third in the end, in Killarney, and held third in the championship as the season moved on towards Donegal in June.

MID SEASON MOVE FOR MOFFETT

Donegal did not disappoint, and for Damien Crawford and his team, the event had a super entry, with the odd surprise thrown in for good measure. Derek McGarrity and James McKee arrived with a newly acquired Ford Focus WRC, as did Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan. The big news however was the appearance of Monahan’s Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly in a McKinstry Motorsport Subaru S14. Having already taken the car to a victory, Moffett really would

4TH: DEREK MCGARRITY

7TH: JOSH MOFFETT

from Seamus Heron and Gerry McVeigh by a considerable margin. Martin Doherty had led, with Wright well in touch throughout the three days. But the engine on Doherty’s car cried enough. It was Wright, who claimed the win,

be the dark horse on the three day spectacular. The early leader on the Friday was in fact event local crew Declan and Brian Boyle from Jennings, both in Subaru WRC’s, and already it looked as though the battle would be between the pair of fast drivers. McGarrity had slotted very quickly into third, with Gass fourth and Moffett fifth. The shape of the event changed however when Boyle retired his Subaru with brake issues. He was bitterly disappointed at such a short event in his native Donegal, but he moved on to concentrate on the Dunlop Irish National Rally Championship from here onwards. Gass now took the battle to Jennings with Moffett keeping in touch, and showing a real maturity

RESULTS Overall Driver Points 1 Garry Jennings...................... 76 2 Donagh Kelly ......................... 56 3 Sam Moffett .......................... 48 4 Derek McGarrity .................... 44 5 Daragh O’Riordan ................. 41 6 Stephen Wright ..................... 41 7 Josh Moffett.......................... 36 8 Keith Cronin .......................... 24 9 Eugene Donnelly ................... 18 10 Rory Byrne ............................ 18 11 Stephen Carey ....................... 16 12 Declan Boyle ......................... 15 13 Alan Ring .............................. 14 14 Willie Mavity ......................... 10 15 Shane McGuire ..................... 10 16 Ian Chadwhick......................... 9 17 Liam Egan ............................... 7 Overall Co-driver Points 1 Kevin Flanagan ...................... 65 2 James O’Reilly ................... 60.5 3 James McKee........................ 50 4 Susanne Wright .................... 43 5 John Rowan ....................... 42.5 6 Neil Doherty .......................... 41 7 Tony McDaid ......................... 41 8 Marshall Clarke ..................... 24 9 Breda O’Driscoll .................... 19 10 Mark Kane ............................. 18 11 Brian Boyle............................ 15 12 Adrian Deasy ...................... 13.5 13 James Byrne ......................... 10 14 Raymond Coppinger ............ 8.5 15 Martin McGarrity ..................... 8

5TH: DARRAGH O’ RIORDAN

and the lead in the championship. Josh Moffett had a troubled rally and his gearbox gave up on the Saturday. The Ulster Rally saw the battle reconvene, and with Sam Moffett once again concentrating on the main event in the S14 Subaru, the battle was going to be between Wright and Moffett to claim honours on the Fermanagh stages. Disaster though befell the Mitsubishi of Stephen and Susanne Wright. The pair dropped down the leaderboard, losing three minutes with turbo issues that allowed Josh Moffett to climb above them and take an advantage

and ultimately win Group N. Wright though recovered well to take second in Group N. Wright decided that discretion was the better part of valour, and a sensible approach was the one to have, and that a title was what he had to think about in Cork. Colm Murphy led, with Ling in pursuit as well as Cork’s Owen Murphy. Josh Moffett had a turbo-pipe work loose, he suffered a puncture and he felt he had a lot to do. Sam Moffett was happy with is pace, in a similar Mitsubishi, but for Stephen and Susanne Wright all they had to do was remain in touch, drive steadily and finish.

In the end Owen Murphy and James O’Brien won Group N from Sam Moffett with James O’Reilly co-driving. However it was all about the third-placed crew of Stephen and Susanne Wright, who took the 2013 production title in the Irisih Tarmac Rally Championship after a series of impressive performances all year. For Wright it was a superb end to a year he enjoyed with his sister Susanne. Stephen said, “We are so happy to take the title win. Champions has a very nice ring to it.”

DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

068 // SEASON REVIEW // IRISH TARMAC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

IRISH TARMAC REVIEW

WORDS :: XAVIER MCCARTAN // IMAGES :: PACENOTES LIBRARY

MODIFIED OVERALL : NOEL O’SULLIVAN

Modified Results Overall

In the end with a good performance in Cork, it was Noel O’Sullivan, who took the modified title for 2013 in the championship. Tied on points for second were Fergus O’Meara and Frank Kelly, who had both driven well all year and taken 30 points. David Duggan was up next just half a point behind. Nicholas Burke took the co-driver trophy, with Diarmuid Lynch second and Damien Fleming third.

Class M1 Modified

Noel O’Sullivan won the modified M1 class by seventeen points over David Duggan, who finished on 30 points. John Mulholland took third with 22 points. Jason McSweeney was next on fifteen. Forty-five points saw Nicholas Burke won the Class M1 co-driver trophy with Sean O’Crowley head home Sean Devlin for the runner-up spot.

M2: PADDY KIERNAN

Class M2 Modified

Paddy Kiernan took the category by virtue of his win in Donegal. In the co-driver M2 section both Brian Hickey and James McCarville tied on 15 points each.

M3: FERGUS O’MEARA

Class M3 Modified

Fergus O’Meara and Frank Kelly finished the season tied on thirty points each. They headed home Billy Coogan by twelve points, who amassed eighteen with David Armstrong on twelve points. In the co-driver class for M3, Diarmuid Lynch headed home Diarmuid Falvey by nine points, with Brian Doherty taking third.

M3: FRANK KELLY pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

6TH: STEPHEN WRIGHT

in his first International outing in a WRC. Jennings and Gass battled through the Saturday until stage 12 when Gass slid off the road and he was out of the event. McGarrity and Kelly - both using a Ford Focus WRC were locked in a battle of their own, while Darragh O’Riordan in the Fiesta WRC was having a nightmare event with suspension issues plaguing his outing. Seamus Leonard was upholding local honours in his older Subaru WRC. Most crews are aware Donegal is important in mid-season to any championship plan, so a good result can set-up or strengthen a position. It was a major surprise then when Jennings got a three minute penalty, which was only confirmed on the Sunday morning as the cars left parc ferme. This suddenly dropped him down the order, and realistically any chance of victory. His response was admirable when he said in Milford service, “We are back to fifth now, and that’s it. We made a mistake, take it on the chin and come back next year, but I hope Sam goes on now and wins it, and I told him that this morning too. I hope he does.” And he was right, Moffett did go on to win the 2013 Donegal International Rally with a superb display of controlled driving during the final day. Donagh Kelly took an unexpected second when McGarrity’s engine cried enough on the Fanad stage, and Jennings rescued his title charge with an acceptable third place. The delight though at the finish in Letterkenny was Moffett with the win. He said, “So many great people have won this rally, it is unbelievable that we have now

10TH: RORY BYRNE

8TH: KEITH CRONIN

as well. We have had so much support all weekend from so many, and it was unreal. I tell you, we are so happy, and it is great to have the Moffett name on it (trophy) now.” Seamus Leonard and Paul McLaughlin were fourth with Darragh O’Riordan and Tony McDaid finished fifth. The Todds Leap Ulster Rally was up next, an event held around Enniskillen for the first time. The time sheets show that Jennings and Rory Kennedy won by well over a minute from McGarrity in the Focus WRC, but that does not tell the issues they had with their

9TH: EUGENE DONNELY

Subaru. Head gasket problems existed throughout the event for the Kesh man, and perhaps the cautious approach tempered his natural flamboyance, but it led to the win, and strengthened his hold on the title. McGarrity and McKee had been quick out of the blocks, and headed Sam Moffett and Kames McKee. Moffett returned in the Subaru Impreza S14 that took him to victory in Donegal. This was perhaps a change in tactic for the Monaghan man, in that his sights were set on challenging Jennings for the overall title, but it all came to nothing when gearbox issues caused an early exit. McGarrity gave the advantage on the second day to Jennings

when he spun and dropped around thirty seconds, with Donagh Kelly safely now in third. Jennings and Kennedy held on to win. At the finish a clearly relieved Jennings said, “I am just happy to finish. It was a tough event.” For Kennedy though he was a tad happier. He said, “I won this rally 22 years ago with Bertie Fisher, to do it again sitting along with another Fermanagh man is brilliant. He coped brilliantly this weekend.”

CORK WOULD BE A CRACKER

The 2013 Irish tarmac campaign moved to the final round at the Orchard Motorsport Cork 20. Second place overall was enough to give Garry Jennings from Kesh in County Fermanagh his first tarmac championship title. With the experienced Rory Kennedy on the pacenotes for the weekend Jennings held his nerve despite some concerns about his Impreza WRC’s engine on the first day. Daragh O’Riordan in a Ford Fiesta WRC won the Millstreetbased event for the third year in a row, something that hadn’t been done since the great Billy Coleman in 1972, the runner-up spot was enough to secure the title for Jennings. Declan Boyle had led the event initially, but in keeping with his bad luck throughout the year he went off the road on the fifth stage, handing the lead to O’Riordan. Donagh Kelly from Donegal finished in third place in Cork, and as a result he took the runner-up spot in the championship. Kelly’s best chance of overall success depended on Jennings not finishing the rally which would give him the title. However having finished as runner-up in 2012 Jennings was not to be denied this time, and he took the title deservedly after taking overall victory in both the Rally of the Lakes and the Ulster Rally. Sam Moffett, who had won the Donegal International Rally in June, took third place in the championship after reverting back to his Group N Mitsubishi Lancer for Cork. It was another great season for the Irish tarmac crews, but who will be the 2014 championship winner? The season will start early next year at the Galway International Rally. Many more miles of rally action are set to be part of the series in what is likely to be P another battle at the top.

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SNOW EASY! ISSUE 108 | FEBRUARY 2013

C1: STEPHEN CAREY

Class 1

COOL LOEB DOMINATES ON MONTE-CARLO

Stephen Carey took Class 1 with some great results netted on the Galway, Rally of the Lakes, Donegal and Cork rallies to collect 75 points. Top placed class 1 co-drivers was Breda O’Driscoll with a points total of 75 points.

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C2: IAN CHADWICK

Class 2

With good results in Donegal and Cork it was Ian Chadwick, who took the win in Class 2.

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070 // SEASON REVIEW // IRISH TARMAC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

IRISH HISTORIC TARMAC REVIEW WORDS :: XAVIER MCCARTAN // IMAGES :: PACENOTES LIBRARY

O’Mahoney’s Historic Victory... Historic Overall

James O’Mahoney began his campaign last year in Killarney, and followed it up by winning in Galway. No scores on the Rally of the Lakes and in Donegal seemed to put his title on the back burner, but he picked himself up to score at the Ulster, Manx and Cork to head home Wesley Patterson, who

had scored well mid-season with victories at the Rally of the Lakes and in Donegal. Mark Falvey only took points at the Rally of the Lakes and Cork to take third. In the co-driver race it was Kerrie Barry, who won from Sean Hayde, courtesy of early season wins at the Killarney Historic Rally and in Galway. Ger Conway took third.

CHAMPION: JAMES O’MAHONEY

Class B2

Ray Cunningham and William Todd tied for points to take wins on the Killarney Historic Rally and Galway while Todd grabbed wins in Donegal and the Ulster. Mervyn Johnson by virtue of winning on the Isle of Man took third. In the co-driver race victory went to Adrian Cusack with Aaron Johnston and Wendy Blackledge on fifteen points each.

RESULTS Historic Driver Points 1 James O’Mahony .................. 70 2 Wesley Patterson .................. 45 3 Mark Falvey ........................ 34.5 4 Ray Cunningham................... 20 5 Niall Creighton ...................... 20 6 William Todd ......................... 20 7 Drew Wylie............................ 16 8 Mervyn Johnson ................... 15 9 Todd Falvey ........................... 12 10 Brendan McAree ................... 12 11 Luke McCarthy ........................ 7

B2: RAY CUNNINGHAM

Class B5

James O’Mahoney dominated the category, on the back of consistent results all year to win by 70 points over Luke McCarthy, who had a podium finish in Galway. Kerry Barry took the win here from David Hogan and JP McAree.

Class C2

Harry Brown won C2 courtesy of wins in Donegal and the Ulster Rally with Martin McGrath taking the co-driver title.

Class C3

James Power won Class C3 by taking victory at the Killarney Historic Rally, Galway, Rally of the Lakes and Cork to head home Aidan O’Connor and Philip Wylie. In the co-driver section it was Declan Kelly, who wrapped the win up with four wins. Ian Regan finished second and Martin McGrath finished third.

Class C4

John Spiers took wins on the

C4: JOHN SPIERS pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Killarney Historic Rally and in Galway as well as the Rally of the Lakes and Donegal to wrap up Class C4.

Appendix K Drivers

With wins at the Killarney Historic Rally, Rally of the Lakes and Donegal Wesley Patterson won, with Mark Falvey finishing as the runner-up. Drew Wylie finished third by virtue of points on the Killarney Historic Rally and Rally of the Lakes. Sean Hayde took his title with wins on The Rally of the Lakes and Donegal, while Gerard Conway took second heading home Dean Beckett in third.

Class B3

This category was won by Niall Creighton with two good results in the middle of the year, namely the Rally of the Lakes and Donegal. Gregory Roberts took the codriver title in B3.

Class D3

With wins on the Rally of the Lakes, the Ulster Rally and on the Isle of Man Declan Jackson took the win in Class D3. The co-driver title went in the direction of J Barry McCarney with results on the Rally of the Lakes and the Ulster Rally.

Historic Co-driver Points 1 Kerrie Barry ........................... 75 2 Sean Hyde ............................. 30 3 Gerard Conway ..................... 27 4 Adrian Cusack ....................... 22 5 Martin McGrath ..................... 22 6 Dean Beckett ......................... 18 7 Wendy Blackledge ................. 15 8 JP McAree............................. 12 9 Aaron Johnson...................... 10 10 David Hogan ........................... 7 Class B2 Driver 1 Ray Cunningham................... 30 2 William Todd ......................... 30 3 Mervyn Johnson ................... 15 Class B5 Driver 1 James O’Mahony ............... 82.5 2 Luke McCarthy ...................... 12 3 Brendan McAree ..................... 0 Class C2 Driver 1 Harry Brown.......................... 30 Class C3 Driver 1 James Power ........................ 63 2 Aidan O’Connor .................. 37.5 3 Philip Wylie ............................. 0 Class C4 Driver 1 John Spiers ....................... 82.5 Appendix K Driver 1 Wesley Patterson .................. 45 2 Mark Falvey ........................ 34.5 3 Drew Wylie............................ 20 Class B3 Driver 1 Niall Creighton ...................... 30 Class D3 Driver 1 Declan Jackson ..................... 45

C2: HARRY BROWN

C3: JAMES POWER

APPENDIX K: WESLEY PATTERSON

B3: NIALL CREIGHTON

D3: DECLAN JACKSON

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DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

072 // REVIEW // BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: SIMON MOSS // IMAGES :: JAKOB EBREY

BRC13 A VINTAGE YEAR...

Despite the average age of drivers in this year’s MSA British Rally Championship being just over 23, these young pups have pulled off one of the closest and most nail-biting seasons in its 55 year history.

CHAMPIONS: JUKKA KORHONEN & MARKO SALMINEN

True, three times BRC

champion Keith Cronin wasn’t there to try for a historic fourth title, but his absence did guarantee one thing – a new name on the magnificent trophy in 2013. Given the level of competition in the all-front-wheel-drive series, it could be said that Jukka Korhonen and Marko Salminen’s 2012 vow to win the series this year was a little optimistic. But win it they did, adding the first Finnish driver’s name to the trophy since Marko Ipatti in 2000 and co-driver’s since Kaj Lindström in 1999. Optimism was abound before the start of the new season back in March. Seven classic events included the return of the Scottish, the Sunseeker as the finale and crews from England, Scotland, Wales, North and South of the Irish border, Norway and of course Finland. But then it snowed and froze and snowed and froze and snowed. First the BRC’s pre-season Media Day was cancelled – overnight snow in the north of England made it impossible for people to get in and out of the venue. And with less than a week to go to the opening round, Rally North Wales, that too got the cold shoulder. Ice on the north facing Welsh forest tracks simply would

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

not budge, so the organisers took the difficult decision to postpone the event on safety grounds. The postponement soon turned into a cancellation when a suitable date later in the season could not be found. Not the best start to 2013. So with the best five from six scores now to count it fell to the Pirelli Rally to be the opening round. Adopting the Richard Burns Foundation into the event’s title as a charity proved a popular choice, but while the name may have changed, the fearsome forests of Kielder remained the same. Ironically punctures would stifle any chance of a repeat of 2012’s dead heat finale in Yorkshire, several crews succumbing to the

1ST: JUKKA KORHONEN

sharp stones of Europe’s largest man-made forest. Korhonen and Salminen led from start-to-finish in their Citroën DS3 R3T, building a lead of around a minute before easing off on Sunday when Alastair Fisher/ Gordon Noble’s early challenge was curtailed by a puncture. Fisher was lucky only to drop around a minute, clipping a rock that cost several others much more, the Ulsterman was then able to climb back from fifth with five fastest stage times from the ten available. Top seeds Tom Cave and Ieuan Thomas regained third, having also dropped to fifth after Saturday’s first loop of stages. They were

unlucky to catch a trailing car from a previous event, but while John MacCrone/ Phil Pugh and Osian Pryce/ Dale Furniss initially benefitted, they both succumbed to punctures, allowing Cave to retake third. And what of the BRC’s RallyTwo category? Fiesta crew Steve Røkland and James Aldridge stamped their authority with an excellent drive to sixth overall - more than enough to earn the Norwegian the first Pirelli Star Driver nomination of the season. Their winning margin of well over a minute belayed the potential for extremely close competition between the R2 class runners. Jon Armstrong/ Martin Brady had posted a time just four seconds behind Norwegian Røkland on the opening test, but clipped a bridge and bent the rear axle. 2012 BRC junior champion Garry Pearson finished a surprised, but delighted second, while Daniel McKenna and Arthur Kierans’ good run was stalled by a puncture, climbing back to third at the finish. So onto the asphalt of the Jim Clark Rally, with that imperceptible ‘something’ that accompanies driving flat out on closed public roads. Having taken win number one, the Finns dispelled any doubts over their asphalt ability by hanging on for a two second

2ND: OSIAN PRYCE

victory on the ‘tar’ – astonishing after 130 competitive miles. But they so nearly fell into Cave‘s clutches on the penultimate test, when the gap came down to just a tenth of a second after Korhonen span. With a last gasp effort, they made it two wins on the trot on a surface that the 29-year-old driver had previously disliked. Having won two events in 2012, Cave’s four fastest stage times just weren’t enough at the end on the Borders-based rally to take his first of 2013. But he managed to hold off the charging Pryce, who closed to within ten seconds of fellow Welsh crew by the last run through Langton’s famous spectator stage. In RallyTwo McKenna topped the time sheets, a full 100 seconds clear of the chasing pack at the finish. The accompanying Pirelli Star Driver nomination was well deserved, the Irishman rewarding Motorsport Ireland’s faith in granting him the €50,000 2012 Billy Coleman Award prize. Garry Pearson had led, but he crashed out on his home event, as did third placed James Ford. Røkland punctured and bent his rear axle, falling into the grips of Manchester’s Chris Ingram, who held on to take second place from the Norwegian. Northern Irish duo Alastair Fisher and Gordon Noble took BRC victory on round three, as the series moved back to gravel for the RSAC Scottish Rally; a first win for the 24 year old after his debut in the series on the Jim Clark Rally in 2008.

3RD: TOM CAVE

the clocks 2.3 seconds ahead of Fisher on the opening stage. Fisher responded in his identical Citroën DS3 R3T and took a 0.8 second advantage. Meanwhile, championship leaders Jukka Korhonen and Marko Salminen struggled to find a rhythm and Cave snuck ahead by a tenth. Fisher stated that he felt confident and eked the biggest gap of the day. A 4.5 second ‘buffer’ seemed enough to break Cave’s charge, slipping back over the next several stages to eventually fall into the improving Finn’s clutches. Steve Røkland led Rally Two early-on in Scotland, but a broken gearbox mount and puncture dropped him to an eventual third, McKenna picking up the pace again to win. Ulsterman Jon Armstrong & Jack Morton had been on the pace, but they also punctured, dropping time when they stopped to change it in the stage. So it was Scot Ruary MacLeod and Drew Sturrock who kept a sensible head for second place. Their Fiesta stage times were impressive too, catching the eye of Pirelli and grabbing the third Star Driver nomination on home soil. 30% of the registered crews in this year’s BRC are from the island of Ireland, so Todds Leap Rally NI suited them just fine. The move

The crew’s win was particularly special for Fisher, having come so close on several occasions in recent years. But he didn’t have it all his way from the start, swapping stage times with Cave from the outset. In fact it was Cave who was fastest out of the box, stopping

4TH: ALASTAIR FISHER

to Enniskillen seemed to suit the majority too, Rally NI taking the Rally of the Year Award for the fifth time since its inception. But it was a revitalised Osian Pryce who took the bull firmly by the horns on the tricky asphalt stages. Dejected after a persistent mechanical problem stopped his Scottish charge before it even started, his family had rallied round with some advice; “If you can’t win the championship, at least win the last three events.” Some 20 year-olds might have shrugged with a ‘Whatever!’, Pryce buckled down with a ‘Whatever it takes’ attitude. However, first stage jitters nearly dented their resolve, but the bank they clouted was soft and by the end of day one they had taken a lead they would never relinquish. Tom Cave had led, but slipped into a ditch, re-starting along with Fisher with hefty time penalties. John MacCrone and Phil Pugh weren’t so lucky, although they did walk away from the wreckage of their massive 120mph crash. In Ulster it was Korhonen’s time to have a level head, gradually moving up the order from a first stage eleventh place to take second. The result after four events was a definite marker to the others, extending his series lead to seventeen points.

Pirelli Star Driver Mark Donnelly and co-driver Dai Roberts had struggled with the change from Clio to DS3. But buoyed by home support they showed great form, finishing on the podium after a string of top three times towards the end of the two day event. Local lad Armstrong, this time with Karl Atkinson on the ‘notes, made everyone sit up and take notice - and not just in RallyTwo. They not only set times inside the top three overall for the first eight stages of the 15 stage rally, but were fastest on stage two, lying second overall until the close of day one. Unsurprisingly he took the Pirelli Star Driver ‘yellow jersey’, but his nomination did raise some eyebrows, as it was awarded after the 18 year-old had crashed on early on day two. Daniel McKenna took a hattrick in his Fiesta, continuing to impress with speed and maturity, while Røkland just couldn’t catch the Irishman on asphalt. Irish duo David Carney and Ray Fitzpatrick had been third until losing time on stage eleven in their Citroën C2. Their loss was Alex Parpottas and Jamie Edwards’ gain, the 20-yearold Englishman taking eighth place overall to boot. By September it was Rally Yorkshire’s turn to take centre stage, but it was a swansong for the North Yorkshire forestry event, bowing out of the BRC after many years service. In 2012 it was the closest finish in the championship’s history, Pryce and Cave ending on the same tenth of a second. The tie break was even closer – decided by the fastest on the opening stage – Cave 16:44.3, Pryce 16:44.4! In rallying terms the 2013 result was still mighty close, eventual winner Pryce and series leader Korhonen never more than five seconds apart until the final stage. DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

074 // SEASON REVIEW // MSA BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW WORDS :: SIMON MOSS // IMAGES :: JAKOB EBREY

5TH: JONNY GREER

But the lead did change three times in seven stages; first Korhonen, then Pryce, back to Korhonen and finally Pryce who extended his lead to 9.9 seconds when Korhonen stalled on the start-line of the final test. And the fastest times were equally difficult to predict; apart from the two fighting for the lead, Cave and Fisher popped in a quickest time apiece too, Fisher slipping from an early second to third, but denying Cave another podium. It may look easy with hindsight, but McKenna’s four RallyTwo wins on the trot certainly took some graft from him and his team. Nevertheless win again he did, but Røkland pushed him incredibly hard, getting to within a tenth of a second after stage five. Another Irish pair Timmy Cathcart and Martin Brady promised to upset the status quo early-on in second place, but dropped time in the dark of Friday night and fell to the back of the pack. Armstrong took the reins, but Ulster’s second place was eaten away by Norway, recovering to retake silver on the very last stage. Alex Parpottas drove a mature rally and was rewarded by Pirelli Star Driver nomination number five, adding his name to those

BENJAYMN MCKAY

vying for a 2014 Citroën DS3 BRC prize-drive.

honour going back to 1958.

And so the crews moved to Poole for the final challenge in this year’s MSA British Rally Championship. Rallye Sunseeker International’s traditional February spot meant the October conditions were quite similar for an event that carried a 50% points bonus, plenty to play for in the Ringwood forests.

Pryce’s win was enough to draw him and Dale Furniss level on points with Cave and Ieuan Thomas, but in a reversal of fortune from 2012, the tie break went in favour of Pryce, second and The Rory Galligan Outstanding Performance Award a fine return for his second half hattrick of wins.

Three drivers still had a chance of taking the crown, but it was definitely advantage Korhonen who only needed a sixth place to seal the title. Pryce’s just managed to overcome his disappointment to be out of the running for the championship with six fastest times, leading from start to finish – job done.

McKenna also only had to finish without problems to win RallyTwo, Røkland taking advantage and bookending his season with wins. Parpottas was third, securing the same position in the BRC RallyTwo championship, but it was McKenna who celebrated hardest in Poole, taking the series by seven points.

To take the title, Cave and Fisher both needed to win and for misfortune to befall Korhonen, but although both has fastest stages times, neither could ultimately match Pryce’s pace at the front.

The Monaghan man was also victorious in the Prodrive supported BRC LIVE Media Trophy and the Pirelli Star Driver final, setting the standard at the Pirelli shootout and taking a funded drive in the 2014 BRC at the wheel of a DGM Sport-run Citroën DS3 – is this the 2014 BRC champion?

Korhonen and Salminen may have just needed sixth, but the Finnish fire to succeed meant full concentration was required. True, they were never fastest on any of the ten stages, but 100% concentration and eight tenths commitment meant third place behind Cave, more than enough to add their names to the roll of

The podium lock-out by Citroën DS3s means that Citroën UK retains its MSA British Manufacturers Rally Championship title, while some gritty drives from MSA British Junior Rally Championship protagonists Ben and Jason Mckay put them top of the table in their Twingo. The Oswestry driver took the final Pirelli Star Driver place, experiencing the shoot-out by virtue of his Junior win. Like the Rally of the Year Award, the hotly contested BRC Teams Cup went to Northern Ireland too, DGM Sport’s Fisher and Donnelly doing more than enough throughout the season to seal the trophy.

DANIEL MCKENNA pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Russ Thompson and Andy Murphy’s were victorious in the NGK Spark Plugs BRC Challenge,

demoting last year’s champ Richard Sykes to second after three maximum scores for the Lancastrian. Ross Hunter was third driver, Tom Woodburn and Daniel Johnstone second and third codrivers respectively. The series will run as part of the MSA British Rally Championship in 2014, the move designed to help the likes of Chris Wheeler, NGK BRCC Star of the Future driver, make the move up to the BRC P easier.

RESULTS OVERALL DRIVER 1 Jukka Korhonen ................. 100 2 Osian Pryce .......................... 92 3 Tom Cave ............................. 92 4 Alastair Fisher ................... 91.5 5 Jonny Greer ...................... 77.5 6 Mark Donnelly ...................... 77 7 Callum Black ..................... 61.5 8 Daniel McKenna ................ 60.5 9 John MacCrone .................... 60 10 Steve Rokland ...................... 55 11 Alex Parpottas ...................... 43 12 Jon Armstrong ..................... 26 13 Jamie Grant .......................... 25 14 David Carney ........................ 24 15 Peter Taylor .......................... 22 16 Joseph McGonigle ............... 21 17 Chris Ingram ..................... 19.5 18 Benjaymn McKay ................. 19 19 Ruary Macleod ..................... 18 20 Harry Threlfall ................... 17.5 OVERALL CO-SDRIVER 1 Marko Salminen ................. 100 2 Dale Furniss ......................... 92 3 Ieuan Thomas ...................... 92 4 Gordon Noble .................... 91.5 5 Dai Roberts ........................... 77 6 James Morgan .................. 61.5 7 Arthur Cairns ..................... 60.5 8 Phil Pugh ............................. 60 9 James Aldridge .................... 55 10 Kirsty Riddick .................... 46.5 11 Jonny Hart ........................... 43 12 Anthony Litchfield ................ 25 13= Jamie Edwards .................... 24 13= Ray Fitzpatrick ..................... 24 15 Andrew Roughead ................ 22 16 Jason McKay ........................ 19 17 Drew Sturrock ....................... 18 18 Andy Bull............................ 17.5 19= Tom Hynd............................. 16 19= Martin Brady ........................ 16

Sp Fin fo th fo

D th

DANIEL MCKENNA AND ARTHUR KIERANS

PIRELLI RALLY 3rd O/A in R2

JIM CLARK RALLY 1st O/A in R2

SCOTTISH RALLY 1st O/A in R2

ULSTER RALLY 1st O/A in R2

RALLY YORKSHIRE 1st o/a in R2

RALLYE SUNSEEKER 2nd O/A in R2

• BRC Live Media Award Winner • Fiesta Sporting Trophy UK Champions • BRC Rally Two Champions • Pirelli Star Driver Shootout Winner

Special thanks to Sharkey Motorsport, Fintan Mc Gorman and Damien Hagan for servicing the car all season. Sincere thanks to friends, family and supporters for their understanding and good luck.

Daniel and Arthur would like to thank Motorsport Ireland, The Irish Sport Council and Sponsors for their support during the year.They would also like to thank Pirelli and the BRC staff for giving them these incredible opportunities next season.

K i e r a ns E ng ineering S erv ices • Ma rtin B ra d y Trans port • Morri s ’s Garage And 24H r Breakdown • Connolly ’s Bar Sc o t s h o u s e End a Hursa n C a r S a l es • La ncas hi re Engi neeri ng • Ty nan Motors • I rvi ne Ros s Snap-On Tools

076 // SEASON REVIEW // ARR CRAIB MSA SCOTTISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

SCOTTISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: PHIL JAMES // IMAGES :: PRO-RALLY.CO.UK & LINDSAYPHOTOSPORT.COM

Great Scot Bogie Makes It

Five! 1st

POINTS OVERALL DRIVER 1 DAVID BOGIE ...................... 176 2 QUINTIN MILNE .................. 161 3 MIKE FAULKNER ................. 159 4 BARRY GROUNDWATER ..... 158 5 DONNIE MACDONALD ........ 150 6 EUAN THORBURN............... 136 7 DOUGAL BROWN................ 124 8 CHRIS COLLIE .................... 122 9 JOHN McCLORY ................. 118 10 ALASTAIR INGLIS ............... 116 OVERALL CO-DRIVER 1 KEVIN RAE .......................... 176 2 MARTIN FORREST .............. 161 3 PETER FOY ......................... 159 4 NEIL SHANKS ..................... 158 5 ANDREW FALCONER .......... 150 6 PAUL BEATON ..................... 136 7 LEWIS ROCHFORD ............. 124 8 DAVID HOOD ...................... 118 9 COLIN INGLIS ..................... 117 10 JIM HOWIE ......................... 116

CHAMPION: DAVID BOGIE

The traditional series starter, the Inverness based Snowman Rally, was halted almost as soon as it had started following a first stage accident in which a spectator was killed. As a result of that rally’s cancellation the Border Counties Rally became the first of the season’s championship rounds where the forests south of Jedburgh were covered in snow and ice. Quintin Milne and Martin Forrest mastered the Artic conditions to head a trio of Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9s that filled the podium positions. Barry Groundwater and Neil Shanks were second home ahead of Stephen Petch and Michael Wilkinson, but with the English crew not registered for points the third place allocation went to Ford Focus WRC pairing David Bogie and Kevin Rae. Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton had set the early pace in their Focus WRC, but a costly spin on the second test was just the start of their problems and they eventually finished in a disappointing eleventh place. In total contrast Donnie MacDonald and Andrew Falconer had been just inside the top twenty crews after stage one, but once the Lancer Evo 9 crew acclimatised to the conditions they made steady progress up the standings to finish in fifth place. Conditions on the Granite City pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Rally were less of a lottery and Bogie proved a class apart setting fastest time on all five stages to win convincingly ahead of a string of Lancers. Taking a highly creditable second place on home ground were Chris Collie and Lisa Watson in their Evo 6, finishing just a second ahead of Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy’s Evo 9. Milne, Groundwater and MacDonald all kept their championship challenge on track by completing the top six. Points After Two Rounds: Bogie 57; Milne 56; Groundwater 53; Faulkner 52; Collie 51; MacDonald 50.

When the championship switched to tarmac for the Jim Clark Rally all the clever money was on a Thorburn victory over the closed road course surrounding his native Duns. Indeed, it looked a safe bet until a hydraulic oil pipe broke forcing him to limp, by his standards, through the last two stages handing Bogie an unexpected win. Behind the Focus WRCs there was a solid third place for Groundwater ahead of Alistair and Colin Inglis, who recorded their best ever SRC finish in their Evo 5. Andy Horne and Jim Howie finished fifth in their crowd-

2nd

pleasing DAM 4100GTi while sixth-placed Milne dropped time after breaking a wheel on a heavy landing. If Thorburn had been favourite in Duns, then Bogie was surely odds-on to win his home event the Dumfries based Scottish Rally, but it would be another good day for the bookies as the punters got it wrong again. Thorburn was out in front throughout, though less than a second separated the pair after the opening six miler through Windy Hill. He then took more than a second a mile off his rival through the 13.75 miles of Ae West and thereafter did more than enough to protect his advantage. Third place for Milne meant the Banchory pilot was still Bogie’s closest challenger with Groundwater not far behind after finishing fifth behind the Impreza of Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick. Points After Four Rounds: Bogie 115; Milne 107; Groundwater 105; Collie 93; MacDonald 91; Horne 89.

2ND OVERALL: QUINTIN MILNE

August’s Speyside Stages was a bit like a Christmas Cake without the icing because the event’s

traditional opening stages through Elgin’s Cooper Park had to be ruled out due to flood defence construction works. Not the most popular venue with every driver, especially those who have made a mess of the one-mile stage. It has however never failed to draw huge crowds, a tribute to 63 Car Club’s efforts to bring the sport to a wider audience, and it must be hoped that it can be used again in the future. As for the rally, Bogie chalked up his fifth victory in the Moray forests recording a seventeen second winning margin over Thorburn, who had a more comfortable gap ahead of Milne, with Armstrong finishing a close fourth. MacDonald finished seventh (sixth in the points) ahead of Faulkner, but Groundwater’s challenge suffered an early knock, quite literally, when he clouted a log and he could manage no better than tenth by the finish. Less than sixty cars started the Merrick, a disappointing turnout for an event that deserves better and could have been a title decider. In the end the championship champagne had to be kept on ice as Thorburn’s victory denied Bogie an early title celebration. The Duns driver topped the standings throughout ending the day with a 44 second winning margin over Bogie. Milne kept his title challenge alive with third place, but Groundwater was a notable

3RD OVERALL: MIKE FAULKNER

retiree after throwing his Lancer off into a ditch. Points After Six Rounds: Bogie 173; Milne 161; Thorburn 136; MacDonald 134; Groundwater 126; Faulkner 124. The championship race officially ended on the McRae where Bogie secured his fifth back-to-back title win with victory in the Perthshire forests. His early charge was thwarted with a puncture after hitting a rock, but when rally leader Thorburn elected to call it a day to save his gearbox the Dumfries driver was home and dry. Faulkner recorded his best finish of the season to edge ahead of Groundwater, who finished sixth in the points table while Milne pulled out after just two stages

CL3: IAIN HAINING

Class 2:

Scott Sloan took the drivers honours in his Vauxhall Corsa, his best result coming with victory on the Merrick Stages.

Class 3:

Iain Haining and Mairi Riddick topped the standings with a string of top class results in their Vauxhall Nova. Junior champion Callum Atkinson finished second in the driver rankings after putting

Final Points After Eight Rounds: Bogie 176; Milne 161; Faulkner 159; Groundwater 158; MacDonald 150; Thorburn 136.

3rd

because he was complaining that he had a back pain. The season’s finale took competitors back to South West Scotland for the Galloway Hills Rally, an event that was added to the schedule as a replacement for the Snowman, in order to retain the championship’s eight round format. Bogie had looked nailed-on for victory until his car’s oil warning light glared menacingly at him on the final road section. Stopping immediately to save the engine he handed event sponsor Armstrong a surprising, but deserved victory. Milne elected to miss this event, but Faulkner secured third place in the championship standings having matched his previous best result.

There is a saying in rallying, ‘To finish first, you first have to finish.’ That very saying could certainly said to be true of this year’s championship race where David Bogie came within a whisker of recording a 100% finishing record. Euan Thorburn wasn’t so fortunate, maybe the extra miles incurred in chasing more than one title had a bearing. One thing for certain though when their cars were running as they should the competition between the Dumfries and Duns drivers was breathtakingly close! The group behind, almost entirely made-up of Mitsbushi Lancers provided another fascinating battle between drivers in equally matched cars, and there were more close contests in a number of the classes. The season got off to the worst start imaginable, but as a sporting spectacle and challenge it finished on a big high. We can only hope that 2014 brings all highs to Scotland’s premier rally championship. We plan on bringing you the news and reports as the 2014 season goes on! P

CL4: IAIN WILSON

in some impressive performances in his Peugeot 205.

Class 4:

Vauxhall Nova pairing Iain Wilson and Keith Freemantle took the top awards in a keenly contested class holding off challenges from the Citroen C2R2 of James Robertson and Colin Maxwell, and the Fiesta R2 of Kieran Renton/Carin Logan.

Class 5:

There was little competition for championship regular Stewart Davidson, who was a runaway winner in his Ford Escort Mk2.

Class 6:

The drivers’ award went south of the border for a second successive year with Steve Bannister scooping six maximum scores together with co-driver Louise Sutherland.

Class 7:

Top lady driver Caroline Jane Carslaw and co-driver John Duke were the top class runners throughout the season in their Ford Fiesta ST. Husband and wife pairing Ian and Kathryn Forgan, who were limited to four outings in their Ford Ka, finished runnersup.

Class 8:

There was little competition for DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

078 // SEASON REVIEW // ARR CRAIB SCOTTISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

SCOTTISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: PHIL JAMES // IMAGES :: PRO-RALLY.CO.UK & LINDSAYPHOTOSPORT.COM

RESULTS CLASS 2 DRIVER 1 SCOTT SLOAN ...................... 61 2 SCOTT MACBETH ................. 28 3 ALEX PIRIE TOYOTA ............. 27 CLASS 2 CO-DRIVER 1 DAVID LAW ........................... 27 2 MATTHEW JOHNSTONE ....... 25

CL5: STEWART DAVIDSON

CL6: STEVE BANNISTER

CLASS 3 DRIVER 1 IAIN HAINING ..................... 108 2 CALLUM ATKINSON.............. 86 3 SCOTT PEACOCK .................. 75 CLASS 3 CO-DRIVER 1 MAIRI RIDDICK................... 108 2 KEITH RIDDICK ..................... 79 3 MARK ROBERTS ................... 77 CLASS 4 DRIVER 1 IAIN WILSON ........................ 89 2 JAMES ROBERTSON............. 85 3 KIERAN RENTON .................. 79 CLASS 4 CO-DRIVER 1 KEITH FREMANTLE ............... 89 2 CARIN LOGAN....................... 81 3 COLIN MAXWELL ................. 81 CLASS 5 DRIVER 1 STEWART DAVIDSON ......... 100 2 DOUGLAS CAMERON ........... 14 3 DAVID CAMERON ................. 13 CLASS 5 CO-DRIVER 1 DAVID CAMERON ................. 14 2 MARY WOOD ........................ 13 3 DOUGLAS CAMERON ............. 1

CL8: STUART GLENDINNING

Stuart Glendinning and Craig Robb. The Ford Puma crew had effectively secured the title after taking a fourth maximum points haul on the Speyside.

Class 9:

BMW 316 pairing Robert Harkness and Mike Curry were virtually unchallenged throughout the year. Ken Wood and Michael Cruickshank had four outings in their Triumph Dolomite, but two non-finishes left them well out of the reckoning.

Class 10:

John Morrison claimed the driver title, but it was second-placed John McClory’s co-driver David Hood who took the co-driver crown. Only four points separated the Mitsubishi and Subaru drivers at the finish of a closely fought season-long battle.

CL9: ROBERT HARKNESS

overall awards it was left for Barry Groundwater to claim the class prize. Neil Shanks took the co-driver award ahead of Andrew Falconer, but only by virtue of the tie-break rule after they finished on equal points.

Callum Atkinson was the junior river award winner after a close contest with Kieran Renton, who won each of the first three rounds. When Renton took victory on the Speyside he looked destined to win the title, but non-finishes on both the Merrick and McRae ultimately forced the Fiesta R2 driver to settle for second.

Other Awards: CL10: JOHN MORRISON

Class 12:

With Bogie and Faulkner collecting

Juniors:

CL12: BARRY GROUNDWATER

SRC Lady Driver: Caroline Jane Carslaw. SRC Lady Co-driver: Louise Sutherland. Driver Clubman Two-WheelDrive: Steve Bannister. Co-driver Clubman Two-WheelDrive: Louise Sutherland. SRC F2 Driver: James Robertson. Mitsubishi Motors Scottish Cup: Quintin Milne. Group N Mitsubishi Motors Scottish Cup: John Morrison. Morrison Trailers Award: Iain Haining.

CLASS 6 DRIVER 1 STEVE BANNISTER ............. 100 CLASS 6 CO-DRIVER 1 LOUISE SUTHERLAND........ 100 2 CAMERON............................. 11 3 CRAIG WALLACE .................... 2 CLASS 7 DRIVER 1 CAROLINE JANE ................... 82 2 IAIN FORGAN ........................ 46 3 STEVEN SMITH ..................... 30 CLASS 7 CO-DRIVER 1 JOHN DUKE .......................... 82 2 KATHRYN FORGAN ............... 46 3 DANIEL JOHNSTONE ............ 30 CLASS 8 DRIVER 1 STUART GLENDINNING ........ 67 2 CALUM MACKENZIE ............. 27 CLASS 8 CO-DRIVER 1 CRAIG ROBB ......................... 69 2 DAVE ROBSON........................ 2 CLASS 9 DRIVER 1 ROBERT HARKNESS ........... 106 2 KEN WOOD ........................... 34 3 EDDIE O’DONNELL ............... 11 CLASS 9 CO-DRIVER 1 MIKE CURRY ...................... 106 2 MICHAEL CRUICKSHANK ..... 34 CLASS 10 DRIVER 1 JOHN MORRISION................ 95 2 JOHN MCCLORY ................... 91 3 FRASER WILSON .................. 83 CLASS 10 CO-DRIVER 1 DAVID HOOD ........................ 91 2 PETER CARSTAIRS ............... 84 3 STEVEN BROLL..................... 83 CLASS 12 DRIVER 1 BARRY GROUNDWATER ....... 86 2 DONNIE MACDONALD .......... 78 3 EUAN THORBURN................. 75 CLASS 12 CO-DRIVER 1 NEIL SHANKS ....................... 78 2 ANDREW FALCONER ............ 78 3 PAUL BEATON ....................... 75 SRC JUNIOR DRIVER 1 CALLUM ATKINSON.............. 63 SRC JUNIOR CO-DRIVER 1 LEWIS ROCHFORD ............... 70 LADIES DRIVER 1 CAROLINE JANE-CARSLAW . 60 LADIES CO-DRIVER 1 LOUISE SUTHERLAND.......... 64 CLUBMAN 2WD DRIVER 1 STEVE BANNISTER ............. 150 CLUBMAN 2WD CO-DRIVER 1 LOUISE SUTHERLAND........ 150 F2 DRIVER 1 JAMES ROBERTSON............. 57 MITSUBISHI MOTORS SCOTTISH CUP 1 QUINTIN MILNE .................... 76 GROUP N MITSUBISHI MOTORS SCOTTISH CUP 1 JOHN MORRISON ................. 75

F2: JAMES ROBERTSON pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

JUNIOR CHAMPION: CALLUM ATKINSON

MORRISON TRAILERS CLASS 1 IAIN HAINING ..................... 100

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080 // SEASON REVIEW // DUNLOP NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

DUNLOP NATIONAL SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: JONATHAN MACDONALD // IMAGES :: CRSPICS.COM

Boyle Beating...

STANDINGS OVERALL DRIVER POINTS 1 Declan Boyle ....................... 112 2 James Belton ........................ 98 3 Roy White ............................. 92 4 Josh Moffett.......................... 76 5 Declan Gallagher ................... 75 6 Sam Moffett .......................... 70 7 Niall Maguire ......................... 66 8 Jonathan Pringle ................... 48 9 Eddie Power .......................... 46 10 Stephen Wright ..................... 42 11 James Stafford...................... 32 12 Stephen Wood ...................... 30 13 Eugene Meegan..................... 22 14= Lloyd Hutchinson ................. 21 14= Paul Manton......................... 21

1st

CHAMPION: DECLAN BOYLE

Two new names joined the Dunlop National Rally Championship champions’ roll of honour at the end of the 2013 season as Declan and Brian Boyle succeeded in their quest to lift the crown. The results records show that

they secured five outright victories from the six events that they contested, leaving them head and shoulders above their rivals. This is exactly how they did it...

R1: Birr Stages (24 Feb)

Declan and Brian Boyle got their season off to the best of starts with victory at the opening round of the Dunlop series. The Donegal cousins claimed the Birr Stages victory in their Impreza WRC by almost 35 seconds from Welshman Melvyn Evans and Sean Mullally, while James Stafford and Amy Ryan sealed third in their Darrian T90. The Boyles were quickest from the outset and went on to secure a start to finish win from Evans. But the event wasn’t without its scares for the rally winners, as they spun and stalled on the second stage, allowing Evans to close the gap to less than four seconds. Evans was enjoying his first event since the summer months so he was a little bit rusty but he tried hard to keep a tab on the rally leaders. However, after their stage two spin, the Boyles were back on song and they set about building a cushion over their rivals. While Boyle accelerated towards maximum points and an opening round victory, Evans briefly lost second overall to James pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Stafford’s Darrian. But a couple of stages later, Evans regained the runner-up position and he stayed there until the finish of the event. With Stafford securing third, Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry were happy to finish fourth after discovering that their boost pipe for the ALS valve had come adrift earlier in the event. Kevin and Martin Kelleher sealed fifth in their WRC Impreza with the Rover S2000 belonging to Roy White and James O’Brien in sixth. Stephen Simpson and Patrick Walsh claimed seventh ahead of James Belton and Mark Glennerster, both in WRC Imprezas. Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly won the Group N category and took ninth overall while Tommy Doyle and Liam Moynihan took two-wheel-drive honours (Stafford finished inside the top three) in their Renault Clio R3. James

2nd

2ND: JAMES BELTON

Stafford won the Dunlop Drive of the Day.

R2: Monaghan Stages (21 Apr)

Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly were the surprise of the pack at round two of the series. When Moffett hit trouble with his usual Lancer on the Friday before the rally, a last minute deal was put together to hire a McKinstry Motorsport Impreza WRC S14. It was his debut event in a World Rally Car but he accustomed quickly and went on to secure an impressive outright victory. Round one winner Declan Boyle had set the pace during the early stages despite some brake concerns. He powered into the lead after stage one, and despite O’Riordan setting the pace on

OVERALL CO-DRIVER POINTS 1 Brian Boyle.......................... 112 2 Mark Glennerster .................. 98 3 James O’Brien ....................... 92 4 James O’Reilly ...................... 70 5 John Rowan .......................... 69 6 Enda Sherry .......................... 66 7 Ryan Moore .......................... 61 8 Martin Byrne ......................... 49 9 Mark Wiley ............................ 46 10 Susanne Wright .................... 41 11 Amy Ryan ............................. 32 12 Niall Tierney .......................... 22 13= Willie Fitzpatrick ................... 21 13= Michael Moran ..................... 21 15 Declan Smith......................... 20

stage two followed by Moffett on stage three, Boyle still held a five second lead over nearest rival Moffett. Then disaster struck. Boyle lost five minutes during the fifth stage when he planted his Impreza off the road. That dropped him outside the top 20 and allowed a surprised Moffett into the rally lead. While Donagh Kelly, Daniel McKenna, James Stafford and Shane Maguire all retired during the opening loop, Boyle managed to get back on track and fight his way through the order but any chance of victory had evaporated. He eventually finished ninth overall. At the top, Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly never relinquished the rally lead once they were in front. They powered to the win by one minute from Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry, who moved into the joint championship lead with Declan Boyle. The Fiesta WRC crew of Daragh O’Riordan and Tony McDaid secured third ahead of James Belton and Mark Glennerster, while Roy White and James O’Brien finished fifth ahead of Group N winner Martin Doherty and Damien McCauley. Declan Gallagher and Ronan Murrin picked up the two-wheel-drive award as well as 10th overall, while Jonny Leonard and Niall Burns won the Dunlop Drive of the Day in their Evo 6.

3rd

3RD: ROY WHITE

R3: Cavan Stages (26 May)

Declan and Brian Boyle returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory at the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally. After the day’s nine stages, they were more than one minute ahead of the Toyota Corolla WRC belonging to Eugene Donnelly and Paddy Toner, with the overseas crew of James Belton and Mark Glennerster securing their best ever Dunlop series finish by claiming third. The result marked the perfect comeback for the Boyle crew after their round two incident. It promoted them back to the head of the series standings and was a welcome boost to their confidence in what was a dominant display, having led the event from start to finish. With Boyle bursting into the lead from the start, Eugene Donnelly was second fastest while Donagh Kelly lost time with a spin and Seamus Leonard retired his Impreza WRC with clutch troubles. Round two winner Sam Moffett was also destined for retirement. Having switched back to his Group N Lancer, gearbox problems put him out of the rally. Eugene Donnelly and Donagh Kelly were destined to become embroiled in a battle for second and it was Kelly who took the advantage after stage five. Unfortunately it was to be a shortlived affair as he clipped a rock and punctured on stage six. Kelly managed to finish the stage in a lowly 66th position after changing his wheel, leaving the Donegal man with little option but to retire at final service. At this point, Donnelly was too far behind rally leader Boyle to make any impression, and he was under no pressure from third placed James Belton. So it was Boyle who sailed through to take the rally win leaving Donnelly to be content with second. James Belton and Mark Glennerster enjoyed a tight battle with Niall Maguire and Enda

4TH & GROUP N: JOSH MOFFETT

Sherry for third overall. Both had already encountered some dramas, with Belton spinning into a hedge on stage one while Maguire had an overshoot. In the end, it was Belton who managed to fend off Maguire’s challenge and claimed third overall by just 12 seconds from his rival. Maguire settled for fourth on this occasion with Roy White and James O’Brien fifth in their MG ahead of Group N winners Stephen and Susanne Wright. Rodney Wilton and Conor McMahon picked up the twowheel-drive award as well as seventh, while the Dunlop Drive of the Day was awarded to Roy White and James O’Brien.

5TH & 1ST 2WD: DECLAN GALLAGHER

2WD section but with the event called to a premature end, results were declared final after stage six. Needless to say, nobody was interested in finishing positions. Instead, everyone’s thoughts were very much with Paul Mulcahy’s family and friends.

R5: Sligo Stages (14 Jul)

The Sligo Park Hotel backed Sligo Stages Rally marked the second half of the season and with the absence of James Belton, Declan Boyle had the perfect opportunity to extend his lead at the top of the series standings. He duly delivered with another stunning driving

MK2 TROPHY: JONATHAN PRINGLE

R4: Raven’s Rock (30 Jun)

Sadly the 2013 Raven’s Rock Rally was cut short when competitor Paul Mulcahy, of Dungarven, County Waterford, passed away following injuries received in a tragic accident during stage four of the event. As a mark of respect, Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club cancelled the remainder of the rally. For the record, Declan and Brian Boyle had been leading the event from James Belton and Mark Glennerster, with James Stafford and Amy Ryan third in their Darrian. Roy White and James O’Brien were fourth ahead of Group N leaders Josh Moffett and John Rowan. Declan Gallagher and Ryan Moore were leading the

display that resulted in a start-tofinish win, enforcing his position at the top of the Championship tables. Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan held an early second overall until their Focus WRC slipped off the road during stage three. That allowed Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry into second position and having retired from the previous round during the road section to the opening stage, they were determined to stay there. Maguire managed to get his wish and at the finish of the event - which was shortened to six stages as a result of extreme heat - the former champion had done more than enough to secure the runnerup position. The Moffett brothers were next in line with Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly sealing third overall

in their Evo 9, just 17 seconds ahead of Josh Moffett and Jason McKenna. Jonathan Pringle and Martin Byrne topped the twowheel-drive field in their Escort, sealing fifth overall in the process, with Ian Gunning and Fred Holmes completing the top six. Retirements included the Darrian belonging to James Stafford as well as the Escort piloted by Arthur Kierans.

R6: Stonethrowers (11 Aug)

Despite there being three rounds remaining, Declan and Brian Boyle entered the Stonethrowers Rally knowing they had an opportunity to seize the Dunlop title. With four victories from five events, they were in an almost unassailable position at the top of the standings. All they needed was one more victory to put the title beyond reach of their rivals... The event started well for the championship hopefuls but it looked as though Daragh O’Riordan and Tony McDaid were going to try hard to put a spanner in Boyle’s works. O’Riordan claimed fastest time on the opening stage to lead the rally in his Fiesta WRC by one-tenth of a second from Boyle. Two stages later, the gap had been extended to almost 10 seconds. Unfortunately for O’Riordan, any hopes of a rally win were dashed when he hit a bank during the repeat run through the opening stage. With damaged suspension, he was going no further and suddenly the Boyles found themselves in prime position for taking not only the rally win but also championship success. With almost half a minute in hand over their rivals, they continued to set the pace with fastest times over all of the remaining stages. Sure enough, they came through to claim yet another rally victory and with it the 2013 Dunlop National Rally Championship title! DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

082 // SEASON REVIEW // DUNLOP NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

DUNLOP NATIONAL SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: JONATHAN MACDONALD // IMAGES :: CRSPICS.COM

Roy White and James O’Brien were the best of the rest, finishing almost two minutes behind the winners. That was enough to seal second overall, with James Belton and Mark Glennerster securing the final podium slot. Paddy McVeigh and Stephen O’Hanlon arrived home in fourth with their Impreza WRC, while Declan Gallagher and Ryan Moore brought their Starlet home at the top of the 2WD tree, securing fifth overall in the process. Completing the top six, Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly also won Group N in their Evo.

succession of fastest stage times ensured that he accelerated away from the rest of the pack, in the end sealing the win by more than one minute from his rivals. The battle for second made for interesting reading with just 13 seconds separating the following three crews. Belton had held the early advantage but Daragh O’Riordan and Tony McDaid

Gallagher also sealed top two-wheel-drive honours from Jonathan Pringle and Martin Byrne, while Frank Kelly and Russell Harold were third amongst the 2WD crews as well as sixth overall. Topping the Group N field, Josh Moffett and John Rowan took the award ahead of Stephen and Susanne Wright.

The final round of the series enticed competitors to Bantry for the West Lodge Hotel Fastnet Rally. Daragh O’Riordan was the number one seed, followed by round seven winner Hugh Hunter. Further down the order, a late entry from Denis Cronin saw him start the event with number 14 on his doors. After stage one, it looked as though Hugh Hunter and Andy Marchbank were determined to get another Irish win under their belts as they powered to the top of the leaderboard. An impressive 18

seconds faster than their nearest rivals, it was a perfect start for the Impreza WRC crew. Hunter extended his lead on the following stage to almost half a minute but unfortunately for the Welshman, gearbox troubles were destined to put him out of the rally on the following stage. Suddenly, Denis Cronin and Colman Hurley found themselves at the top of the order! With a 24 second gap between new leader Cronin and second placed Daragh O’Riordan after just three stages, the odds were looking to be very much in Cronin’s favour. Over the ensuing stages, O’Riordan tried hard to eat into the rally leader’s advantage but every time he managed to make some progress, Cronin was able to fight back. As it turned out, nobody was able to stop Cronin from securing his third Fastnet success. In the end, his winning margin was just shy of half a minute from O’Riordan, while Roy White and James O’Brien claimed third in their MG, giving them third overall in the series standings behind James Belton. Declan Gallagher and Ryan Moore, who held second overall after stage one in their Starlet, eventually arrived home in fourth. They claimed the 2WD spoils in the process, finishing more than two minutes ahead of Wesley Patterson and Alan Whyte. In the Group N category, Jer O’Donovan and Mark Bowen took the spoils comfortably from Philip Cross and J.J. Cremin.

CL4: SAM MOFFETT

CL6: STEPHEN WOODS

R7: Galway Summer (1 Sep)

With the title already wrapped up, Declan and Brian Boyle opted not to take part in the Carlton Shearwater Galway Summer Rally. Despite their absence, it failed to detract from what was a competitive entry, with GB visitors Hugh Hunter and James Belton joining the Irish regulars. On this occasion, it was a Welshman who was destined to dominate the event, with Hugh Hunter moving into an immediate advantage after stage one with his S11 Impreza WRC. Navigated by Andy Marchbank, the crew were almost 10 seconds faster than James Belton and Mark Glennerster with Roy White and James O’Brien third. As far as Hunter was concerned, that set the scene for the day as he powered into a rally lead that he would never relinquish. A

CL2: JASON ROYCROFT

Class 2

There were four drivers and three navigators registered for points in class two but at the end of the season, only one from each category were eligible for the award. So the class two trophy was picked-up by Jason Roycroft and Nicole O’Shea, having scores maximum points on all four events that they entered. Brian Quigley and Alex Howes were the only other crew to pick up points but were not eligible for a trophy.

Class 3

Two crews registered for class pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

1ST HISTORIC: BERIAN RICHARDS

moved into the runner-up slot after stage four. They stayed there until the final stage but just when it looked like they had done enough to secure the position, they hit trouble during those closing miles. While O’Riordan lost almost half a minute, that was enough to allow Belton back into second position at the last gasp. He managed to secure the spot by 11 seconds from O’Riordan, who was lucky to hold on to a top three position. When results were declared final, Declan Gallagher and Ryan Moore were just two seconds further adrift in their rearwheel-drive Starlet!

CL3: JOE MCCARTHY

three and at the end of the year, two class wins for Joe McCarthy and Jason O’Brien were enough to secure the trophy. They secured wins in Galway and Tipperary, while rivals Mark Ewing and John Egan only scored on one event. That meant they were not eligible to pick up the trophy for second in class.

Class 4

The class four category was all about the Moffett brothers with Josh Moffett and John Rowan topping the standings at the end of the year. Their job was made that little bit easier when brother

R8: Fastnet Stages (27 Oct)

Sam switched to a World Rally Car for one event, putting him in a different class. However, Josh also topped the overall Group N standings and sacrificed his position in class four as a result. So Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly picked up the class trophy from Stephen and Susanne Wright, with Eugene Meegan third. Martin McGarrity, navigator for Shane Maguire, picked up third in the navigators’ section.

Class 6

More than ten crews registered in class six but only three were eligible to pick up awards at the

J E

end of the year. Topping the list was Stephen Woods, who powered to three class wins during the year. He finished 16 points ahead of nearest rival Paul Manton, with Paul Rowley third. In the navigators’ section, Derek Gibbs sealed top honours from Gerard Rowley.

Class 7

Tommy Doyle and Liam Moynihan were the only registered crew to score points in class seven but despite having two wins to their names, they were not eligible to pick up the class trophy at the end of the year.

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CL8: NIALL MAGUIRE

CL9: LLOYD HUTCHINSON

CL10: GARY KIERNAN

Class 8

Gallagher and Fintan Monaghan entered two events, picking up maximum points on one of them, while Trevor and Tristen Hutton retired from the one event that they entered.

The battle for the overall title was largely fought between the class eight crews and with Declan Boyle winning the title from James Belton, both of these pilots sacrificed their class positions. Instead, it was Niall Maguire who secured the class win from Declan Gannon. Enda Sherry picked up the navigators’ title with Alan Leonard in second position.

Class 9

In class nine Lloyd Hutchinson enjoyed a typically dominating display aboard his potent Mini, but two retirements made his job to secure the class crown that little bit harder. In the end it was Hutchinson and navigator Willie Fitzpatrick who came out on top with four class victories to their names, ending the season four points clear of Andrew Sheehan and Cian Corbett.

Class 10

Three crews registered for points in class 10 but only one was eligible to pick up trophies at the end of the year. Gary Kiernan and Niall Tierney topped the tables with 37 points to their names after managing to accumulate that total with the help of three class wins. Martin and James Ewing along with John and Niall Kelly were not eligible for class awards at the end of the year.

Class 11

Almost 20 crews were registered to score points in class 11 making it potentially one of the most competitive classes in the series. However, only two of those crews were eligible for class awards at the end of the year, with Eamon O’Connell and Mark Linehan topping the tables. They secured two class wins during the season, helping them to victory over David Smyth and Mark Deery.

CL14: JAMES STAFFORD pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

CL11: EAMON O’CONNELL

Class 16

Kevin Eves powered to class 16 success with three class wins and a number of consistent finishes helping him to the crown. In the end, he finished eight points clear of Conor Moore, with Damien Boyle third. Kevin Eves would have claimed third but he and navigator Mike Galvin managed to secure the outright Junior title instead and sacrificed their class positions. In the co-drivers’ category, Ella Ryan won from Adrian Reynolds and Joseph Boyle.

1ST JUNIOR: ROBERT DUGGAN

CL12: EAMONN MCGUIGAN

Class 12

None of the class 12 crews contested the final round of the season, which could potentially have seen a few changes to the leaderboard. So the status quo remained as it were after Galway’s penultimate round when a maximum score for Eamonn McGuigan bolstered his position at the top of the pile. He secured the class title by four points from John Lynch with James Cassidy third. In the navigators’ category, Michael Moran took the top spot ahead of Declan Smith.

Class 13

There were a number of overall title winners in class 13 who sacrificed their class positions as a result. Declan Gallagher and Ryan Moore were the highest placed 2WD competitors in the overall tables. They claimed the Rally. ie 2WD award as a result and sacrificed their class positions. Jonathan Pringle and Martin

CL15: EDDIE POWER

CL13: PADDY KIERNAN

Byrne also sacrificed their class positions as a result of securing the Dunlop Mark 2 Trophy, so it was Paddy Kiernan who won class 13 from Enda McCormack. James McCarville picked up the co-drivers’ trophy.

Class 14

James Stafford and Amy Ryan entered five events in the Dunlop calendar but unfortunately only managed to finish two of them. But those two finishes also amounted to two class victories, and that was enough to secure the class 14 trophy. Nobody else was eligible to pick up a class award but that made no difference to the outcome of the class 14 title.

Class 15

Eddie Power and Mark Wiley amassed a total of five class wins throughout the year, ensuring that they sealed the class 15 title. Two other crews registered for points but neither were eligible for prizes at the end of the year. Gavin

CL 16: KEVIN EVES

Class 18

Just two crews registered for class 18, but with Berian Richards and Frank Curtin securing the overall Historic award, they sacrificed their class position. They secured maximum points on four events, effectively placing them two points ahead of their rivals. But with winning the overall award, instead it was Ellis Belton and Gwynfor Jones who picked up the class 18 trophy.

Class 20

Seven crews registered for points in class 20, but nobody was eligible to lift the class awards at the end of the season. Roy White and James O’Brien were the only crew that satisfied the championship criteria to receive awards but as they also finished third in the overall championship standings, they sacrificed their class position. David Leonard would have been next in line ahead of Jonny Leonard but neither driver competed in any events in the series’ ‘region 2’.

CL18: ELLIS BELTON

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DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

086 // SEASON REVIEW // REIS/GET CONNECTED BTRDA GRAVEL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

BTRDA SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: PHIL JAMES // IMAGES :: PRO-RALLY.CO.UK

Thorburnæ Takesæ Title...Just!ææ

1st CHAMPION: EUAN THORBURN

When the final outcome of a championship is decided by a tie-breaking rule you know it’s been a close contest, so it’s always a shame that someone has to lose. There can only be one winning crew, but at the end of the 2013 BTRDA Gold Star Championship campaign it wasn’t just the winners who earned plaudits from their peers and spectators alike. It was a season full of twists and

turns with plenty of surprises along the way, and the first sign of things to come unfolded on the opening round when a new crew to the series took victory on the Wyedean. Connor McCloskey and Francis Regan started the final stage lying fourth overall, but by the end of the 13.6 mile Speech House test their Subaru Impreza WRC was top of the standings. If anyone doubted the Irish crew could mount a sustained championship attack such thoughts were surely laid to rest by the end of the following round, the Malcolm Wilson Rally. They couldn’t repeat their Wyedean win, but their podium finish did keep them top of the championship standings. Victory in the Lake District went to Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton, who had elected to stop their Ford FocusWRC01 prior to the final Wyedean stage when the oil light came on while they were lying second. No such problems here and Thorburn’s electrifying pace through Grizedale helped secure his win. McCloskey was truly masterful on the Somerset, setting fastest time on eight of the event’s eleven stages, but with Thorburn missing this round, Charlie Payne was his closest challenger. By the finish the

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Yorkshireman, co-driven by Paul Spooner, was thirteen seconds adrift, but the Focus WRC06 driver scored valuable points. Three rounds were now gone, and McCloskey had a ten point lead over Payne, but Thorburn was seemingly out of touch and he needed a win on the Plains to put his championship challenge back on track. He did it in style, despite turbo and tyre issues hampering his early progress. McCloskey held the upper hand for much of the event, but Thorburn’s late charge through Gartheiniog proved decisive while Payne was still very much in the championship race after finishing a solid third. Wedding bells prevented

McCloskey from appearing on the Dukeries and with Thorburn also absent it gave Payne the chance to rack-up a maximum points score. He seized the opportunity, heading the standings from start-to-finish, making the most of his position running first on the road in the dusty conditions. Finishing second and posting notice that they were a significant part of the title chase, Stephen Petch and Ian Windress were becoming more and more acclimatised to their Focus WRC08 as each round passed. With five of the nine rounds completed, and competitors only allowed to count their best six results from eight starts, dropped scores would come into play.

2nd

2ND OVERALL: CONNOR MCCLOSKEY

Dust levels reduced visibility to thick fog proportions on the Nicky Grist Stages and both Thorburn and McCloskey had significant offs. The Focus escaped and ultimately won, albeit minus a front bumper while the Impreza’s stage stopping roll ended the day. Podium places for Payne and Petch kept them in the title hunt, but it was a set back for McCloskey’s championship challenge. When the Subaru reappeared at the Woodpecker it looked a little different because it sported an all-new white livery. A last stage charge through Hay Park saw McCloskey turn a four second deficit into a two second winning margin over Petch. Thorburn finished third while Payne, who retired, still topped the points table as the series headed into Yorkshire for the first time since 2008. Onto the Trackrod and Payne went well on home ground, but like everyone else he couldn’t match Petch’s pace. The County Durham driver had been getting quicker throughout the year, and his victory provided some recompense for his late denial on the previous round. Thorburn, having found it difficult to match the pace of the more modern Fords on the long straights that typify the Yorkshire forests, completed

the podium places. McCloskey was driving a Subaru Impreza WRC S11 that he hoped would prove effective on the terrain, but his rally ended prematurely after hitting a gate post in Gale Rigg. Going into the Llandudno based Cambrian Rally, four drivers were in with a mathematical chance of winning the title. Having made his allowed starts Payne had to sit this one out in the hopes his 166 points wouldn’t be surpassed. Petch meanwhile acknowledged he was the outsider, but he was aiming to enhance his 161 point tally. That left Thorburn and McCloskey, who were separated by just two points in the Irishman’s favour, both knowing that a victory in North Wales would bring with it the coveted championship crown. What happened next is well documented elsewhere within this issue, but the final outcome was decided in Thorburn’s

SILVER STAR: MATTHEW ROBINSON

STANDINGS

3rd

DRIVERS 1 Euan Thorburn ..................... 174 2 Connor McCloskey ............... 174 3 Charlie Payne ....................... 166 4 Stephen Petch ...................... 161 5 Jamie Anderson ................... 139 6 Alex Allingham ..................... 133 7 Robert Dennis ...................... 133 8 Matthew Robinson ............... 129 9 Luke Francis ......................... 128 10 Jim McNeil ......................... 119

3RD OVERALL: CHARLIE PAYNE

favour thanks to him winning four rounds of the series to McCloskey’s three. The 2013 BTRDA Rally Championship will be remembered as one of the best ever, rarely are titles so closely fought, and all those who featured in this titanic battle should be

1400S: JULIAN WILKES

Silver Star:

award went to Michael Gilbey, who partnered Cameron Davies. Matthew Robinson’s start to the season in a Class B12 Escort Mk2 1400s was hardly inspiring though he Julian Wilkes/ Will Rutherforddid take a top points haul on the Child picked-up where they left Plains. It was a switch to a H3 off last year, winning another version of the Blue Oval’s iconic 1400 championship title in rally weapon of the seventies that their Vauxhall Nova VXR190. brought about a dramatic change Series newcomers Mat Smith/ in his fortunes. Wins on the Nicky Giles Dykes pushed them all the Grist, Woodpecker, Trackrod way, taking wins in their Ford and Cambrian produced a points Ka on both the Plains and the winning tally, but only just! Woodpecker, but transmission Had fellow Escort Mk2 pilot failure on the Dukeries and a Robert Dennis finished second and puncture on the Trackrod spoilt not third on the final round the things. title would have been his, as it was The Wilkes/Rutherfordhe ended the season a point adrift Child combination was soon in of Robinson. Dennis’ co-driver, full swing with victories on the Andrew Boswell, did take the Wyedean, Wilson and Somerset Silver Star co-driver title, finishing before missing the Plains, then two points clear of Patrick Walsh, resuming their winning ways on who co-drove third-placed driver Peter Smith. The 1final co-driver Project2:Layout 27/11/12 15:43 Pagethe 1 Dukeries. A brace of runner-

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applauded for their efforts. It may be too much to hope for more of the great battles as we head into the 2014 rally year, but you never can tell, so keep your fingers crossed and we might just get it!

CO-DRIVERS 1 Paul Beaton .......................... 174 2 Francis Regan ...................... 174 3 Paul Spooner ....................... 165 4 Ian Windress ........................ 162 5 Chris Williams ...................... 156 6 Ella Flynn.............................. 141 7 John Roberts ....................... 137 8 Andrew Boswell ................... 134 9 Patrick Walsh ....................... 124 10 Pamela Hilton..................... 121

RF1.0: MICK SMITH

up spots on the Nicky Grist and Woodpecker preceded a win on their final outing, the Trackrod leaving them with a points haul just two short of a 180 maximum. Wins on the Nicky Grist and Cambrian saw David Bennett and Alistair McNeil end the season a close third in their Corsa while Roger Priestnall and Martin Forrest weren’t far behind despite two late season non-finishes.

Class RF1.0:

Mick Smith totally dominated this class winning each of his six starts. Joe Sturdy won the co-drivers award after guiding second-placed driver Nick Carr.

Class RF1.4:

Joe Evett and Calvin Houldsworth’s start to the campaign got off to a poor start with retirements on

RF1.4: JOE EVETT

both the Wyedean and Wilson where they rolled their Nova in Grizedale. A change to an MG ZR saw them win the next three rounds, a feat they repeated on the Trackrod. They elected to miss the Cambrian where James West and Steve Eggington could have snatched the top prizes had they not put their Lupo off in Alwen.

Class 1400C:

Consistency won the day for James Weaver/ Teresa Butler, who only managed a single top points score on the Dukeries. In contrast top lady driver Rachael Patterson and Jamie Foster’s downfall came with three non-finishes and the Peugeot pairing had to settle for second. Freddy and Dave Brick won the most rounds, but the Nova crew’s three wins were matched by three non-finshes. Contact us on

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DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

088 // SEASON REVIEW // REIS/GET CONNECTED BTRDA GRAVEL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

BTRDA SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: PHIL JAMES // IMAGES :: PRO-RALLY.CO.UK

STANDINGS

1400C: JAMES WEAVER

Class 1400S:

Wilkes/Rutherford-Child; Smith/ Dykes; Bennett/McNeil (See 1400s).

Class N3:

The battle of the Fiesta ST pilots went in favour of Simon Dalton despite Cameron Davies taking six maximum scores. Unfortunately for the Llandovery driver the last of those came on his ninth event of the season so it didn’t count, allowing Dalton to claim the N3 driver crown. Davies’ regular co-driver Michael Gilbey claimed third place in the Silver Star Codrivers Championship allowing Keegan Rees, who partnered third placed driver Daniel Wakefield, to collect the top co-driver award.

N3: SIMON DALTON

Boswell’s points winning tally that placed them ahead of fellow Escort Mk2 incumbents Robert Barrett and Pamela Hilton. However, as the former pair claimed the Silver Star runners-up awards it was the

Class B10:

Wins on the Dukeries and Trackrod helped Robert Smith beat Thomas Lloyd to the top award by a single point after 205 pilot failed to oust him on the Cambrian. Top co-driver award went to Craig Maggs who partnered Lloyd.

Class B11:

Wins on the Dukeries, Nicky Grist and Trackrod contributed to Robert Dennis and Andrew

B13: KEITH PARRY pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Class B13:

Keith Parry and Eryl Evans headed a trio of Imprezas largely thanks to wins on the Woodpecker and Cambrian. Jim McNeil and Peter Baylis finished second and third in the drivers stakes, while the corresponding co-driver positions were taken by Anthony Blyth and Will Rogers.

Class WR1: B10: ROBERT SMITH

Class N4:

Initially a trio of Mitsubishi Lancer Evos were in close competition, but Tom Naughton’s Woodpecker crash and Anderson’s broken propshaft on the Trackrod left the way clear for Luke Francis to take the Production Cup award for drivers. Chris Williams earned the co-driver title following a string of good results alongside Alex Allingham and a one-off outing with Toni Carannante.

N4: LUKE FRANCIS

With Thorburn/Beaton; McCloskey/Regan and Payne/ Spooner taking the top Gold Star awards Stephen Petch and Ian Windress collected the first in WR1 class awards. The other driver awards went to Oliver Mellors and Peter Elkins, while those for co-drivers were collected by Andrew Joll and Ross Weir.

Historic Cup: B11: ROBERT DENNIS

B12: JOHN O’GORMAN

later duo who picked up the first in class prizes making it a winning double for Hilton, who also won the lady co-driver title.

Class B12:

Top points on the Dukeries and Nicky Grist helped John O’Gorman take the title in his BMW 325i while James GrattonSmith took the co-driver prize.

WR1: STEPHEN PETCH

Peter Smith and Patrick Walsh had three top points scoring results in their Escort Mk1 which coupled with the five second placed points made for a championship winning total. Their success and that of Matthew Robinson (see Silver Star report) allowed Theo Bengry and Les Forsbrook to pick up the H3 awards, while those for H2 went to Rex Ireland and Adrian Scadding.

Other Awards: Lady Driver: Rachel Patterson; Lady Co-driver: Pamela Hilton Junior Driver: Joe Evett; Junior Junior Co-driver: Joe Sturdy Senior Driver: Robert Dennis; Senior Co-driver: Pamela Hilton MG ZR Rally Challenge: Joe Evett (Driver) & Calvin Houldsworth (Co-driver).

HISTORIC CUP: PETER SMITH

WR1 Driver 1 Euan Thorburn .................... 114 2 Connor McCloskey .............. 114 WR1 Co-driver 1 Paul Beaton ......................... 114 2 Francis Regan ..................... 114 B13 Driver 1 Keith Parry .......................... 108 2 Jim McNeil ............................ 97 B13 Co-driver 1 Eryl Evans ........................... 109 2 Anthony Blyth ....................... 87 B12 Driver 1 John O’Gorman ..................... 75 2 Barry Jordan ......................... 56 B12 Co-driver 1 James Gratton-Smith ............ 57 2 Dave Williams ....................... 40 B11 Driver 1 Robert Dennis ..................... 114 2 Robert Barrett ....................... 97 B11 Co-driver 1 Andrew Boswell .................. 115 2 Pamela Hilton........................ 95 B10 Driver 1 Robert Smith....................... 109 2 Thomas Lloyd ..................... 108 B10 Co-driver 1 Craig Maggs........................ 114 2 Jonathan Boucard ............... 112 N4 Driver 1 Luke Francis ........................ 108 2 Jamie Anderson .................. 105 N4 Co-driver 1 Chris Williams ..................... 110 2 John Roberts ...................... 108 N3 Driver 1 Simon Dalton ...................... 107 2 Cameron Davies .................. 101 N3 Co-driver 1 Michael Gilbey..................... 120 2 Keegan Rees ......................... 74 BTRDA Historic H3 Cup Driver 1 Peter Smith ......................... 114 2 Rex Ireland.......................... 104 BTRDA Historic H3 Cup Co-driver 1 Patrick Walsh ...................... 116 2 Adrian Scadding.................... 70 BTRDA Historic H2 Cup Driver 1 Rex Ireland.......................... 120 2 John Baker ............................ 74 BTRDA Hist. Cup Class H2 Co-driver 1 Adrian Scadding.................... 81 2 Seyyan John ......................... 77 BTRDA Hist. Cup Class H1 Driver 1 Ken Davies ............................. 60 2 Malcolm Bayliss ....................... 1 BTRDA Hist. Cup Class H1 Co-driver 1 Alan Jones ............................ 60 Class 1400C Driver 1 James Weaver...................... 105 2 Rachael Patterson .................. 87 Class 1400C Co-driver 1 Teresa Butler ........................ 107 2 Jamie Foster .......................... 89 Class 1400S Driver 1 Julian Wilkes ....................... 118 2 Mat Smith ........................... 109 Class 1400S Co-driver 1 Will Rutherford ................... 118 2 Giles Dykes ......................... 109 Rally First Class RF1.6 Driver 1 Julien Fouques ........................ 1 Rally First Class RF1.4 Driver 1 Joe Evett ............................. 114 2 James West ........................ 112 Rally First Class RF1.4 Co-driver 1 Calvin Houldsworth ............. 114 2 Steven Eggington .................. 95 Rally First Class RF1.0 Driver 1 Mick Smith.......................... 120 2 Nick Carr ............................. 112 Rally First Class RF1.0 Co-driver 1 Joe Sturdy........................... 118 2 Simon Cox ............................ 91 Rally First Junior Driver 1 Joe Evett ............................. 117 2 Nick Carr ............................. 114 Rally First Junior Co-driver 1 Joe Sturdy........................... 120 2 Siobhan Pugh ....................... 39 Lady Driver 1 Rachael Patterson ............... 101 2 Jayne Auden ......................... 95 Lady Co-driver 1 Pamela Hilton....................... 120 2 Ella Flynn.............................. 111 MG ZR Rally Challenge Driver 1 Joe Evett ............................. 119 2 James Weaver..................... 114 MG ZR Rally Challenge Co-driver 1 Calvin Houldsworth ............. 119 2 Teresa Butler ....................... 115

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DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

090 // SEASON REVIEW // REIS/GET CONNECTED MSA ASPHALT RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

MSA ASPHALT SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: PHIL JAMES // IMAGES :: PRO-RALLY.CO.UK

RESULTS

1st

Driver Overall Points 1 Damian Cole........................ 153 2 Paul Bird ............................. 146 3 Steve Simpson .................... 139 4 Simon Mauger .................... 137 5 John Indri ........................... 134 6 John Stone.......................... 129 7 Alex Laffey .......................... 120 8 Washington James.............. 113 9 Adrian Spencer ................... 102 10 Ashley Field ........................... 95 Co-driver Overall Points 1 Brian Cammack ................... 149 2 Patrick Walsh ...................... 148 3 Jack Morton ........................ 139 4 Mark Hewitt......................... 127 5 Paula Swinscoe ................... 117 6 Mark Mason ........................ 113 7 Giles Corbett ....................... 104 8 Daniel Megannity .................. 96 9 Nigel...................................... 86 10 Simon Hunter........................ 84

CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER: DAMIAN COLE

Cole Retains Championship Crown! In the final analysis of any championship series it is the results that count and the record books will show that Damian Cole won a fourth successive title behind the wheel of his familiarFord Focus WRC 04. Once again the cloud of controversy shrouded the series ending, but that shouldn’t be allowed to detract from a closely fought contest that went right to the wire. Steve Simpson was one of four drivers in with a title shout at the start of the final round. His season got off to the best possible start with victory on the season’s

N4: JULIAN BARNETT

Class N4:

Julian Barnett improved on his 2012 season in the only possible way with, thanks to his consistent finishing record, a class winning campaign. The Impeza driver was rewarded for his efforts with the Andrew Haill Associates Group N Trophy. Chris Rice and Rob Tout finished second and third respectively in the driver standings whilst the to co-drivers award went to 2012 winner Dan Holley.

Class A7:

It was another successful season for Alex Laffey, this time in a Ford Fiesta S2000, winning a further

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

traditional opener, the Tour of Epynt. It had been a close call though as the Subaru Impreza S12 pilot, co-driven by Patrick Walsh, only claimed the win on

A7: ALEX LAFFEY

the tie-break rule after finishing on matching times with Cole and Craig Drew. Paul Bird and Aled Davies claimed the final podium place in their Focus WRC 07

B9: HOWARD MOORE

Prima Motorsport Junior Award to add to his collection.

as runners-up in their Vauxhall Nova.

Class A8:

Class B10:

With Paul Bird and Steve Simpson collecting overall awards the 1st in class driver trophy went to Graham Coffey with Mark Worley then receiving the runners-up award.

Class B9:

Howard Moore won the Fuchs Titan Race Award as top 1400cc pilot after a class winning campaign, co-driven by Sasha Heriot, in his Lotus Elise. Ian Barnard and Andrew Bull finished

Peugeot 205 pilot Craig Jose made up for the disappointment of finishing second last season by taking the top prize this time around, though it was a second successive win for his co-driver Nigel Hewett. Toyota Corolla pairing Dale and Marc Clatworthy finished runners-up.

Class B11:

Tim Daltry repeated his 2012 success with another class winning campaign picking up the BTRDA

ahead of Simon Mauger and Brian Cammack’s Escort Mk2, and the Darrian T90 GTR of John Indri and Joe Cruttenden. The results were a good indication of what

B10: CRAIG JOSE

FWD and AB Motorsport Peugeot 205 Drivers awards into the bargain. Three non-finishes cost Matt Beebe dearly forcing the MG ZR driver to settle for the class runners-up spot but at least his co-driver, Paula Swinscoe, collected both the top class and BTRDA FWD awards. Emma Morrison had to be content with the B11 runner-up co-driver slot for a second successive year and a similar prize in the Challenge awards.

Class B12:

Having missed out on a top three overall placing Simon Mauger took the top drivers award in B12

2nd

3rd 2ND OVERALL: PAUL BIRD

was to follow as the five leading drivers were to fill the top five championship places come the season’s end. The Isle of Man provided Bird with his first win of the season after taking his third Manx Rally victory, and edge a point ahead of Simpson, who finished fifth in the championship standings. Cole, who had Darren Garrod reading the notes on this occasion, finished in third leaving him just a further point in arrears. Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton repeated their 2012 success with victory on the Jim Clark, but that was their only championship outing of the season meaning second-placed Steve Simpson was the best of the series regulars. Mauger and Indri claimed third and fourth places respectively, but clutch failure forced Cole’s retirement while Bird didn’t start.

B11: TIM DALTRY

denying John Indri who finished just three points behind him. Washington James ended the year third in the driver rankings. With Brian Cammack securing the overall co-drivers title, the class prizes were awarded to Mark Mason, Josh Davison and Ian Meakin. Mauger and Cammack Project2:Layout 1

27/11/12

15:43

Bird marked his return to action with a win on Meath’s ALMC Stages, while podium places kept Cole and Simpson firmly in the championship stakes. Mauger could only manage seventh behind a sextet of WRCs, while Indri elected to miss out on a trip across the Irish Sea. The first of two visits to Northumberland’s Otterburn ranges came with August’s Tyneside Stages where another close contest went in favour of Cole, who beat Indri by just two seconds. Simpson had been on target for victory until a wheel parted company with the car on the penultimate test, and with Bird absent again Mauger took a tidy points haul with the final podium place. Peter Lloyd made only two starts in the series, but won on both occasions, the first of these

3RD OVERALL: STEVE SIMPSON

being on the Mewla Rally where Indri was again runner-up. The Essex driver had trailed both Cole and Simpson going into the penultimate test where the Focus ground to a halt following a heavy landing and the Impreza was slowed by wayward turbo pipe. Simpson did at least finish tenth, but it was zero points for Cole while Mauger and Bird were both missing. Cole and Simpson soon bounced back with first and second points scores in Wexford where Bird marked his return to the series by clouting a large rock and instantly retiring. Lloyd then won the Patriot where Bird made most of Cole and Simpson’s absenteeisms by finishing second, and closing the points gap to Cole and Simpson. Indri’s third highest points allocation kept him in the mix heading into the Cheviot.

Points on the final round attracted a 1.25 co-efficient, and with dropped scores holding ever more significance given his good results, Bird’s limited appearances wouldn’t necessarily be a handicap. Victory on the Cheviot would give the Moto GP and British Superbike team boss the asphalt championship title, but Cole and Simpson both had similar designs. The outcome is detailed elsewhere in this issue, but victory for Cole earned him a recordbreaking fourth consecutive drivers crown, not before a points protest was dismissed. For the good of the sport and this championship in particular a little less controversy in 2014 would be most welcome. We will keep you up-to-date with the events that form the series next year.

B12: SIMON MAUGER

B13: ADRIAN SPENCER

B14: JOHN STONE

added to their trophy haul winning the Millington RWD Challenge.

Arden picked up the second and third drivers awards whilst those corresponding for co-drivers went to Giles Corbett and Dan Megannity.

after finishing sixth overall in the championship standings in his Skoda Fabia WRC. The co-drivers prize went to Paul Hollingham who accompanied second placed driver Gary Le Coadou in his Toyota Corolla WRC.

Class B13:

All the prizes went to Subaru Impreza incumbents headed by Adrian Spencer and Mark Hewitt who collected the Kwiktrak Chris Daykin and Neal PageTrophies. 1

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Class B14:

John Stone retained the class title he won the previous year

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DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

092 // SEASON REVIEW // CARRYDUFF FORKLIFT N.I. RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

NI RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: WILLIAM NEILL // IMAGES :: NEILLPICS.CO.UK

Record-Breaking Four Time Champions... Five different cars were steered by Derek McGarrity on the way to his recordbreaking fourth Northern Ireland title. One winning component (for most of the season) remained the same - McGarrity’s long-time co-driver, and now four times champion, James McKee.

STANDINGS DRIVERS 1 Derek McGarrity ..................... 70 2 Derek McGeehan .................... 56 3 Jonny Leonard ....................... 44 4 Kevin Barrett........................... 35 5 Kieron Graffin ......................... 33 6 Brian Armstrong ..................... 15 7 Keith White ............................. 14 8 David Armstrong .................... 14 9 Emma McKinstry.................... 14 10 Raymond Doyle ...................... 14 11 James Laverty ........................ 13 12 Andrew Bustard...................... 11 13 Camillus Bradley..................... 10 14 Frank Kelly .................................9 15 Stanley Orr ................................9 CO-DRIVERS 1 James McKee ......................... 53 2 Niall Burns .............................. 36 3 Sean Mullally .......................... 36 4 Paddy Robinson ..................... 36 5 Jackie Elliott ........................... 32 6 Paul Mulholland ..................... 26 7 Neil Doherty............................ 24 8 Francis Regan......................... 15 9 Kenny Hull .............................. 15 10 Marc Nugent........................... 15 11 Damian Duffin ........................ 12 12 David Young ........................... 12 13 Charlie Beatty ......................... 10 14 Damien McCann ........................9 15 Stephen Quinn...........................9

WINNERS: DEREK MCGARRITY & JAMES MCKEE

Neil Doherty was also part of

the winning formula. He shouted the notes at the race circuit venues that formed round one and two. It was a decision not to allow Derek McGeehan, McGarrity’s closest rival, an entry after a late application that decided the championship in the end. McGeehan’s Mini had undergone some work at Prodrive, and he was unsure if his car would be ready. A disappointed McGeehan said, “I probably would have finished second in the championship anyway, but you never know.”

Round One: Kirkistown.

Derek McGarrity has become almost flawless at track based events, and after winning the non-championship New Year Stages Rally at the same venue, he brought forward the same components for round one. He won the opener by thirty-two seconds in the M600 WRC Subaru Impreza S14. Second was Kevin Barrett, who at this point was considering competing in the championship, so the early points were a good incentive. Derek McGeehan placed his Mini WRC third, ahead of Emma McKinstry. Peadar Hurson made a return to rallying after a four-year break pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

in fifth, and he went on to compete on selected rounds. Jonny Leonard had a DNF after he hit a chicane. He said, “There will be other days.” It turned out to be his best season yet.

Round Two: Bishopscourt. They may have read at the top of the result table at a circuit-based event yet again, but the 16 second victory was described as “a real challenge” after a moment on standing water seen McGarrity in ninth after stage one. One puddle in particular caught out many competitors as cars aquaplaned across the water. By stage four McGarrity had the lead, and his only other moment was when he briefly went up on two

2ND: DEREK MCGEEHAN

wheels. He was using customer, Garry Jennings’ Irish series winning car in order to set it up ahead of the Easter Stages Rally. Second was Jonny Leonard after a hard tyre choice seen him go faster than anyone on the penultimate stage. It got him ahead of McGeehan in a Toyota Corolla this time, despite an early trip onto grass and a spin. McGeehan got third place points, and he was ahead of Kevin Barrett this time.

Round Three: Easter Stages Rally

The first road closed event of the year was cancelled after heavy snow.

Round Four: Tour of the Sperrins Rally

It was the penultimate stage that decided the rally win after a dramatic turn of events for the mid-event leader, McGarrity. He had to guide his second Subaru S14 of the year (M700 WRC) around quad bikes he found on the road after a blind corner. Donagh Kelly went on to win the rally in a clutch-troubled Subaru, but he was not registered for points, so despite the scare, trouble on bumpy sections, and the position drop, McGarrity and McKee were still on target. Event local Camillus Bradley shook things up in his Escort Mk2. He went fastest on stage one over Sawel Mountain by five seconds, but as the WRC men stamped their authority he dropped to third. The local ace wasn’t put off, and he finished with third place points. It was his only score after a crash at the Mourne Rally. McGeehan had Michael Orr step into the co-driver’s seat to finish fourth ahead of Desi Henry, who scored points on his only event in the 2013 series. Contender Jonny Leonard finished twelfth, while Kevin Barrett was eighth before gearbox trouble caused his retirement.

M.I.S. M

Round Five: Mourne Rally

Club later organised a successful clubman gravel event.

It was the fourth rally, fourth car and the fourth maximum points for McGarrity. This time a midweek purchase - a Ford Focus WRC was his choice, but event local Darren Gass was the rally winner. McGarrity’s points haul totalled 48 after round five. McGeehan was on 34, and Barrett was third with 28 despite a non-finish. The next two rounds closed the gap, and the story of finding a champion continued.

Round Six: Ulster National Rally

The Ulster National Rally was an important round for McGeehan. It was his first road rally win in his Mini WRC, and his only maximum points of the year. McGeehan’s cause was helped all the more with McGarrity not scoring because he opted to compete in the international section for Irish Tarmac Rally Championship points. Jonny Leonard took second place points, and with Barrett absent the race

C1: MICHAEL NUTT

Class One

Round Eight: Bushwhacker Rally 3RD: JONNY LEONARD

for third closed in. Barrett later decided to enter only one more round – the Down Rally.

Round Seven: Lakelands Rally

Competitors were denied the first gravel round of the year after it was cancelled with insufficient entries. The Enniskillen Motor

4TH: KEVIN BARRETT

C2: KIERON GRAFFIN

Michael Nutt bagged C1 by 14 points. The Honda Civic driver had three maximum scores after taking second on the season opener with the guidance of Averil Morton. Sean Tracey, who sat alongside Gerry Faloona in a Vauxhall Astra on selected rounds, was the winning navigator. Faloona was second in the drivers’ race. Stephen Dickson had one maximum points score at round one, but it was enough to take

McGarrity was left with no car of his own to use at the penultimate round, so he hired the S14 Impreza he started the year in from Kenny McKinstry. McGarrity was on the top spot, and it looked like the championship was almost his. The crown fitting had begun. McGeehan’s Mini was unavailable because it was at Prodrive. He had initially entered in a Ford Escort Mk2, but with the championship still potentially his, he opted for a Toyota Corolla WRC at the last minute. He

third with co-driver Wendy Blackledge taking the second codriver trophy ahead of Morton.

Class Two

Kieron Graffin from KG Motorsport and Paddy Robinson put no non-finishes down as part of their success. Graffin not only won the popular Group N category by twenty points, but finished fifth overall. The Ulster Rally and Bushwhacker Rally had Graffin and

finished ninth overall - enough for second place points. Kieron Graffin finished with third place points.

Round Nine: Down Rally

McGeehan had to win the Down Rally to win the championship, while McGarrity would have to fail to finish. McGarrity didn’t have a car to use, so he hired a Group N Subaru Impreza from Robbie McGurk. A finish in the points was all he needed if McGeehan had of started, so Group N power was enough. McGeehan not allowed to start meant the news quickly spread McGarrity and McKee were champions again – the only pair to win it four times. McGeehan finished second, after he could do no more. Jonny Leonard was third, while Kevin Barrett’s selected rounds gave him fourth. The navigator standings didn’t add up with their respective drivers. Behind McKee was Niall Burns – co-driver to Leonard in the later part of the year. Third was Sean Mullally, Barrett’s regular man on the notes.

C3: JORDAN HONE

Robinson as the top point scorers. Stanley Ballantine and Martin Laverty matched on points at the end, but count backs went in Ballantine’s favour. Vincent Fergus was the second-placed co-driver ahead of Wendy Blackledge – who scored points in yet another class.

Class Three

Son and father duo Jordan and Paul Hone were the champions of C3 in their first full attempt at the series in a Raymond Mason

C4: RAYMOND DOYLE

Rallyhire Nissan Micra. The 17-year-old was the one in command, with dad Paul on the notes. The series was won before the final round, but unfortunately a Down Rally DNF ended an excellent year for the pair. Second, some 21 points from first were Mark Robinson and Brian Galbraith, who scored two maximum points when Hone failed to finish. Another young gun, Colin Price was third. He competed at events in the first half of the season before

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094 // SEASON REVIEW // CARRYDUFF FORKLIFT N.I. RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

NI RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: WILLIAM NEILL // IMAGES :: NEILLPICS.CO.UK

C5: JOHN GORDON

he damaged his Vauxhall Corsa at the Mourne Rally. Third-placed navigator was Caroline McGuiness – a regular rally marshal.

Class Four

Raymond Doyle and Marc Nugent were the clear winners of C4. The always sideways Escort G3 pair had 23 points more than Alan Smyth and Peter Thompson. Smyth/ Thompson had some excellent results in and out of the championship using a nimble Citroen C2. Third went to Philip Hamilton and Derek Stride.

Class Five

In their first year of stage rallying, Newry’s John Gordon and Robert Knox clinched the C5 title by seven points. A highlight for the pair was winning the category at the Ulster Rally. Second were J T Warnock and Andy Hayes, twelve points clear of William McClurkin – all Escort-mounted.

Class Six

Winning the final two rounds gave Mark McDonald and Robin Pitts the championship win, while early leader Andrew McCormick didn’t compete towards the end of the season. McCormick and Chris McSherry finished second as a result.

C6: MARK MCDONALD

on top of David Armstrong’s Mk2 version at the end of the season by 12 points. Paul Mulholland was the top scoring co-driver, and second was Damian McCann.

Class Eight/ Nine

Derek McGarrity won C8, and Sean Mullally did enough to win the co-driver class award. Jonny Leonard/ Niall Burns won C9.

Montgomery Motorsport Class Ten

Stanley Orr was the clear winner of C10 in a Mk1 Escort. He won the class on four occasions across the year. Brian Cairns was on top of the co-driver points table after a count back system was used due to an equal points score with John Magilton. Andy Johnson/ Enda Sherry won C10 at the Tour of the Sperrins, and that was enough to take third in class.

Class Eleven

Drew Wylie was on top of tyres at round one, but went on to top the table. He claimed maximum

points that day, and on two other occasions. Conor McMeel/ Sean Devlin were the only other men to score points with a win at the Tour of the Sperrins. Fintan McGrady scored points at round one, and that was all he needed to win the co-driver trophy.

Other Trophies…

The McGrady Insurance twowheel-drive category win went to Keith White. The top scoring navigator was Paul Mulholland after sitting alongside David Armstrong. Emma McKinstry was the only driver in the M E Crowe Northern Ireland Ladies Championship, but the co-driver category had ten entries. Wendy Blackledge was the winner from Louise McClurkin. The Northern Ireland Junior Rally Championship was won by Jonny Leonard with Jordan Hone in second. As if Leonard hadn’t claimed enough trophies he also won the Autofashion.ie Group A prize.

Class 1 1 Michael Nutt ........................... 46 2 Gerry Faloona ......................... 32 3 Stephen Dickson .................... 12 Class 2 1 Kieron Graffin ......................... 62 2 Stanley Ballantine ................... 42 3 Martin Laverty ........................ 42 Class 3 1 Jordan Hone ........................... 53 2 Mark Robinson ....................... 32 3 Colin Price .................................3 Class 4 1 Raymond Doyle ...................... 63 2 Alan Smyth ............................. 35 3 Philip Hamilton ....................... 29

Sele

Class 5 1 John Gordon .......................... 56 2 JT Warnock ............................ 49 3 William McClurkin .................. 37 Class 6 1 Mark McDonald ...................... 45 2 Andrew McCormick................ 39 3 David Crossen ........................ 34 Class 7 1 Keith White ............................. 50 2 David Armstrong .................... 38 3 Jay Colville ............................. 33 Class 8 1 Derek McGarrity ..................... 60 2 Kevin Barrett........................... 41 3 Emma McKinstry.................... 21 Class 9 1 Jonny Leonard ....................... 54 2 Derek McGeehan .................... 48 3 Paul Barrett ............................ 38

Class 10 1 Stanley Orr ............................. 48 2 Andy Johnson ........................ 12 3 Stephen Whitford ................... 10 Class 11 1 Drew Wylie ............................. 36 2 Conor McNeel......................... 12

Class Seven

Keith White’s Ford Escort Mk1 was

STANDINGS

C7: KEITH WHITE

C10: STANLEY ORR

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

C11: DREW WYLIE

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096 // SEASON REVIEW // VALVOLINE IRISH NATIONAL FOREST CHAMPIONSHIP

IRISH FOREST SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: WILLIAM NEILL // IMAGES :: PACENOTES LIBRARY

Focus Forest Foray...

RESULTS OVERALL DRIVER POINTS 1 MICHAEL O’BRIEN ................ 98 2 OWEN MURPHY ................... 96 3 MARTIN CAIRNS................... 92 4 PHILIP MORROW ................. 80 5 JOSH MOFFETT..................... 79 6 SAM MOFFETT ...................... 72 7 JOHN REID ........................... 71 8 LIAM REGAN......................... 68 9 SHANE MCGIRR ................... 64 10 MICHAEL CONLON ............... 56 11 ENDA MCNULTY ................... 55 12 SEAMUS O’CONNELL ........... 44 13 GERARD LUCEY.................... 41 14 MARK MURPHY.................... 40 15 NIALL HENRY ....................... 38 OVERALL CO-DRIVER POINTS 1 JAMES O BRIEN.................... 98 2 GREG SHINNORS ................. 97 3 JASON MCKENNA ................. 87 4 ENDA SHIELS ....................... 75 5 JACKIE ELLIOTT ................... 74 6 CIARAN MC PHILLIPS .......... 28 7 KEVIN FLANAGAN ................. 61 8 PAUL SHERIDAN .................. 59 9 DECLAN TUMILITY ............... 52 10 ALISTAIR WYLLIE ................. 49 11 JOHN ROWAN....................... 48 12 STEPHEN QUINN .................. 46 13 JAMES LUCEY ...................... 45 14 SEAN MULLALLY .................. 42 15 AILEEN KELLY ....................... 40

CHAMPION: MICHAEL O’BRIEN

One point - Ford driver Michael O’Brien’s winning margin after six Irish forest events. Again, just one point highlighted a winning navigator, not O’Brien’s man on the notes, but James O’Brien. The two-wheel drive prize went to Shane McGirr and his co-pilot for the season, Jackie Elliott, with a gap of eight points after dropped scores, from Michael Conlon’s Ford Escort Mk2.

ROUND ONE: WEST LIMERICK MINI STAGES

On the first stage O’Brien and Shinnors were fastest, but only just – 0.4 seconds was the gap, and they built a lead only to lose it on the final stage. O’Brien admitted he “dropped the ball” at the season opener. Lisburn man Philip Morrow (Mitsubishi Lancer) took ten

2ND: OWEN MURPHY pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

seconds from O’Brien on the final stage to win by just 1.4 seconds. O’Brien held second, while a second Lancer team made-up of Owen Murphy and James O’Brien ended their day in third. The first round of the season in early February showed the future series champion he had to keep the pace up right to the line of each event in order to come out on top after the final round at the Bushwhacker Rally.

ROUND TWO: MOONRAKER FORESTRY RALLY

O’Brien and Shinnors learnt from round one, and they travelled

home as the winners of the Moonraker Forestry Rally, and the pair tied at the top with Philip Morrow in the championship race. Morrow finished second, with his brother Simon alongside. Josh Moffett got a look in with third ahead of Martin Cairns and Kevin Flannigan’s Subaru Impreza WRC. Cairns put up a strong fight against the first of the Moffett brothers – he matched the pace of Sam, sitting in joint third position after stage three. Cairns ended-up in a Moffett sandwich between Sam and fifth-placed Josh and David Moynihan. Owen Murphy had a short day. He retired his Lancer not far from the start of stage one with transmission failure.

3RD: MARTIN CAIRNS

ROUND THREE: WILLIE LOUGHMAN FORESTRY RALLY

Murphy put the problems from round two behind him to win the Willie Loughman event. This time it was O’Brien’s Ford Focus that hit trouble with differential problems. The unfortunate situation had O’Brien’s joint lead after stage one disappear. The battle at the front came down to the two Lancer men – Murphy and Morrow after they entered the final stage on matching times. The Irish forests created yet another close finish with six seconds going in Murphy’s favour.

4TH: PHILIP MORROW

O’Brien recovered and made the most of a troubled day to finish on the podium ahead of Vincent McAree. Sam Moffett was fifth. Philip Morrow was the championship leader ahead of the next meeting in Tipperary.

ROUND FOUR: SEAN CONLON FOREST RALLY

As if six seconds wasn’t close and dramatic enough at the third round, the winning margin was halved to three seconds at the Sean Conlon Forest Rally. This time it was Philip Morrow who grabbed a win ahead of Murphy despite hitting a rock on stage one. Future champions, Mick O’Brien and Greg Shinnors were in third, 48 seconds down on the winning pace after finding the stages slippery. Martin Cairns had another steady result in fourth after he upped the pace on the final loop to take keep Dan O’Brien and Josh Moffett behind.

5TH: JOSH MOFFETT

At the rally finish winner Philip Morrow said, “It is a good championship this year. With Owen, O’Brien and a few others we have had some super close battles.”

ROUND FIVE: JIM WALSH FOREST RALLY

Philip Morrow dropped out at this point, and didn’t compete in any more rounds. The Lancer driver had some great success and he was in a good position in championship terms, but a budget limit sometimes has to be drawn. Each driver gave up their two lowest scores in the added total, so he was effectively still in the race. Mick O’Brien was the winner this time with Owen Murphy second. Josh Moffett scored third place points ahead of John Reid and Enda Shields’ Toyota Corolla. Frank Kelly and Martin McCormack may not have been competing in championship terms,

Pierce Doherty (Peugeot) was the man on top of the C1 podium, with his best result produced at the Moonraker Rally. Just three points behind was Peugeot 106 driver Tony O’Driscoll after some steady performances. Emmet Cronin was 16 points behind, but he managed to claim third in class. The top scoring co-driver was Tommy Hayes, four points ahead of Anthony O’Driscoll. The only other registered co-driver for C1

7TH: JOHN REID

but they did put on a show that resulted in a 3.2 second twowheel-drive victory to Kelly over McCormick. Third in the two-wheel-drive race was Shane McGirr, who had the championship prize in his sights rather than the battle on the day.

Second was enough for Cairns to take third in the championship, and Flannigan secured seventh position on the co-drivers’ points table. Owen Murphy was absent, but he had enough in hand to finish second, four points ahead of Cairns. However Murphy was only one point from matching O’Brien’s points total when he took second ever so closely behind O’Brien. Despite dropping out before the end of the series, Philip Morrow finished fourth, one point ahead of the first of the Moffett boys – Josh. Sam Moffett followed his brother, seven points behind. Liam Regan drove his Peugeot 206 4x4 to eighth despite a troubled final round, where he was lying second in the rally before a turbo pipe came off his car. Behind the lead trio of navigators (James O’Brien, Greg Shinnors and Jason McKenna) was Enda Shiels followed by Jackie Elliott, who was on the notes for Shane McGirr.

ROUND SIX: BUSHWHACKER RALLY

The final round had crews cross the border to the Omagh Motor Club’s Bushwhacker Rally. Derek McGarrity was the rally winner, but he was there for Northern Ireland series points. Martin Cairns followed him up, eight seconds back, who had a comeback fight on his hands because they left stage one in fifth, and dropped to sixth on stage two. Cairns went on to win two stages, but as co-driver Kevin Flannigan explains, “It was too little, too late after we lost out on the first loop.”

CL2: MIKE GARAHY

CL1: PIERCE DOHERTY

Class One

6TH: SAM MOFFETT

was Dara Maguire with one point at the season opener based in Limerick.

Class Two

Mike Garahy (Ford Escort Mk2) scored big with maximum points at the final round to secure C2. Six points behind was Mick Nevin after scoring steady points and taking top points in Tipperary. Tim Howard secured the final podium place by two points from Pascal O’Shea, who didn’t score at the

final two rounds. David Forde picked-up a trophy for scoring top points as a codriver, five valuable points ahead of his closest rivals. Sean Henehan and DJ Howard were joint on points, with the second-placed trophy awarded to Henehan after a count back system.

Class Three

C3 had a clear winner. Paul Fitzgerald (Ford Escort Mk2) was 32 points ahead of Jimmy Deane.

The points haul came from steady performances, so much so he didn’t enter the final round. In fact nobody from the class did with the prize already secure. Third, behind Deane, was Peugeot driver James Wilson, despite only scoring points at the early rounds. Peirce Doherty won the co-driver trophy ahead of Peter Murphy. Third was Derek Gibbs.

DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

098 // SEASON REVIEW // VALVOLINE IRISH NATIONAL FOREST CHAMPIONSHIP

IRISH FOREST SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: WILLIAM NEILL // IMAGES :: PACENOTES LIBRARY

RESULTS Class 1 Driver 1 PIERCE DOHENY SNR .......... 52 2 TONY O’DRISCOLL ............... 49 3 EMMET CRONIN ................... 33 Class 1 Co-driver 1 TOMMY HAYES ..................... 55 2 ANTHONY O’DRISCOLL ........ 51 3 DARA MAGUIRE ..................... 1

CL3: PAUL FITZGERALD

CL4: RAY BENSKIN

CL5: SHANE MCGIRR

Class 2 Driver 1 MIKE GARAHY ...................... 55 2 MICK NEVIN.......................... 48 3 TIM HOWARD ....................... 43 Class 2 Co-driver 1 DAVID FORDE ....................... 49 2 SEAN HENEHAN.................... 44 3 DJ HOWARD ......................... 44 Class 3 Driver 1 PAUL FITZGERALD ............... 55 2 JIMMY DEANE ...................... 23 3 JAMES WILSON.................... 10 Class 3 Co-driver 1 PIERCE DOHENY JNR ........... 55 2 PETER MURPHY ................... 23 3 DEREK GIBBS ......................... 3 Class 4 Driver 1 RAY BENSKIN JNR................ 49 2 SEAN W BENSKIN................. 44 3 MICK O’SULLIVAN ................ 42

Class Four

Class 6 Driver 1 DANNY CREEDON ............ 54 2 JER CONNORS...................... 32

C4 was won by Ray Benskin using a Ford Escort Mk2. The lead position was secured by five points, with Sean W Benskin following the winner home. Just another two points behind was Mick O’Sullivan. The winning co-driver in C4 was Nicky Hegarty, two points up on Joe Fitzgibbon’s total. Enda Gerety was some way off improving his place with either low or no scores during the secondhalf of the season. A steady run at the start however, gave him third.

Class 6 Co-driver 1 TOM FOLEY........................... 54 2 OWEN O’NEILL ..................... 32

Class Five

Class 4 Co-driver 1 NICKY HEGARTY................... 52 2 JOE FITZGIBBON................... 50 3 ENDA GERETY ...................... 35 Class 5 Driver 1 SHANE MCGIRR ................... 53 2 MICHAEL CONLON ............... 50 3 SEAMUS O’CONNELL ........... 37 Class 5 Co-driver 1 JACKIE ELLIOTT ................... 53 2 CIARAN MC PHILLIPS .......... 50 3 LIAM BRENNAN .................... 37

Class 7 Driver 1 MICHAEL O’BRIEN ................ 56 2 JOHN REID ........................... 46 3 MARTIN CAIRNS................... 41 Class 7 Co-driver 1 GREG SHINNORS ................. 76 2 ENDA SHIELS ....................... 46 3 KEVIN FLANAGAN ................. 33 Class 8 Driver 1 JOSH MOFFETT..................... 53 2 SAM MOFFETT ...................... 48 3 PHILIP MORROW 44 Class 8 Co-driver 1 JASON MCKENNA ................. 63 2 JAMES LUCEY ...................... 32 3 JP MCAREE........................... 21

CL7: MICHAEL O’BRIEN

CL6: DANNY CREEDON

Shane McGirr and Jackie Elliott both had an excellent year in and out of the championship rounds. They were both on top to win C5 from Michael Conlon and Ciaran McPhilips’ Ford Escort Mk2. Seamus O’Connell drove another Mk2 to third with Liam Brennan.

Class Six

Subaru Impreza driver Danny Creedon was 22 points clear of the only other registered driver in C6, Jer Connors. Tom Foley was Creedon’s co-driver for the series,

and his efforts earned him a trophy ahead of Owen O’Neill.

Class Seven

Overall winner Michael O’Brien did enough to score the most points in C7, ten points ahead of John Reid’s Corolla. Five points back was Martin Cairns.

CL8: JOSH MOFFETT

Class Twenty

Greg Shinnors was the top scoring co-driver sitting with Michael O’Brien. Enda Shiels called the notes to John Reid in second. Martin Flannigan received a trophy for third.

Class Eight

C8 had three Mitsubishi Lancers, two driven by Moffetts, at the top. Josh Moffett finished with

Class 9 Co-driver 1 AILEEN KELLY ....................... 55 2 GEARD CONWAY .................. 31 3 RAY FITZPATRICK ................. 19 Class 20 Driver 1 OWEN MURPHY ................... 45 2 LIAM REGAN......................... 51 3 MARK MURPHY.................... 42 Class 20 Co-driver 1 JAMES O’BRIEN.................... 45 2 DECLAN TUMILITY ............... 43 3 ALISTAIR WYLLIE ................. 43

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Class Nine

Dean Raftery won C9 by 14 points using a Honda Civic despite not competing on the final two rounds. Daniel Cronin finished second after his efforts, six points up on third-placed Conor McCarthy. The winning co-driver was Aileen Kelly, from Gerard Conway. Third went to Ray Fitzpatrick.

Class 9 Driver 1 DEAN RAFTERY .................... 55 2 DANIEL CRONIN ................... 41 3 CONOR MCCARTHY .............. 36

CL9: DEAN RAFTERY

five points over his brother Sam Moffett. Philip Morrow was the third Lancer driver. In the battle for the co-driver C8 prize Jason McKenna finished 31 points ahead of James Lucey, almost double Lucey’s score (32). JP McAree finished third.

CL20: OWEN MURPHY

Owen Murphy brought his Mitsubishi Lancer to the top spot of C20. Second-placed Liam Regan needed nine more points to match Murphy. The battle for third went down to the last round where Mark Murphy took the position by one point from Enda McNulty. Overall co-driver winner, James O’Brien, was also the top scorer in C20, two points ahead of Declan Tumility. Third was Alistair Wyllie.

2013 IRISH FOREST RALLY CHAMPIONS

Mick O’Brien & Greg Shinnors IRISH FOREST RALLY CHAMPIONS 2013

ASHVALE

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We would like to Thank Everyone involved with the championship and a special thanks to Greg Shinnors, Tom Gahan and his crew (Patrick, James, Philip, Kevin, Rosie, Aoife) for preparing a great car. To Kumho Motorsport for their continued support throughout the year. And everyone who made it happen.

Dean Raftery & Aileen Kelly Dean would like to thank his sponsors for their continued support...

1st

SUNSEEKER BRC RALLY CHALLENGE

SUNSEEKER CLASS RC3

ULSTER CHALLENGE RALLY 2

ULSTER CHALLENGE RALLY 1 CLASS RC3

ULSTER CHALLENGE RALLY 2 CLASS RC3

JUNIORæ

CLASSæ 9 CHAMPION

CHAMPION

FINALIST

IRISH FOREST RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

IRISH FOREST JUNIOR RALLY CHAMPION

BILLY COLEMAN NOMINEE

DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

100 // SEASON REVIEW // SLIGO PALLETS BORDER RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

BORDER CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: EVAN HUGHES // IMAGES :: PACENOTES LIBRARY

Kiernan and Tierney are Border Champs!

2ND: DERMOT O’HAGAN

3RD: ARTHUR KIERANS

CHAMPION: GARY KIERNAN

Gary Kiernan and Niall Tierney have become the latest crew to join the illustrious list of winners. The Cavan crew were the kingpins in class 10 all year with four wins and a third place from the five rounds of the series. Sligo Pallets continued their

sponsorship of the championship for a third year and this successful association continues to go from strength to strength. The close competition this year resulted in a three-way shootout for the championship at the final round in Donegal where Kiernan/ Tierney sealed the title with their class victory. It had only been four months since Gary’s brother Paddy passed away so it was perhaps fitting that Gary would go on to take the overall series win. The Sligo Pallets Border Championship was once again a leading regional rally series in the country with over 100 competitors registering for the series in 2013. The introduction of three new classes for 2013 gave even more competitors a chance of some silverware, and a shot at a class or overall title. With four out of five events counting there was little

margin for error because there were limited options to make back point deficits. Defending champions, Arthur Kierans/ Mac Kierans made the early running with class wins in Mayo and Monaghan. Gary Kiernan/ Niall

CL7: ROGER KENNEDY

Tierney and Dermot O’Hagan/ Pierce Doheny were in hot pursuit due to their exploits in classes 10 and 11F respectively. With the Kierans family retiring in Sligo, Gary Kiernan/ Niall Tierney

Awards Night Success The 2013 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship concluded with the annual prizegiving in the Sligo Park Hotel on Saturday 2nd November. Over 200 people were in attendance to see Gary Kiernan & Niall Tierney claim the overall trophy for the first time. This was a tremendous success for this young crew, as Gary has only been rallying for three years pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

and 2013 was Niall’s first year competing. Gary paid tribute to the team at CMC motorsport for looking after the car all year as well as all those who helped make the championship such a success. Dermot O’Hagan/Pierce Doheny Jnr and Arthur Kierans/ Mac Kierans were also on hand to receive their awards for 2nd and 3rd place overall respectively.

moved to the front and they clinched the championship with another class win in Donegal. Dermot O’Hagan/ Pierce Doheny Jnr matched their tally of four class wins and only missed out on the overall win on a tie-break because Kiernan/Tierney’s dropped score of third place was better than the non-finish of O’Hagan/ Doheny in Monaghan. Arthur and Mac Kierans had to settle for third overall in the series the year, but are sure to be back again next year to reclaim the title.

Paddy Kiernan Tribute

The rallying community was left in shock after the passing of talented young driver Patrick Kiernan. In just two years competing, Paddy had already established himself as one of the top Mk2 Escort drivers in the country and a young talent heading for great things in the sport. In his first attempt at

The Danny Caddye Perpetual Award, which was introduced last year for the pride of the Border Championship, was fittingly awarded to the late Paddy Kiernan.

1ST: GARY KIERNAN & NIALL TIERNEY

the Border Rally Championship, he along with co-driver Darren O’Brien claimed the class 10 title in emphatic style. The move to class 13, and new navigator James McCarville was seamless with the pair instantly on the pace of their class rivals, culminating in a brilliant class win on Paddy’s home round in Cavan. The sport has been robbed of one of it’s greatest talents. His exploits will live long in the memory of competitors and spectators alike. The committee of the Border Rally Championship extends its sympathies to Paddy’s family and friends.

Class 1 Champions Francie McKenna/Sean Craig

Monaghan’s Francie McKenna and Sean Craig wrapped up class 1 honours with four straights wins from Monaghan to Donegal in the reliable Rover MG. The younger of the Kiernan brothers lit up the championship and clinched the ‘Drive of the Day’ award in Cavan before his passing in the summer following

2ND: DERMOT O’HAGAN & P. DOHERTY

Class 2 Champions Aiden Wray/Kieran McGrath

Aiden Wray and Kieran McGrath had a successful debut season in the Border Rally Championship taking class wins in Mayo and Sligo as well as second in class in Donegal.

Class 4 Champion Josh Moffett

Josh, the younger of the rallying Moffetts came out on top in class four after a strong run of results mid-season in his Mitsubishi. Shane Maguire finished as runnerup in his Subaru. Other crews to feature prominently were Stephen Wright/Suzanne Wright, Andrew Mullen/Elaine Doherty and Pat Kirk/Peter Ward with Trevor Bustard making a welcome return to the series in Donegal after his accident in Sligo last year.

Class 7 Champions Roger Kennedy/Wendy Blackledge

A perennial Border Rally Championship campaigner, this crew have taken many class titles over the years and they secured another this season with three class wins early in the year.

Class 8 Champions Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle 2010 champions, Declan & Brian Boyle have moved up to a top level Subaru Impreza WRC and they demonstrated their capabilities with overall success in the

championship with three event wins to secure class 8 success in 2013. Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry were their only major rivals in class 8 during the season.

Class 9 Champions Damien O’Reilly/Damien McCabe

Cavan pair, Damien O’Reilly/ Damien McCabe came out on top of class 9 after a close battle with their local rivals Justin Smyth & Gregory McQuillan. O’Reilly/ McCabe took class wins in Cavan, Sligo & Donegal, with Smyth/ McQuillan taking honours in Mayo and Monaghan, but three straight retirements dropped them to second place in class 9 this year.

Class 10 Champions John Kelly & Niall Kelly

John and Niall Kelly had to play second fiddle to Gary Kiernan/ Niall Tierney for much of the year, but they still claimed class 10 victory in Monaghan and they just pipped Martin Ewing/James Ewing to the class 10 title once Kiernan/ Tierney were promoted due to their overall success.

Class 11R Champions David Smyth/Mark Deery

David Smyth/ Mark Deery from Monaghan came out on top of a thrilling battle for class 11R honours with their consistent scoring rate (they scored at each round) doing the business for

CL1: FRANCIE MCKENNA

a road traffic accident. Mr & Mrs Kiernan received the award on Paddy’s behalf, which included action photos of Paddy competing in the 2013 Championship and

3RD: ARTHUR & MAC KIERANS

them. Declan Hall and Chris Corr finished just 2 points behind in second with Seamus Connolly/ Gary McCrudden, who took class wins in Mayo and Monaghan finishing up in third.

Class 12 Champions James Cassidy/Declan Smith

James Cassidy/ Declan Smith inherited class 12 honours due to Arthur and Mac Kierans’ overall result. Class victory in Cavan was their highlight as they finished 8 points clear of Martin Toner/ Martin Swinburne in second place. Vincent Collins was classified in third. Enda Haran/ Patrick Corcoran regularly starred in this class, but problems left them with just one class success in Sligo.

Class 13 Champions Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne Yet another Cavan Motor Club crew to top their class were Jonathan Pringle/ Martin Byrne, who scored in all four rounds they contested to secure class 13 honours in the championship. Monaghan’s Raymond Conlon finished as second driver with Terence McGee second navigator. Daniel Conaghan and Gary Gallagher were third driver and navigator respectively.

Class 14 Champion Francis Rafferty

Francis Rafferty took his rare

Sierra Cosworth to success in class 14 thanks to top scores in Mayo & Sligo.

Class 20 Champions David Leonard/Darragh Mullen

Sligo crew, David Leonard/ Darragh Mullen took class 20 honours in their Mitsubishi with a home win in Sligo being their best result, with high scores in Mayo and Monaghan.

Team Champions Sligo Pallets Rally Team

The Sligo Pallets Rally Team are the 2013 team champions. The three car team of Declan Boyle/ Brian Boyle, Andrew Mullen/ Elaine Doherty and David Leonard/ Darragh Mullen picked up maximum scores of 30 in Mayo and Monaghan with 20 point scores in Cavan and Sligo just doing enough to edge out The A Team in second place, and the MK2 mayhem team in third place. Congratulations go to Gary Kiernan and Niall Tierney on their brilliant championship win, and indeed to all of the class winners on what has been another fantastic year in the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship. 2014 promises to be another compelling year of competition in Ireland’s leading regional rally championship thanks to the brilliant support of main sponsors Sligo Pallets, and to the competitors who support the series and provide such magnificent entertainment. P

CL2: AIDEN WRAY

signed by none other than WRC star Jarri-Matti Latvala. Big thanks for making this happen go to James Burke who provided the photos and Killian Duff y, who took them

THE DANNY CADDYE MEMORIAL AWARD

to Spain for Jarri-Matti’s signature. Over €1500 was raised on the night for Suicide Awareness, boosted by the impromptu auctioneering of a rally jacket which contributed €250! Indeed there was plenty of spot prizes for attendees with over 50 different prizes to be won. A big thanks to Andrew Mullen & Elaine Doherty for organising such an excellent array of prizes. In addition to the awards received on the night, class winners also received prizes which included discounts off entry fees,

free accommodation and fee meals for two in various rally HQs. The party continued on into the night as the story of the ups and downs in the championship was re-told. Sligo Pallets will continue to support the series in 2014, with Mayo hosting the opening round in March. Gary Kiernan & Niall Tierney will be back to defend their Border crown next year, which is sure to be another terrific season of competition.

DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

date That’s thanks in part the to new has had another successful championship sponsors fortoyear 2011, Sligo date That’s thanks in part to the new championship sponsors for Sligo championship sponsors forto2011, 2011, Sligo date That’s thanks in part the new championship sponsors for 2011, Sligo championship sponsors for 2011, Sligo

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It has aa tough year with typically the new champions not known the cars are back in Parc Ferme atuntil theall end ofbeen the final round with typically the new champions not of the series. It has been tough year known until all the cars are back in Parc of the series. It has been a tough year with typically the new champions not Ferme at the end of the final round for rally championships with reduced known until all the cars are back in Parc Ferme atuntil theall end thewith final round of the series. It has a tough year known theofbeen cars are back in Parc for rally championships reduced Ferme at the end of the final round for rally championships with reduced known until all the cars are back in Parc of the series. It has been a tough year entry lists, and more competitors opting Ferme at the end of the final round of the series. It has been a tough year for rally championships with reduced Ferme at the end of the final round entry lists, and more competitors opting of the series. 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2013

o o o o o

Border Championship prizegiving Full 2011 report and photos from thewill be in the CarSport Yearbook. Border Championship prizegiving will be in the CarSport in the 2011 2011 CarSport Yearbook. Yearbook. Border Championship prizegiving will be in the 2011 CarSport Yearbook. in the 2011 CarSport Yearbook.

Pallets. The Balisodare based pallet Pallets. Pallets. The The Balisodare Balisodare based based pallet pallet recycling business run by well known recycling recycling business business run run by by well well known known competitors Andrew Mullen and Elaine competitors Andrew Andrew Mullen Mullen and and Elaine Elaine competitors Doherty has been an enthusiastic Doherty Doherty has has been been an an enthusiastic enthusiastic supporter of the series. It has helped supporter of of the the series. series. ItIt has has helped helped supporter to ensure aa healthy field of Border to to ensure ensure a healthy healthy field field of of Border Border Championship registered crews at each Championship registered registered crews crews at at each each Championship of the five rounds, while special awards of the the five five rounds, rounds, while while special special awards awards of such as the Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day such such as as the the Sligo Sligo Pallets Pallets Drive Drive of of the the Day Day Award presented at each round have Award presented presented at at each each round round have have Award proved highly popular with competitors. proved proved highly highly popular popular with with competitors. competitors. Pallets. The Balisodare based Going in to the final roundpallet in Pallets. The Balisodare based Going in to the final roundpallet in Going in to the final round in Pallets. The Balisodare based pallet recycling business run by well known Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from Pallets. The Balisodare based pallet recycling business run by well known Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from recycling business run by well known Pallets. The Balisodare based pallet competitors Andrew Mullen Elaine Monaghan had 30 championship points, Pallets. The Balisodare based pallet recycling business run by welland known Monaghan had 30 championship points, competitors Andrew Mullen and Elaine Monaghan had 30 championship points, Pallets. The Balisodare based pallet competitors Andrew Mullen and Elaine recycling business run by well known Doherty has been an enthusiastic Pallets. Balisodare based pallet but withThe three category wins from recycling business runMullen by welland known competitors Andrew Elaine Pallets. The Balisodare based pallet but three category wins from Doherty has been an enthusiastic but with with three category wins from recycling business run by well known Doherty has been an enthusiastic Pallets. The Balisodare based pallet competitors Andrew Mullen and Elaine supporter of the series. It has helped recycling business run by well known as many starts already behind them, competitors Andrew Mullen and Elaine Doherty has been an enthusiastic recycling business run by well known as many starts already behind them, supporter of the series. It has helped as manyhas starts already behind them, competitors Andrew Mullen and Elaine supporter ofhealthy the series. Itin has helped recycling business run by well known Doherty been an enthusiastic to ensure a field of Border competitors Andrew Mullen and Elaine another class 12 victory Donegal saw Doherty has been an enthusiastic supporter of the series. It has helped competitors Andrew Mullen and Elaine to ensure a healthy field of Border another class 12 victory in Donegal saw another class 12 victory in Donegal saw Doherty has been an enthusiastic to ensure aofhealthy field of Border competitors Andrew Mullen and Elaine supporter the series. It has helped Championship registered crews at each Doherty has been an enthusiastic them reach the magical total of forty, supporter of the series. It has helped to ensure a healthy field of Border Doherty has been an enthusiastic them reach the magical total of forty, Championship registered crews at each them reach the magical total ofat forty, supporter of the series. It has helped Championship registered crews each Doherty has been an enthusiastic to ensure a healthy field of Border of the five rounds, while special awards the series. It has helped aasupporter point more than any of their rivals to ensure aof healthy field Border Championship registered crews at each supporter of the series. Itof has helped more than any of their rivals of the five rounds, while special awards a point point more than any of their rivals to ensure aaof healthy field of Border of the five rounds, while special awards supporter the series. ItDrive has helped Championship registered crews at each such as the Sligo Pallets of the Day to ensure healthy field of Border can achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the Championship registered crews at each of the five rounds, while special awards to ensure a healthy field of Border such as the Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day can achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the can achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the Championship registered crews at each such as the Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day to ensure a healthy field of Border of the five rounds, while special awards Award presented at each round have Championship registered crews at each runners up spot, one point behind the of the five rounds, while special awards such as the Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day Championship registered crews at each runners up spot, one point behind the Award presented at each round have runners uprounds, spot, one point behind the of the five while special awards Award presented at each round have Championship registered crews at each such as the Sligo Pallets Drive of the proved highly popular with competitors. of the rounds, special awards Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in such the Sligo Pallets Drive ofthird the Day Day Award presented atwhile each round have of theasfive five rounds, while special awards proved highly popular with competitors. Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in third Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in third such as the Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day proved highly popular with competitors. of theasfive rounds, while special awards Award presented at each round have Going in to the final round in such the Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day spot. Award presented at each round have proved highly popular with competitors. such as the Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day spot. Going in to the final round in spot. Award presented at each round have Going in to the final round in such as the Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day proved highly popular with competitors. Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from Award presented at each round have Full report and photos from the proved highly popular with competitors. Going in to the final round in Award presented at each round have Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from Full report and photos from the Full report and photos from the proved highly popular with competitors. Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from Award presented at each round have Going in to the final round in Monaghan had 30 championship points, proved highly with competitors. Border Championship prizegiving be Going in to popular the final round in will Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from proved highly popular with competitors. Monaghan had 30 championship points, Border Championship prizegiving will be be Border Championship prizegiving will Going in to the final round in Monaghan had 30 championship points, proved highly popular with competitors. Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from but with three category wins from Going in to the final round in in the 2011 CarSport Yearbook. Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from Monaghan had 30 championship Going in to the final round in points, in the 2011 CarSport Yearbook. but with three category wins from in the 2011 CarSport Yearbook. Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from but with three category wins from Going in to the final round in Monaghan had 30 championship points, as many behind them, Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from Monaghan hadalready 30 championship points, but with starts three category wins from Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from as many starts already behind them, Monaghan had 30 championship points, as many starts already behind them, Donegal, Arthur and Mac Kierans from but with three category wins from another 12 victory in Donegal saw Monaghan had 30 championship points, butmany withclass three category wins from as starts already behind them, Monaghan had 30 championship points, another class 12 victory in Donegal saw but with three category wins from another class 12 victory in Donegal saw Monaghan had 30 championship points, as many starts already behind them, them reach the magical total of forty, but with three category wins from as many starts already behind them, another class 12 victory in Donegal saw but with three category wins from them reach the magical total of forty, as many starts already behind them, reach the magical total of forty, but with three category wins from another class 12 victory in Donegal saw athem point more than any of their rivals as many starts already behind them, another class 12 victory in Donegal saw them reach the magical total of forty, as many starts already behind them, athem point more than any behind ofin their rivals another class 12 victory Donegal saw aas point more than any of their rivals many starts already them, reach the magical total of forty, can achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the another class 12 victory in Donegal saw them reach the magical total of forty, aanother point more than any ofintheir rivalsthe classAaron 12 victory Donegal saw can achieve. McQuaid took them reach the magical total of forty, achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the another class 12 victory in Donegal saw acan point more than any of their rivals runners up spot, one point behind the them reach the magical total of forty, arunners point more than any of their rivals can achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the them reach the magical total of forty, up spot, one point behind the aacan point more than any of their rivals runners up spot, one point behind the them reach the magical total of forty, achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in third point more than any of their rivals achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the runners up spot, point behind the acan point more thanone any of their rivals Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in third achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the Kierans with Damian O’Reilly inrivals third acan point more thanone any of their runners up point behind the spot. can achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the runners up spot, spot, one point behind the Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in third can achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the spot. runners up spot, one point behind the spot. can achieve. Aaron McQuaid took the Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in third Full report and photos from the runners up spot, one point behind the Kierans with Damian O’Reilly inthe third spot. runners up spot, one point behind the Full report and photos from Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in third Full report and photos from the runners up spot, one point behind thebe spot. Border Championship prizegiving will Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in third spot. Full report and photos from the Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in third Border Championship prizegiving will be spot. Border Championship prizegiving will be Kierans with Damian O’Reilly in third Full report and photos from the in the CarSport Yearbook. spot. Full 2011 report and photos from thewill be Border Championship prizegiving spot. in the 2011 CarSport Yearbook. Full report and photos from the in the 2011 CarSport Yearbook. spot. Border Championship prizegiving will be Full report and photos from the Border Championship prizegiving in the CarSport Yearbook. Full 2011 report and photos from thewill be Border Championship prizegiving Full 2011 report and photos from thewill be in CarSport Yearbook. Border Championship prizegiving in the the 2011 CarSport Yearbook. Border Championship prizegiving will will be be in the 2011 CarSport Yearbook. Border Championship prizegiving will be in in the the 2011 2011 CarSport CarSport Yearbook. Yearbook. in the 2011 CarSport Yearbook.

3. 3. 2. 3. 3.

D O’Reilly // D Heena, 35. D A O’Reilly McQuaid D / AHeena, Coyle, 35. 39; D O’Reilly / D Heena, 35. D O’Reilly / D Heena, 35.

Gary Kiernan & Niall Tierney Sligo Pallets Border Champions

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Congratulations

Final PoSitionS: 2011 Final Final PoSitionS: PoSitionS: 2011 2011 Sligo PalletS Border rally Sligo Sligo PalletS PalletS Border Border rally rally ChamPionShiP ChamPionShiP ChamPionShiP 1. 1. 1. 2. 2. 2. 3. 3. 3.

A Kierans // M Kierans, 40points A A Kierans Kierans / M M Kierans, Kierans, 40points 40points A McQuaid / A Coyle, 39; A McQuaid McQuaid // A A Coyle, Coyle, 39; 39; A D O’Reilly / D Heena, 35. D O’Reilly O’Reilly // D D Heena, Heena, 35. 35. D

Final PoSitionS: 2011 Final PoSitionS: 2011 Final PoSitionS: 2011 rally Sligo PalletS Border Final PoSitionS: 2011 rally Sligo PalletS Border Sligo PalletS Border rally Final PoSitionS: 2011 ChamPionShiP Final PoSitionS: 2011 rally Sligo PalletS Border ChamPionShiP Final PoSitionS: 2011 ChamPionShiP Sligo PalletS Border rally 1. A Kierans // M Kierans, Final PoSitionS: 201140points Sligo PalletS Border rally ChamPionShiP 1. A Kierans, 40points Sligo PalletS Border rally 1. A Kierans Kierans /M M Kierans, 40points Final PoSitionS: 2011 ChamPionShiP 2. A McQuaid / A Coyle, 39; Sligo PalletS Border rally ChamPionShiP 1. A McQuaid Kierans / M Kierans, 40points 2. A / A Coyle, 39; ChamPionShiP 2. McQuaid / A Coyle, 39; Sligo PalletS Border rally 1. A Kierans / M Kierans, 40points 3. D O’Reilly / D Heena, 35. ChamPionShiP 1. Kierans / M Kierans, 40points 2. A McQuaid / A Coyle, 39; 3. D O’Reilly // M D Heena, 35. 1. A Kierans / Kierans, 40points 3. D O’Reilly D Heena, 35. ChamPionShiP 2. A McQuaid / A Coyle, 39; 1. Kierans, 40points 2. A McQuaid/// M / AHeena, Coyle, 35. 39; 3. D O’Reilly D 1. A Kierans Kierans M Kierans, 40points 2. 1. 3. 2. 3. 2. 3. 2. 3. 3. 3.

A McQuaid // A Coyle, 39; Kierans Kierans, 40points D O’Reilly D Heena, 35. A Coyle, 39; D McQuaid O’Reilly /// M D A McQuaid /A AHeena, Coyle, 35. 39; D O’Reilly / D Heena, 35. A McQuaid / A Coyle, 39; D O’Reilly O’Reilly // D D Heena, Heena, 35. 35. D D O’Reilly / D Heena, 35.

Border Rally Championship 2013

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CarSport

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www.borderchamp.com Another compelling season for the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship... Join the fun in 2014 for another great seasons rallying!!

35. 35. 39; 35. 35.

CRAIG BREEN RALLYING // COLUMN // 103

CRAIG BREEN COLUMN PICTURES :: TREVOR MCGRATH

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www.craigbreen.com

A Season of Two halves... Well, the end of another season and third in the ERC - not bad, but as always I would have liked to do better. This year has been quite different from the past four years in my career to date. Knitting into the Peugeot Rally Academy, three different co driver’s, taking on new events and development work on the 208 T16 project.

CarSport Rallye du Valais CarSport CarSport I really wanted to win the event. It

was a perfect opportunity for me to clench my first ERC win, and in turn claim that runner-up spot in the championship. But it wasn’t to be. The rally epitomises my season with a good start and then being hit by bad luck, but this year has been all about learning and I sure have gained a huge amount of knowledge. CarSport Like I’ve said, we had a great CarSport CarSport start in Switzerland, two fastest CarSport CarSport times to begin, and no risks, a CarSport CarSport perfect start. Then to my dismay CarSport CarSport we found out that Lara had made an error at the start control on SS3 by checking in two minutes early. We couldn’t believe it and Lara was distraught. Co-drivers bare the brunt when they make a mistake, but drivers are just as likely to make an error and Lara has done a great job over the three events this year. Refocused for day two, but then the power-steering goes. It was like, ‘here we go again.’ The remainder of the loop was ruined and over the second loop I was only getting up to speed - another day wasted. Day three, and at last a clean

run. Some good times and making the podium was a good result in the end when you consider all our problems. The high point of the rally for me came on SS14, Les Cols. My god what a stage, and we hit it with just a perfect rhythm. We were 30 seconds faster than everybody, and it really boosted us up the leader board.

Season Review

For sure the first half of the season is what I’m most happy with. The three results at the beginning were great and being all new events to take on adds to the what I achieved. Winning the Colin McRae Award for the second time in Corsica is another standout point of the year. The pace was really hot on the rally, and to come away with the award shows I have the speed. Contesting Rally Ypres was one of the most difficult

events of the year, but again I showed my speed even up against a driver like Feddy (Loix) on his home ground. Then came Poland. It was definitely my poorest result of the year. I know we were hit by punctures, but we were never on the pace. I guess dealing with that result is what this year is all about. It was and still is a hard lesson. Sanremo, I know it was my only non-finish of the season, but after going out on Friday night we were able to use the rally two rule and put in some good times, so for me it wasn’t as bad as Poland. And finally Rallye du Valais. Finishing third was not the goal, and is not an improvement on where we began the year, but the result has to put into perspective. After the Poland and Sanremo results this was a big improvement and a good way to end the year.

208 T16 Testing Programme

It has been an honour for me to be involved with the development programme of the 208 T16. I think it’s the ultimate for a driver to be there from the beginning with a team like Peugeot Sport, to

start with a clean sheet of paper and then design a new car. My first drive was when it was still called the 208 R5, but when it was rebadged the 208 T16 it took on a completely new meaning. Driving the car on both tarmac and gravel has been incredible. The most fantastic part for me has been to give feedback and information to the Peugeot Sport technicians and then see the car evolve form test to test. I can’t wait to bring the car out in competitive form next year.

2014 Season

I know the 2013 season is just over, but my Christmas present will come in the new year when the ERC gets underway again. 2014 will be a big challenge. Thank-you to everybody who has made this season possible, Peugeot Sport, Sainteloc and everybody involved in running the project. Closer to home I have to thank my family and Viv for being with me throughout the journey this season, James Coleman of Suirway Forklifts and Suirway Farm Machinery, of course Motorsport Ireland and the Irish Sports Council for their support this season. Also credit to all my co-drivers throughout this season between testing and events there has been a few - Paul, David, Lara, Karl and Derek. Finally, I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas, and best wishes for 2014. DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

104 // SEASON REVIEW // MINTEX MSA BHRC CHAMPIONSHIP

BHRC SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: PHIL JAMES // IMAGES :: PRO-RALLY.CO.UK

Hill Handles Historic Pressure!

CHAMPION: RICHARD HILL

Recent history suggests the winner of this series is never decided until such time as the results of the last round have gone final and this year was no exception. At the start of the Rallye Sunseeker Historique, no fewer than five drivers were aiming to claim the title as theirs. There can of course only be one winner and given his run of Category Two maximum scores no one could argue the merits of Richard Hill lifting the coveted championship crown. Hill started the season finale as favourite, but Rikki Proffitt, David Stokes, Gareth James and Dessie Nutt were all ready to pounce should the Chesterfield garage proprietor hit trouble. In the end he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t to be denied, topping the standings from start-to-finish in his familiar Ford Escort Mk1 RS, but his start to the season could hardly have been more different. Gareth James and Steffan Evans emerged as victors on the MidWales Stages in their Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800 with Category One laurels going to Rikki Proffitt and Phill Harrison in a Porsche 911.

B4: GRAHAM WAITE pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

David Stokes and Guy Weaver took the Category Two plaudits in their Escort Mk1 RS1600 while an inexplicable split to oil cooler forced an early retirement for Hill and co-driver Pat Cooper. Both James and Proffitt extended their winning runs on the Pirelli where Hill was slowed in the early stages by brake problems. A change of pads transformed the car and he reeled in Stokes to

claim victory by four tenths of a second, a result that he reckons was his best of the season. The first tarmac round of the season took competitors to the Scottish Borders for the Jim Clark Historic Rally and James was fastest again to retain his grip on the overall championship standings. Category wins for both Proffitt and Hill enhanced their chances, but not so Stokes who

retired after needing a small army of spectators to extricate his Escort from a ditch in Edrom. It was back to Wales, and a return to the loose stuff for the Severn Valley Rally, but James didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the most of another outing on home soil as a timing error incurred a hefty time penalty. A maximum points haul for Proffitt placed him top of the standings while a similar score for Hill did his cause no harm either. Competitors stayed in Wales, but changed surface for the following round, the Epynt based Harry Flatters Rally where the names of the recipients of the top category points bore a remarkable resemblance to those allocated on the Mid-Wales. James, Stokes and Proffitt all added to their tallies of top scores and while Nutt also

B5: RIKKI PROFFITT

C1: GERAINT THOMAS

C2: NICK DANKS

B1: GEOFF TAYLOR

B3: CALLUM BARNEY

CAT 1: DESSIE NUTT

accrued a respectable total, not so Hill who retired with gearbox issues. A trip across the Irish Sea for the Ulster Rally was to prove pivotal in Hill’s championship challenge as he needed, and got a top haul of points despite having to recruit Sam Collis to co-drive at the thirteenth hour. Following Proffitt’s exit with gearbox problems Nutt made best use of his knowledge and experience over the Irish roads to bag maximum Category One points to increase his lead in the points table. An engine bay fire put paid to James’ run. The cancellation of the Rally North Wales forced the introduction of the reserve round, the Colin McRae Forest Stages, taking competitors north to Perthshire for the penultimate round of the series. There were category wins for James, Hill and Proffitt, but Nutt lost time that he was unable to recover after starting with his suspension set too high. It was worse news for Stokes as he completed less than two miles before being forced to retire after a fuel pipe clip worked loose, draining the petrol. The events of the Sunseeker are well documented elsewhere in this issue so it suffices to simply reiterate that Richard Hill is the 2013 Mintex MSA BHRC champion driver. We asked Richard for his view on his season’s turning point and he told us, “Tarmac has always been my Achilles Heel, so the Ulster result

C4: PETER MCDOWELL

CAT 2: DAVID STOKES

STANDINGS

CAT 3: GARETH JAMES

C3: WAYNE BONSER

set me up for the championship. Having cut short a holiday in order to compete it would have been a waste of time if I’d gone there and not got a good result. The downside to it was that Pat’s mother passed away just before the rally, so he couldn’t make it. I would have liked him to win the championship with me as we work together as a team and both put a lot of effort in, but it feels like he’s got nothing for it.”

C5: SCOTT SMITH

With Cooper missing out on the top co-driver prize that went to Steffan Evans, who partnered top Category Three driver Gareth James through the year. Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride grabbed the Category One crowns following Rikki Proffitt and Phill Harrison’s Sunseeker retirement, while David Stokes and Guy Weaver had to content themselves with the Category Two awards. Next year’s calendar shows a couple of changes with the grandly named Rallee Classicagh Asphalt Isle of Man, more commonly known as the Manx, replacing the Jim Clark and the RSAC Scottish coming in for the Severn Valley. Whatever the schedule of events, let’s hope the outcome keeps the series going down to the wire, just as all good championships should be!

D3: SHAWN RAYNER

OVERALL DRIVER 1 Richard Hill ......................... 217 2 Gareth James ................... 201.5 3 Dessie Nutt ...................... 199.5 4 David Stokes ....................... 192 5 Rikki Proffitt ........................ 181 6 Ernie Graham ................... 180.5 7 Shawn Rayner .................. 169.5 8 Wayne Bonser .................. 152.5 9 Peter McDowell ................... 149 10 Graham Waite .................. 145.5 11 Nick Danks .......................... 119 12 Scott Smith ......................... 116 13 Stephen Richards.................. 98 14 Geoff Taylor........................... 96 15 Edmund Peel ......................... 78 16= Jeremy Wells .................... 75.5 16= Callum Barney ................... 75.5 18 Ryan Barrett .......................... 75 19 Derek Boyd ........................... 71 20 Nigel Webster........................ 70 OVERALL CO-DRIVER 1 Steffan Evans ................... 201.5 2 Geraldine McBride............ 199.5 3 Guy Weaver......................... 192 4 Phill Harrison ...................... 181 5 Will Graham ..................... 180.5 6 Pat Cooper ....................... 170.5 7 Declan Dear...................... 169.5 8 Richard Aston .................. 152.5 9 Gill Cotton ........................ 145.5 10 Martin Corbett ..................... 119 11 Steve Greenhill ...................... 96 12 Derek Davies ......................... 88 13 Janet Craine .......................... 78 14= Ron Channon .................... 75.5 14= Ken Bowman ..................... 75.5 16= Barry Ferris .......................... 75 16= Keegan Rees ........................ 75 18 Peter Moss......................... 73.5 19 Andrew Richards................... 73 19 Henry Webster ...................... 70

D5: ERNIE GRAHAM DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

106 // SEASON REVIEW // WWRS R.A.C RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

RAC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON REVIEW WORDS & IMAGES :: PAUL LAWRENCE

Marty McFly!

CHAMPION: MARTIN MCCORMACK

Martin McCormack and co-driver Phil Clarke emerged as worthy champions in the inaugural West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship after taking four wins from five rallies in their Ford Escort Mk2. The new championship was a

big talking point of the winter of 2012/13 as a group of disgruntled historic competitors sought an alternative to the MSA British Historic Rally Championship. Their disquiet with the BHRC centred on the cost of contesting the full schedule and the way that eligibility issues were dealt with. The master stroke that the competitors pulled off was taking their idea to Colin Heppenstall, the man behind the Roger Albert Clark Rally. In short the RAC Rally Motor Club launched a new championship with a seven-round calendar of one-day gravel rallies. Though the prime focus was on the traditional historic classes, extra divisions were added for pre-86 cars and other non-historic two-wheel-drive cars. The big talking point as the new season approached was just how many BHRC regulars and how many new crews would take part. The answers came when the entries gathered for the Red Kite Stages, the planned opening round in late January. The scale of the switch to the new championship was impressive with 43 crews registered for the BHRC and 90 for the R.A.C. With 10 crews

pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

registered for both around 120 crews were active, up from the 76 who registered for the 2012 BHRC. Ironically, the new season got off to a false start when a heavy snow fall forced the Red Kite to be postponed because deep snow drifts blocked roads around Llandovery. Instead, the season opened with the Rally Marketing Mid Wales Stages, and the huge crowds that packed the sensational Pike’s Peak stage showed the level of enthusiasm for historic rallying. The event delivered a fierce battle between Nick Elliott/ Dave Price and McCormack/ Clarke and the Cheltenham crew took victory by just 3.7s after a glorious

2ND: JASON PRITCHARD

contest, while Ryan Barrett and Barry Ferris made it two cars from Northern Ireland in the top three. The British weather did it’s best to wreck the schedule as snow and ice forced the cancellation of round three, Rally North Wales in early April, so battle resumed on the SG Petch Tour of Hamsterley at the end of the month. In a renewal of their tremendous sporting rivalry with fellow Ford Escort Mk2 crew Steve Bannister and Louise Sutherland that started on the previous Roger Albert Clark Rally, McCormack and Clarke went 45s clear after seven tough and slippery stages in the Co Durham forest complex. Elliott

was out early after a moment on the opening stage left his Escort on its side. Marty McCormack continued his mighty form with victory on round three, the DMACK Carlisle Stages in June. The brand new rally, organised by the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club, ran across stages in the Newcastleton and Kershope region and delivered quality stages and slick organisation with a very compact route. Heavy rain played its part during the event, but that made no difference to McCormack. “The whole day was really good. I kept my head down doing what we were doing, plus I didn’t back off in the rain,” he said after securing his win by 36 seconds. Elliott was pleased with second: “I pushed more as I got more confident. It was my first time on some of those stages, I was so very happy,” he concluded. McCormack and Clarke took their third win from four rallies after a fierce battle on the Neath Valley Stages in August. After a fabulous day of competition, McCormack/ Clarke headed Elliott/ Price by just seven-tenths of a second after 44 flat out stage miles in the Rheola and Margam complexes. To show just how

W W W. W E S T W A L E S R A L

3RD: TERRY CREE

competitive things were at the head of the championship, Jason Pritchard/ Dale Furniss and Matt Edward/ Sam Collis finished within 20 seconds of McCormack in more Escorts. The revised date for the postponed Red Kite dropped the event into early September, and the forests of the Crychan area were in prime condition for a dominant performance from McCormack and Clarke. They led from the start to take their fourth straight victory and seal the 2013 championship after a superb day of rallying on classic Welsh stages. Elliott retired after an off, while Pritchard turned in another fine performance to take the challenge to McCormack. Such was his advantage that

15TH: JOHN DUNCAN EVERARD

McCormack did not need to contest the concluding Trackrod Historic Cup in Yorkshire in late September. Instead, Edwards and co-driver Elliott Edmondson were popular winners of the final round. After a season of mixed fortunes, the North Wales driver turned in a great performance to win against strong opposition. “We had a fantastic season,” said McCormack. “A lot of people came together to make this happen. Phil did a fantastic job and his vast experience shows.” Clarke won the overall co-drivers’ title to add to their famous victory on the 2012 Roger Albert Clark Rally. McCormack said it has been a tremendously competitive season. “The competition was fierce and you had to be on your game straightaway. We had some good first stages and that was one of our strengths. There were no lie-ins with this championship!” He said his key rivals made him

5TH: NICK ELLIOTT

work very hard for the title. “Nick Elliott is always quick and there were a lot of people pushing us on. Jason Pritchard has very little experience in a Mk2 Escort and to come on the way he did this season was very impressive.” McCormack said that he was particularly pleased with his speed in Wales, which included victory on the Neath Valley Stages by just seven-tenths of a second over Elliott. “We just did it one rally at a time. Going to Wales and being as competitive as we were: I’m really happy with that because it is so fast down there. I’d not done much rallying in Wales before this season.” It was a great debut season in historics for Pritchard in a

18TH: STEPHEN HIGGINS

car from Viking Motorsport. He just got quicker and quicker and ended the season as runner-up to McCormack and will be even stronger in 2014. The same can be said of Edwards, who worked very hard to go rallying and overcame some frustrating problems to end the year on a high. Third overall in the championship and dominant winners of Category 2 were Terry Cree and Richard Shores in their BMW 2002, which got stronger and stronger as they developed the BMW into a real match for the best Pinto-powered Escort Mk1s. The impressive David Kirby/ Chris Rixon took the fight to the BMW, while next up in Category 2 was the Escort of Nick Jarvis, which also won class C5. After Elliott, next in the BDG-powered Escort Mk2 pack were Tim Pearcey/ Neil Shanks, Will Nicholls/ Nick Broom, James Potter/Bob Duck and

S R A L LY S PA R E S . C O . U K

12TH: BEN MELLORS

Warren Philliskirk in a supremely competitive category. Class D3, for the Pinto-powered Escort Mk2s, was the preserve of youngsters Ben Mellors and Alex Lee. They had a stellar season to battle with the BDG cars, but unfortunately ended the year with two heavy accidents in Yorkshire. They will be back in 2014. In the 1600cc Category 2 division it was Robin Shuttleworth and Ron Roughead who enjoyed a great season in their Escort Mk1. The championship’s move to run these cars alongside the Category 1 cars at the very head of the field proved popular and Shuttleworth made the most of prime stage conditions. Support for Category 1, for

19TH: SIMON WALLIS

the pre ’68 cars, was modest and the glorious Alfa Romeo of John Everard/ Mark Sharpley claimed the title despite a roll on Hamsterley. The evocative twostroke Saab 96 of Stephen Higgins led the chase, while Simon Wallis and Graham Wride were Category 1 pacesetters on the events they did in their Lotus Cortina. Finally two crews had a proper go at the Open Category and Mark Spencer/ Steve Pugh took the title in Spencer’s rapid Escort Mk2. Dylan Davies and Llion Williams were always incredibly fast on the events they did in Dylan’s Escort Mk1. Overall it was a hugely successful debut season for the new championship. Plans for 2014 are already announced, with a programme of seven one-day gravel rallies. The R.A.C. Rally Championship is on a roll!

RESULTS OVERALL DRIVER 1 Martin McCormack ............. 369 2 Jason Pritchard ................... 297 3 Terry Cree ........................... 229 4 Matt Edwads ....................... 206 5 Nick Elliott ........................... 198 6 Tim Pearcey ........................ 197 7 David Kirby ......................... 192 8 Nick Jarvis .......................... 172 9 Mark Spencer...................... 157 10 Robin Shuttleworth ............. 153 11 Will Nicholls ........................ 153 12 Ben Mellors ......................... 149 13 Dylan Davies .................... 147.5 14 James Potter ....................... 147 15 John Duncan Everard ....... 145.5 16 Dick Slaughter..................... 136 17 Richard Hill ......................... 124 18 Stephen Higgins.................. 119 19 Simon Wallis ....................... 110 20 Paul Fry ............................... 100 21 Warren Philliskirk .................. 99 22 Barry Jordan ......................... 98 23 Peter Smith ........................... 95 24 Phil Squires........................... 92 25 Chris Tooze ........................ 90.5 OVERALL CO-DRIVER 1 Phil Clarke ........................... 369 2 Dale Furniss ........................ 297 3 Richard Shores ................... 231 4 Chris Rixon ......................... 200 5 Dave Price ........................... 198 6 Neil Shanks ......................... 179 7 Ron Roughead ................. 165.5 8 Robert Duck ........................ 161 9 Alex Lee .............................. 160 10 Nick Broom ......................... 157 11 Steve Pugh.......................... 157 12 Llion Williams .................. 150.5 13 Mark Sharpley .................. 145.5 14 Graham Wild ....................... 137 15 Alun Cook ........................ 122.5 16 Sam Collis ........................... 120 17 Nigel Hutchinson................. 111 18 Graham Wride ..................... 110 19 Mick Squires ....................... 104 20 James Gratton-Smith ............ 99 21 Michael Steele ....................... 98 22 Geoff Dearing ........................ 96 23 Eurig Davies .......................... 93 24 Jo Tooze ............................. 90.5 25 Ali Cornwell-Browne ............. 89

DEC/JAN 2014 pacenotes

108 // SEASON REVIEW // THE BLUE SCOTTISH TARMACK RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

SCOTTISH TARMACK SEASON REVIEW WORDS :: ASHLEIGH MORRIS // IMAGES :: DAVE HATRICK

RESULTS 2013 Blue STRC Drivers Championship 1

CL1 CHAMPION: STEVEN HAY

CHAMPIONS: IAN & KATHRYN FORGAN

Team Forgan Win! Round One: Grant Construction Knockhill Stages

The season got off to a great start for Stuart Baillie, who took the victory at the Knockhill Stages. It was an unbelievably close battle, with Baillie and Lee Hastings finishing the rally with identical times. However, due to setting a quicker time on the first stage, Baillie and co-driver Alan Cowan took the win in their Subaru Impreza.

Round Two: PJ Planthire and Groundworks Charterhall Stages

Dom Buckley and Barry Hogg secured the win at Charterhall. Stuart Baillie was the highest placed STRC competitor, finishing fourth. Other STRC competitors who finished in the top ten were Colin Gemmell/ Cameron Fair, Ross Fernie/ John Young, Stuart Walker/ Julie McGuire and Ian/ Kathryn Forgan, who finished fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth respectively. With strong results in the opening two rounds, Stuart Baillie led the driver championship by six points from Ian Forgan.

Round Three: Dunfermline Car Club Ingliston Stages

Victory at the DCC Ingliston Stages was taken by Chris Anderson and Chris Thirling. Nick Runcie was the highest placed STRC competitor, finishing second with Gary Muir in the co-driver’s seat. Last year’s STRC champions

CL4 CHAMPION: KIERAN O’KANE pacenotes DEC/JAN 2014

Ross Fernie and John Young finished third, and fourth place went to Ian and Kathryn Forgan, who also took the championship lead.

Round Four: Jim Clark Reivers Rally

David Bogie and Kevin Rae took victory at the Jim Clark, with Alistair and Colin Inglis the highest placed STRC competitors, finishing fourth. Several class wins were taken by STRC competitors. Stephen and Darren Thompson secured victory in C5 in their Ford Escort. Paul Ballantyne and Graham Bruce won C7 and

CL2 CHAMPION: CRAIG GIBSON

Round Six: Turnbull Trophy Stages

Peter Taylor and Andrew Roughead triumphed at the Turnbull Trophy Stages, winning by 3m 43 seconds in their Ford Focus WRC. Alistair and Colin Inglis finished second with Lee Hastings and Brian Findon sixth. Kieran O’Kane and Jane Nicol finished tenth. Ian and Kathryn Forgan competed in a borrowed Ford Fiesta following their accident at Crail, and the pair managed to finish second in class to keep the championship lead.

BLUE REMAIN TITLE SPONSOR FOR 2014

Gordon Halley and Jeff Horne won C8. Finishing second in class ensured Ian and Kathryn Forgan held on to the championship lead.

Round Five: Glenrothes Motorsports Club Crail Summer Stages

STRC competitors Bruce Edwards and Jim Smith won at Crail, followed by Stuart Baillie and Lachlan Cowan in second, and Alan Gardiner and Robin Nicholson in third. Last year’s winners Alastair and Colin Inglis crashed out on stage three. The championship leaders, Ian and Kathryn Forgan, suffered a bad accident on the second stage, but managed to maintain their championship lead. Steven Hay moved up to second in the drivers’ standings, nine points behind Forgan.

Ian Forgan Ford Ka .................... 132 points 2 Steven Hay Vauxhall Corsa ......... 125 points 3 Stuart Baillie Subaru Impreza........ 124 points 4 Craig Gibson Ford Escort Mk1....... 113 points 5 Lee Hastings Subaru Impreza........ 111 points 6 Scott Russell Vauxhall Corsa ......... 105 points 7 Kieran O’Kane Opel Ascona ............... 99 points 8 Iain Miller Peugeot 106............... 97 points 9 Gordon Halley Ford Escort Mk 2........ 96 points 10 Linzi Henderson Peugeot 107............... 80 points

Round Seven: Solway Coast Rally

Mark McCulloch and Elliott Edmondson took the win at the Solway Coast. Stuart Baillie was the highest placed STRC competitor in fifth. Ian and Kathryn Forgan were back out in their Ford Ka, and they finished ninth overall, while Scott and Adam Russell took tenth. Ian Forgan maintained the championship lead with Steven Hay in second, Scott Russell third and Stuart Baillie in fourth.

Blue STRC competitors, finishing tenth in their Ford Escort Mk2. Lee Hastings and Mark McCulloch finished 11th, and Kenneth Moore and Richard Wardle were 13th. Ian Forgan and Steven Hay maintained first and second in the championship with Stuart Baillie and Craig Gibson climbing to third equal and Scott Russell dropped to fifth.

Round Nine: Tunnock’s Mull Rally

Victory in Mull went to John MacCrone and Stuart Loudon. Lee Hastings and Brian Findon had a good result which moved Hastings up to third in the drivers’ championship and Findon to fourth in the navigators’ standings. Heading into the final round of the championship Ian Forgan led the STRC drivers’ standings by nine points from Steven Hay, with Lee Hastings in third, and Stuart Baillie and Craig Gibson tied in fourth.

Round Ten: Glenrothes Motor Sport Club Kingdom Stages

Alistair and Colin Inglis took the victory at the Kingdom Stages, followed closely by Stuart Baillie and Lachlan Cowan in second. Ian and Kathryn Forgan finished tenth which was enough to see them crowned 2013 STRC champions. Steven Hay finished second in the drivers’ championship, six points behind Ian, while Brian Findon took second in the navigators’ championship.

Round Eight: Stobart Rail Pendragon Stages At the Pendragon Stages Peter Taylor and Andrew Roughead took another victory in their Ford Focus WRC. Stephen and Louise Hope were the highest placed

CL5 CHAMPION: STUART BAILLIE

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Harness: Seats: Helmets: Suits & Underwear HARNESSES TRS TRS Magnum Superlite (alloy adjusters) 3” 6pt Fia harness each ................................ £179.29 TRS Magnum 3” 6pt Fia harness each ......... £131.49 TRS New - Pro Fia Clubman 3” - 2” 4pt q/r harness each....................................... £95.40 Full range of TRS products in stock NEW PRODUCT COBRA COMPETITION SEATS Monaco Pro Fia each .................................... £192.00 Imola Fia each............................................... £466.80 Imola Fia GT wider version each .................. £514.80 Suzuka Fia each ............................................ £466.80 Suzuka Fia GT wider version each ................ £514.80 Evolution Fia each......................................... £562.80 Evolution Fia GT wider version each............. £610.80 Sebring Fia each ........................................... £622.80 Sebring Fia GT wider version each ............... £670.80 Full range Available SEATS MOUNTS Alloy side mounts one piece per seat ............. £42.60 Steel side mounts per seat Sparco ................. £46.80 Steel side mounts per seat Cobra................... £48.00 6 piece alloy side mount per seat ................... £50.00 SPARCO SEATS Sparco Sprint red, black, blue, Fia each ....... £164.39 Sparco Pro 2000 red, black, blue Fia ea ....... £390.17 Sparco Pro 2000 Plus red, black, blue Fia EA . £420.14 Sparco Evo red,black, blue Fia each ............. £384.37 Sparco Evo 2 red, black, blue Fia each ......... £420.14 Sparco Evo 3 red, black, blue Fia each ......... £461.00 Sparo Rev Plus red, black, blue Fia ea ......... £290.18 Sparco Corsa red, black, blue Fia each ......... £384.37 Sparco Pro Adv red, black, blue each ........... £461.00 Please note that all helmet prices are now subject to VAT (inc in our price)

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PELTOR INTERCOMS Practice headset white each ......................... £162.00 Full face headset each................................... £114.13 Fmt 120 amplifier each ................................. £210.00 Open face headset metal boom each............ £114.13 SPARCO RACEWEAR FULL RANGE NOW IN STOCK Sparco Sprint 6 suit Fia 2 layer..................... £274.80 Sparco Sprint 6 suit two colour Fia 2 layer ........................................................... £294.00 Sparco Prima M3 suit Fia 2 layer.................. £322.80 Sparco Tecnica X - 7 Fia 3 layer.................... £814.80 Sparco “Sparco” suit Fia 3 layer ................... £411.60 Natural long sleeve top ................................... £63.54 Natural long johns .......................................... £53.22 Soft touch long sleeve top .............................. £90.79 Soft touch long johns ..................................... £69.65 X Cool long sleeve top .................................. £118.83 X Cool long johns ......................................... £101.70 X Cool calf socks ............................................ £30.98 Speedway boot ............................................. £121.40 Formula SL-7 boot ....................................... £157.68 Top Driver boot ............................................. £150.03 Formula Adv boot ......................................... £197.34 Storm gloves ................................................ £142.80 Tide gloves ................................................... £137.87 Arrow gloves .................................................. £98.22 Wave gloves !! SPECIAL OFFER !! ........... £52.16 Profi gloves .................................................... £73.89 Flash gloves .................................................... £58.50 Land gloves .................................................... £48.60 SPARCO HELMETS Sparco Pro Rally helmet with hans posts..... £658.72 Sparco Adv helmet with hans posts and intercom fitted !! SPECIAL OFFER !! ........£498.00 Sparco Adv helmet with hans posts no intercom !! SPECIAL OFFER !! ...............£337.66 SPARCO BAGS Sparco Jumbo bag ....................................... £133.56 Sparco Director bag........................................ £52.60 Sparco Co Driver bag ..................................... £27.60 Sparco Travel bag ........................................... £76.20 Sparco Roundtrip bag .................................... £61.56 Sparco Street (rucksack) ................................ £46.98 LIFELINE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Lifeline Zero 360 2.25 kg mechanical system c/w h/held 2.0 kg ............................. £693.96 Lifeline Zero 360 2.25 kg mechanical system ....................................... £506.20 Lifeline Zero 360 1.0kg h/held ...................... £203.29 Lifeline Zero 360 2.0kg h/held ...................... £301.43 Lifeline 2.25 ltr Clubman plumbed in system .......................................................... £114.00 Lifeline Fire Marshall 4 ltr steel bottle FIA mech plumbed in system ....................... £186.00 Lifeline Fire Marshall 4 ltr alloy bottle FIA electric plumbed in system .................... £380.89 Lifeline 1.75 hand held AFFF extinguisher with bracket & strap ....................................... £46.80 Lifeline 2.4 FIA hand held extinguisher with bracket & strap ....................................... £58.20

LIGHTING ELECTRICAL & ACCESSORIES

PIAA Lamps 80 series spot/drive lamp c/w cover & bulb .......................................................... £119.70 Night Tech H4 bulb 60/55w produces 140/130w pair excellent value for money ........................ £35.80 H4 bulb 60/55w produces 130/120w ............. £49.46 H4 bulb 80/80w produces 150/150w ............. £53.58 CIBIE LAMPS Super Oscar long range................................ £114.55 Super Oscar drive ......................................... £111.52 H180 7” headlamp complete with side light ......................................................... £42.08 53⁄4”headlight main beam .............................. £53.74 53⁄4” headlight dip/main beam complete with side light.................................. £53.29

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