Issue 66 - April 2009 by Simon Mooney

Issue 66 | April 09 | £3.60/€5.25

rally magazine

www.pacenotes.net

the best irish and uk rally action every month!

Nuts About Brazil BENCH MARQUE

ALSO INSIDE 9 771473 725967

ISSN 1473-7256

Kris Meeke’s IRC Triumph... Irish Tarmac Preview Nicky Grist Column We Play Top Trumps

Camillus Bradley’s Exceptional Escorts

REPORTS

Bishopscourt Border Counties Mayo Stages

Malcolm Wilson West Cork Carrick Forestry

Vauxhall 16v Engine Parts

Inlet Manifold ................................£90.00 GM Ford Bellhousing...................£140.00 Paddle Clutch..............................£105.00 Quaife GM Gear lever ..................£350.00 Pace 2.0 Dry Sump Kit ................£700.00 Pace 1.6 Dry Sump Kit ................£700.00

Wheel Hub Accessories

Roll Cages

S/D Escort Mk 2 Weld in ........... £500.00 S/D Escort Mk 2 Multi-point ..... £430.00 S/D Escort Mk2 6 point ............. £400.00 S/D Honda EK4 Weld-in ............ £500.00 S/D Nova 6 point ....................... £430.00 S/D Sunbeam 6 point ................ £430.00 Sparco Corsa Multi point .......... £438.00 Sparco Honda EG6 Multi point . £435.00

Gp4 Alloy Hub ...............................£55.00 Gp4 Wheel Bearing .......................£20.00 Gp4 Large Outer Bearing ..............£16.00 Gp4 Wheel stud...............................£4.25 Gp4 Wheel Nut ................................£2.25 Alloy Grease Cap ...........................£10.00 Gp1 Wheel studs .............................£1.00 Gp1 Wheel Nut ................................£1.00

Braking System Mk2 Pedal Box Hyd ..................... £250.00 Mk2 Pedal Box Cable .................. £212.00 Mk1 Pedal Box Cable .................. £235.00 Gp4 Throttle Pedal ........................ £30.00 Dash Pedal Box Adj ....................... £30.00 Master Cylinder .625 .700 ............ £30.00 Girling Reservoir ........................... £14.00 Pro Handbrake Kit......................... £99.00 Ralloy Vertical Handbrake ........... £115.00 Princess Spacer Kit ...................... £30.00 Princess Caliper .......................... £120.00 Princess Grooved Disc .................. £48.00 Alcon 13” Front Brake Kit ........... £850.00 Alcon 15” Front Brake Kit ........... £925.00 Alcon 2 Pot rear Brake Kit........... £699.00 Ferodo Monte Carlo Pads ............. £86.00 Ferodo Forest Pads ....................... £75.00 Ferodo Princess Pads ................... £91.00 Castrol SRF ................................... £40.00 Tilton Proportion Valve .................. £79.00 Evo 9 HYD Handbrake ................. £875.00

Steering Racks

Polycarbon WIndows

(New) 2.4 Bronze H/Duty Rack .. £270.00 (New) 2.2 Bronze H/Duty Rack .. £270.00 2.4 Quaife H/Duty Rack.............. £700.00 Nova Quaife Rack Kit ................... £95.00 Ford Green Rod Ends ................... £21.00 Gp4 Steering Joint ....................... £26.00 Toyota AE86 Rack Kit ................. £120.00 Group4 GP4 Steering Joint .......... £26.00

ZF Components

OZ Wheels 6 x 15” Corsa / Honda...................£99.00

Speedline Wheels 6 x 15” Corsa / Honda.................. £99.00 8 x 18” Evo 8/9 .......................... £145.00

Escort Parts Specialists

Gear Box Turret .............................£26.00 Diff Tunnel.....................................£38.00 Gp4 Round Turrets .................... £69.00pr Four Link Kit ...............................£170.00 Four Link Kit H/D.........................£200.00 Dry Sump Platform .......................£21.00 Gp4 Strut Top Plater .................. £40.00pr Front Chassis Skids ......................£20.00 Panhard Rod Kit ............................£60.00 Tank Fitting Kit ..............................£69.00 15” Inner Wheel Tubs .............. £199.00pr Firewall Kit....................................£55.00

Alloy Tarmac Mk 2 Arches .......... £250.0 Alloy front 13”............................. £60.00 Alloy front 15”............................. £75.00 Alloy Rear Tarmac Arch ............... £68.00 Alloy Wide Rear Tarmac Arch ...... £75.75 Alloy Front Spoiler ...................... £65.00 Alloy Tank & Filler ..................... £165.00 Alloy Dry Sump Tank ................... £90.00 Alloy Rear Lamp Protector .......... £14.00 Alloy Strut Brace ......................... £49.00 Alloy Catch Tank ......................... £40.00 Alloy Sumpguard 8mm ............. £225.00 Alloy Battery Box ........................ £49.00 Alloy Talbot sunbeam Arch Kit .. £399.00 Alloy Talbot Front Spoiler ............ £35.00 Alloy Radiator ........................... £200.00 Alloy Classic Radiator ............... £275.00

Fully floating with Diamond Bracket & Damper Bracket from ............. £400.00 Atlas 52” with diamond Bracket ...................................... £385.00 ZF Motorsport LSD Unit.............. £625.00 English LSD Unit ........................ £400.00 ZF Side Gears............................... £67.00 Atlas 4.6 C.W.P. .......................... £220.00 Atlas 5.1 C.W.P. .......................... £200.00 F/F Hub Kit Complete .............£320.00 pr Alloy Axle Brace ........................... £90.00 Propshaft Ford to Atlas .............. £110.00 Gp1 Halfshaft ............................... £97.00 Gp1 Flange................................... £66.00 Gp4 Halfshaft ............................... £95.00 Gp4 Flange................................... £55.00 Redline LSD Oil ............................ £12.00 Castrol B373 .................................. £7.50

Bilstein Rear Damper Gp4 Coilover .............................. £130.00 Gp4 Turret .................................... £75.00 Gp1 Escort ................................... £70.00 Rear Coil Spring from .................. £20.00

ZF Motorsport LSD ......................£625.00 ZF 5 Speed Gear Kit ..................£1400.00 ZF Brass Forks from ...................£170.00 ZF Steel Baulk Rings.....................£89.00 ZF Solid Blockers ..........................£31.00 ZF Selector Fork Pins - Long ........£19.50 ZF Selector Fork Pins - Short........£19.50 ZF Selector Blocker Pads..............£19.50 ZF Blocker Pad Retainer Spring ......£2.50 ZF Turret Alloy Spacer Block .........£30.00 ZF 5 Speed Bell Housing .............£225.00 ZF Input Shaft & 5th Gear ...........£375.00

Bodyshell Accessories

Alloy Accessories

Atlas Axle

Escort Mk2 Kit ............................£200.00 Escort Mk1 Kit ............................£200.00 Corsa Kit .....................................£200.00 Nova Kit ......................................£200.00 Toyota AE86 Kit ...........................£200.00 Honda EK4 ..................................£200.00 Honda EG6 ..................................£160.00

Tran-x Components

PIAA Lamps

Strut & Accessories

NEW PIAA Lamps 80 PRO Series ...............................£75.00 Bonnet Pod & 4 Lamps ...... from £325.00 Spot Lamp Steadies........................£6.81

Exhaust System RS 2000 Manifold .......................£140.00 Astra 16v Manifold......................£175.00 2 ¼ Single Box System ...............£110.00 2 ½ Single Box System ...............£115.00 Tony Law Pinto Manifold.............£325.00 Tony Law BDA Manifold ..............£325.00 Janspeed Toyota System ............£175.00 Janspeed Toyota Manifold ..........£175.00

(New) Bilstein Strut.....................£175.00 Spring Seat 3” Deep .....................£16.00 Lock Ring ........................................£6.50 Top Cap D-Hole .............................£12.00 Alloy C – Spaner ...........................£11.00 Bilstein 300 / 70 Insert .................£80.00 Bilstein 300 / 100 Insert ...............£80.00 Bilstein 260 / 60 Insert .................£80.00 Front Coilspring ............................£20.00 Strut Adj Kit...................................£34.00 Alloy 2 Piece Top Mounts ..............£69.00

Quaife Components

Suspension to Body Shell Tension Strut Kit .........................£345.00 Compression Strut Kit Adj ....... £110.00pr T.C.A. Kit (Gen Ford) Adj .......... £300.00pr T.C.A. Kit (QH) Adj .................... £158.00pr World Cup X-member .................£112.00 World Cup X-member GP4 ..........£175.00 BDA & Pinto Engine Mounts...... £35.00pr Chassis Mounted Engine Kit .........£49.00 Watts Linkage Kit ........................£245.00 R

Gp1 Halfshaft ................................£97.00 Gp 4 Halfshaft ...............................£95.00 Gp1 Flange....................................£66.00 Gp4 Flange....................................£55.00 ZF Side Gear .................................£67.00 Mk2 H/D Rack .............................£700.00 Corsa Rack Kit ..............................£95.65 Toyota AE86 Rack Kit ..................£120.00

Revolution Wheels

6 x 15” Corsa / Honda.................. £70.00 8 x 18” Evo 8/9 ............................ £99.00 7 x 15” Evo 5/9 ............................ £70.00 8 x 15” Escort GP4 ....................... £94.00 9 x 15” Escort GP4 ....................... £98.00

Fiberlass & Carbon

Honda Civic

Escort Mk2 Bonnet .................... £110.00 Escort Mk2 Boot & Spolier ......... £145.00 Corsa Bonnet ............................. £100.00 Escort Mk2 ¼ Bumper ................. £35.00 Escort Mk2 Rear Bumper............. £35.00 Carbon Door Panels ..................... £90.00 Carbon ¼ Panel ........................... £75.00 Corsa Tank Guard......................... £60.00 Nova Tank Guard .......................... £60.00 Toyota Tank Guard ....................... £60.00 Escort Mk2 Kevlar Floor Guards ...........................£350.00pr Escort Mk2 Carbon Arch Protector..........................£45.00 pr Carbon Co-Driver Footrest ........... £76.00 Carbon Roof Vent ....................... £149.00 Carbon Stick on Sheet ................. £19.00 Carbon Look Sheet .................... £105.00

THE OLD RECTORY, AUGHER, CO TYRONE BT77 0BN CLOSED SUN AND MON, OPEN TUES-THURS 9.30AM-9PM FRI 9.30AM-6.00PM SAT 9.00 AM-2PM

Astra LSD F20 Unit..................... £540.00 Corsa LSD F13/F15 Unit ............. £450.00 Ford Salisbury LSD .................... £400.00 Ford Salisbury ZF Gears ............ £500.00 Ford 4 Speed Gear Kit ................ £475.00 Ford 5 Speed Gear Kit ................ £600.00 RS 2000 Alloy Bell Housing........ £140.00 Astra 16v to Ford Bell Housing............................... £139.00

Weld-in Cage CDS Profiled .........£500.00 Alcon Brake Kit .........................£1350.00 Pedal Box with Cylinder ..............£175.00 Quaife Gear Kit inc F/D .............£1400.00 Pedal Clutch Disc ........................£119.00 Kaas LDS Unit .............................£500.00 Alloy Sump Guard .......................£199.00 DTM Carbon Mirrors ................ £35.00 pr DTM Base Plate ....................... £12.00 pr EG6 Flocked Dash .......................£125.00 EK4 Door Cards ...........................£175.00 Sparco Weld-in EK4 Rollcage .....£450.00 Sparco 12 point Bolt-in EG6 Cage ....................................£438.00

ALL PRICES PLUS VAT@15%

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www.pacenotes.net Issue 66 | April 09 | £3.60/€5.25

rally magazine

www.pacenotes.net

the best irish and uk rally action every month!

Nuts About Brazil

the

contents IRC

kris meeke tops brazil

DUNLOP NATIONAL mayo stages roundup

20 BTRDA

malcolm wilson

with andrew bushe

IRISH TARMAC

circuit of ireland preview

CAMILLUS BRADLEY

pacenotes visit

SOUTHERN FORESTRY loughman forest roundup

12 - SPRING RALLY fivemiletown rally action

34 - QUESTION TIME with the leonards

56 - ANCRO rally sunseeker

deputy editor pete bleakley pete@pacenotes.net

13 - WRC ROUNDUP rally cyprus

44 - WEST CORK full rally report

60 - UK EVOS rally sunseeker - round 1

design & production jeremy purdy jeremy@mooneymedia.com

24 - UK CLUBMAN PT1 clubmen across the water

46 - QUESTION TIME with victor & susan beamish

62 - LOUGH NEAGH rally time trial review

30 - SCOTTISH RC border counties action

48 - IRISH EVOS west cork - rounds 1&2

69 - CLASSIFIEDS rally marketplace

32 - UK CLUBMAN PT2 clubmen across the water

50 - NICKY’S NOTES nicky grist column

BENCH MARQUE

ALSO INSIDE 9 771473 725073

ISSN 1473-7256

Kris Meeke’s IRC Triumph... Irish Tarmac Preview Nicky Grist Column We Play Top Trumps

Camillus Bradley’s Exceptional Escorts

REPORTS

Bishopscourt Border Counties Mayo Stages

Malcolm Wilson West Cork Carrick Forestry

publishing editor simon mooney editor@pacenotes.net t: +44 (0) 28 40 660 390 m: +44 (0) 7803 891893 (office hours) advertising manager beverley mooney sales@pacenotes.net tel: +44 (0) 28 40 660 390 fax: +44 (0) 28 40 628 392 assistant editor (Irl) jonathan macdonald jonathan@pacenotes.net mobile: 07989283055 assistant editor (UK) phil james phil@pro-rally.co.uk mobile: 07771768657

published by

FULL CHAT news round-up

08 BUSHE’S BLOG

NIRC bishopscourt rally action

unit 45, banbridge enterprise centre, scarva road industrial estate, banbridge, co down, bt32 3qd, northern ireland. t: +44 (0) 28 4066 0390 f: +44 (0) 28 4062 8392 Pacenotes is published on the last Wednesday of each month. This magazine is copyright mooneymedia ltd 2009. 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 WNS NI, Easons & Newspread ROI MMC Ltd - UK Mainland

pacenotes.net april 2009

Startline

FULL CHAT...

We’ve had quite an exciting month here in the Pacenotes office. On the rally front, it was fantastic to see Kris Meeke take victory in Brazil. After his Monte Carlo disappointment, the win puts him firmly in the hunt for this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge title. And with the WRC moving to the Super 2000 formula in the future, could a World Rally Championship drive for Kris be on the horizon? OK, perhaps I’m getting a bit ahead of myself. That is dependent on a lot of factors, but it would be great to see all of the Dungannon driver’s hard work and determination pay off. First things first though, and he has a lot to concentrate on in 2009. His victory in Brazil places him joint second in championship terms, and only three points adrift of the series leader. Peugeot UK will miss the next round of the series in Kenya so Kris is teaming up with Nicky Grist for the Midland Stages Rally! We were also treated to a guided tour of Camillus Bradley’s premises, just outside Draperstown. I must admit, I was mightily impressed by the fine business that Camillus has built from scratch. He has a huge stock of parts, and he also treated us to a passenger run in one of his immaculately prepared Escorts. Wow! The Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally is just a week or two away, and it seems the Ulster Automobile Club is struggling to find entrants for the international category. The economic times are hitting the Irish Tarmac Championship quite hard, yet the national rally field is well supported. Hopefully there will be quite a few last minute entrants to bolster the International field, but could this be a sign that rallies should switch to one-day formats? It seems most of the national championships are well supported, so perhaps one-day events could be the future of rallying, at least in the short-term? One thing I can’t forget... a small matter of Ireland’s Rugby team winning the Grand Slam... About bloody time! Thanks to my pal Dermot Hanafin from Rallyinsurance for the ‘corporate tickets’ - I owe you big time. Dermot also tells me he’s getting back into the drivers seat with Claire Mole along side... Killarney International looks likely, but in what car??? Simon Mooney Editor Tel: +44 (0)28 40660 390 editor@pacenotes.net april 2009 04 pacenotes.net

Oops Fintan ! Fintan Canty and Denis O’Mahony, both locals of the recent West Cork Rally, survived this massive roll with only their pride and wallets affected. The image scequence was captured by motorsport scribe Martin Walsh.

Hyundai Hunt… A £140,000 rally car has been stolen from a

parked trailer in Cumbria. The white Hyundai Accent - one of just 26 built in the UK - was due to have taken part in the Malcolm Wilson Rally in the Lake District. Police said spare parts worth £25,000 were also taken when the car was parked on a towing trailer in Deer Orchard Close, Cockermouth. Irish owner Brian McGillin, said the theft was, “an immense loss.” A spokesman for the Rally said it was the first time in the 30-year event history that a vehicle had been stolen.

MADMC raise £20k Magherafelt and District Motor Club

raised somewhere in the region of £20,000 at their fundraising event for Paul Gallagher. The funds will be directed into making improvements to Paul’s home for wheelchair access.

100% Barry… Continuing his 100% record in this year’s UK Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, Daniel Barry from Eniskerry, with co-driver Martin Brady from Navan, recorded a win at round two, the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally. The result sees Daniel and Martin increase their lead in the highly competitive Evolution Challenge, plus fourth place in the rally overall puts them at the top of the Pirelli

MSA Gravel Rally Championship standings, ahead of crews campaigning more powerful WRC cars. The next event in Daniel’s calendar sees a return to Kielder Forest - but this time the western side - when he contests round three of the Evo Challenge and the second round of the British Rally Championship, the Pirelli Tour of Cumbria, which takes place on 17th/18th April.

Mk2 Challenge Revs Up… After an absence from last year’s calendar, the Carlow Stages Rally and Mk2 Challenge makes a welcome return for 2009. The Carlow Car Club event will be jointly sponsored by the Lord Bagenal Hotel and O’K Lift Trucks. Sunday May 10th will see Ireland’s top tarmac rally cars back on the stages in County Carlow. The rally will be based in the Lord Bagenal Hotel, Main Street, Leighlinbridge, Co.Carlow and will be a counting round in the 2009 Honda Cup Ireland, the 2009 Southeast Rally Championship and will be a qualifying round of the Excel Rally Championship Regs and Entry Forms will be available to download from the club website soon.

Calendar April 09 28/03 29/03 29/03 29/03 29/03 04/04 04/04 05/04 05/04 11/04 11/04 17/04

Bulldog Rally (Llangollen) Circuit of Kerry SMC Stages (Blackpool) Pheonix Stages (Fulbeck) Tour of Caerwent (S. Wales) D’Isis Stages (MIRA) Charterhall Stages (Duns) MidlandStages Malcolm Watson Spring Rally Larsen Circuit ofIreland Ingliston Stages (Edinburgh) Pirelli International (Carlisle)

18/04 19/04 25/04 25/04 25/04 26/04 26/04 26/04 02/05 02/05 03/05 03/05

Get it Sideways Stages SolwayCoastRally (Dalry) Nutts Corner Rallycross Granite CityRally (Aberdeen) SomersetStages (Minehead) Wexford Restricted Mini Stages Monaghan Stages Rally Lee Holland Memorial Rally Killarney Rally of the Lakes Ballypatrick Tarmac Stages Procare Stages (Wigan) Welsh Rally (Epynt)

Mk2 Challenge Revs Up…

This is the big one! A two-week adventure to Portugal for the Algarve Historic Motor Festival where the racing takes place at the brand new Autódromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimao! The Algarve is the perfect destination for a driving holiday. We will be using the Rosslare/Pembroke and Plymouth/Santander ferries and the increasingly popular Spanish touring roads which offer great driving freedom. On landing in Spain we will take 4 nights to get to Portimao with 3 nights in the Algarve and 3 nights for the return drive back to Santander. Overnight stops are in luxury hotels, many former castles, palaces or other historic buildings. In Portimao we will stay at the Alvor Praia Beach Resort just twenty minutes drive from the circuit, where you can expect to see Grand Prix Masters ‘70’s Formula One, Sports Car and Prototypes, Pre ‘66 GT and Touring Cars, Vintage and Pre-war Grand Prix cars in action. The package includes Circuit Transfers; Race Tickets with Grandstand and Paddock access. Hospitality options are available. Saturday 10th October: 8.45am Cross Rosslare / Pembroke ferry arriving Pembroke 12.30pm and drive to Bristol where you will stay in a luxury hotel. Sunday 11th October: We will join the English party in Plymouth for the 16.00pm sailing to Santander. The Brittany Ferries cruise ship is very comfortable with good accommodation to ensure a relaxing break on board. Monday 12th October: Following our arrival in Santander at 12.30pm, we have an attractive run through the Picos de Europa Mountains towards Lèon, where we stay at a 5-star Monastery where dinner is included.

Tuesday 13th October: After breakfast we will travel to one of Spain’s most beautiful cities - Salamanca. We arrive in good time to explore this remarkable city on foot. Dinner is included at the Parador, which has a swimming pool and magnificent views of the old city. The restaurant offers many Castilian specialities and excellent wines. Wednesday 14th October: We will continue to Merida where the remains of an amphitheatre still stand. Again we arrive in time to appreciate the sights of this historic town. The hotel is a four-star 14th century palace where we will have dinner. Thursday 15th October: After breakfast we will travel into Andalucía and the capital of the region Seville. That evening we have a typical Spanish evening of tapas planned and perhaps a spot of flamenco later on!

MADMC raise £20k

Magherafelt and District

Motor Club raised somewhere in the region of £20,000 at their fundraising event for Paul Gallagher. The funds will be directed into making improvements to Paul’s home for wheelchair access.

Curly Escort Reborn…

Neil Williams has bought

Connor Curly’s red Escort RS, minus the engine.The car was built by DEN Motorsport in 2006 and features a fully modified bodyshell, running on 15” Revolutions, with the option to run 17” wheels. It has a welded in cage, Tractive gearbox, and Proflex suspension. Neil told Pacenotes he will be fitting a 2.0 Vauxhall XE Touring Car spec engine built by John Read Engines. “We`ve had some good results with my old car,” said Neil, “but I`m putting that back to its original spec to include a 2.0 BDG and ZF gearbox. We are refurbishing the new car prior to its debut, at, all being well, the Carlow MK2 Challenge!”

Saturday 17th October: You will have the option to take our coach transfer to the circuit for Qualifying, or to make your own way there by car. We will provide the necessary passes and directions.

Reg & Gerry’s Excellent Adventure...

Sunday 18th October: Race day.

Historic rally buffs Reg Britton and Gerry Buckley have just returned to Northern Ireland after a 6000 mile round trip which saw them compete in the Arctic Lapland Rally in Rovaniemi, Finland. The lads towed their trusty BDA Escort there and back…through England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and into Finland - a four day trip, each way. They netted 3rd in class H11 and 7th overall, the car requiring nothing but fuel, tyres and the TLC of ace spannerman Mark McCaffrey. “The trip to Stockolm was

Monday 19th October: After breakfast we will head north up the scenic coast road with a chance to stop for lunch at one of the many deserted Atlantic beaches. Then we join the autovia in the direction of Lisbon. From here we head west to the elegant resort of Estoril, former home of the nobility and famous exiles for our overnight stop and dinner. We have chosen the classic Hotel Palacio, a 1930’s gem now with 5-star comforts, a famous casino and magnificent sea views. Here the exiled Royalty mingled in Estoril’s golden era and it provided the setting for the Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. Tuesday 20th October: We will drive north through the mountains into Spain and across the Castilian Plains to the historic city of Zamora. The Parador, a 15th century Castilian Palace is in the heart of the historic quarter with a magnificent central courtyard. Wednesday 21st October: Today we will have some splendid mountain driving after we leave the sultry plains around León - and head into the high Picos de Europa Mountains with rivers with great dams and waterfalls and eagles soaring around the summits. Tonight we stay in the highest area of the mountains at the Parador of Fuente Dé with an opportunity to take a cable car ride to the nearest peak.

Thursday 22nd October: An opportunity to have a leisurely morning, perhaps with lunch on the Cantabrian coast around Comillas or at picturesque Santillana del Mar where there are world famous prehistoric cave paintings. It is a relaxed drive back to Santander where we arrive at 2.30pm for the 3.00pm crossing to Plymouth. Friday 23rd October: The ferry arrives in Plymouth at 9.30am. Then we drive North and into Wales to stay overnight. Saturday 24th October: Catch the Pembroke / Rosslare ferry at 2.30pm. Arrive Rosslare 6.30pm and head for home.

15 available spaces (15 cars 30 people). EVENT 7: Algarve Historic Festival PRICE: £2,530 per person based on car sharing & double room. (Single supplement £909). Includes:- All ferries & cabins; route instructions; 2x nights dinner B&B at a luxury English hotel; 10 nights luxury accommodation in Spain & Portugal; 5 dinners; coach transfer to and from the circuit; race tickets. Deposit 50% £1,265 per person.

reasonably uneventful, as we have done it twice before, Gerry Buckley told Pacenotes, “but the final part of the journey from Stockholm to Rovaniemi involved 500 miles in a blizzard, with minus four temperatures. When we arrived in Lapland we found the dry arctic air surprisingly pleasant with temperatures between -4 and -10, but with no dampness in the air.” “We completed a short recce on the Thursday, and the rally started on the Friday at noon with 6 stages, running until 8pm,” continued Buckley. On the Saturday it ran from 8am

untill 4pm, covering 6 more stages. I can also report that as good as a BDA sounds in the forests, it really comes into its own in -10 degree dry arctic air: 0 - 10200rpm instantaneously!” “The Finnish welcome was warm and the craic was mighty,” said Gerry. “In total cost terms any of the Finnish events cost no more than an international rally here in Ireland. When we got back home the van had clocked up 6000 miles and we were all wrecked, but it was a great experience and we would recommend it to anyone!”

news round-up from around the clubs and stages

After an absence from last year’s calendar, the Carlow Stages Rally and Mk2 Challenge makes a welcome return for 2009. The Carlow Car Club event will be jointly sponsored by the Lord Bagenal Hotel and O’K Lift Trucks. Sunday May 10th will see Ireland’s top tarmac rally cars back on the stages in County Carlow. The rally will be based in the Lord Bagenal Hotel, Main Street, Leighlinbridge, Co.Carlow and will be a counting round in the 2009 Honda Cup Ireland, the 2009 Southeast Rally Championship and will be a qualifying round of the Excel Rally Championship The official launch will take place in the Lord Bagenal Hotel on the evening of Thursday 9th April. Host for the night’s proceedings will be RTE’s Michael Lyster. There will also be rally cars on show and a Special Guest from the rallying fraternity. Regs and Entry Forms will be available to download from the club website soon.

Log On today at: www.rallyforums.com

Friday 16th October: Today we will make our way across into Portugal and to the resort of Alvor where we will stay for three nights. This evening is free to enjoy as you wish.

FULL CHAT...

Give Us Your Views

Event 7: Continental Adventures - 10-24 October Algarve Historic Festival

RPM Supercar Club… Over the spring, summer and autumn months,

supercar and classic car owners are being encouraged to lift the dust sheets off their current and classic Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Aston Martins, Jaguars, Mercedes, BMWs, Lotuses, MGs and Porsches, and to take part in an intriguing list of, “Great Escapes, Continental Adventures, Charity Dream Rides, and High Speed Experiences,” all under the auspices of Plum and Lynn Tyndall’s latest automotive venture, the RPM Supercar Club. Club trips, fully orchestrated by the Tyndalls,

will visit beautiful parts of Ireland and Europe, giving owners and their partners the opportunity to enjoy their treasured cars in the company of “like minded individuals.” Club outings will have destinations as diverse as the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum and the Le Mans 24 Hour Race. All ferry bookings, accommodation arrangements, route recommendations, and race passes will be part of the RPM Supercar Club service. To find out more, contact Plum and Lynn Tyndall on (UK) 02892 689444, (Republic) 04892 689444 or e-mail alan@rpm-motorsport.com.

Supercars, Super Cause… The Jack and Jill Foundation (www.jackandjill. ie) provides early intervention home respite to families with children up to the age of 4, with severe neuro developmental delay and palliative conditions, requiring extensive medical and nursing care at home. In order to raise funds for this vital organization, the ALMC Motor Club is hosting a free exhibition of supercars from road, track and rallysport at the City North Hotel, Gormanston, from 11am to 5pm on Sunday 19th April, 2009.

Entry is free and the family can get up close to famous marques such as Fiat/Abarth, Lancia, Ford/RS, Subaru, Mitsubishi, AMG, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, TVR, Lotus, MGB and Mini – stretching from the Sixties to the present day. The high point of the show will be a raffle with incredible motoring prizes, with all proceeds going to the Jack & Jill Foundation. Raffle tickets will be available for sale on the day, but are also currently available at Homeflair, 92 West Street, Drogheda, 0419831859. More info on almcmotorshow.com.

Higgins’ BHRC Battle… Former British Rally Champion David Higgins will contest the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship in a Ford Escort, starting with the Bulldog Historic Rally. He plans to contest six of the season’s eight events, but will miss the Severn Valley Stages in May and the Tour of Flanders in September due to clashes with his programme in China with a Group N Mitsubishi. The 2004 British Rally champion will compete in a car from Mark Solloway’s Historic Rallysport concern and will tackle the Bulldog in a Mk1 Escort. “I’ve got 95% of the budget we need and Mark produces a fantastic car, so I gave him a ring to see if he was up for it,” said Higgins.

FWD to RWD Guidelines

Motorsport Ireland’s guidelines

for front-wheel-drive to rear-wheeldrive rally car conversions, which were revealed in last November’s edition of the MI bulletin, have been approved. The Motorsport Commission approved the guidelines, with the exception that sequential gearboxes will be permitted. For more details, log on to www. motorsportireland.com. pacenotes.net april 2009

FULL CHAT Black Attack… On the Malcolm Wilson Rally-based round of the MG ZR Challenge, Callum Black and Paul Wakely in their 586 supported MG ZR took maximum points, with a drive that saw them overcome a few issues including gearbox problems. Black was chased home by James Weaver and Teresa Butler. In third place were daughter and father team Jayne and David Auden. A fight to the finish between Challenge leader Simon Taft and Black was cut short by Taft’s roll in the second Grizedale stages. The championship standings are very close after just two rounds, with Simon Taft and Callum Black heading the drivers table with 38 points each and James Weaver third on 36 points. The co-drivers table is headed by Paul Wakely on 38 points, closely followed by Tersa Butler on 36 points. The third round of the MG ZR Challenge is on 25th April, 2009, at the Somerset Stages, based in Minehead.

HANS Update

The latest Motorsport Ireland bulletin revealed that drivers and co-drivers of the particular models of Historic Rally car are exempt from the requirement to wear a HANS device in stage rallies run under an MI permit. Those cars include an Alpine A110, Alpine A310, AustinHealey Sprite, Clan Clover, Clan Crusader, Davrian, Fiat X1/9, Lancia Monte Carlo, Mazda RX7, MGB, MG Midget, Opel GT, Porsche 914, Triumph TR4, Triumph TR7.

Slattery Magic In Mayo... The recent Mayo Stages Rally hosted Round 1 of the 2009 Irish 205 Challenge, with the event based at the TF Royal hotel in Castlebar and sponsored by www. serviceclub.ie, Slatterys of Puckane, Total Quartz Lubricants, Blaklader Workwear, Ears Motorsport and Kumho Tyres. Seven freshly liveried 205s headed out only to find stage one cancelled due to hailstones, so it was SS2 when battle commenced. Stage two saw Andy Slattery/Donal Lynch setting the fastest time, 8 seconds up on Noel Smith/Dara Lyttle. Next came Norman Dunne/ Eoin O’Flattery, 21 seconds down and just 6 seconds ahead of Kenny English/ Joseph Bannerton. Stage three was a twelve miler, fast and flowing and again Slattery showed a clean pair of heals to his rivals, putting another 8 seconds on his lead. Smith was second fastest, showing great speed on his first challenge event. Stage four was a repeat of stage one, but again the stage was canned before the 205 drivers could start, so it was on to stage 5, a repeat of stage 2, and Slattery continued to set fastest time, but only by one second from Smith,

with Dunne third quickest. Slattery continued to dominate the times, fastest again on stage six and now under no pressure as Smith, his closest challenger, crashed out of second place on the stage. Dunne was second fastest, just 3 seconds up on Aidan Cooney. English was now up to third place overall, his best result in the Challenge to date. On stage seven Cooney hit trouble, dropping over two minutes to the leaders and fell behind Dunne and English to fourth overall. With large gaps now between all the crews, no one was under too much pressure and all held station until the end. Slattery took a clean sweep of fastest 205

times on stages seven and eight. Back in Castlebar the celebrations began as Andy Slattery took the podium for his first ever I205C win, also claiming class 10 by over a minute. Slattery commented, “It was a fantastic day for us, and everything went according to plan. The 205 Challenge is very competitive, so were delighted with our win. Thanks to the Mayo & District Motor Club and all their marshals for a great event!” The next round of the championship takes the drivers to Rooskey for the Midland Stages Rally on April 6th. For more, log on to irish205challenge.com.

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kris meeke

Nicolas or Kris - Who’s the Iceman?

After a disastrous start to his 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) campaign, Kris Meeke banished all memories of his crash at the Rally Monte Carlo by winning the Rally Internacional de Curitiba in Brazil, the second round of the championship. Meeke’s pace and maturity behind

the wheel of the Peugeot UK-backed 207 Super 2000 over the course of the two day event showed why the young Ulsterman is being tipped by many as a real contender for the 2009 title. What made the win all the more impressive was the fact Meeke had to compete at the all-gravel event in Sebastien Ogier’s Monte-winning car, as Peugeot UK hadn’t repaired the damage his own car had sustained at the opening round. With a good set-up ratified during the Thursday shakedown, Meeke soon settled into a good rhythm on the Friday, maintaining a consistent pace throughout the first day, and taking the initiative by setting fastest times on each of the seven stages. Arriving at Parc Ferme at the Curitiba circuit, Meeke had built-up a 48.6 second lead over second placed Giandomenico Basso, who was having a closely fought battle with Nicolas Vouilloz in third - the pair separated by only 0.3 of a second. Meeke admitted to pushing hard at the mid-way point of the first day, saying that on the second day it was highly likely he would lose valuable time to following cars, as a consequence of his ‘road sweeping’ duties… As he had predicted, on the first stage of the second day, Kris’s deficit had been reduced to 37 seconds, after Basso set the fastest time on SS8 by 11.3 seconds in his Abarth Grande Punto. Basso’s charge continued into SS9, with a two-fold effect: not only was he reining in Kris Meeke, he was also creating a comfortable buffer over Peugeot Spain’s Nicolas Vouilloz, who was holding onto third place…or so Basso thought! The current IRC Champion, Vouilloz responded in emphatic fashion by setting the fastest time on SS10, reducing the gap between second and third to a little under 6 seconds. With three stages remaining, and despite encountering brake problems due to overheating that saw him having to resort to the magic wand, The Magician’s lead was now 22.7 seconds going into midday service…and Kris was still very confident of the win. The brake problem now resolved, Meeke’s ability to put the Monte behind him was highlighted on SS11,

when he responded to the Basso and Vouilloz charges by increasing his lead to 33 seconds. Although he was still running first on the repeated stage loops, Meeke wasn’t losing as much time, with the racing line swept clear of loose gravel by the morning pass. On the same stage, Vouilloz climbed one place, to second, at Basso’s expense, with the Frenchman carving out a 2.3 second advantage over the Italian. Vouilloz then tightened his grip on second place on the penultimate stage by winning it and moving clear of Basso by a little over 5 seconds. Meanwhile, Meeke took no risks, choosing to reduce his speed and drop some time, while still keeping a safe 26.3 seconds between himself and Vouilloz. On the final stage, Meeke and Vouilloz shared the spoils by setting equal fastest times. This secured the Dungannon man a jubilant first IRC win and ten valuable points. Commenting afterwards Meeke said, “It’s been a long time coming but it’s just awesome to get our first victory in the IRC! The journey here to Peugeot UK and the IRC has been a long one, but I think it’s a fantastic championship. This is one of the best rallies I have ever experienced. From start to finish, it was simply awesome. I had a really good feeling with the car and the team, and at the end of it we got the perfect result.” Co-driver Paul Nagle added, “Kris drove faultlessly. He didn’t put foot wrong from the first corner to the last stage. I think our accident in Monte Carlo probably made us stronger and work harder. We came here to prove a point… and I think we did.” ‘The Magician’ now moves into joint second position alongside Sebastien Ogier and Giandomenico Basso, but it is the experienced Freddy Loix who tops the standings with thirteen points. Peugeot UK will travel to the Azores in early May to contest the next round.

Overall results after SS13: 1 Meeke (Peugeot UK 207) 2h08m05.7s 2 Vouilloz (Peugeot Spain 207) +26.2s 3 Basso (Abarth Grande Punto) +47.9s

2009 IRC Calendar Asphalt Gravel Gravel Gravel Asphalt Gravel Asphalt Asphalt Asphalt Asphalt Gravel Gravel

kris meeke

Monaco - 21-24 January Brazil - 05-07 March Kenya - 03-04 April Portugal - 07-09 May Belgium - 18-20 June Russia - 09-11 July Portugal - 30 July - 01 Aug Czech Rep. - 21-23 August Spain - 10-12 September Italy - 24-26 September Japan - 22-24 October UK / Scotland- 19-21 Nov

we follow kris meekeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IRC season - words by jason craig

Meekeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mighty Comeback... Nicolas Vouilloz finished in 2nd place.

Kris led from the start - a true professional performance

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Clubman rally action from Fivemiletown

Spring Rally

Words Jonathan MacDonald PICTURES Martin McCorriston

Paul McShea & Stephen Griffith

Shane McGirr & Nial Connelly

RESULTS 1 John Cairns/James Cairns Subaru............................... 28:12 2 Adrian Hetherington/Maureen McConnell Ford Escort........................ 28:21 3 Seamus O’Connell/Sean Magee Ford Escort Mk 2............... 28:30 4 Frank Kelly/Sean Ferris Ford Escort........................ 28:33 5 Paul Britton/Martin Costello Subaru............................... 28:39 6 P J Gillespie/Mary O’Kane Mitsubushi Evo.................. 29:08 7 Enda Mc Nulty Ronan O’Kane Mitsubishi Evo................... 29:13 8 Vivian Hamill/Paul Hamill Escort RS.......................... 29:16 9 Shane McGirr/Nial Connelly Toyota Starlet..................... 29:29 10 Mark Barnett/Vincent Fergus Ford Escort........................ 29:51 11 Andrew Trotter/Kevin Creighan MK 2 Escort...................... 29:51 12 Shane Cullen/Paddy McCague Ford Escort........................ 30:16 13 Patrick Carey/Raymond Cochrane Honda Civic....................... 30:19 14 Stephen Wright/Susanne Wright Ford Fiesta......................... 30:20 15 Ali Burrows/Jason Harrow Subaru............................... 30:25

pacenotes.net april 2009

WINNERS: John Cairns & James Cairns

Cairns Crew Spring A Surprise… John and James Cairns emerged as the surprised victors of this year’s Omagh Motor Club Fivemiletown Spring Rally. In what was the first overall victory of their rally careers, they kept their Subaru Impreza on the straight and narrow to claim the Spring Rally honours by nine seconds from leading two-wheel-drive exponents Adrian Hetherington and Maureen McConnell. The Cairns crew didn’t have it all their own way though, and after the first stage they found themselves holding joint fifth position. Instead, Paul Barrett and Dermot Colgan had topped the timesheets in their rear-wheel-drive Ford Focus, leading the event by five seconds from Frank Kelly and Sean Ferris, with Eamon Mimnagh and John Johnson third. The two-wheel-drive crews were running first on the road, and their better road position was reflected in the stage times. The Spring Rally always gives the 2WD competitors a rare chance to sample stages in prime condition, and the leading crews at this year’s event were making the most of the opportunity! Stage two saw Paul Barrett lose some time, and that left the coast clear for Ryan Barrett and Barry Ferris to set the pace. Third placed Eamonn Mimnagh also dropped a few seconds, and that allowed both Frank Kelly and Peter McCullagh to move to just one second behind the rally leader! Paul Barrett was having none of it, and he pushed hard through the third stage. Unfortunately, midway through the test, his gearbox cried ‘enough’, sinking him to the depths of retirement. Johnny McKenna also had an early mud bath, when he skated into a field after the flying finish of stage three. The number one seed had set top three stage times over a couple of stages, but he was going no further, as his Lancer became bogged down in the mucky field.

So, at the top of the standings it was Peter McCullagh and Alan Dolan. They set the pace through the long Jenkins stage, edging out a lead of 12 seconds over Frank Kelly and Sean Ferris, while John and James Cairns were joint third, with Seamus O’Connell and Sean Magee. McCullagh continued to lead the way in his Mitsubishi Lancer and a string of fastest times followed. Meanwhile, the Cairns crew put their 4WD power to good use and moved into second position, ahead of the super-quick Escort men, with Adrian Hetherington topping the 2WD standings in third overall. Stage six was cancelled, so just two stages lay between Peter McCullagh and Spring Rally victory. He was 18 seconds ahead of the Cairns crew going into the final two tests, and

2nd: Adrian Hetherington & Maureen McConnell

looked set to claim the honours. It was Cairns team that was fastest over the penultimate stage though, leaving 14 seconds between the two crews. Still, there was only the short final stage remaining, and the upper hand was very much in McCullagh’s favour. Unfortunately for McCullagh, a mistake at a notorious corner during the final test saw the potential rally victory slip away from his grasp. He retired, allowing John and James Cairns to take a last minute victory in their Subaru Impreza! Arriving home in second position, Adrian Hetherington and Maureen McConnell topped the two-wheeldrive standings in their Ford Escort. They couldn’t match the Cairns’ pace

through the Jenkins stage, losing eight seconds on the penultimate stage to the crew. In the end, they finished nine seconds adrift, while Seamus O’Connell and Sean Magee completed the top three, ahead of Frank Kelly and Sean Ferris.

Class Battles…

In the class battles, Stephen and Susanne Wright won class one from Barry Greer and John Lemon, while event winners John and James Cairns topped class two from Paul Britton and Martin Costello, who were also fifth overall. Shane McGirr and Niall Connelly won class three and finished in an excellent ninth overall, with Gareth Sayers and Gareth Gilchrist second in class. Mervyn Wilson and Richard Gamble won class four from Gregory

3rd: Seamus O’Connell & Sean Magee

McDaid and Stephen Tierney, while Patrick Carey and Raymond Cochrane won class five from Conor Kelly and David Vance. In class six, Shane Cullen and Paddy McCague took their Escort to the top, finishing 31 seconds ahead of Philip McConnell and Aine McGuigan. Adrian Hetherington and Maureen McConnell won class seven from Frank Kelly and Sean Ferris, while Seamus O’Connell and Sean Magee were the sole class eight finishers. Finally, Paul McShea and Stephen Griffith won class nine, despite rolling their Orion on stage five, with Joe McQuillan and Ashley Bolton second.

CYPRUS 13 MARCH

The Big Boys

WRC round-up

Loeb Flies To His

50th Sebastien Loeb’s stellar WRC career just keeps getting better. The Citroen number one cruised to victory in Cyprus to record his 50th World Rally Championship win! Loeb is the first driver in history to reach 50 WRC wins and if anything, he just seems to be getting quicker and more consistent. In Cyprus his Friday performance was a typically dominant display, which saw him open up a 41.8 second lead, with five stage wins from the opening six tests. It was the diminutive Frenchman’s ability to wring the most out the Pirelli Scorpion gravel tyre on the first tarmac stages that left his rivals trailing. The Saturday saw the 2009 Cyprus Rally trade the Friday asphalt action for gravel, and overnight rain had left the twisty tracks in the Troodos Mountains extremely muddy. There was to be just one pass over the five stages however. Running first on the road didn’t slow Loeb too much and he emerged from the morning’s three tests with an even bigger lead at the top of the order. “It was only through the muddier portions that I really lost time clearing a better line for those starting after me,” he explained. “In Anadiou Diam, for example, we dropped 10 seconds in barely two kilometres. I just didn’t have any traction! Things went better on the next stage, Pano Panagia, but I felt even more comfortable on Orkontas, where I was able to push much harder. I came close to spinning at one point, but that didn’t prevent us

from posting the fastest time.” Ford number one Hirvonen was in second but unable to make inroads on the flying Frenchman, while Citroen number twos Dani Sordo and Marc Marti were third overall at this point in their C4 WRC. France’s five-time world champion entered the final day in Cyprus with a

coming up next. “I think we lost it on the Friday,” said Hirvonen. “At least we managed to take some time back on the last two days. If it had been dry, it might have been different. We are definitely a lot faster on gravel now, so hopefully we can have a good fight in Portugal.” Perhaps the best result of the

I’M REALLY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE ARE ACHIEVING AT THE MOMENT, BUT IT’S NOT FINISHED, WE’RE NOT STOPPING YET - LOEB lead of 49.8 seconds over Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen and he set a steady pace through Sunday’s final three stages, losing 17.1 seconds to Hirvonen on the event’s penultimate stage, to eventually win by 27.2 seconds. Loeb extended his lead over Hirvonen in the drivers’ standings to eight points, and he was over the moon with his fiftieth WRC win, saying, “It’s incredible. I remember when I beat the record number of wins of Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae. Now 50 is a really a big number, a nice number. I’m really happy with what we are achieving at the moment, but it’s not finished, we’re not stopping yet.” It was another frustrating event for Ford, but Mikko Hirvonen hopes to hit back on the gravel of Portugal,

day however, belonged to the ever popular Petter Solberg, who took a superb third place in his 2006-spec Citroen Xsara. Solberg netted third when Citroen opted to slow Dani Sordo’s pace and allow him through, as the Norwegian isn’t eligible to score manufacturers’ points for Citroen and is no threat to Sordo in championship terms. Matthew Wilson took fifth in his Stobart Ford Focus after Sebastien Ogier crashed his Citroen C4 less than a kilometre from the end of the final stage. Conrad Rautenbach was sixth, with Argentina’s Federico Villagra seventh on his first outing of the year with the Munchi’s Ford team. The final point went to Khalid Al Qassimi of the UAE in his Ford.

Mikko discusses his 2nd overall with team.

Petter Solberg an amazing 3rd overall

Dani Sordo takes 4th overall

results 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Sebastien Loeb, Citroen Mikko Hirvonen, Ford ......+27.2 Petter Solberg, Citroen ..+1:49.4 Dani Sordo, Citroen ......+2:26.3 Matthew Wilson, Ford....+6:41.0 Conrad Rautenbach, Citroen ....................... +11:11.9 Federico Villagra, Ford ........................... +13:18.5 Khalid Al Qassimi, Ford ........................... +19:54.9

The Strength of Experience Tel: +44 (0) 1952 582825 Fax: +44 (0) 1952 582821

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endurance rallying at its best

Rally Evolution

5th 1 h t 12 mber Nove

Lombard 2008 Winners

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april 2009

The Lombard Evolves… It has a fresh new name, and it’s a bigger challenge…but that’s a good thing! Formerly known as the Lombard Rally, this year’s event, which takes place from 12th-15th November, has been renamed the Rally Evolution! It’s all about rallying on a budget, and as we’re in the midst of a recession, the Rally Evolution provides the perfect escape to satisfy those competitive yearnings. If anyone out there is considering hanging up their helmet, then think again. Save some cash and go endurance rallying! Organisers of the popular event want to, “keep people in motorsport,” and for the price of the entry fee, competitors can tackle 240 miles, covering many of the same stages that the old RAC Rally used. With the majority of the event based in Wales, plenty of truly classic stages can be found. “We keep costs to a minimum but competitive mileage to the max,” Rally Director Kenny Owen said. “That makes the event true value for money.” On the face of it, the entry may seem expensive at £1,495 (if your entry is submitted before the end of April). But considering the stage mileage on offer, it equates to a little more than £6 per stage mile. Why the name change? Sadly, Lombard’s sponsorship of the event was an early victim of the credit crunch, so it was a necessary evil.

But organisers have looked on the bright side, and grabbed the opportunity to rebrand the event with both hands. “Since the rally’s launch in 2004, it has constantly changed to keep the event fresh and alive,” Owen admitted, “and this is what the new

finish at Newport, Gwent, and competitors will traverse a total of 1300 miles during the rally. That includes 240 miles of competitive motoring, through venues such as Epynt, Crychan, Esgair Dafydd, Brechfa, Clogaenog and Great Orme.

SINCE THE RALLY’S LAUNCH IN 2004, IT HAS CONSTANTLY CHANGED TO KEEP THE EVENT FRESH AND ALIVE, AND THIS IS WHAT THE NEW TITLE SUGGESTS! - KENNY OWEN title suggests!” The event is open to endurance rally cars up to 1400cc, with a category for 2ltr non-turbo diesels, while historic cars (up to 2ltr) can also enter, as the club also holds a historic road rally permit for the event. There is plenty of on-event support in the form of RAC Roadside Services, as well as a professional medical team which includes Rally Rescue, paramedics, FIVs and first aiders. And to help keep costs down, the event uses Silverstone as a control tyre. This year’s event will start and

Overnight halts will include the Hilton in Newport, The Park Lodge (Aberystwyth), Metropole Hotel (Llandrindod Wells) for two nights, before returning to Newport. It is regarded as one of the toughest events in Europe, and reaching the finish is an accomplishment, regardless of where you finish on the leaderboard! So why not save a penny or two between now and November, and challenge yourself to what must be one of the longest events currently running in the UK and Ireland!

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T: 01550 721919 E: wera@btconnect.com

Information on all events can be obtained by contacting the Rally Office:

16 Market Square, Llandovery Carmarthenshire SA20 0AA

www.rally-evolution.com

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pacenotes.net april 2009

Mayo Stages Rally

Dunlop National Rally Championship

Winners: Patrick Elliott & Paul Goodman

Elliott Maintains Momentum… Words Jonathan MacDonald & Martin Walsh PICTURES Seamus Counihan

RESULTS 1 Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman Subaru Impreza.................. 55:22 2 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry Subaru Impreza.................. 55:28 3 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally Subaru Impreza.................. 57:37 4 Gareth MacHale/Barry Goodman Opel Corsa S200................ 57:45 5 Garry Jennings/Martin Brady Mitsubishi Evo................... 58:32 6 Danny McBride/Jonathon Gallagher Mitsubishi Evo................ 1:00:22 7 Brian O’Mahony/John Higgins Renault Clio.................... 1:00:41 8 Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley Mitsubishi Evo................ 1:01:31 9 Paul Elliott/Brian Doherty Mitsubishi Evo................ 1:01:32 10 Russell Woods/Martin Byrne Ford Escort MKI.............. 1:01:32 11 Anthony O’Halloran/Charlie McEne Mitsubishi Evo................ 1:01:38 12 Sean Flanagan/Brian Duggan Subaru Impreza............... 1:01:43 13 Victor Hunter/Michael Doherty Ford Escort MKI.............. 1:01:51 14 Trevor Bustard/Kenny Bustard Mitsubishi Evo................ 1:02:00 15 Anthony Hand/Emmet Sherry Ford Escort..................... 1:02:08 16 Trevor Mulligan/Lisa Roe Ford Escort MKI...................... 1:02:29 17 Mark Wedlock/Adam Kinkade Ford Escort MKI.............. 1:02:30 18 Peter Greene/Laura Greene Ford Escort MKI.............. 1:02:55 19 Eugene Ferry/Derek Heena Ford Escort MKI.............. 1:02:57 20 Jim McKenna/Thomas Treanor Toyota Starlet.................. 1:03:23

pacenotes.net april 2009

Defending Dunlop champions Patrick Elliott and Paul Goodman have won the TF Royal Hotel & Theatre Mayo Rally, the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship. They finished six seconds ahead of Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry, and in terms of the Dunlop championship, Elliott now leads Maguire by four points. The opening stage, Big Maum, fell victim to the weather, when a hailstorm made the conditions treacherous. Organisers decided it wasn’t safe to run in competitive mode, so competitors were directed to stage two. On the second test, Barnaderg, Elliott set the pace, 13 seconds clear of Maguire with Gareth MacHale a further ten seconds behind in third. Elliott was also quickest on the third stage, despite an overshoot that cost him some ten seconds. He arrived at the Westport service halt with a 16 second advantage. Maguire admitted that he struggled in the conditions, while third placed MacHale was acclimatising to the Opel Corsa S2000. Kevin Barrett in fourth had to back off towards the end of the third test amidst a heavy hail shower. Garry Jennings (Mitsubishi) was untroubled in fifth, with local driver Tom Muldoon (Mitsubishi) some 20 seconds adrift in sixth place. Reserve entry Thomas Fitzmaurice was next in a top ten that also included the Mark 2 Escort of Anthony Hand, Danny McBride (Mitsubishi) and Jack Maguire

(Escort Cosworth). Elsewhere, Brian O’Mahony (Renault Clio) lost time with fuel problems, in 13th overall, while Trevor Mulligan, who was on board a poorly handling Ford Escort, was down in 46th place. On the first run over stage four’s Big Maum, Elliott added a further three seconds to his lead, with Maguire and MacHale

explanation: “I really don’t know why it happened, I touched the brakes approaching a left hand bend and it just spun around. I didn’t see any oil. I was really very lucky and I reckon I only dropped about ten seconds.” The resultant damage caused handling problems through stage six and Maguire, who was fastest

I really don’t know why it happened, I touched the brakes approaching a left hand bend and it just spun around. I didn’t see any oil. I was really very lucky and I reckon I only dropped about ten seconds. Patrick elliott completing an unchanged top three. Kevin Barrett moved to within six seconds of MacHale. Meanwhile, Jennings lost a few seconds when he experienced fuel problems at the start of the test. Elliott spun on the fifth test and lost the front bumper of his Subaru, lucky not to have experienced any further damage in the 360 degree spin. At service, he had no

on both stages, cut the deficit to three seconds. MacHale, in third, reckoned the suspension was too stiff for the Mayo roads. He was also losing time on the fast sections of the stages. The Dubliner was more than one minute adrift of second spot and just a mere second ahead of Kevin Barrett, who remarked on the difficult nature of the stages. Jennings remained in fifth and

he wasn’t without his troubles as his Mitsubishi tended to flood at the start of the stages. Danny McBride, also in a Mitsubishi, was next - 25 seconds further behind. O’Mahony made strong progress to move into seventh in a top ten rounded off by Fergal Costello (Mitsubishi), Thomas Fitzmaurice (Mitsubishi) and Jack Maguire (Escort Cosworth). Local hero Tom Muldoon retired his Mitsubishi with a broken differential, while Sean Flanagan (Subaru) lost several places with a spin on almost every stage. On the penultimate test, Elliott gained a precious second on Maguire

5th: Garry Jennings & Martin Brady

to lead by four seconds. He added two more seconds on the final test and that gave him a six second winning margin! “Niall (Maguire) and myself had the wrong tyres for the final stages,” Elliott said afterwards. “We had full wets and the roads were dry. It was far from being a foregone conclusion and I had to battle hard against him. It was a hard rally to win and I suppose I didn’t make it any easier on myself either!” Maguire took second and Barrett increased his pace to snatch a late third place. Elsewhere, MacHale was fourth on his debut in the Opel

7th: Brian O’Mahony & John Higgins

Class Battles… Class 2

Brendan Corcoran and David Walsh took their Honda Civic to the top of class two. They led from the start, but briefly lost the advantage to Ciaran Walsh and Aidan Gannon after stage five. Walsh extended his advantage on the sixth stage before retiring from the event. That allowed Corcoran to move in front once again and he claimed the spoils from Niall Donoghue and Shane Greene, with Joseph and Simon Monaghan third.

Class 3

Shane Buckley and Thomas Maguire claimed a start to finish win in class three. They grabbed their Fiesta by the scruff, and finished the event almost five minutes ahead of Packie and Colin Duffy, with Glenda and Kylie Boyle third.

Class 4

The Group N category saw Gareth MacHale and Barry Goodman bring their Super 2000 Corsa home at the head of the standings. The crew finished almost one minute in front of Garry Jennings and Martin Brady, with Danny McBride and Jonathon Gallagher third.

Corsa S2000, while Jennings took top points in the Patterson’s RallyNews Group N category. Danny McBride (Mitsubishi) overcame mechanical problems to claim sixth. Brian O’Mahony (Renault Clio S1600) took seventh and top points for the inaugural rally.ie award for two-wheel drive competitors. Thomas Fitzmaurice (Mitsubishi), Paul Elliott (Mitsubishi) and Russell Woods (Escort) filled the remaining places in the top ten. The latter pair were separated on a tie-break, with Elliott getting the verdict by virtue of being fastest on the final stage.

Mayo Stages Rally

4th: Gareth MacHale & Barry Goodman

2nd: Niall Maguire & Enda Sherry

Dunlop National Rally Championship

3rd: Kevin Barrett & Sean Mullally

Eamon Daly & Anthony O’Connell

Class 5

Jonny Leonard and Jackie Donaldson took a start to finish class five win aboard their Nissan Micra. The crew were fastest from the outset, and went on to finish head and shoulders above their rivals. Shane and Niall Timoney were the best of the rest, with Otto Gropler and Chrystal Culkeen third, ahead of Eamonn McCafferty and Catherine Levis.

CL2: Brendan Corcoran & David Walsh

Class 6

Brian O’Mahony and John Higgins were another crew to lead their class from the start. Driving their Renault Clio, they went on to finish almost four minutes ahead of Andrew Bushe and Frank Curtin, with Andrew Mullen and Elaine Doherty third.

Class 7

CL3: Shane Buckley & Thomas Maguire

There were no surprises in class seven as Roger Kennedy and Wendy Blackledge were the sole entrants. They kept their Peugeot 306 between the hedges to finish inside the top 50 overall and claim the class spoils.

Class 8

The top three overall sacrificed their class positions, so James McNulty and Brendan McElhinney won class

class report & images pacenotes.net april 2009

Dunlop National Rally Championship

Mayo Stages Rally

CL5: Jonny Leonard & Jackie Donaldson

CL7: Roger Kennedy & Wendy Blackledge

eight from Clive Kilpatrick and Ian Johnson, with Pat Kelly and Claire Hogan third.

nipped ahead of Wilson, with one second separating the two crews at the finish line.

Class 9

Class 12

Mini power packed a punch in class nine as Simon Evans and Barry Faul led the category from start to finish. 21 seconds faster than their rivals on the opening test, they were fastest out of the blocks by a country mile. Second placed Thomas Carolan and Declan Smith picked up their pace towards the finish, swiping 29 seconds from the leaders on the final stage, but it was too late. Evans won from Carolan, with Pat and Jimmy Bellew third.

The battle for the class 12 spoils turned out to be a tit-for-tat affair. Colin and David Loughney were first to top the standings, only for Noel O’Donnell and Ronan Murrn to move ahead after stage three. Then Daniel Conaghan and Trevor Graham moved in front after the fourth test, but O’Donnell joined them on the top spot after SS5. Stage six saw O’Donnell make the number one spot his own, and he looked set to claim the spoils, but a problem on the final stage

Class 14

Eugene Ferry and Derek Heena were the early class 14 leaders, before being overhauled by Peter and Laura Greene on stage five. Ferry later overhauled Greene, but in the same breath, Trevor Mulligan and Lisa Roe moved into the number one slot. They went on to take a 26 second victory over the two Greenes, after they moved in front of Ferry on the final stage.

Class 15

Jack and Paul Maguire took an early class 15 lead and looked set to claim the spoils from Gary McElhinney and Damien Connolly.

CLASS RESULTS CLASS 2 Brendan Corcoran/David Walsh Honda Civic.................... 1:08:49 CLASS 3 Shane Buckley/Thomas Maguire Ford Fiesta...................... 1:04:51 CLASS 4 Gareth McHale/Barry Goodman Opel Corsa S200................ 57:45 CLASS 5 Jonny Leonard/Jackie Donaldson Nissan Micra................... 1:08:27 CLASS 6 Brian O’Mahony/John Higgins Renault Clio.................... 1:00:41 CLASS 7 Roger Kennedy/Wendy Blackledge Peugeot 306................... 1:07:14 CLASS 8 Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman Subaru Impreza.................. 55:22 CLASS 9 Simon Evans/Barry Faul Austin Mini...................... 1:10:21 CLASS 10 Andrew Slattery/Donal Lynch Peugeot 205................... 1:07:23 CLASS 11 Anthony Hand/Emmet Sherry Ford Escort..................... 1:02:08 CLASS 12 Daniel Conaghan/Trevor Graham Ford Escort..................... 1:04:22 CLASS 13 Russell Woods/Martin Byrne Ford Escort MKI.............. 1:01:32

CL9: Simon Evans & Barry Faul

Class 10

Andrew Slattery and Donal Lynch dominated class 10 as they also took a start to finish victory. Driving their Peugeot 205, the crew grabbed the advantage from the start and never looked back. They went on to win by more than one minute from Barry Treanor and Colm Connolly, with Shane Maguire and Stephen Thornton third.

Class 11

There were plenty of crews entered in class 11, but that failed to faze Anthony Hand and Emmet Sherry. Fastest on the opening stage by one second from Peter Wilson and Domhnall Lennon, they quickly built a more substantial lead. In the end, they finished more than one minute in front of Jim McKenna and Thomas Treanor, who just

CLASS 14 Trevor Mulligan/Lisa Roe Ford Escort MKI.............. 1:02:29

CL10: Andrew Slattery & Donal Lynch

CL11: Anthony Hand & Emmet Sherry

saw Conaghan nab the victory. O’Donnell had to settle for second, with Rory Carroll and John A Conway third.

After stage six, they led the category by more than two minutes, only for a problem to force them into retirement. That left the coast clear from McElhinney to take his Subaru Legacy to victory.

Class 13

Pat Bonar and James O’Reilly were the early class 13 leaders, but they were overhauled by Victor Hunter and Michael Doherty on stage three. Then Russell Woods and Martin Byrne moved in front on stage five, and stayed there until the finish. They claimed the class honours by 19 seconds from Hunter, with Mark Wedlock and Adam Kinkade third.

Class 16 (Juniors)

In the Junior category, Terry McGonigle and Mark Curran brought their Honda Civic home at the head of class 16. They finished more than one minute in front of Eamon Brady and David Kellegher, with Ferlin Taylor and Vinnie Boyd third.

CL13: Russell Woods & Martin Byrne

CL14: Trevor Mulligan & Lisa Roe

CL15: Gary McElhinney & Damien Connolly

Junior: Terry McGonegal & Mark Curran

CLASS 15 Gary McElhinney/Damien Connolly Subaru Legacy................ 1:05:35 JUNIORS Terry McGonegal/Mark Curran Honda Civic....................... 38:26 CL12: Daniel Conaghan & Trevor Graham

pacenotes.net april 2009

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pacenotes.net april 2009

Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series

Malcolm Wilson Stages

Winners: Steve Perez & Kevin Rae

Words Phil James PICTURES pro-rally.co.uk

Event: Malcolm Wilson Rally. Date: 7th March 2009. Venue: Cockermouth. Surface: Gravel. Stages: 7. Stage Miles: 43. Organisers: Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club, Morecambe Car Club & West Cumbria Motor Sports Club. Championships: MSA English Rally Championship; BTRDA Rally Series; Fiesta Sporting Trophy; ANECC; ANWCC & SD34. Starters: 114. Finishers: 75

RESULTS 1 Steve Perez/Kevin Rae Focus WRC..................... 0:44:24 2 Will Nicholls/Nick Broom Impreza WRC.................. 0:44:49 3 David Wright/Michael Wilkinson EVO 9............................. 0:45:16 4 Tim Pearcey/Robin Hernaman EVO 9............................. 0:46:10 5 Michael O’Brien/Paul Spooner Focus WRC..................... 0:46:12 6 Jonathan Greer/ Anthony O’Conaill EVO 9............................. 0:46:15 7 Paul Benn/Richard Cooke Focus WRC..................... 0:46:22 8 Nigel Griffiths/Josh Burton Impreza.......................... 0:46:33 9 David Weston_Jnr/Neil Shanks Impreza.......................... 0:46:43 10 Stephen Simpson/Patrick Walsh Accent WRC................... 0:47:02 11 David Howells/Andy Morgan Impreza.......................... 0:47:21 12 Thomas Naughton/ Horace Saville EVO 9............................. 0:47:38 13 Pip Simpson/Kim Baker Impreza.......................... 0:47:54 14 Andrew Barnes/Guy Simmons Focus WRC..................... 0:47:56 15 Gary Tomlinson/Jemma Bellingham Impreza.......................... 0:47:56 16 Phil Burton/Mal Capstick Escort............................. 0:48:14 17 Mad Mick Jones/Dale Furniss Escort............................. 0:48:18 18 Kris Hall/Robbie Durant Fiesta ST......................... 0:49:49 19 Charlie Taylor/Steve Bielby Escort............................. 0:49:50 20 Bob Ceen/Andy Bull Impreza.......................... 0:50:00

Steve Stays Fully Focused! That old rally saying ‘To finish first, you first have to finish’ was proved right again as Steve Perez and Kevin Rae brought their Ford Focus WRC to victory as many of their rivals hit problems. Paul Bird and Ian Windress were quickest through the opening 2.73 mile Hobacarton test but when they crossed the Whinlatter Pass to tackle the Comb stage they soon hit trouble. To be more precise they hit a tree, inflicting a reputed £50k worth of damage to their Focus WRC in the process. It brought an abrupt end to what had promised to be a thrilling battle between the top two seeds, who had only been separated by a second after the first stage.

1.4C: Sion & Gary Matthews

Andy Burton was another front runner already out after engine problems forced him to coast his Peugeot Cosworth through the finish of SS1, a big disappointment for co-driver Shelley Rogerson who was competing on home ground. Hugh Hunter and Andy Marchbank had been third quickest through Hobcarton but when Perez slowed at the scene of Bird’s accident they found themselves rally leaders after Comb. It was a position the Focus WRC would

1.4L: Dave Bennett & Alastair McNeil

Class 1.4L: Dave Bennett and Alastair McNeil cruised to a comfortable win in their Vauxhall Corsa after early leaders Matt Cotton and Will Rogers ended their rally in SS4 with a broken driveshaft on their MG ZR. Simon Taft and Steve Deeley had been on target for a podium finish before parking their ZR for five minutes in a Grizedale ditch. Martin Breen and Simon Graham brought their Peugeot 106 home second despite gear linkage problems and Sian Beaty and Vicki Martin finished third in the Ford Ka.

Class 1.4C: A similar outcome to the Wyedean with Sion and Gary Matthews bringing their Nova home ahead of the similar car of Euros Evans and Dylan Lewis. The margin was smaller this time though, it was less than a minute! Andrew and Reg Irving rolled their Peugeot 205 out in Comb.

Class 1.4S: A heavy landing in Comb left Graham Middleton and Ella april 2009 20 pacenotes.net

1.4S: Middleton & Ella Flynn

retain for most of the day, their good run ending with an off in Grizedale North when victory seemed within their grasp. Heading to Greystoke following the first three Whinlatter stages David Wright and Michael Wilkinson were lying third, just two seconds behind Perez, in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9. Their good run faltered when they collected a puncture, losing around 45 seconds and dropping to ninth. It was worse news for Shaun Gardener and Ben Innes who had started the stage in fourth place, despite their Lancer Evo5.9 suffering an anti-lag problem through the two opening stages. Fastest time through SS3 Wythop had put them back in the mix but it was to no avail as the Lancer was

B10: Russell Thompson & Mike Curry

Flynn with gearbox problems for the rest of the day but they still finished as class winners. The impact pushed the sump guard up cracking the gearbox casing resulting in an oil seepage but regular refills kept them in the rally. Mark Gamble and Mark Freeman claimed second place in their 106, despite bending a rear beam in Grizedale. Third place went to the Corsa of Shaun and Andy Bolt who survived a roll in Comb. Malcolm Hague and Dave Read’s rally finished in SS4 Greystoke after a steering defect put their Escort Mk2 off the track.

Class N3: Dominated by Ford Fiesta STs – see report on page 58.

Class N4: Pearcey/Hernaman; Greer/O’Conaill; Weston Jnr/Shanks - see main report.

Class B10: After pushing the nearside front wheel into the arch and collecting a puncture on SS4 it wasn’t looking too good

launched off the track after the suspension bottomed out in a big hole. Following the Greystoke test Will Nicholls and Nick Broom arrived at the Penrith service halt with their Subaru Impreza WRC in third place and the co-driver in some considerable pain. A heavy landing in Comb had jarred Broom’s shoulder and it troubled him for the rest of the rally. Only five seconds separated the following three cars with Paul Benn and Richard Cooke leading the pack in the Focus WRC borrowed from Mick O’Brien. Fifth placed Tim Pearcey and Robin Hernaman were two seconds behind Benn in their Lancer Evo9 and three seconds ahead of the Lancer WRC of Charlie Payne and Craig Thorley. Roger Chilman Jr and Andrew Sankey were seventh after an incident with a bank saw them trail their Impreza’s rear bumper through Comb. The Evo9 of Jonathan Greer and Anthony O’Conaill was eighth with the Impreza N14 of David Weston Jnr and Neil Shanks completing the top ten on equal time with Wright. Chilman dropped down the

B11: Mick Jones & Dale Furniss

order after stopping to change a puncture in the 11 mile Grizedale South stage where Wright used his local knowledge to best effect climbing to fourth place. Mick O’Brien and Paul Spooner were now in the top ten rankings, having had their Focus WRC gearbox issues resolved at service, they were up to seventh. Nigel Griffiths and Josh Burton had their Impreza back in the top ten after slipping to 11th, their seeded number, after Greystoke. Pearcey was slowed by catching John Lloyd and Adrian Cavenagh who spent around eight minutes trying to restart their Focus WRC after the engine mysteriously died. They would eventually reach the finish in 59th place. The seven mile Grizedale North didn’t just claim Hunter, it also accounted for Payne who fell foul of a known accident black spot with the roll damaging the Lancer’s cage. Chilman’s rally ended when sheared studs left his Impreza with just three wheels. As the rally headed back to Penrith for final service, Perez had a 22 second lead from Nicholls with Wright looking a comfortable third. The final Greystoke stage, which

B12: Phil Burton & Mal Capstick

for Russell Thompson and Mike Curry. A charge through Grizedale then put the 205 crew back on top as they finished 45 seconds ahead of Des Campbell and James Braithwaite’s 206. Mark Shaw and Ken Willan were a close third in their Sunbeam Ti.

Class B11: Continuing where they left off on the Wyedean ‘Mad’ Mick Jones and Dale Furniss took another class win in their Escort Mk2. An altercation with a bank in Greystoke gave them a big two-wheel moment but whilst they avoided a roll, bending the steering arm hampered their progress. They dropped more time in Greystoke 2 with a half spin but still collected maximum points. Jon Ballinger and Alistair Douglas finished bridesmaids again, almost two minutes behind in their Opel Manta. Local crew Marcus Noble and Helen Hall completed the top three in another Escort Mk2.

Class B12: A last stage puncture didn’t prevent Phil Burton and Mal

was a shortened reverse run of the earlier test, saw Perez cement his win with a third consecutive fastest stage time as Nicholls and Wright retained their podium places. Pearcey finished fourth after fitting a new rear differential having experienced handling problems in Grizedale. He reckoned “It was like driving a Mk2.” O’Brien edged ahead of Greer to claim fifth with Benn claiming seventh in his first drive in a Focus WRC for two years. Griffiths finished eighth with Weston Jr settling for ninth, whilst Steve Simpson and Patrick Walsh completed the top ten in their Hyundai Accent WRC. With two rounds gone Tim Pearcey and Robin Hernaman head the Gold Star category championship standings and the Silver Star series is topped by Mick Jones and Dale Furniss. Will it all change in Somerset? Who knows but what is certain is this, with competitors counting six scores from eight rounds there’s a long way to go but early signs are it’s going to be a great year of competition in the BTRDA!

B13: Nigel Griffiths & Josh Burton

H3: Charlie Taylor & Steve Bielby

Capstick finishing top two-wheel drive car in their Escort Mk2. Local rivals Geoff Wilson and Sean O’Neill finished class runners-up in their similar car with the Vauxhall Calibra of Russell Davies and John Fellowes completing the top three. A broken half shaft in their Focus RWD forced Paul Barrett and Kevin Bowcott out at the Comb stage finish.

Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series

3rd: David Wright & Michael Wilkinson

Malcolm Wilson Stages

2nd: Will Nicholls & Nick Broom

N3: Kris Hall & Robbie Durant

N4: Tim Pearcey & Robin Hernaman

Class B13: An Impreza 1-2-3 saw Nigel Griffiths and Josh Burton take top honours (see main report). Only two seconds separated the next two with Pip Simpson and Kim Baker finishing ahead of Gary Tomlinson and Jemma Bellingham.

Class WR1:

WR1: Michael O’Brien & Paul Spooner

O’Brien/Spooner; Benn/Cooke; Simpson/Walsh (see main report).

Historics: The Escort Mk2 of Charlie Taylor and Steve Bielby was the only finisher after the similar car of Mark and Edward Bentley suffered accident damage.

pacenotes.net april 2009

TTROUMPPS

Playing your cards right has always been important in terms of rallying success, and the deck has always been stacked in favour of those with a high pile of chips…

IRISH ONE MAKE SERIES

Coming Up Trumps! But with a wide choice of cost

effective, one make series now available, you could find yourself coming up trumps! The green baize table of Irish rallying in 2009 is very different for the competitor than it was ten years ago, and there is now a range of championships offering rewards – for example the C2s, Evos, Fiestas, 205s, Hondas, a National Junior series, and the Excel series, which caters for all classes. It’s a fairly mind boggling array, so Pacenotes has analysed each one, noting the important aspects for

competitors to consider, and detailing the prize funds available. There is actually now quite a choice out there, which is a superb illustration of the efforts of all the co-ordinators. In ‘cash strapped’ 2009, what better way to cut costs, than giving yourself the chance to earn prize money and benefit from trade discounts and free PR. Whether you have a €5000 205 Peugeot or a €55,000 Evo 9, there is a series to suit you. Please note none of the prices quoted include vat, but they are correct at the time of going to press.

Honda Cup Ireland

Total Prize Money:

Cost of Registration-

€1000/ £900stg (includes two Sabelt Citroen Sport race suits)

Total Prize Money per Event1st Place Prize/event2nd3rd-

€1925 €1000 €675 €250

Bonus Prizes-

Media award

End of Year Prize-

C2 R2 Max Upgrade Kit €15,000

Control Tyre & Price- BF Goodrich 195/50/16€195 4 cmpds 20/61/16 €205 full wet Control Fuel & Price - Free to competitorsCars mapped for 98 Octane

Parts support with van on each round Citroen Racing Technical support 2000 hrs development by Citroen on the C2 R2

Irish C2 R2…

There is a separate bonus scheme for new C2 R2 Max. €1000 if the driver wins class A6 overall on each of the Citroen Racing Trophy Ireland rallies. €675 for 2nd, €250 for 3rd. A brand new built C2 R2 Max is circa €50-60,000. Once registered with a Max you are eligible for prize money in any other European countries running a Citroen championship - ie France, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Portugal, Italy, Belgium. Citroen series are known for good organisation, benefit from manufacturer involvement and have a high reputation for customer service and satisfaction. On the other hand the C2s are not cheap motor cars, however further deals are forthcoming from Citroen Sport, and they are a very competitive class car outside the Citroen Cup with a full sequential ‘box. Good competition also exists here. Adrian McElhinney brought home €2000 from West Cork.

Average Price of Car- € 8000 1.6 205 Gti eligible for series

Total Prize Money per Event-

€500

€ 1800 per round approx monetary value

1st Place Prize/event: €250 €150 2nd€100 3rd -

Prize Drive in European International Rally in 2009, as per regulations. Includes entry, accommodation, tyres, fuel, service crew etc.

Raymond Moore, Charles Hurst Citroen

Rounds1+2 West Cork 3 Monaghan- 26th April 4 Cavan- 24th May 5 ALMC- 19th July 6+7 Wexford Stages- 12th/ 13th Sept

Technical Support-

€480

Bonus Prizes: Bonus points are awarded to drivers for finishing higher up overall on events, increasing their championship prospects.

Dedicated Press Release per round, championship website

Website: www.c2r2.ie Co-ordinator-

None on first rounds, possibility of later rounds

€320 driver/ €50 co-driver

(NB: These prizes are duplicated as there are two classes- Production and Super Production)

Media Coverage-

TV Coverage-

Cost of Registration-

1st Place Prize/event: 4 Kumho Tyres 2nd2 Kumho Tyres 3rd25 Litres fuel + 1 set Dixcel Brake Pads

End of Year Prize:

Average Price of CarCitroen C2 R2£30,000 stg second hand top spec

Rory Galligan Rally Irish 205 Challenge

Average Price of Car: All models of Honda rally car whether homologated or not that is below 2000cc Production Class: Honda EK41600cc GpN €10,000 Type R- 2000cc GpN €25,000 Super ProductionHonda EG6- 1600cc out of homologation €5-6k Cost of Registration:

Citroen Racing Trophy Ireland

Control Tyres: Ears Motorsport180/580/15200/580/15200/615/17- Type R’s Control Fuel: 99 OctaneTV Coverage: Media Coverage:

Kumho Tyres €135 €140 €152 JC Fuels LTD, €1.40 per litre/ £1.20 stg Not at present Press Releases, dedicated site

Website: www.hondacupireland.com Co-ordinator: Eugene Meegan Rounds: 1+2 West Cork 3 Midland Stages- 5th April 4 Carlow Stages- 10th May 5 ALMC Stages- 19th July 6+7 Wexford Stages- 12th/13th Sept Technical Support:

Tyre compound advice, no parts back up

Bonus Prizes:

End of Year Prize: 1st2nd-

Product support to value €750 each competitor

Website: www.irish205challenge.com

€2000 plus €1000

Rounds: 1 Mayo stages (tarmac) 2 Midland stages (tarmac)- 5th April 3 Cavan stages (tarmac) -24th May 4 ALMC stages (tarmac)- 19th July 5 Cork 2 day (forest)- 15th August 6 Wexford stages 2 day (tarmac)12th/13th September

Co-ordinator:

Barry Sheridan/ Rory Galligan

Control Tyre: Ears Motorsport 165/70/14

Kumho

Control Fuel:

No control fuel.

TV Coverage:

None at present

Media Coverage:

Press Release per round, Dedicated website

Technical Support-

Each round a co-ordinator. Parts purchased in bulk to pass savings to competitors. Slattery’s Peugeot has stock of most parts on event.

€119

Honda Cup…

New for 2009, the Honda Cup certainly seems to stack up rather well. Cars can be picked up relatively cheaply, and Hondas have a reputation for reliability and low running costs. With 6 of the 8 drivers in West Cork coming home with prize money, it certainly caters for the competitors. I would expect registrations to pick up further following West Cork, and with tyres and fuel reasonably priced it seems a very promising new prospect. Co-ordinator Eugene Meegan has a good reputation in the sport and if he can keep the momentum going it will prosper. It would be mad if you have a Honda not to try it, as registration is not expensive.The prize fund on each event is extensive when you consider the two classes and the amount of free tyres available. april 2009 22 pacenotes.net

Irish 205 Challenge…

Rory Galligan created the 205 Challenge over five years ago to encourage cheap, fair competition. The prize fund has been raised this year thanks to new sponsors including Slattery’s of Puckane, who offer parts discounts. To aid competitors the cars are tagged for resale purposes to try and encourage less panic selling and building of new cars, and maintain the resale value for the existing competitors. For close racing, it’s one of the best, with several of the 2008 rounds being decided by less than 5 seconds at the finish. It is also relatively cheap, with the cars being modified Group N machines rather than full house Group A types. It also offers gravel as well as tarmac, with the Cork 2 Day Forestry, and there is a possibility of the series upgrading to 1900cc cars for 2010.

p, fair uding ed for intain titors. by less oup N th the 2010.

Cost of Registration:

Cost of Registration: Total Prize Money Per EventTotal prize fund

£500 stg

It is also possible to register for one event only ie register for the Circuit of Ireland to see how you get on, and be eligible for the prize money for £100 stg Total Prize Money per Event- Product Approx £1500 value= 1st Place Prize/event- 4 Pirelli Tyres 2 Pirelli Tyres 2nd50 Litres Sunoco 3rdRTC Fuel Bonus Prizes-

Dealer, Media, Sunoco Spirit, PIAA Junior, & Speedline Grand Attack Awards(1 setwheels)

Control Tyre: 225/650/18Or 225/650/17

Pirelli £155stg/tyre £138stg/tyre

Control Fuel, price/litre£2.95stg/litre Sunoco RTCTV Coverage:

Not at present, may change as year progresses

Media Coverage:

Dedicated Press Releases before and after each round.

2nd3rdTechnical Support-

JFR Rallysport with Evo parts at each round

Simon Slade Co-ordinator: Rounds: 1+2 West Cork 3+4 Circuit of Ireland- 10th-12th April Cavan- 24th May 5 ALMC- 19th July 6 Ulster Int- 21st-22nd August 7 8+9 Wexford Stages- 12th/ 13th Sept

With so many Evos around the country I often wonder why there are not more registered competitors in this challenge. Simon Slade is very professional in his approach to the Evo Challenge, managing the UK and Swedish challenges as well. There are significant prizes, including tyres, that would make this a very cheap series for an Evo driver. Even an old Evo 6 could have won prizes in West Cork, and there is good PR for the series too, so I cannot understand why there are so few drivers who commit to it. With one round registration introduced, it must dangle a larger carrot in front of those Evo drivers who are contesting events at present with no hope of winning a bean back. The series definitely needs to pick up support if it is to flourish like the UK Evo Challenge.

Excel Rallying Championship Average Price of Car: Basically any MSI permitted car- 19 classes available

Total Prize Money per Event-

€ FREE for 2009 €0 - Points awarded for each event, discounts on tyres

1st Place Prize/event- Class points awarded, geared towards end of year shootout Bonus Prizes:

End of Year Prize: 1st- Choice 2nd- Choice 3rd- Choice 4th5th6th7th-

Cash prizes down to 7th at end of season S1600 Car for 4 rounds or €6000 S1600 Car for 2 rounds or €3000 S1600 Car for 1 round or €1000 €1000 prize €1000 prize €1000 prize €1000 prize

Spot prizes also on Day of Shootout

Dealer Cup, Media & Spirit Awards

E85 Fuel/ Bio Ethanol No control make

TV Coverage:

Galway was televised on RPMrest of 2009 unsure

Media Coverage:

Press Releases, Dedicated website

End of Year Prize: 1st Drive in M-Sport prepared and run Fiesta R2 on the Condroz Rally in Belgium.

Website: www.fiestasportingtrophy.ie

FST Shootout:

Co-ordinator:

Winner automatically placed into World shootout. Winner year with the factory M-Sport team.

Richard Millener

Rounds: 1 Galway International 2 Circuit of Ireland- 10th-12th April 3 Killarney International- 1st-3rd May 4 Donegal International- 19th-21st June 5 Ulster National- 21st-22nd August 6 Cork “20” Int- 3rd-4th October

Control Tyre: 200/625/17

Pirelli £138 (RE7 & RS7)

Technical Support:

Van with full parts stock and technical support and co-ordinator at each event.

With M-Sport backing and on event parts service, this is a well organised series. It also boosts a high profile with its allegiance to the Irish Tarmac Championship. Results are decided after the first day, except Donegal where it is after day two, and competitors can choose whether or not to complete the full International event, or put the car on the trailer with their Fiesta points in the bag. The new R2 Fiesta is to be introduced into the Trophy for 2010, so it may pay to hold out until it is released. The prize money is a significant factor, with handsome rewards per round down to eighth place, and the first prize in the Condroz Rally sounds very reasonable. The FST International shoot-out prize is a year working at M-Sport, with free accommodation etc.

Motorsport Ireland Junior Championship Average Price of CarCars limited to 2wd up to 1650cc Range from

€4k - €50,000

Cost of Registration:

€150

Total Prize Money per Event-

Points awarded

1st Place Prize/event: Points awarded Bonus Prizes: Control Fuel:

No control fuel, cheaper rates with Sunoco

TV Coverage:

Selected rounds to be televised on On The Limit Sports

Media Coverage:

Press Release per round, dedicated website, TV

Website: www.excelrallying.ie Co-ordinator: Ian Roche Rounds: 1 Midland Stages- 5th April 2 Monaghan Stages- 26th April 3 Carlow Stages- 10th May 4 Cavan Stages- 24th May 5 ALMC Stages- 19th July 6+7 Wexford Stages- 11th/12th Sept 8 Clare Stages- 20th September

Control Tyre: Price ranges from

Silverstone €120 13”/ €170 18”

Technical Support-

Tyre support and championship rep at events

Excel…

Bonus Prizes:

Control Fuel:

FST Ireland…

Irish Evo Challenge…

Cost of Registration:

€2925 €18,000 approx

1st Place Prize/event € 750 2nd € 600 3rd €450 4th €375 5th €300 6th €225 7th €150 8th €75

Website: www.evo-challenge.ie

Supported drive JFR Mitsubishi Team Ireland Evolution X ITC roundsGalway, Circuit, Killarney 8 Pirelli Tyres 4 Pirelli Tyres

End of Year Prize-

€700 includes 4 free Pirelli Tyres

andrew bushe on one make series...

e…

Average Price of Car: Fiesta ST S/hand£18k - £20k stg

Average Price of Car: £45,000 stg Evo 9 Int. Spec s/hand You can enter from £12,000stg to the Mitsubishi Evo 5new Evo 10 £??

bushe’s blog

s for x n n series ea re not they Good Cork.

Fiesta Sport Trophy Ireland

Mitsubishi Ralliart Irish Evo Challenge

Yes, this one has been going, stopped, going, but now it’s got the full green light. It’s a much trimmed version of the original monster series, and perhaps this is no bad thing. With free registration and the fact that it covers just about all types of car, it should be popular. No on event prizes, but the end of year prizes after the shootout are worth considerable money. Four rallies in a S1600 car is a very good first prize, and with significant prizes down to seventh it has to be worth a free entry. With Kris Meeke launching the series on the Midland Stages and the fact that it is the only series that boasts TV coverage, the profile should be high, enabling you to attract your sponsors.

End of Year Prize-

The winner of each class and two other wildcard drivers can be selected by the Motorsport Ireland Panel for Billy Coleman interviews. €5000, and entry to the Billy Coleman Award Interviews

If winner of National Junior Championship wins Billy Coleman Award worth €50,000 he forfeits €5000 NJRC prize to 2nd place man. Control Tyre:

Tyres open

Control Fuel:

Fuel open

Technical Support-

Non applicable

TV Coverage:

None at present

Media Coverage-

Press Release per round

Website: www.motorsportireland.com Follow link to National Junior Co-ordinator:

Motorsport Ireland

Rounds: 1 Tipperary Forest Rally 2 Carrick-on-Suir Forest Rally 3 Munster Forest Rally 12 April 4 Cavan Stages Rally 24 May 5 Northeast Restricted Stages 14 June 6 Cork Forest Rally 15 August 7 Castle Mini Stages Rally 6 September 8 Munster Cork 20 (Junior) 4 October Birr Forest Rally (provisional) 11 October

Motorsport Ireland Juniors…

Run for the first time in 2008, this series has the advantage of mixing the surfaces, to hone the driver’s skills and encourage young talent. The best performance from 3 tarmac and 3 forestry events counts at the end of season, which should produce the best all rounder. No competitor may register after round 4, but being part of this Motorsport Ireland backed series could open doors for drivers, not least as regards entry into the Billy Coleman Award interviews. The Coleman Award this year offered Ross Forde a significant prize drive in the UK Fiesta’s and things look similar for 2009, so success in the National Juniors is well worth pursuing.

pacenotes.net april 2009

Round-Up of Clubman Rally Action

UK Clubman

Richard Upton & Paul Bareham

Steve Quine & Paul McCann

Peter Jackson & Alex Jackson

Upton Ups Pace For Woodbridge Win!

Quine Quickest in Quest for Victory!

www.digitalmotorsport.co.uk

Robert Humston

Wacko Jacko Tops Three Sisters Thriller!

Event: MiddleWick Stages. Date: 21st February, 2009. Location: MOD Woodbridge, Nr Ipswich. Surface: Tarmac. Stages: 8. Stage Miles: 60. Organisers: Middlesex County Automobile Club & Wickford Automobile Club . Championships: AEMC; Middlesex Challenge. Starters: 34. Finishers: 23.

Event: JAKS Asphalt Stages Rally. Date: 27th/28th February, 2009 Location: Isle of Man. Surface: Tarmac. Stages: 16. Stage Miles: 85. Organisers: Manx Auto Sport. Championships: Manx Rally Championship. Starters: 57. Finishers: 46.

Event: Roskirk Stages. Date: 8th March, 2009 Location: Three Sisters Race Circuit, Nr Wigan. Surface: Tarmac. Stages: 12. Stage Miles: 24. Organisers: Blackpool South Shore Motor Club. Championships: ANWCC; F1000; Junior Rally; Three Sisters Challenge.Starters: 59. Finishers: 50.

Once they had sorted an early misfire Richard Upton and Paul Bareham upped their pace to bring their Ford Sierra Cosworth to a comfortable win ahead of the Ford Escort Mk2 of Richard Edwards and Paul Brown. Peter Rayner and Richard Bonner were quickest out the blocks guiding their Escort Mk2 into a two second lead ahead of Tony and Emma Hewitt’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6. Steve Tilburn and Sean Ward were a further second down in their Escort with Glyn Jarman and Darren Carsdale trailing them by three seconds in their Subaru Impreza. Upton’s misfiring Sierra was fifth at this point, seven seconds in arrears of Rayner, but once in service the fault was traced and rectified in readiness for stage two. With the Sierra now on song Upton swept into a two second lead ahead of Tilburn with Hewitt another three seconds behind. When a split was demolished on SS3, causing no end of confusion with many competitors finishing early, the stage was cancelled and when the rally resumed it was yet another driver who set fastest stage time. Edwards was five seconds quicker than Upton but the Sierra pilot extended his lead as both Tilburn and Hewitt each set slower times. At the halfway point Upton had a five second advantage over Tilburn who had both Edwards and Hewitt hot on his heels with just a second separating each. Upton then consolidated his lead by setting fastest time on all four remaining stages, his only problem coming from a lack of door mirrors that he had removed in the chicanes. Having moved up to second place on SS5 Edwards stayed there for the duration as Hewitt and Tilburn settled into third and fourth spots respectively. Jarman secured fifth place after Ian Roberton and Kenny Roberts went OTL in their Nissan 240RS. Tony Clements and David Parsons won class 1 by over a minute in their Ford Fiesta Zetec. Tony Michael and Paul Barrett brought their Honda Civic Vti to class 2 victory after Brett Griffin and Sam Fordham were slowed with a misfire on their Peugeot 106.

Steve Quine and Paul McCann got to grips with their recently acquired Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6 to win a closely fought battle with the Ford Escort Mk2 of Lee and David Batty. The competition was close from the start as these two crews swapped times through Friday’s opening leg. Quine completed the first day’s schedule of nine stages with an eight second advantage over the Batty brothers who had been in the lead for most of the night. The Escort crew were being pressed by Daniel Harper and Chris Campbell whose BMW Mini was only a second behind in third place. Mark Cubbon and Roy Sweetman had been in the mix until turbo trouble sidelined their Lancer Evo7 on SS4 whilst earlier Connor Corkhill and Howard Allison had rolled their Escort Mk2 causing the cancellation of SS1. Despite some early morning mist hampering driving conditions, a string of crews beat the bogey on Saturday’s opening pair of tests before Quine was able to stretch his lead with fastest times on SS12 and SS13. Nigel Cannell and Kris Killip were quickest on SS14 cementing their third place in the Vauxhall Corsa Kit Car. Finishing behind Harper was his fellow Lancastrian John Cope, co-driven by Rob Fagg, in his familiar Subaru Impreza WRC. An overshoot and stall on Friday’s leg had dropped them from the overall reckoning. Andrew Leece and Graham Fargher claimed sixth place despite losing time after breaking their Impreza’s suspension. Noel and Carol Kelly had a trouble free run bringing their Lancer Evo3 home seventh. Only a second separated eighth and ninth with Graham Collister and Anton Cashen coming out on top in the Lancer Evo3, borrowed from Graham’s son, George. Kex Walker and Danni Matthews had to settle for ninth in their BMW 325. Linkage problems left John Cressey and Stan Quirk with only third gear on Friday night but a change of box saw the BMW Mini crew recover to finish tenth. At the finish a modest Quine said “It was really all about getting used to the car this weekend, getting the win is a bonus.”

Peter Jackson threw caution to the wind, rain, hail and sleet to take his first outright rally win since 1983. The result gave his co-driving son Alex, who wasn’t even born at that time, a win on his rally debut despite being seeded at ‘unlucky’ 13 in their Ford Escort Mk2. The Jacksons were on maximum attack from the off using every inch of the tight circuit, and sometimes more besides, to shave seconds from their rival’s stage times. Their tactics paid dividends as they topped the standings throughout the day leaving the others to scrap over second place. At the finish it was Bruce Edwards and Jim Smith, who had brought their Darrian south for a shakedown before the start of the Scottish Tarmack Championship, who claimed the runners-up prizes. They benefitted from a trouble free run as those battling with them encountered problems. Stuart Deeley and Alistair Dodd had been second but slipped back on SS8 after being slowed by a tyre jammed under their Lotus Banks Europa. John Stone, co-driven for the first time by his 14 year-old daughter Beth, then moved up to second but a spin on S11 followed by a loss of third gear on SS12 demoted the Escort Mk2 crew to fourth. Deeley’s chances of recovering second spot died as first a broken throttle cable, then a misfire with the car dropping onto three cylinders, left him trailing Edwards at the finish. With Stone benefitting from the tie-break rule, Simon Bowen and Richard Robinson completed the top five in their Subaru Impreza. Tony Collins and Gary Farrant finished sixth in their Impreza whilst seventh place also had to be determined by the tie-break rule. It favoured the Vauxhall Tigra of Chris Platt and Mick Robinson with Howard MacPherson and John McGuiness recording eighth in their Escort Mk2. John ‘Ric’ Wood and Paula Swinscoe hit a tyre bale on SS1 losing all the power steering fluid in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo4 in the impact but they recovered to claim ninth. Rounding off the top ten were Richard Sutton and Chris Reynolds in their Triumph Dolomite.

Results: 1 Richard Upton/Paul Bareham (Ford Sierra Cosworth) 1hr02m58s; 2 Richard Edwards/Paul Brown (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr03m34s; 3 Tony Hewitt/Emma Hewitt (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo5) 1hr03m52s; 4 Steve Tilburn/Sean Ward (Ford Escort RS2000) 1hr04m11s; 5 Glyn Jarman/Darren Cansdale (Subaru Impreza) 1hr04m56s; 6 Justin Oliver/Claire Aubrey (Subaru Impreza) 1hr05m58s; 7 Tony Michael/Paul Barrett (Honda Civiv Vti) 1hr07m02s; 8 Richard Lewsey/Irene Lewsey (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr07m13s; 9 Matthew Ockendon/Vicky Barry (Peugeot 205) 1hr07m41s; 10 Brett Griffin/Sam Fordham (Peugeot 106) 1hr07m54s. Classs Award Winners: 1: Tony Clements/David Parsons (Ford Fiesta Zetec); 2: Michael/Barrett; 3: Tilburn/Ward; 4: No eligible finishers; 5: Jarman/Cansdale.

Results: 1 Steve Quine/Paul McCann (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6) 53m04s; 2 Lee Batty/David Batty (Ford Escort Mk2) 53m16s; 3 Nigel Cannell/Kris Killip (Vauxhall Corsa Kit Car) 53m28s; 4, Daniel Harper/Chris Campbell (BMW Mini) 53m45s; 5 John Cope/Rob Fagg (Subaru Impreza WRC) 54m11s; 6 Andrew Leece/Graham Fargher (Subaru Impreza) 54m22s; 7 Noel Kelly/ Carol Kelly (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6) 54m45s; 8 Graham Collister/Anton Cashen (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo3) 54m59s; 9 Kex Walker/Danni Matthews (BMW 325) 55m00s; 10 John Cressey/Stan Quirk (BMW Mini) 55m21s. Class Award Winners: A: David Jones/Martin Burns (Vauxhall Nova); B: Jess Collister/Maurice Snell (Vauxhall Nova); C: Richard Curphey/Andrew Holmes (Vauxhall Astra); D: Walker/Matthews; E: Harper/Campbell.

april 2009 24 pacenotes.net

www.pro-rally.co.uk

Results: 1 Peter Jackson/Alex Jackson (Ford Escort Mk2) 28m 27s; 2 Bruce Edwards/Jim Smith (Darrian) 28m 38s; 3 Stuart Deeley/Alistair Dodd (Lotus Banks Europa) 29m 01s; 4 John Stone/Beth Stone (Ford Escort Mk2) 29m 32s; 5 Simon Bowen/Richard Robinson (Subaru Impreza) 29m 32s; 6 Tony Collins/Gary Farrant (Subaru Impreza) 29m 37s; 7 Chris Platt/Mick Robinson (Vauxhall Tigra) 29m 48s; 8 Howard MacPherson/ John McGuiness (Ford Escort Mk2) 29m 48s; 9 John ‘Ric’ Wood/Paula Swinscoe (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo4) 30m 04s; 10 Richard Sutton/Chris Reynolds (Triumph Dolomite Sprint) 30m 12s. Class Award Winners: 1: Ian Arden/Alan Arden (Nissan Micra); 2: Jackson Bradley/Carol Thompson (Ford Ka); 3: Platt/Robinson; 4: MacPherson/McGuiness; 5: Stone/Stone; Junior Rally: Ashley Slights/ Jemma Bellingham (Toyota Yaris).

Hankook NI Rally Championship

McGrady Insurance Stages

northern ireland rally championship

Words Jonathan MacDonald PICTURES Martin McCorriston

Winners - Derek McGarrity & James McKee

Derek Is Dialled In... Glengormley’s Derek McGarrity and James McKee have raced away with their second successive victory at the McGrady Insurance Stages, round two of the Hankook NI Series! The Ballynahinch Motor Club

RESULTS 1 Derek McGarrity/James McKee Subaru Impreza WRC...... 35:46.3 2 Connor McCloskey/Francis Reagan Ford Focus WRC............. 36:15.5 3 Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty Subaru Impreza S9......... 36:26.8 4 George Robinson/Tommy Speers Subaru Impreza S8......... 36:46.6 5 Denis Biggerstaff/Damian McCann Subaru Impreza S9......... 37:16.1 6 Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull Subaru Impreza S8......... 37:30.2 7 Kieron Graffin/Dermot Fahy Subaru Impreza S9......... 37:41.7 8 Ray Brammer/Matt Whattam Subaru Impreza S8......... 37:43.8 9 Mark Massey/Alan Purdy Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 38:04.6 10 Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 38:07.6 11 Alan Burrows/Gavin Burrows Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 38:09.6 12 John Walker/Des Wilson Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 38:20.8 13 Trevor Moore/Ray Fitzpatrick Ford Escort MK II ........... 38:24.6 14 Camillus Bradley/Danny O’Neill Ford Escort MK II............ 38:27.6 15 Fintan McGrady/Gary Rodgers Ford Escort MK II............ 38:31.6 16 Colin Britton/Arthur Kierans Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 38:31.7 17 Stephen Kelly/Ann Taggart Mitsubishi Evo 5............. 38:32.7 18 Cathal Rodgers/Eoighan Rogers Mitsubishi Evo................ 38:34.9 19 Mark McKinstry/Steven Dowds Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 38:35.7 20 William Armstrong/Martin Toner Ford Escort MK II............ 38:39.6

pacenotes.net

26 april 2009

event, which was based near Downpatrick at Bishopscourt Race Circuit, attracted a capacity entry of 120 crews. There was an actionpacked start to the day too, when Raymond Johnston’s car caught fire and Eoin McErlean rolled into a field! Thankfully, marshals were able to extinguish the fire before it was too late, but all of the incidents forced organisers to award most crews nominal times for the rally opener. At least that worked in favour of McErlean, who was able to get back on all four wheels and complete the event! At the top of the leaderboard, there were no such troubles for Derek McGarrity. He put in another faultless drive to lead from start to finish in his Subaru Impreza WRC. For the second year in succession at Bishopscourt, and indeed at the second event in a row this year, the Glengormley pilot was simply uncatchable. “It wasn’t a bad day,” McGarrity said after the event. “It was fun, and it’s a really enjoyable place for a rally!” Rivals Connor McCloskey and

Francis Regan made a wrong tyre choice for the opening stage and spun their Focus, immediately handing McGarrity a 13 second advantage. In the end, that made little difference, as 2002 champion McGarrity went on to take a full complement of fastest stage times to win by almost half a minute, leaving Kilrea’s McCloskey to settle for second. “We had a wrong tyre choice on the first stage and had a bit of a spin,” McCloskey admitted. “After that, we were second quickest all day, so I’m happy enough. There was nothing we could do about that other man!”

Omagh’s Seamus Leonard and John McCafferty took the final podium position in their Subaru Impreza WRC. As a newcomer to the Hankook Championship, Leonard is building his experience of circuit based events, so third was a satisfying result for the former Irish Tarmac Group N champion. “It turned out well,” Leonard said at the finish. “The rally was sore on tyres and I’m still getting used to these racing lines on circuits - that’s something new to me - but I’m happy enough with the result!” Outside the top three, George Robinson and Tommy Speers were a consistent fourth fastest in their

2nd - Connor McCloskey & Francis Regan

For all your motorsport tyre requirements contact Hankook’s official motorsport distributors:

IRELAND: TRACTAMOTORS - CORMAC BRADY +353 (0)49 4375900 UK: MR TYRE MOTORSPORT on +44 (0)121 551 4589

www

northern ireland rally championship

3rd- Seamus Leonard & john McCafferty

older specification Impreza WRC. The Ballymena based crew were pleased to be trading times with younger specification cars, and finished comfortably ahead of Denis Biggerstaff and Damian McCann. “We had a pretty clean run all day,” Robinson said afterwards. “The tyres went off a wee bit at times but apart from that, it was good. We finished well in among the S9 Imprezas so I’m happy with that.” Two-times champion Biggerstaff finished fifth overall but couldn’t explain his lack of pace. He lost 20 seconds during the opening stage after hitting a bank, but was never really on song throughout the event. “The car was pushing the nose like a pig all day,” Biggerstaff rued. “It was a disappointing day. I just don’t

4th - George Robinson & Tommy Speers

Sunoco Fuels Group N Category

There was fiery start to the Sunoco Fuels Group N category when Raymond Johnston’s car caught fire on the opening stage. A seemingly harmless incident at the first corner quickly caused round one winner Johnston some major concerns. “I think we hit a couple of car tyres on the long left-hander after the start,” Johnston explained. “It really wasn’t a big incident, but unfortunately it fractured the oil cooler which sprayed oil between the engine and the sump guard. Further around the circuit, she caught fire and only for the marshals using their big extinguisher, I

6th - Emma McKinstry & Kenny Hull

Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan finished just three seconds adrift in 10th overall, while Alan and Gavin Burrows were a further two seconds behind.

Superdrive 2WD Category

There was another close battle in the Superdrive two-wheel-drive category between three crews. In a tussle that went right down to the wire, Trevor Moore, Camillus Bradley and event sponsor Fintan McGrady were all fighting for honours. It was Bradley who entered the final stage with the upper hand, but he caught another competitor on the test and lost vital seconds. Trevor Moore and Ray Fitzpatrick

we were second quickest all day, so I’m happy enough. There was nothing we could do about that other man! - CONNOR McCLOSKEY Event Sponsor - Kintan McGrady with Gary Rodgers

know what the problem is. We’ll take a look at the car when we get back home.” Banbridge’s young lady driver, Emma McKinstry, enjoyed another solid drive in her Impreza WRC. Navigated by Kenny Hull, she was ecstatic with another top six position! “We had a fantastic day,” McKinstry enthused. “The tyres have been absolutely super, although we used a set almost every two stages. It was good fun!” Coming home in seventh position, Kieron Graffin and Dermot Fahy encountered a few problems along the way. Graffin admitted to having only two clean stages after being held up by other crews on four of the six tests, but he still took seventh ahead of Ray Brammer and Matt Whattam, who were lucky to survive a high speed spin during the fifth stage.

probably would have lost the car.” With Johnston out of the event, a new name was destined to top the Sunoco Fuels Group N podium. Reigning champion Cathal Rogers was hotly tipped to take the spoils, but he made a few bad tyre choices which dropped him down the order. Instead, the battle went down to the wire between three men. Mark Massey, Alan Burrows and John Walker. Only a handful of seconds separated the three crews but in the end, victory and ninth overall were awarded to Mark Massey and Alan Purdy. “We hit a bank on the first stage which closed our intercooler pipe,” Massey said before learning of his victory. “So we’ve only been getting about one bar of boost. So we were a wee bit down on power all day, but hopefully we were still quick enough!”

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capitalised and a stunning time saw them nab the category victory by three seconds from Bradley and Danny O’Neill, with Fintan McGrady and Gary Rodgers taking third.

Montgomery Motorsport Historic Category

Philip Hunter and Denver Rafferty claimed another victory in the Montgomery Motorsport Historic category. They took their Mark 2 Escort to the top of the podium, while Alan Jardine and Jim McSherry were the best of the rest in their beautiful Mark 1 Escort. They finished a little more than 20 seconds ahead of Tommy O’Connell and Sean Magee, with Philip McDowell and Mark Stirling fourth.

“I think we hit a couple of car tyres on the long left-hander after the start... It really wasn’t a big incident, but unfortunately it fractured the oil cooler which sprayed oil between the engine and the sump guard. Further around the circuit, she caught fire and only for the marshals using their big extinguisher, I probably would have lost the car.” - RAYMOND Johnston

Circuit Up Next…

After the opening two circuit based events, competitors will now face the closed roads of the Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally at Easter! The two-day event takes place over 11th/12th April, with stages based in County Down and County Armagh. As always, Pacenotes will be there to capture all the action!

Class Report & Results >> pacenotes.net april 2009

Hankook NI Rally Championship

McGrady Insurance Stages

northern ireland rally championship

CLASS RESULTS Class 1 Declan Leonard/Dara Leonard Ford Fiesta...................... 39:48.1 Class 2 Mark Massey/Alan Purdy Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 38:04.6 Class 3 Andy Straney/Rudy Tate Vauxhall Nova................. 39:49.1 Class 4 John Devlin/Gavin Devlin Chrysler Sunbeam.......... 40:40.7 Class 5 Robert Erwin/Chris Ragg Talbot Sunbeam.............. 39:07.6 Class 6 William Armstrong/Martin Toner Ford Escort MK II............ 38:39.6 Class 7 Camillus Bradley/Danny O’Neill Ford Escort MK II............ 38:27.6 Class 8 Trevor Moore/Ray Fitzpatrick Ford Escort MK II............ 38:24.6 Class 9 Derek McGarrity/James McKee Subaru Impreza WRC...... 35:46.3 Class 10 Philip Hunter/Denver Rafferty Ford Escort MK II............ 39:53.3

Class 1 - Declan & Dara Leonard

Class Battles... Class 1

Class one saw Declan and Dara Leonard take the spoils for the second event in succession. And it was an even more satisfying win, as they had increased competition on this occasion. A number of fellow Fiesta pilots were out in force, but the Leonards still topped the standings. It was a closely fought affair though, which went right down to the wire. In the end, the Leonards emerged victorious by seven seconds, with Robert Barrable and Seamus O’Grady second, ahead of Mark Donnelly and Shane McSorley.

Class 5

Robert Erwin and Chris Ragg took another win aboard their Talbot Sunbeam in class five. It wasn’t easy though, as Andrew Wilson and Mark McEntee hounded them all the way to the finish line. In fact, Wilson was fastest over the final three stages, but Erwin had done just about enough to secure the trophy. He finished 3.9 seconds ahead of Wilson, with Patrick Carey and Francis McCann third.

Class 3 - Andy Straney & Rudy Tate

based events have been none to kind to him in the past, quickly found out that he had finished in front of Bradley. A few minutes later, after comparing times with Fintan McGrady, he realised he had won class eight, and finished first in the Superdrive 2WD category! “I’ve never done well on these circuits,” an overjoyed Moore told Pacenotes, “so for a change I’ve got something good out of it!” Meanwhile, Gareth and Jonathan Nevin took second in class eight, while David Armstrong and Duncan MacFarlane completed the top three.

Class 2

The battle for Sunoco Fuels Group N honours was an even tighter affair, with five seconds separating the top five crews at the finish line. Mark Massey and Alan Purdy led from the start in their Mitsubishi, but they lost ground during the fourth stage. Alan Burrows and Donagh Kelly were both in with a shout of the spoils, but Massey managed to increase his advantage on stage five. That left one stage to settle the Group N crown, and although Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan were fastest on the test, it was Massey who claimed the spoils by a slender three seconds. Kelly and Flanagan had to settle for second, while Alan and Gavin Burrows took the final podium position.

Class 3

A trio of Vauxhall Novas took the top places in class three, with Andy Straney and Rudy Tate heading the crews home. It was another tight battle though, with Straney winning the category by nine seconds from Scott Winslow and Patrick Gillian. Raymond Dennison and Gareth Lewthwaite were third, ahead of Roisin Boyd and Wendy Blackledge.

Class 4

Class 8 - Trevor Moore & Ray Fitzpatrick

Class 2 - Mark Massey & Alan Purdy

Although headed by Mark Robinson and Amy Stringer during the early stages, John and Gavin Devlin drove their Sunbeam on the edge to move to the top of class four. Bit by bit they extended their advantage, and the final two stages really suited the crew. In the end, they won the class by a little more than eight seconds, with Robinson and Stringer second, ahead of Brian Quigley and Paul Deery.

Class 4 - John & Gavin Devlin

Class 5 - Robert Erwin & Chris Ragg

Class 6 - William Armstrong & Martin Toner

Class 7 - Camillus Bradley & Danny O’Neill

Class 6

Class six was well supported but William Armstrong and Martin Toner were the first of 13 crews to cross the finish line. Driving their Mark 2 Escort, the crew topped the leaderboard by six seconds from Mervyn Williamson and George Hamilton, with Paul Mogey and David Christie completing the top three.

Class 7

Mark 2 Escort preparation expert Camillus Bradley returned to winning ways at Bishopscourt. Navigated by Danny O’Neill, he secured victory over his customer, Fintan McGrady. It was enough for Bradley to take second overall among the two-wheel-drive crews, while McGrady and navigator Gary Rodgers were third overall. Meanwhile, third in class went to Stephen and Jaye Nevin.

Class 9

The top three overall sacrificed their class positions, so George Robinson and Tommy Speers claimed the class nine trophy from Denis Biggerstaff and Damian McCann, with Emma McKinstry and Kenny Hull third. See main report for more details.

Class 10

Philip Hunter and Denver Rafferty claimed victory in the Montgomery Motorsport Historic category. They held the edge over second placed Alan Jardine and Jim McSherry, while Tommy O’Connell and Sean Magee claimed third.

Class 8

An ecstatic Trevor Moore jumped out of his Escort at the end of the final stage to compare times with Camillus Bradley. Moore, who admits that circuit

Class 10 - Philip Hunter & Denver Rafferty

For all your motorsport tyre requirements contact Hankook’s official motorsport distributors:

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589 For all your motorsport tyre requirements contact Hankook’s ofﬁcial motorsport distributors:

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Scottish Rally Championship

Border Counties

Winners: Jimmy Girvan & Mike Ramsay

Girvan

Wins Border Conetest! Words Phil James

PICTURES Mick Pattison

Events: Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally. Date: 22nd March 2009. Venue: Jedburgh. Surface: Gravel. Stages: 5. Stage Miles: 44. Organisers: Whickham & District Motor Club Ltd & Border Car Club Ltd. Championships: Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship; ANECC Stage Rally Championship; Brick & Steel 205 Ecosse Challenge; Scottish Borders Rally Championship & ESACC Championship. Starters: 94. Finishers: 70.

RESULTS 1 Jimmy Girvan/Mike Ramsay Subaru Impreza............ 0:43:59.1 2 David Bogie/Kevin Rae Mitsubishi Evo 9.......... 0:44:16.7 3 Mike Faulkner/Peter Foy Mitsubishi Evo 6.......... 0:44:29.4 4 Euan Thorburn/Claire Mole Subaru Impreza............ 0:44:35.8 5 Jock Armstrong/Kirsty Riddick Subaru Impreza............ 0:44:45.6 6 Reay Mackay/Robert MacDonald MG 6R4....................... 0:45:04.4 7 Rory Young/Allan Cathers Mitsubishi Evo 5.......... 0:45:09.0 8 Barry Groundwater/Jude Wylie Mitsubishi Evo 9.......... 0:45:40.9 9 Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan Ford Escort MKII.......... 0:45:54.3 10 Steve Bannister/ Louise Sutherland Ford Escort MKII.......... 0:46:03.2 11 Jim Carty/Ian Fraser Subaru Impreza............ 0:46:08.9 12 Donnie MacDonald/Paul Beaton Mitsubishi Evo 9.......... 0:46:11.8 13 Shaun Sinclair/Chris Hamill Mitsubishi Evo 6.......... 0:46:13.9 14 Stephen Campbell/Graham Law Mitsubishi Evo 5.......... 0:46:19.4 15 Calum Mackenzie/Alan Clark Ford Escort.................. 0:46:34.3 16 Mike Stephenson/Colin Burley Ford Escort.................. 0:47:17.6 17 Richard Cook/Edwin Cook Vauxhall Astra.............. 0:47:45.9 18 Dale Robertson/Paul McGuire Mitsubishi Evo 6.......... 0:48:00.9 19 William Jarman/Mark Fisher Ford Escort Cosworth.. 0:48:04.7 20 Martin Collins/Stephen O’Neil Mitsubishi Evo............. 0:48:06.1

pacenotes.net

30 april 2009

The second round of the Scottish Rally Championship brought competitors to the historic Borders town of Jedburgh from where they would contest the second leg of the Border Counties National Rally. Early morning sunshine greeted the crews, as they assembled close to the town’s ruined 12th century Augustinian Abbey, ahead of a five stage schedule starting with SS3 Ogre Hill. For the third successive year chicanes were created, with the utilisation of large traffic cones, in a bid to restrict average speeds on some of the faster stages. Competitors were then penalised 10 seconds for each and every cone they hit. It’s a controversial system that comes under fierce criticism from some quarters as some consider the penalty for taking out a couple of cones outweighs the time

B8: Steve Bannister & Louise Sutherland

Class 1:

Andrew Benn and Richard Cooke were in a class of their own, literally! To win, the Vauxhall Astra crew only needed to finish, and did so in 55th place.

Class 2:

As on the Snowman it was a close contest between two Nova crews, only this time their places were reversed. Craig Rutherford and Derek Forsyth ran most of the day

lost in braking and driving around them. Reigning Champion Jimmy Girvan was quickest through the 7.37 mile opener as he and codriver Mike Ramsay forced their Subaru Impreza into a 2.8 second lead ahead of Andy Horne and Jim Howie’s DAM 4100 Gti. Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy were third, less than two seconds in arrears in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6, almost ten seconds up on Jim Carty and Ian Fraser in the Impreza WRC. Calum MacKenzie and Alan Clark were fastest two-wheel drive car holding fifth place in their Ford

B10: Rory Young & Allan Cathers

without fifth gear but still finished over five seconds ahead of Fraser Wilson and Steven Broll.

Class 3:

Malcolm and Sarah Robertson guided their Talbot Sunbeam Ti to victory ahead of a whole posse of Ecosse 205 Challenge contenders. An eventful day saw them needing to replace a shock absorber at first service,

Escort Mk2, but the similar car of their rivals, Mike Horne and Robbie Mitchell, was stuck in a ditch and out of the rally. Competitors then crossed to the western side of the A68 to tackle the 7.79 mile Redesdale test where Girvan was quickest again to increase his lead over Horne to 23.2 seconds. This time it was David Bogie and Kevin Rae who were second fastest moving their Lancer Evo9 up to third in the overall standings, less than two seconds behind Horne. Frank Kelly and Drew Sturrock now headed the Escort Mk2

C1: Andrew Benn & Richard Cooke

spin on SS5 and finish SS7 with the exhaust manifold in pieces. Graham Schoneville and Stuart Loudon collected the runners-up prizes but were later stripped of top Challenge points owing to a technical infringement. Colin Smith and Craig Chapman were then promoted to top spot in the 205 standings.

Class 4:

Carl and Robin Tuer brought

C2: Craig Rutherford & Derek Forsyth

their MG ZR S1600 home almost two minutes ahead of closest challengers Mark McCulloch and Craig Wallace in the Corsa. A puncture two miles into the final test spoilt what could have been a clean sweep of fastest stage times for the ZR crew.

Class 5:

Peugeot 205 pairing Euan Duncan and Jake Dickie enjoyed a convincing win

For all your motorsport tyre requirements contact Hankook’s official motorsport distributors:

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2nd: David Bogie & Kevin Rae

of those undertaken by contestants of the National A rally the previous evening. Girvan strengthened his hold on top spot ahead of Bogie through the six mile Hyndlee opener. Horne’s retirement allowed Faulkner and Thorburn to both gain a place whilst Armstrong, who experimented throughout the day with different tyre compounds, edged in front of MacKay. Young and Kelly also gained places with Barry Groundwater and Jude Wylie bringing their Lancer Evo9 into ninth place. Hetherington completed the top ten standings as Crawford went off and out of the rally. Thorburn lay claim to setting fastest time through the day’s final

stage, the 7.49 miles of Wynburgh Hill, as the top seven all retained their overall positions. Kelly lost out after spending time up a firebreak that saw him eventually finish in 23rd place. His mishap allowed Groundwater and Hetherington to both gain a place as Steve Bannister and Louise Sutherland claimed the final top ten place in their Escort Mk2. Having accrued cone penalties, Carty had to settle for eleventh whilst a thirty second penalty pushed the Evo9 of Donnie MacDonald and Paul Beaton down to twelfth. Shaun Sinclair and Chris Hamill’s top ten aspirations were scuppered when they broke a track control arm mount in Hyndlee and they nursed their Evo6 home in 13th place. Cone penalties meant MacKenzie ended the day in fifteenth place behind the Evo5 of Stephen Campbell and Graham Law. Girvan and Ramsay may have taken the accolades for finishing first but they didn’t collect the top share of championship points. They went to Willie Bonniwell and Neil Ewing who had contested the National A rally. Once the times set by the Impreza crew over Friday’s stages had been deducted they had a 30 second advantage earning them the top quota of championship points. With two rounds gone it puts Bonniwell top of the drivers standings with 55 points, a point ahead of Bogie. Third placed MacKay is a further point behind and with Armstrong on 52 points and Young on 48. Early indications are this year’s championship battle is going to be one cracking contest!

Border Counties

up the pace to move their Impreza up to fifth ahead of MacKay and Armstrong. Occupying eighth place now were Rory Young and Allan Cathers who had dropped time in Redesdale after spinning in a successful attempt to avoid hitting some cones! Kelly’s Escort was still the top two-wheel drive runner in ninth place with John Crawford and Ian Simpson completing the top ten in another Mk2. A second service at Redesdale preceded the final two stages in Wauchope that were a reverse run

Scottish Rally Championship

contingent in fourth place with Adrian Hetherington and Gary Nolan less than six seconds behind in sixth place. Sandwiched between the two Irish drivers were Snowman winners Reay MacKay and Robert MacDonald, their MG Metro 6R4 now cured of the misfire that had slowed them on the opening test. A number of crews collected cone penalties here, including Girvan, but some were seemingly hit harder than others. At one point three cones were taped together and crews who thought they’d incurred a ten second penalty for hitting one found themselves burdened with a half minute deficit. Faulkner suffered by this ruling as did both Carty and MacKenzie. Also penalised were Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick who were debuting their newly built Impreza N11 that was finished only 48 hours before the rally. For Faulkner though it was an added blow as he also lost time with an excursion into a ditch. Following service at Redesdale Camp crews headed into Harwood, at just under 15 miles the longest stage of the rally, and accordingly the location of the most chicanes with seven in all. Hetherington clipped a cone here and slipped out of the top ten. Girvan retained his pole position despite only recording ninth fastest time. Bogie moved ahead of Horne, who would soon opt for retirement owing to a lack of brakes, whilst fastest stage time by Faulkner promoted the Evo6 pilot to fourth. Following a cautious start Euan Thorburn and Claire Mole stepped

3rd: Mike Faulkner & Peter Foy

C7: John McClory & David Hood C3: Malcolm & Sarah Robertson

C5: Euan Duncan & Jake Dickie

C4: Carl & Robin Tuer

finishing over seven minutes ahead of the Ford Escort Mk2 of Rhona Mackin and Christine Brown. Their cause was helped by Ecosse 205 rivals Jonathan and Fraser Smith planting their Peugeot in a Harwood ditch.

Class 6:

The battle between two Historic Escorts went in favour of the Mk2 version of Alan Hughes and Mike Scrimgour. They finished

almost five minutes ahead of Wattie Aitkin and Carin Logan’s Mk1.

Class 7:

John McClory and David Hood kept their Honda Civic Type-R out front throughout the day finishing over two minutes ahead of the similar car of Peter Mayland and Peter Carstairs.

Class 8:

Building on their Snowman success top honours again

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C9: Adrian Hetherington & Gary Nolan

C6: Alan Hughes & Mike Scrimgour

went to Steve Bannister and Louise Sutherland who finished 10th overall in their Escort Mk2. Calum MacKenzie and Alan Clark were more than half a minute behind in another Mk2 but the result would have been different had they not collected a one minute ten second cone penalty on SS4.

Class 9:

Another win came for Adrian Hetherington and Gary

Nolan as the Escort Mk2 crew finished more than a minute ahead of Mike Stephenson and Colin Burley’s Escort.

C11: Jim Carty & Ian Fraser

Class 10 & 11: (see main report).

Class 12:

C12: Reay MacKay & Robert MacDonald

MacKay/MacDonald (see main report) finished more than three minutes ahead of the Escort Cosworth of Cumbrians William Jarman and Mark Fisher.

pacenotes.net april 2009

Round-Up of Clubman Rally Action

UK Clubman 32

Huw James & Jules Barney Deakin

Charlie Payne & Craig Thorley

Anthony Wilmington & Andrew White

Hat-trick Hero Huw!

Payne takes Riponian Result!

Another Win for Wilmington & White!

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www.pro-rally.co.uk

Event: AGBO Stages. Date: 8th March 2009. Location: Weston Park, Shropshire. Surface: Tarmac. Stages: 10. Stage miles: 35. Organisers: Owen Motor Club. Championships: Heart of England. Starters: 71. Finishers: 58.

Event: Riponian Stages. Date: 15th March, 2009. Location: Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Surface: Gravel. Stages: 12. Stage Miles: 40. Organisers: Ripon Motor Club. Championships: ANCC; ANEMMC; ANWCC & EMAMC. Starters: 89. Finishers: 62.

Event: Bovington Stages. Date: 15th March 2009. Location: Bovington, Dorset. Surface: Tarmac. Stages: 8. Stage miles: 60. Organisers: Bournemouth & District Car Club. Championships: ACSMC; ASWMC; The Mark Lovell Stage Rally Championship. Starters: 83. Finishers: 61.

Huw James completed a hat-trick of AGBO wins, when he and co-driver Jules Barney Deakin, brought their Ford Escort Mk2 to a 16 second victory on a day of mixed weather at Weston Park. Rain, sleet, snow, hail, wind and sunshine all combined to provide lots of changes to the roads around the stately home ensuring that most crews had a moment or two to report! Gary Thomas and Huw Jones set the early pace with a brace of fastest times in their Escort G3 on the opening pair of stages and still headed the standings after SS3. By this point James was going quicker and the gap between the top two was just two seconds with third placed Sean Crowley and Tim Currie five seconds back in their Vauxhall Nova. Already out of the reckoning were Oliver Davies and Ian Jarman as gearbox problems retired their Escort Mk2. A second fastest time by James put him in pole position after SS4 and that’s where he stayed to the finish, his only worry coming from the oil pressure gauge later in the day. Andy Corner and Ade Camp momentarily edged their Peugeot 205 into third but were to slip back on the following test. Thomas survived a big moment at the finish of SS5 to finish the day in second place whilst Crowley held off Corner’s late charge to take third place. Richard Norton Lewis and Glen Latham came out on top of a three-way battle for fifth. The Escort Mk2 crew were under attack from Michael Holland and Jamie Hill in the older model of the venerable Ford. The Mk1 crew had been measurably faster through the final three stages but fell two seconds short of snatching fifth. Dai Dot Davies and Steve Pugh dropped time taking excursions onto the grass and the Vauxhall Chevette pairing had to settle for seventh after falling victim to Holland’s late charge. Escorts completed the top ten with the Mk2 of Neal and Thomas Arden leading the way. Gareth Richards and Heather Gilmore brought their Mk1 home ninth ahead of the Mk2 of Andrew Graham and Peter Brennan.

Charlie Payne and Craig Thorley swept to victory, heading the standings in their Mitsubishi Lancer WRC Step 2 from the start to finish, chased all the way by the Lancer Evo9 of Tim Pearcey and Robin Hernaman. Payne completed the opening Boltby test with a six second advantage but Pearcey matched his time through Roppa despite dropping time as a result of an altercation with a straw bale. It was a lucky escape, as only a headlight was damaged in the impact, and Pearcey then set fastest time through Riccal Dale reducing his arrears to Payne to five seconds. Payne then stepped up the pace setting fastest time through Pry Rigg, College Moor and Wass to complete the first leg with a 14 second advantage over his rival. Trailing Pearcey by 12 seconds, the Subaru Impreza WRC of Kevin Proctor and David Bellerby was a comfortable third, 25 seconds ahead of Miles Johnston and Ian Bevan’s Evo7. Completing the top five was the similar car Philip White and Richard Hage, their only problem was finding grip from their worn tyres. The second leg of the rally comprised of a repeat run of the morning’s six stages and Payne extended his lead to 18 seconds in Boltby. After matching times again in Roppa, Pearcey then survived a one-wheel landing to pull 10 seconds back in Riccal Dale. Proctor was quickest through the final three stages to retain third as a troublesome transfer box slowed Pearcey’s progress allowing Payne an unchallenged victory. Johnston and White maintained fourth and fifth places respectively whilst Chris and Roger Bown won their Evo6 battle with Charlie Gabb and Mick Quinn who’s car bore evidence of having rolled. Jeff McNeil and Fred Roberts finished eighth in their Impreza, pushed all the way by the similar car of Jeff ’s son, Jim and co-driver Kim Baker who finished nine seconds behind. Heading a strong two-wheel drive contingent Jonathan Kitchen and Jeremy Thomas brought their Ford Escort Mk2 home tenth. Darren Moon and John McNicol won the Historic class by 59 seconds after fellow Escort Mk2 crew Charlie Taylor and Steve Bielby collected a one minute penalty.

Anthony Wilmington and Andrew White stormed into a first stage lead and stayed there, despite a scare with a two-wheel moment, to finish with a winning margin of 25 seconds in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6. Steve and Yvonne Furzeland retired their Subaru Impreza WRC after two stages with gearbox problems, allowing James Harvey and Nick Fewins to adopt the role of principal challengers. It was a part Harvey was familiar with having been Wilmington’s closest competitor on last year’s Jersey Rally, but once again the Impreza pilot would have to settle for finishing second best. Adrian Brown and Chris Jarman set top six stage times throughout and rounded off a good day’s work by being faster than everyone on the final stage in their Ford Escort Mk1. They were rewarded with third overall whilst Stephen Leonard and Ben Andre, who had been quickest through SS3 in their Escort Mk2, collected the Class C prizes after finishing fourth. Dave Parnell and Pete Bold had been in the mix for top two-wheel drive honours before gearbox problems sidelined their Escort Mk2 with just one stage remaining. Class E winners Mark Welch and Mark Norris brought their Escort Cosworth home fifth but were far from happy. Their hopes of repeating the podium finish they recorded last time Bovington was used in 2002, were dashed by a faulty anti-lag system and catching the Hyundai Accent WRC of Karl Broad and Trasie Moore in SS3. A late charge saw Mark Worley and Hamish Campbell edge their Lancer Evo9 into sixth place ahead of Richard Edwards and Paul Brown’s Escort Mk2. Dave Wilkes and Will Rutherford finished eighth in their Vauxhall Nova holding off the threat from Class D winners Ian Roberton and Kenny Roberts, who required a clutch change to their Nissan 240RS. Geoff Bennett and John Billett clinched the final top ten place on the final stage as they forced their Escort Mk2 ahead of Dean Thomas and Lorraine Chappell’s Class B winning GTM Gtec. Clive Mitchelmore and Ian Withecombe collected the Class A prizes in their Vauxhall Nova after finishing 29th overall.

Results: 1 Huw James/Jules Barney Deakin (Ford Escort Mk2) 31m00s; 2 Gary Thomas/Huw Jones (Ford Escort G3) 31m16s; 3 Sean Crowley/ Tim Currie (Vauxhall Nova) 31m30s; 4 Andy Corner/Ade Camp (Peugeot 205) 31m32s; 5 Richard Norton Lewis/Glen Latham (Ford Escort Mk2) 32m14s; 6 Michael Holland/Jamie Hill (Ford Escort Mk1) 32m16s; 7 Dai Dot Davies/Steve Pugh (Vauxhall Chevette HSR) 32m17s; 8 Neal Arden/ Thomas Arden (Ford Escort Mk2) 32m30s; 9 Gareth Richards/Heather Gilmore (Ford Escort Mk1) 32m43s; 10 Andrew Graham/Peter Brennan (Ford Escort Mk2) 32m51s. Class Award Winners: A: Les Skeet/Matt Venables (Vauxhall Astra); B: Steve Wood/Aled Richards (Peugeot 206); C: Corner/Camp; D: Richards/Gilmore.

Results: 1 Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley (Mitsubishi Lancer WRC) 38m08s; 2 Tim Pearcey/Robin Hernaman (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) 38m19s; 3 Kevin Proctor/David Bellerby (Subaru Impreza WRC) 38m27s; 4 Miles Johnston/Ian Bevan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7) 39m46s. 5 Philip White/ Richard Hague (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7) 40m24s; 6 Chris Bown/Roger Bown (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6) 41m05s; 7 Charlie Gabb/Mick Quinn (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6) 41m07s; 8 Jeff McNeil/Fred Roberts (Subaru Impreza) 41m11s; 9 Jim McNeil/Kim Baker (Subaru Impreza) 41m20s. 10 Jonathan Kitchen/Jeremy Thomas (Ford Escort Mk2) 41m27s. Class Award Winners: A: Alan Richardson/Christopher Roe (Vauxhall Nova); B: Colin Gent/Martyn Stephenson (Honda Civic); C: Kitchen/ Thomas; D: Mick Plowman/Nigel Boston (Ford Escort Mk2); E: Johnston/ Bevan; H: Darren Moon/John McNichol (Ford Escort Mk2).

pacenotes.net april 2009

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Results: 1 Anthony Wilmington/Andrew White (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6) 55m13s; 2 James Harvey/Nick Fewins (Subaru Impreza) 55m38s; 3 Adrian Brown/Chris Jarman (Ford Escort Mk1) 55m44s; 4 Stephen Leonard/Ben Andre (Ford Escort Mk2) 55m55s; 5 Mark Welch/Mark Norris (Ford Escort Cosworth) 56m13s; 6 Mark Worley/Hamish Campbell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) 56m28s; 7 Richard Edwards/Paul Brown (Ford Escort Mk2) 56m34s; 8 Dave Wilkes/Will Rutherford (Vauxhall Nova) 57m02s; 9 Ian Roberton/Kenny Roberts (Nissan 240RS) 57m06s; 10 Geoff Bennett/John Billett (Ford Escort Mk2) 57m16s. Class Award Winners: A: Clive Mitchelmore/Ian Withecombe (Vauxhall Nova); B: Dean Thomas/Lorraine Chappell (GTM Gtec); C: Leonard/Andre; D: Roberton/Roberts; E: Welch/Norris.

The Nutts Corner weekend will be play a key part in deciding the outcome of the 2009 Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship, as it counts as two separate rounds of the series. In the top Division 1 category, 2007 & 2008 Champion ‘Mad Mark’ (Citroen Xsara WRC), Mike Manning (Ford Puma), Tommy Graham (Ford Fiesta), Eddie Kinirons (Ford Focus) and Derrick Jobb (Ford Escort RS2000) will start as the pre event favourites. Jobb from Fintona, Northern Ireland has his sights set firmly on 2009 glory after narrowly missing out on the title in 2007. The Super National category features a strong entry, with several Irish competitors who will provide a strong challenge to the front running Championship regulars. A strong Rally

representation will also be present at the event including Northern Irish International Rally Stars, Kris Meeke, Eugene Donnelly and Kenny Mckinstry who are all driving RX Racing prepared RX150’s. Meeke recently won the second round of the 2009 IRC in Brazil - Rally Internacional de Curitiba in a Peugeot UK supported Peugeot 207 and is currently undefeated in the RX150 category. Four times Irish Tarmac Rally Champion, Eugene Donnelly drove an RX150 and a PSM Motorsport Procar 2000 Renault Megane in the opening round of the 2009 Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship at Croft last month. For competitors wanting to get into Rallycross, Championship organisers PSM Motorsport Ltd have two Procar

2000 Renault Meganes available to lease or hire at the event and the rest of the 2009 season. For further information contact Craig Swales by email: Craig@ RallycrossOpen.com The Minicross drivers association also have two cars available for hire at the event - a Junior Rallycross Mini (for competitors aged between the age of 14 and 16) and a Senior Minicross car. For further information contact MDA Chairman - Ron Watson by email: Ron@ RallycrossOpen.com Additional information and the timetable for the Nutts Corner event can be found online at the official Championship website - www. RallycrossOpen.com

Rallycross Open Championship

Rallycross makes its return to Northern Ireland after an absence of five years on April 25th & 26th, with Nutts Corner playing host to rounds two and three of the 2009 Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship. The ITV Men and Motors televised event has already attracted an entry of over 100 competitors.

event preview - april 25th & 26th

Northern Ireland ready for Rallycross return

pacenotes.net april 2009

facttfile Driver: Seamus Leo nard Height: 5’9” Home: Omagh Birth date: 30/09/67 Occupation: Proper ty developer Road car: BMW X5 Rally car: Subaru Imp reza WRC Marital status: Ma rried Hobbies: Speed! Sponsors: Gerry Mc Veigh has been my biggest sponsor thro ughout my rallying career. Driver: Declan Leo nard Height: 5’10” Home: Omagh Birth date: 18/09/90 Occupation: Studen t (Construction) Road car: Peugeot 207 Rally car: Ford Fiesta Marital status: Under the thumb! Hobbies: Gaelic foo tball. Navigator: Dara Leo nard Height: 5’9” Home: Omagh Birth date: 14/03/92 Occupation: Studen t Road car: VW Golf Rally car: Ford Fiesta Marital status: Under the thumb with Orlagh Hobbies: Gaelic foo ! tball

Larging It With The Leonards!

questiontime with The Leonards

pacenotes.net april 2009

1. When did you first get behind a wheel? Seamus: I passed my test in 1984. Although I have a brother who is a mechanic, I was always the one more interested in speed and nice cars. I don’t smoke or drink – cars have always been a hobby to me! Declan: Moving vans and that sort of thing around the yard for my father when I was 11 or 12. Dara: I think I was about 12. 2. What was your first road car? Seamus: It was a Toyota Corolla Twin Cam. I remember going to the Donegal International as a spectator with a load of other boys in Twin Cams. I just happened to lose control of my car and hit a telegraph pole! So I went home, got a new one and was back at the rally two hours later! Declan: A Peugeot 207 – although I drove my father’s jeep before that, but I wrecked her! Dara: VW Golf. 3. Who would you rate as the top three British or Irish rally drivers today? Seamus: Mark Higgins, Kris Meeke and Austin MacHale. I’ve always looked up to Austin MacHale over the years. Declan: Kris Meeke, Mark Higgins and Guy Wilks. Dara: Kris Meeke, Eamonn Boland, Mark Higgins. 4. What was your first competitive event? Seamus: Sligo in 1993 – we were seeded at 103, but finished second in class, and were something like 53rd or 43rd overall. Declan: Bushwhacker Rally with a Peugeot 106 last September. We were leading the class going into the 5th stage when the gearbox went – I was raging! Dara: I did a sprint at Aghadowey about two years ago with a Nova and finished fifth in class. 5. What is your worst memory in rallying? Seamus: Definitely the Ulster Rally a few years ago – I crashed and took out a

telegraph pole about 200 yards from my own doorstep. I’ll never live that down! Declan: The Donegal Harvest – we did a full recce, then when we went to sign on, we found out we had no insurance so we couldn’t do the rally! Dara: Colin McRae’s helicopter accident. 6. What drive are you most proud of to date? Seamus: Probably when I finished fifth overall at the 1999 Circuit of Ireland in a Group N Evo 5. It was my first attempt and we won the class. Declan: This year’s Bishopscourt Rally – there was a lot of good competition there and we won our class. Dara: Winning our class at Kirkistown and Bishopscourt this year. 7. What is your most frustrating memory in rallying? Seamus: Donegal a few years ago was the most frustrating. On the Friday we crashed but we managed to claw back the time. Then, going into stage 19, the clutch went. Declan: When we had the Peugeot 106, every time we went out in her, we knew something was going to happen – she kept breaking driveshafts. Dara: Going to Aghadowey with the wee 106 – we discovered that the driveshaft was loose, and it kept breaking! 8. What is your biggest accident to date? Seamus: The accident I had three years ago on the Isle of Man. I think it was stage 17 and Ryan Champion had gone off on the same corner. When we came around there were bits of car lying all over the road. We went off and the car was demolished. Declan: None yet thankfully! Dara: None yet, touch wood! 9. What are your plans for 2009? Seamus: The Northern Ireland Championship along with my two sons – I suppose you could say that I’m mentoring them. Declan: Keep doing the Northern Ireland

Championship and maybe Donegal. Dara: The Northern Ireland Championship and I’m hoping to compete as a driver in a few events myself. 10. What is your favourite event? Seamus: Donegal International without a doubt. Declan: Bushwhacker Rally – they’re just class stages and I like the gravel Dara: I haven’t competed in it yet but it must be Donegal – I can’t wait to do it! 11. What is your favourite rally car? Seamus: I love the World Rally Car but in all honesty the Evo 9 is hard to beat. I’m spoilt with the WRC, but the Evo is a beautiful car and it has been very lucky for me too. Declan: I’d love a Citroen C4 WRC – it just seems to be far better than anything else out there. Dara: Group N Mitsubishi Lancer. 12. What do you think about youth development in rallying? Seamus: Okay, I have a World Rally Car, but I think the whole WRC thing is totally out of hand – there should be more one make championships. With the Fiestas, the cars are very even, and it brings out the better drivers. There’s no fun in it if a man has £400k while another has £100k – the man with the most money will nearly always win. So a sport with more control over the cars will bring out better drivers, and that’s the way it should be. Declan: It’s hard to get started – you need financial support. There’s a lot of talent out there that may not be discovered as they don’t have that sort of support. Dara: There seems to be a lot of new championships coming in for young drivers across the water – we just need more of them over here now!

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pacenotes.net april 2009

rally magazine

pacenotes.net april 2009

Freeze Frame

Come Fly With Me...

the best images captured...

Connor McCloskey on the recent McGrady Insurance Stages Rally Image: Martin McCorriston pacenotes.net april 2009

april 2009 38 pacenotes.net

report in association with

Larsen Circuit of Ireland Preview

Irish Tarmac Championship

The MacHale brothers are probable...

Black Outlook For Tarmac Entries? Almost three months after the opening round of this year’s Irish Tarmac Championship, round two is just around the corner. It seems like a lifetime ago that Eugene Donnelly claimed victory in Galway. Round one took place earlier than usual this year to accommodate Rally Ireland, but now crews are revving up for the Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally! The event takes place over the Easter weekend of the 11/12 April, but as Pacenotes goes to print, it looks as though the recession could be taking a firm grip of Ireland’s premier rally series. Maybe we have been lured into a false sense of security, with the opening two rounds of the Hankook MSA N.I. Rally Championship oversubscribed with entries. Meanwhile, in Galway, there were 49 entries in the International category, with a further 60 in the National category, as well as a sprinkling of historic and junior competitors. Unfortunately, the Larsen Circuit of Ireland appears to be struggling to get 20 international entrants. Is this a sign of things to come? Having said that, the National Rally is bustling with competitors,

with almost 60 entries received as Pacenotes goes to print. Combined with almost 20 entrants in the National A category (MSA Asphalt Championship and Fiesta competitors), the National

Eamonn is Circuit Committed...

section is even healthier than the opening round of the Irish Tarmac Championship. But then that shouldn’t be too surprising, as the event is round three of the Hankook N.I. series. Although there are some notable missing names such as Connor McCloskey, that has surely helped to boost the National section, but where does that leave the Irish

Jim Crozier: +44 (0)7778 288108 or James Foley +353 (0)87 2310089

Tarmac Championship? Can it survive in 2009 with such a low number of competitors? As I write this article, Eamonn Boland, Tim McNulty and Kevin Barrett are the sole WRC entrants – that’s two days before entries officially close. Eugene Donnelly tells us that his navigator, Paddy Toner, has been away for a week, but should submit an entry in the next couple of days. Reading between the lines, however, the Genie didn’t seem like his usual buoyant self. Derek McGarrity also plans to enter in his Subaru Impreza WRC, while Gareth and Aaron MacHale intend to bring their Ford Focus WRCs. Bearing those entries in mind, the current list of entries received is hopefully not a true reflection of the final entry list. And what of Kevin Lynch? The Dungiven driver hounded Eamonn Boland in Galway, but rumours suggest he could be taking a break from the sport. He was out of the office when Pacenotes contacted him, so we can only assume that he

Words Jonathan MacDonald PICTURES Pacenotes Archive

Tim is in...

Pirelli Tyre Service Available On All Championship Events pacenotes.net april 2009

Irish Tarmac Championship

Circuit of Ireland Preview

report in association with

SERVICE SCHEDULE Day One (8 stages)

Start Dundalk 7am Banbridge Service Out 7.52am Podium Banbridge 7.55am Service A (Banbridge) In 10.17am Service B (Banbridge) In 1.12pm Service C (Banbridge) In 3.34pm Service D (Banbridge) In 5.46pm Parc ferme in (Dundalk) 7.18pm

Day Two (6 stages)

Parc ferme out 8am Service E (Dundalk) 8.08am Service F (Newry) 9.42am Service G (Newry) 12.15pm Service H (Newry) 2.48pm Finish Dundalk 3.28pm

has no plans to enter the ‘Circuit’. Then there’s the Group N category, which fares worse. In fact, there are only two entries to date, one of which is ironically from New York based Liam Egan! Alan Carmichael is the other driver, although entries are expected from Irish Evo Challenge winner, Brendan Cumiskey, and a few more Evo Challenge entrants. Notable names missing from the entry are that of Kevin Kelleher and Garry Jennings. However, Colm Murphy is a possible entry, although everything is up in the air for the former Group N champion. “I don’t know if I’ll be there,” Murphy told Pacenotes the day before entries closed. “It depends on funding. My usual navigator, Ger Loughrey, can’t commit as his wife is due to have a baby in the next couple of weeks. I could do with finding another navigator who can contribute towards costs. In the current economic times, money is hard to come by. So I don’t know, it would be great to get out but I’ll have to wait and see.” Of course, there could be a lot of last minute entries still in the post,

and for the sake of the Irish Tarmac Championship, let’s hope there are. But while the lack of international entries is disappointing, the Larsen Circuit of Ireland still promises plenty of action and excitement!

It depends on funding. My usual navigator, Ger Loughrey, can’t commit as his wife is due to have a baby in the next couple of weeks... In the current economic times, money is hard to come by. - COLM MURPHY The strong entry in the National category, combined with the National A crews, is a recipe for success. Kenny McKinstry has entered his Subaru Impreza WRC, as have Denis Biggerstaff and Seamus Leonard. These three drivers will be vying for maximum points in the Hankook N.I. series, but what of reigning champion Connor McCloskey? “To be honest, I don’t plan on entering any more rounds of the championship,” McCloskey told Pacenotes. “I’ll probably enter the

without committing to the series. It’s a shame as it seems like a very good event, but I don’t want to get sucked into a championship battle.” Further down the order, there will be plenty of entertainers in the field to keep the spectators happy during the Easter weekend. The two-wheeldrive exponents include the likes of Wesley Patterson, Fintan McGrady, Martin McGee and Adrian Hetherington, not to mention a whole host of other drivers who will keep them on their toes!

Make a Marshal Happy scheme The Larsen Circuit of

Ireland Rally is not all about the competitors, and a huge team of volunteers will be on hand throughout the Easter weekend to ensure the smooth running of the rally. The UAC recognises the hard work and dedication of those volunteers, and will again be running a marshals’ scheme in 2009. Competitors can purchase ‘Make a Marshal Happy’ stickers, and the funds raised will go towards marshals’ packs, which will include a voucher for lunch at either Dundalk’s Park Inn or the Slieve Croob Restaurant.

“We’re delighted to be involved with such a great event,” Slieve Croob manager Dominic King said. “It’s great that it’s back in the area and I’d like to wish organisers, marshals and competitors the best of luck for what I’m sure will be a brilliant weekend.” Competitors who purchase ‘Make a Marshal Happy’ stickers will have a chance to win a free entry to the 2010 event. John Warnock and David Armstrong supported the scheme in 2008, and were lucky winners of a free entry to this year’s Larsen Circuit of Ireland.

Pirelli Tyre Service Available On All Championship Events

april 2009 40 pacenotes.net

Tour of the Sperrins but after that, I’d just like to pick and choose events. The Circuit of Ireland is the most expensive event in the Northern Ireland Championship, and I don’t want to commit to it

Historics... Historic rallying is a rapidly growing part of our sport, and this year’s Larsen Circuit of Ireland features a round of both the Irish Tarmac Historic Championship and the Montgomery Motorsport historic category in the Northern Ireland series. A number of drivers have confirmed their entries, including Derek Boyd in his Porsche 911. William Todd is also returning to action with his Mini Cooper, whole Philip Hunter will have his Mark 2 Escort at his disposal. Philip Kerun, Keith McIvor and Aidan O’Connor are also among the entrants. Don’t be fooled – just because the cars are older, they can still go fast!

Jim Crozier: +44 (0)7778 288108 or James Foley +353 (0)87 2310089

Circuit Includes Famous Folly…

Hamilton’s Folly is well known throughout the Irish rally fraternity after it became famous for its big jump. This image shows the route for the stage which was part of the Circuit of Ireland’s Golden Jubilee year in 1981.

This year’s Larsen Circuit of

Ireland features more than 130 stage miles, split over two days of rallying in counties Down and Armagh. After leaving Dundalk’s Park Inn headquarters on Saturday 11th April, competitors drive to Banbridge for a quick service halt at The Outlet, before going to the ceremonial start in Banbridge town centre, shortly before 8am. The action starts in earnest shortly afterwards, and leg one consists of eight stages (four repeated twice), with a service halt after every second stage. One of those stages is the famous Hamilton’s Folly, which is almost 13 miles long! The final stage of day one is due to start at approximately 5pm, and afterwards competitors return to service at The Outlet before going to parc ferme in Dundalk. Leg two sees the rally move to Newry, with six stages taking place

throughout the day. After a quick service in Dundalk at approximately 8am, crews will tackle two stages before heading to service in Newry, where service will be based for the

rest of the day. Those who manage to complete all of the stages will cross the finish ramp in Dundalk shortly before 3.30pm on Sunday 12th April.

UK Crews Circuit Bound… For the first time in 2009, the

Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally is also a counting round of the Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Rally Championship. The ‘Circuit’ marks round two of the series, and a number of the leading lights are set to arrive on these shores. Round one of the championship took competitors to the Tour of Epynt, and it was Melvyn Evans who kick-started his season with victory at the opening round. Evans is set to bring his Subaru Impreza WRC to the Emerald Isle, and will give the locals some extra competition to think about. It will be Evans’ first visit to the Larsen ‘Circuit’, and the same can be said for David Kynaston, who currently lies second in the

Kynaston’s awsome sounding Audi

championship. Kynaston brings his Audi back to these shores, a car which he has used at the Ulster Rally in the past. Of course, some of this year’s ‘Circuit’ stages are not too far from Ulster Rally territory, so it may not be too unfamiliar for the Audi pilot. David Mann will also be among the top runners, while the twowheel-drive field features the likes of Washington James in his Darrian

Jim Crozier: +44 (0)7778 288108 or James Foley +353 (0)87 2310089

T90 GTR, Meirion Evans in his Escort and Rod Bennett with his Fiat Punto Super 1600. It’s great to see crews from across the water making the effort to enter the Larsen Circuit of Ireland, and it’s important to note that while they will be running among the National field, they won’t score points towards the Hankook MSA N.I. Rally Championship. Some local competitors have voiced concerns over the visitors’ ability to score points, due to automatic registration in the N.I. series, but they don’t have to worry, as the Asphalt Championship drivers will be running under a National A permit, rather than a National B.

Previous Winners YEAR First awarded 1936 1936 B.M.Clarke 1937 J.W.Shaw 1938 R.G.Chambers 1939 W.B.Michael 1940/45 No Event - WWII 1946 A.J.Bell 1947 J.A.McMichael 1948 No Event - Petrol Rationing 1949 C.F.S.Lindsay 1950 D.P.Johnston 1951 R.A.Hopkinson 1952 D.G.Johnston 1953 W.T.Todd 1954 R.J.M.Glover 1955 R.C.McKinney 1956 J.B.Johnstone (R.C.McKinney) 1957 No Event - Suez Crisis 1958 W.K.Richardson (P.B.Hopkirk) 1959 K.Sherry 1960 A.J.L.Boyd 1961 Sunbeam Talbot Ltd (P.B.Hopkirk) 1962 Sunbeam Talbot Ltd (P.B.Hopkirk) 1963 Alexander Engineering (I.Woodside) 1964 R.J.McCartney/T.A.Harryman 1965 P.Hopkirk/T.A.Harryman 1966 T.Fall/H.Lidden 1967 P.Hopkirk/T.A.Harryman 1968 R.Clark/J.Porter 1969 R.Clark/J.Porter 1970 Ford Motor Co.(R.Clark/J.Porter) 1971 A.J.L.Boyd/D.B.Crawford 1972 No Event 1973 J.Tordoff/P.Short 1974 C.Curley/A.Frazer 1975 B.Coleman/P.Phelan 1976 B.Coleman/D.O’Sullivan 1977 R.Brookes/J.Brown 1978 R.Brookes/J.Brown 1979 P.Airikkala/R.Virtanan 1980 J.McRae/M.Nicholson 1981 J.McRae/I.Grindrod 1982 J.McRae/I.Grindrod 1983 R. Brookes/M. Broad 1984 B. Coleman/R. Morgan 1985 J.McRae/I.Grindrod 1986 D. Llewellin/P.Short 1987 J. McRae/I.Grindrod 1988 J. McRae/R.Arthur 1989 J. McRae/R.Arthur 1990 D. Llewellin/P.Short 1991 Colin McRae/Derek Ringer 1992 Frank Meagher/Michael Maher 1993 Austin McHale/Dermot O’Gorman 1994 Stephen Finlay/Dessie Wilson 1995 Bertie Fisher/Rory Kennedy 1996 Stephen Finlay/Robbie Philpott 1997 Bertie Fisher/Rory Kennedy 1998 Austin McHale/Brian Murphy 1999 Bertie Fisher/Rory Kennedy 2000 No event 2001 No event - Foot & Mouth 2002 Andrew Nesbitt/James O’Brien 2003 Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson 2004 Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman 2005 Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman 2006 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely 2007 Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy 2008 Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey

Pirelli Tyre Service Available On All Championship Events

pacenotes.net april 2009

Irish Tarmac Championship

Rally Of The Lakes Preview

report in association with

Dessie Keenan finished an amazing Third overall last year

08 RESULTS 1

Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey Subaru Impreza........... 2:14:14.9 2 Derek McGarrity/Dairmuid Falvey Subaru WRC ............... 2:17:14.9 3 Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry Subaru Impreza........... 2:17:54.2 4 Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy Ford Focus WRC ......... 2:19:38.8 5 Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle Renault Clio ................ 2:21:28.4 6 Patrick Elliott/James O’Brien Subaru S11 WRC ........ 2:21:33.5 7 PJ McGrath/Billy Collins Subaru Impreza........... 2:23:11.6 8 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher Mitsubishi Lanc........... 2:24:52.7 9 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy Mitsubishi Lanc........... 2:25:31.1 10 John McGlaughlin/Crawford Henderson Mitsubishi Evo ............ 2:28:48.9

New Look Lakes...

Just as Pacenotes was about to go to press, Killarney and District Motor Club announced details of this year’s International Rally of the Lakes, round three of the Irish Tarmac Championship. The event, which takes place on its traditional May Bank Holiday weekend date, has again secured Ordnance Survey Ireland as title sponsor. It was in 1990 that OSI first became associated with the event, and now almost 20 years down the line, the company has renewed its contract for another year. If you think that’s a long-term sponsorship, it’s merely a walk in the park when compared with the long-term association that the event has had with Killarney’s Gleneagle Hotel. The Rally of the Lakes has been based there since 1980, and needless to say, the hotel will witness another fantastic party atmosphere this year! This year’s event is not only a round of the Irish Tarmac Championship, but also the second round of the Thomond Crystal Southern 4 Championship, as well as the Tarmac Historic Championship and the Southern 4 Historic Championship. Day one will also be a counting round of the Fiesta Sporting Trophy, while the National section will count for both the Southern 4 Championship and the Tarmac

Modified Trophy. A number of new features have also been introduced for 2009. The most significant of these is a double run over Moll’s Gap as the opening two stages of the 2009 Rally. The stage will also have a new start location, with the first car due at 8am on the Saturday morning. The second run will take place a little

THIS YEAR’S EVENT IS NOT ONLY A ROUND OF THE IRISH TARMAC CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT ALSO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE THOMOND CRYSTAL SOUTHERN 4 CHAMPIONSHIP, AS WELL AS THE TARMAC HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE SOUTHERN 4 HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP. more than two hours later, so Moll’s Gap will be the place to be! After SS2, the crews tackle Gortnagane, which finishes in Millstreet, where the cars go into service at the Green Glens Arena. Then there are two stages to the north and west of Millstreet, before crews arrive at the start of stage 6 for a repeat run through Gortnagane. That’s followed by service and a repeat of stages four and five as the final two stages of

Pirelli Tyre Service Available On All Championship Events april 2009 42 pacenotes.net

the first leg of the rally. Following the traditional free service hour on the Sunday morning, the cars head for Molls Gap for the first of the Sunday stages, followed by Healy Pass and then into Castletown for service. The traditional versions of Cod’s Head and Ardgroom follow, before Healy Pass 2 brings the crews back

to Castletown for service. Cod’s Head, Ardgroom and Kilmackillogue will make up the final three stages of the 2009 Rally of the Lakes, with the first car due to finish the final stage at 16.02 and be at the finish ramp at the Gleneagle Hotel at 17.22. Plans are well advanced for this year’s event, and Killarney must be one of the favourite Irish rallies of the year. As always, Pacenotes will be there to capture all of the action!

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rally action from cork

Quality Hotels West Cork Rally

Winners: Liam McCarthy & Kieran Murphy

McCarthy Best In The West… A full field of 151 cars started this year’s Quality Hotels West Cork Rally and the 31st running of the event enjoyed dry weather. Words Kevin O’Driscoll PICTURES Seamus Counihan

DAY 1 TOP 5 1 2 3 4 5

Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy Corolla WRC................ 1:13:07.5 John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones Darrian T90 GTR.......... 1:13:40.5 Denis Cronin/Helen O’Sullivan Impreza WRC............... 1:13:46.3 Phil Collins/Derek Brannigan Escort Mark 2.............. 1:16:00.8 Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors Lancer Evo 9................ 1:16:55.2

FINAL RESULTS 1 Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy Toyota Corolla WRC....133m 42s, 2 John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones Darrian T90 GTR.........134m 17s, 3 Denis Cronin/Helen O’Sullivan Subaru Impreza WRC..135m 14s, 4 Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors Mitsubishi Evo 9.........137m 25s, 5 Phil Collins/Derek Brannigan Ford Escort MKII.........138m 59s, 6 Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan Ford Escort MKII) 144m 02s, 7 Kevin O’Donoghue/Joe O’Leary Ford Escort MKII.........146m 44s, 8 Daragh O’Riordan/Sean McCarthy Renault Clio S1600.....147m 00s, 9 Thomas O’Rourke/Tomas Scallan Honda Civic R3...........147m 09s, 10 Tomas Davies/John Smithwick Ford Escort MKII.........147m 46s.

pacenotes.net

44 april 2009

Top seeds Donie O’Sullivan and

Paul Nagle had to withdraw due to paperwork problems on their new Proton Satria Neo S2000, as did number 10 seeds Brian O’Mahony and John Higgins, whose engine played up on the way to scrutiny. Day one was based north and east of Clonakilty, around Clogagh, Ring and Dunworley. John Dalton in his Darrian T90 GTR led the field away to the first stage in Ballinascarthy. Conditions were slippery here and Liam McCarthy took the initiative straight away by pulling out a five second lead over Keith Cronin in his Mitsubishi Lancer. Jim Harrison was three seconds back. Dalton and Denis Cronin made up the top five. Local Sean O’Donovan rolled out and temporarily blocked stage one in his Subaru. McCarthy extended his lead on the next stage to 10 seconds, with Harrison now second. Keith Cronin’s victory dreams evaporated as he went off the road and into a field for 90 seconds on stage two, dropping him outside the top ten. This promoted Phil Collins into fifth place, while a superb start had netted local driver Fintan Canty sixth place. On the third stage Keith Cronin set a brilliant time, 12 seconds quicker than leader McCarthy to haul himself back into the top ten. The stage was interrupted when Edward O’Callaghan had a big

accident and blocked the stage, fortunately without serious injury to the crew. Keith Cronin was fastest on the following stage as Denis Cronin began to creep up behind Jim Harrison. Dalton was fourth, with Collins fifth and Keith Cronin had now climbed to sixth. Ashley Field in seventh, followed by a trio of Escorts in the hands of Canty, Adrien Heatherington and Leonard Downey. Stage five was the classic Ring test, and John Dalton set a scorching time here to take 13 seconds off McCarthy, while Denis Cronin also closed the gap to the leader. Harrison was now losing

2nd: John Dalton & Gwynfor Jones

some ground, but held third. Fintan Canty crashed heavily on the exit of the village and Adrian Hetherington retired with clutch failure. Liam McCarthy took some time back from the chasing pack on stage six, Dunworley, as Harrison dropped behind Denis Cronin into third. Keith Cronin lost more time here with a lurid 360 degree spin, which cost him over a minute as he tried to restart his stalled engine. This allowed Phil Collins back into fifth place, while Dalton repeated his heroics on the second run over Ring to move into second place, with Cronin consolidating third place from Harrison. On the last stage of the day, the

A bright and sunny Day Two took competitors west of Clonakilty to Sam’s Cross, Rossmore and Ardfield. John Dalton almost came to grief on the first stage, but got away with it. Denis Cronin had problems with his gearbox jumping out of fourth and fifth gear, costing him time. Damien McCarthy lost fourth gear and damaged a rim on the first stage. Meanwhile, Manus Kelly had overtaken Frank Kelly for sixth place on the first of the morning stages. On the next stage, the charging Dalton cut the gap to 28 seconds. Behind the leading half dozen, all hell was breaking loose, as drivers were appearing briefly in the top ten then going out! Manus Kelly crashed his Escort on stage 11 and Diarmuid Keohane had a halfshaft break on his similar car. Gwyn Thomas had made it to ninth before a timing belt broke and he was out. Marty McCormack was up to eighth but went off the road on stage 12. Damien McCarthy had now lost fifth as well as fourth gear and was struggling to stay in the event. As the crews tackled stage 13, the smooth Ardfield, Dalton knew he had to try to grab a shock win. He took a staggering eight seconds off McCarthy to close the gap once again. 24 seconds now separated

4th: Keith Cronin & Greg Shinnors

the leading two, while Denis Cronin comfortably held third place. Liam McCarthy responded to the challenge, taking three seconds back on the 14th stage, the gap now 27 seconds with just two stages to go. Further down the order, Leonard Downey had been as high as seventh, but then had problems with an overheating engine which caused his retirement after the penultimate stage. In a very sporting gesture, Martin Cunningham had loaned a gearbox to Damien McCarthy, who was struggling to stay in the event. Cunningham had gone ahead by more than 50 seconds, but

taking maximum points again in round two of the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge. Phil Collins led a trio of Escorts to take fifth place, his best ever West Cork result, with Frank Kelly in sixth, from Kevin O’Donoghue in seventh. Daragh O’Riordan took class six and eighth overall in his Renault Clio. Thomas O’Rourke was top points scorer in the second round of the Honda Cup, with a superb drive to ninth place in a standard class 3 Civic. The top ten was rounded off by Thomas Davies from Wales in another Mk2 Escort. Adrian McElhinney was 15th overall and took round two

I’m well chuffed. It was no easy task. On the stage before the end I was flat out in 6th at the end of a long 4 right tightens, the car completely sideways. As fast as I could go. That’s the way it was today. - Liam Mccarthy McCarthy began to fight back. This was resolved on the final stage as a rejuvinated McCarthy overhauled Cunningham by six seconds. Meanwhile, Dalton took another seven seconds from McCarthy on stage 15 - 20 seconds the gap with one stage to go. Dalton wisely decided to back off rather than risk everything on the last stage, and McCarthy survived a major slide to take the win by 34 seconds! Denis Cronin took third, with nephew Keith in fourth place and

Quality Hotels West Cork Rally

West Cork Day 2

3rd: Denis Cronin & Helen O’Sullivan

rally action from cork

second run over Dunworley, Jim Harrison stopped mid-stage with mechanical problems while seventh placed Ashley Field went off and out of the rally on the first junction of the stage! Liam McCarthy was fastest to lead overnight with more than 30 seconds to spare. Keith Cronin, in fifth place, took maximum points for round one of the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge. Damien McCarthy was top points scorer for round one of the Honda Cup and held ninth place overall. Adrian McElhinney won the first round of the Citroen C2 Cup and held 20th overall, while the Historic Rally was being led by Eddie Murphy in his Mk 1 Escort.

maximum points in the Citroen C2 Cup. The Historic Rally was won by Denis Moynihan in his Mk1 Escort, with the Junior Rally won by David Brosnan in his Honda Civic. Adrian Heatherington, who thrilled the spectators with some spectacular driving, won the Sunday Run. So a new name joins the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally winners’ list - Liam McCarthy. Well done to Liam and Kieran, not to mention all of the class winners, event organisers and the marshals too!

DNF - Jim Harrison

Marty McCormack

Billy Coleman 6R4

5th: Phil Collins & Derek Brannigan

pacenotes.net april 2009

facttfile Driver: Victor Beamis h Height: 5’7” Home: Bandon, Co . Cork Birth date: 21st No vember Occupation: Garag e owner Road car: Depends what’s in the garage Rally car: Vauxhall ! No Marital status: Ma va rried to Susan and we have three sons. Hobbies: I’m motors por Sponsors: Myself and t mad! myself! Anything else you wa thank Susan and my nt to say: I’d like to sons, as well as my family and friends for also like to thank the all of their help. I’d people that organise and marshal the eve nts, and Alan at Pro tec Per formance.

Photo: Martin Wlash

Navigator: Susan Bea mish Height: 5’7” Home: Bandon, Co . Co Birth date: 17th Feb rk ruary Occupation: House wif Road car: Vauxhall e Vectra Marital status: Ma rrie Hobbies: Reading, d to Victor. gardening and walkin Anything else you g. wa my driver and the kid nt to say: Thanks to s for suppor ting us suppose I should say -I One is 21 and the oth sons instead of kids. er is 23, so ‘kids’ is pushing it a bit!

Family That’s Flat To The Mat…

questiontime with Victor & Susan Beamish april 2009 46 pacenotes.net

1. When did you first get behind a wheel? Victor: I was about 10 or 12 years old – at home on the farm. Susan: I was about 16. 2. Who taught you to drive? Victor: I had two brothers and they taught me. Susan: Victor taught me. 3. Did you pass your driving test first time? Victor: I did! Susan: No, second time! 4. What was your first road car? Victor: Mark 1 Escort – I rolled it, which finished it off! Susan: Mini 5. What is your favourite road car? Victor: Nothing in particular, as long as they start and go! Susan: I like the new Minis, not that I have Mini-itis or anything! 6. Who were your motorsport heroes as a child? Victor: Billy Coleman, Jimmy McRae and Bertie Fisher. Susan: It was only when I started going out with Victor that motorsport started to hit home, so I’ll say Billy Coleman. Now I live in a house with four men so I have no option! 7. Who would you rate as the top three British or Irish rally drivers today? Victor: Eugene Donnelly, Kris Meeke and Keith Cronin.

Susan: Same as Victor - Eugene Donnelly, Keith Cronin and Kris Meeke. 8. What was your first competitive event? Victor: The Fastnet Rally in 2004 – it went well, we finished nearly last, but at least we finished! Susan: Fastnet 2004 – Victor and I started rallying together. 9. What is your worst memory in rallying? Victor: Cork 20 in 2006 – we rolled on the first stage into a bog. We were catching a car in front and I wasn’t listening to my navigator! Susan: Same again, I was still reading the notes as we landed! 10. What drive are you most proud of to date? Victor: Fastnet Rally in 2007, when we finished first in class. Also this year’s West Cork Rally. Susan: Winning our class at West Cork and also our first class win at the Fastnet Rally. 11. What is your most frustrating memory in rallying? Victor: Going off on the first stage of the Cork 20. Susan: Going out on the first stage of the Cork 20 – it really was frustrating! After paying so much money and then you’re out…and I couldn’t even kick as I hurt my toe! 12. What is your biggest accident to date? Victor: Cork 20 when we rolled – we

had to get a loader to get it out of the bog but we survived. Susan: The Cork accident is the only one that we’ve ever had – touch wood. 13. What are your plans for 2009? Victor: Southern 4 Championship and a few more rallies. Susan: Same as Victor. 14. What is your favourite event? Victor: West Cork Rally. Susan: Fastnet Rally. 15. What is your favourite rally car? Victor: Escort Cosworth or Toyota Celica. Susan: Vauxhall Nova of course! 16. What do you think about youth development in rallying? Victor: It would be lovely to see more awards such as the Billy Coleman Award Susan: They need something to encourage more young people into the sport. Two of our sons have navigated, they are big into the sport, while our youngest does autocrossing. 17. If you could change anything about current rallying rules/admin what would it be? Victor: I’m happy enough to live with what’s there. Susan: That flipping HANS thing! I know it’s a safety issue but it’s adding more expense. I’ve no problem wearing it, but I don’t like being forced to do it.

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pacenotes.net april 2009

Round 1 & 2 - West Cork

Irish Mitsubishi Evo Challenge

Congratulations to Brendan Cumiskey & Peter O’Toole Winners of Round 1 - Galway International Rally 2008 MITSUBISHI RALLIART EVOLUTION CHALLENGE IRELAND 2008 Calendar 1 2/3 February - Galway 2 15/16 March - West Cork 3 3/4 May - Killarney 4 14/15 June - Donegal

Cronin Eyes The Crown…

6 27/28 September - Cork 20

The Quality Hotels West Cork Rally is one of Ireland’s classic rallies and this year hosted the first two rounds of the 2009 Mitsubishi 3rd: Alan Carmichael & Ivor Lamont Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland, with the eight Saturday stages representing round one and the eight Sunday stages round two.

PICTURES Seamus Couninhan

RD1 RESULTS Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors Mitsubishi.................... 1:16:55.2 Stanley Ballantine/Donnacha O’Callaghan Mitsubishi.................... 1:20:23.8 Liam Egan/Colin Harkness Mitsubishi.................... 1:37:38.3

Retirements SS8 Thomas White/Robert Murphy - Gearbox

RD2 RESULTS 1 2

2nd: Owen Murphy & Greg Shinnors

5 6/7 September - Wexford

Words Simon Slade

1 2 3

Winners: Keith Cronin & Greg Shinnors

Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors Mitsubishi.................... 1:00:29.4 Liam Egan/Colin Harkness Mitsubishi.................... 1:12:00.5

Retirements SS11 Thomas White/Robert Murphy - Gearbox SS14 Stanley Ballantine/Donnacha O’Callaghan - Transmission

Championship Drivers Keith Cronin.................................. 24 Liam Egan..................................... 18 Stanley Ballentine.......................... 10 Co-drivers Greg Shinnors............................... 24 Colin Harkness.............................. 18 Donnacha O’Callaghan.................. 10

Keith Cronin and co-driver Greg Shinnors dominated the Evolution Challenge field on both days and such was their pace in the dry and sunny conditions, that they recorded a total of six fastest overall stage times, finished fourth overall and won Group N.

Round One

no better as they had now lost fifth the end of SS2 due to a split turbo gear. pipe. Tom White/Robert Murphy The next pair of stages almost were in fourth, but concerned aboutwww.evo-challenge.ie | saw Cronin’s run come to an end, their car’s transmission as the driver when the crew survived a ‘flat was having to hold the gear level to in fifth’ spin on SS6 and found stop it jumping out of second. themselves going backwards down A repeat run of the first two the stage at high-speed. Thankfully, stages followed and Cronin/ they came to a halt unscathed, Shinnors extended their Evo

Keith Cronin and Greg Shinnors were quickest of the Mitsubishi runners on the first stage and were on blistering form, posting a time that was good enough to see them third overall. However, on the very next stage they slid into a ditch when the wipers smeared the windscreen and Cronin Congratulations to Keith Cronin & Greg Shinnors Stanley Ballantine & Donnacha O’Callaghan momentarily lost visibility. After losing over a minute Winners extricating theof Round 1 - Quality Hotels West Cork Rally car they were on their way again, although it took over a minute to Challenge lead to a margin of over but a broken intercooler pipe meant restart the stalled IRELAND engine. After two minutes before the second 2009 MITSUBISHI RALLIART EVOLUTION CHALLENGE the car was down on power. a good run through SS5, the service halt, whilst for the others, The three Evo Challenge remaining trio of Evos were to miss there was another hold up when competitors, who were seeded yet another stage, when SS6 was stage three was cancelled. 2009 Calendar further down the field, faced a also cancelled. Ballantine/O’Callaghan were 1&2 14/15 March West Cork frustrating day, with three stages Keith Cronin opted for a slightly consolidating second place and cancelled due toApril accidents taking more cautious approach on the final having a good run in their first rally 3&4 11/12 Circuit of Ireland place ahead of them, the first of two stages2nd: and,Liam other than& suffering together. But for Egan/Harkness is Egan which on24SS1. 5 was May Colinpipe, Harkness from a loose turbo he and was not their lucky day: the power Stages After Cavan completing just one stage Shinnors made it back to Clonakilty steering stopped working on SS4, 6 the 19first Julyservice halt, Stanley before to scoop top points in the first dropping them over ten minutes ALMC Stages Ballantine/Donnacha O’Callagan round of the Irish Evo Challenge! when they tried to fix the problem 7 second 21/22 August were of the Evos, with Liam Ballantine/O’Callaghan finished in the stage. White/Murphy’s Ulster Rally Egan/Colin Harkness third after a strong second and, just when it transmission troubles were getting 8&9 12/13 September sufferingWexford a loss of power towards 3rd: Stanley Ballantine & Donnacha O’Callaghan

april 2009 48 pacenotes.net

www.evo-challenge.ie |

The James Foley Rallysport team repaired Tom White/Robert Murphy’s Lancer overnight, so the full complement of Evo Challenge crews set off for another eight stages on the Sunday. Again, it was Cronin/Shinnors who set the pace as they pulled out a margin of nearly a minute by the time the cars reached the first service halt after the first pair of stages. Stanley Ballantine and Donnacha O’Callagan assumed second place once more, but for Egan/Harkness and White/Murphy history started to repeat itself: the turbocharger on Egan’s car lost its boost at the end of the second stage of the day, whilst White was seeing his gearbox issues return. Cronin/Shinnors continued to forge ahead, their four fastest overall stage times on the Sunday raising a few eyebrows amongst the other

“I’m very pleased with the way things went this weekend. We were lucky to get away with a few things on Saturday, but Sunday went really well and the car was fantastic. The result is just what we wanted!” Rounds three and four of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland take place on April 12th & 13th, when the series

2008 Calendar

Congratul Winners o

Irish Mitsubishi Evo Challenge

Round 2

competitors in both Mitsubishis and WRC cars. In contrast, White/ Murphy’s rally came to an end on stage 11 when their gearbox finally cried enough, whilst for Egan/ Harkness, the character-building issues still persisted, their car now overheating due to a leaking radiator. Just when it looked like

Round 1 & 2 - West Cork

looked like third was in the bag for White/Murphy, their car’s gearbox finally expired on the last stage of the day, allowing Egan/Harkness to fill the final podium position.

2008 MITS

1 2/3 February - Galway

2 15/16 March - West Cork 3 3/4 May - Killarney Liam Egan & Colin Harkness

Ballantine/O’Callaghan were assured of a comfortable second place, a problem with their car’s centre differential saw them coast to a halt on SS14, allowing Egan/Harkness to inherit the position. But it was Cronin and Shinnors’ weekend, their impressive performance being the talk of the rally. Keith Cronin said afterwards,

4 14/15 June - Donegal

Thomas White & Robert Murphy

heads north to Dundalk for the Circuit or Ireland Rally. The 2009 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland is also supported by: Pirelli tyres, Sunoco fuel, James Foley Rallysport, Carbone Lorraine brake pads, Murray Motorsport, Speedline Corse wheels, PIAA lights, Pacenotes, Sparco racewear and Mitsubishi Motors Ireland.

5 6/7 September - Wexford 6 27/28 September - Cork 20

Congratulations to Keith Cronin & Greg Shinnors Winners of Round 1 - Quality Hotels West Cork Rally 2009 MITSUBISHI RALLIART EVOLUTION CHALLENGE IRELAND 2009 Calendar 1&2 14/15 March West Cork 3&4 11/12 April Circuit of Ireland 5

May 24 Cavan Stages

19 July ALMC Stages

21/22 August Ulster Rally

8&9 12/13 September Wexford

2nd: Liam Egan & Colin Harkness

3rd: Stanley Ballantine & Donnacha O’Callaghan

www.evo-challenge.ie |

pacenotes.net april 2009

nicky’s notes nicky grist writes exclusively for pacenotes

Meeke Needs Kankkunen Approach… Finally, after many years, it was great to see Kris Meeke on the top podium spot of an International Rally. His victory at Brazil’s Rally Internacional de Curitiba has certainly helped him kick-start his IRC championship after the disappointment of the first round in Monte Carlo. As I said in a previous Pacenotes column, the IRC is arguably the future of international rallying, and that appears to have been confirmed by the FIA. They have confirmed that the World Rally Championship will use the original Super 2000 regulations, and not the modified version that they were looking to implement with Super 2000+. It’s fair to say that the IRC does have a lot more manufacturer involvement when compared to the WRC at present. So from the FIA’s point of view, in a few years their championship will be seriously boosted by a mass of manufacturer teams. The benefit of this is that finally youngsters who have aspirations of turning their hobby into their job can now do it. Over the last couple of years, budding drivers had to pay to get a seat and the sport has seriously suffered as a result. With

so few drives available, drivers had no option but to pay for the seat. Hopefully, for the future, this will change and the sport will be back to where it was 10 years ago. At the moment, the IRC is great for competition, but the manufacturers cannot call themselves World Champions. That’s something that the FIA can offer them in the WRC, so expect to see an influx of manufacturers when the new Super 2000 regulations come into play. Now that Kris Meeke has netted his first truly international win, solid results for him over the next few events will pay dividends. I always look back to my time with Juha Kankkunen. While he was a very quick driver, he was always thankful of picking up a second or a third place. When you look at his time in the WRC, he won quite a number of events and is a four times World

Champion. That shows that points mean prizes, or championships in his case. Of course, Colin McRae was an outright, born to win driver. When you look at his record, he also won a lot of events, yet he only won one championship. That shows that you must drive with a certain amount of control as well to pick up the titles. Certainly for Kris, with the speed that he has, a Kankkunen approach would pay dividends over the next few events. On a final note, I will be teaming up with Kris at the Midland Stages Rally in early April. I’m really looking forward to getting back in the seat, and I’ll let you know how we get on in next month’s Pacenotes. That’s all for now!

Nicky Grist

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expert nicky grist motorsports ltd Unit 17, Mill Street Ind. Estate, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire NP7 5HE

Tel: 01873 853176

Email: info@nickygrist.com april 2009 50 pacenotes.net

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Camillus Bradley Motorsport Visit...

Nestled in the countryside not far from Draperstown, County Tyrone, lies a hidden gem. This place is well known in rally circles, but you need to be ‘in the know’ to find the exact location. For many Mk2 men however, it’s their spiritual home.

Nobody Builds Them

Like Bradley...

pacenotes.net april 2009

Camillus Bradley Motorsport Visit...

There is no such thing as a ‘copycat’ car at Bradley’s, as every car will contain different parts, depending on what a customer wants. We’re talking about Camillus

His first Sunbeam

Repainted into the famous trademark orange

Bradley Motorsport of course - home of the modern day Mark 2 Escort. The workshops were crammed with the potent rally machines when Pacenotes arrived for a visit, and it’s not surprising, as Camillus is one of the most revered Mark 2 Escort builders (and drivers) in the country. The Draperstown man oversees all aspects of the work, and his attention to detail is second to none. Every aspect of preparation is carried out meticulously, and with so much care taken over all the finer details, you can’t help but think that Bradley must have a touch of OCD! That’s not a bad thing for his customers, though, as they’re guaranteed to receive a pristine and reliable rally machine. A quick look around some of his customers’ cars provides a real eye opener. Camillus builds cars from scratch, transforming them from bare shells into tarmac (and forest) munching rally cars. “When we get a shell, we take it into the workshop and strip it,” Bradley explained. “If we need to, we can replace almost any part of it, and leave it looking exactly as it

Camillus is a regular winner on the Irish black stuff...

pacenotes.net

april 2009

was originally. The shells are then sandblasted and that’s the only job we don’t do inhouse. We can sandblast smaller items, but we send shells to another company.” “When the shell comes back to us, we completely strip it out, do all the fabricating work to it and maybe put some primer on it,” Bradley continued. “Then the shell is 90% built, then stripped back out and put in boxes. That’s the only way to get all of your drilled holes sealed with paint.”

own preference, tidiness is number two.” With Camillus Bradley, customers having their cars built receive a very personal service. There is no such thing as a ‘copycat’ car at Bradley’s, as every car will contain different parts, depending on what a customer wants. Bradley has also developed many of his own parts to suit the cars that he builds. He has airboxes produced to suit most engines, and has various shapes of underfloor guards

“I DON’T HAVE A CLUE HOW MANY HOURS WE SPEND, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO THE SHELL... STRENGTH IS NUMBER ONE, BUT IN MY OWN PREFERENCE, TIDINESS IS NUMBER TWO.” “So after being stripped out, she goes to our paint shop where all the body work is sorted. Once she’s painted, the car is back out and we wax the shell completely. Then everything is built back on to it and she’s ready for the customer. On average, it takes about six months from start to finish, although we could probably do it quicker if the customer was in a rush.” A colossal amount of man hours goes into building each car, and even Camillus is afraid to calculate the amount of time spent! “I don’t have a clue how many hours we spend, but what I can tell you is that we put a lot of time into the shell,” Bradley proudly admits. “My car has done the guts of 4000 stage miles and if you go out and look at it, the shell is like brand new. We spend a lot of time on the body work, making sure there’s nowhere for dirt to lie and that sort of thing. Strength is number one, but in my

to suit different shells – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. “We’ve always been looking to make things better all the time,” Bradley explained. “Any spare time we’ve had over the years, we’ve spent it trying to improve the likes of the car’s handling or engine, or even just tidiness.” “We were probably one of the first companies to fit power steering and suspension is an area that I intend to develop,” Bradley continued. “There are a lot of different suspension options out there but I really don’t believe that any of them are any better than the others, because nobody has shown a specific one to be any quicker.” “That’s why I have a new strut and WRC hubs in stock,” Bradley continued. “I’m definitely going to put the time into it and work with a suspension company. We’ll do a lot of testing and get the best setup for our cars.”

Another Bradley Beauty.. ready to go!

Of course, building rally cars is not the only service that Bradley offers, and over the last few years, he has accumulated a massive selection of parts. From smaller items such as nuts and bolts, to larger products including carbon fibre boot lids and bonnets, Bradley caters for absolutely everyone. “A lot of our stock is tailor made and that’s something I can’t stress enough,” Bradley enthused. “A lot of my parts, should it be body parts such as tunnels, body kits, struts and that sort of thing, are all unique to me. I also have my own front and rear anti-roll bar kits for Escorts, as well as stainless steel exhausts. I have my own manifolds, rear silencers and a full system to suit Vauxhall engines. And in all cases, the first priority is quality, the second is price – that applies to every item I have.” Camillus’ knowledge is not something that can be found easily. It has taken the Draperstown man many years to gather all of his Mark 2 Escort wisdom, which is something that money simply

cannot buy. But while Bradley is known as a Mark 2 specialist, he also caters for a wider range of cars and has a load of stock for Evos and Hondas. “We’ve Evo and Honda parts, as well as parts for the rear-wheel

Bradley’s enterprise has now been operational for almost 20 years, and what a long way he has come since those early days. After setting up shop in a small shed at the back of his brother’s house, using his brother’s telephone to boot, Bradley

“I TAKE PRIDE IN EVERY SINGLE THING I DO... IF SOMEONE WANTS A PART, THEY’LL GET IT COMPLETE. IT’S NOT JUST A PART IN A BOX, BUT IT’S EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES WITH IT TOO.. EVERY NUT AND BOLT REQUIRED TO FIT IT.” drive Toyota Corolla and Peugeot 205,” Bradley explained. “Things like suspension, sump guards and that sort of thing. We do everything for Escorts, but there’s so much more to the business as well. I’ve had a lot of enquiries about historic cars and that’s definitely another growing side to the business. I’m definitely planning to build an historic car, maybe later this year.”

now firmly stands on his own two feet, and runs one of the most respected preparation outfits in the country. “I don’t think there’s anyone out there than can say we don’t do a good job,” Bradley told Pacenotes. “I take pride in every single thing I do. If it’s not right, it will be done over and over again until I’m happy with it. We stock everything and we do everything in house from start to finish. If someone wants a part, they’ll get it complete. It’s not just a part in a box, but it’s everything else that goes with it too.. every nut and bolt required to fit it.”

Many parts are manufactured specifically for Camillus.

Bradley’s talent is also wellknown behind the wheel. He frequently trades times with the quickest rear-wheel drive men in the country, proving that he can drive as well as he builds rally cars. His rally driving exploits started shortly before he set up his business, although he sampled a few other cars before moving to Escorts. “Charlie Phillips, a neighbour of mine, used to sell cars in Antrim,” Bradley said. “He happened to trade in an Opel Kadett, but he had it for six months and never sold it. Then my boss and Damian Flanagan, who was a friend of mine that I worked with, talked me into buying it.” Camillus prepared the car and entered the Tour of the Sperrins as well as the Magherafelt Lanes rally, before deciding that he needed something a bit quicker. It was then that he moved to a Talbot Sunbeam, in which he gained what he still regards as one of the best results of his driving career. “It was around 1988 when myself and Crawford Henderson finished fourth overall at the Donegal Harvest Rally,” Bradley recalled. “At that time, to finish as high as that in a Sunbeam was unreal! I only entered a couple of events every

pacenotes.net april 2009

Camillus Bradley Motorsport Visit...

Camillus explains to Pacenotes editor Simon, how his new WRC hubs will work on his Escort.

Top brand parts are always in stock

Body panels & Body Shells galore!

Engines available to your spec.

Custom exhausts & rear axles

Hans devices and racewear...

year, so I held on to the white Sunbeam for two or three years, and then we ended up rebuilding it into an orange shell.” Camillus held on to his orange Sunbeam for around five years, before acquiring Seamus Donnelly’s Twin Cam Corolla. Then he took a notion for an Escort, and travelled to England with the intention of bringing one home. As it turned out, he bought two of them! “We got them home and stripped them,” Bradley said. “One of them was my first orange car and I rallied it for a couple of years before building the new one, which is the same car that I use today.” Bradley was proud of his new Escort builds, and they certainly impressed everyone else too. His Escorts were and still are among the tidiest in the country, and as word spread, a lot of Escort work started accumulating. It really helped to kick start his business, and as Bradley has gained many rallying successes over the years, his business has been equally as successful. “Thanks must go to all my customers,” Bradley said. “Not only the people that are my customers at the moment, but all those who have given me their business over the years.” “I just hope the Escorts keep going forever,” Bradley continued. “I think as long as the Mark 2 Escort is still available and allowed to rally, they’ll be hard to kill. And if a customer wants something, we’ll build it!” As a final farewell, Camillus treated Pacenotes to a passenger ride in one of his meticulously prepared rally cars. It was merely a demonstration drive…we didn’t hit sixth gear and all four wheels stayed firmly planted on the tarmac, honest! Remember we mentioned OCD? Well, we think in Bradley’s case, it must stand for Obsessive Compulsive Driver!

“THANKS MUST GO TO ALL MY CUSTOMERS...NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MY CUSTOMERS AT THE MOMENT, BUT ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN ME THEIR BUSINESS OVER THE YEARS.”

Historic Shells available to order.

C.BRADLEY MOTORSPORT H I S T O R I C R A L LY I N G

IRELAND’S ONLY 028 7962 7282 • 07710 712007 ONE STOP SHOP sales@cbradleymotorsport.co.uk We are now building Historic cars and supplying all parts to suit

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WE NOW ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS

All DUNLOP COMPETITION TYRES • STILO HELMETS & INTERCOMS - AT BEST PRICES AGENTS FOR MILLINGTON ENGINES

NOW STOCKING TRACTIVE GEAR BOXES AND DRIVESHAFTS

JENVEY THROTTLE BODIES FABRICATED HISTORIC SHELLS AVAILABLE TO BUY OFF THE SHELF

NOW STOCKING NEW HEAVY DUTY QUAIFE SEQUENTIAL GEARBOX WITH EXTRA LONG (20”) GEAR LEVER WITH 20MM SHIFT. DESIGNED BY AND AVAILABLE ONLY AT C. BRADLEY MOTOR ENGINEERS. MADE TO ALLOW FLATSHIFT TO BE FITTED FITTING AVAILABLE IN-HOUSE.

FANTASTIC RESULTS - outdrives all other gearboxes!

INTERESTED? Call for test drive

Also stocking gearkits, suspension, rollcages, exhaust systems and many spares for Toyota Corolla AE86 and Peugeot 205’s NOW STOCKING ALL ARROW CRANK SHAFT & CONNECTING RODS. SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICES LARGE SELECTION OF CARBON PANELS HELD IN STOCK LARGE STOCK OF DRIVE SHAFTS & ANY DRIVE SHAFT MADE TO ORDER IN 24HRS.

HANS SYSTEMS FROM £370+VAT

MK1 & MK2 ESCORT H/D STEERING RACKS *SPECIAL 2.2 RATIO* FOR C BRADLEY MOTORSPORT £275 +VAT NOW STOCKING

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NEW - £3700+VAT Suitable for RWD

Large selction of seats and harnesses in stock

FOR HIRE... MK2 Escort 2L 16v

NEW FULLY FLOATING ATLAS AXLE AVAILABLE TO BUY OFF THE SHELF - BUILT WITH 4.6 OR 5.1 CW&P, ZF LSD, AP 4-POT BRAKES AND H/D HALF-SHAFTS 56 1/4” WIDE. ANY SPEC ALSO BUILT TO ORDER WITHIN 2 DAYS. AXLE AS SHOWN WITH BRAKES, WATTS LINKAGE COVER, BRAKE PIPES FITTED, ETC £3988.00 +VAT

IRELAND’S LARGEST ESCORT SPECIALISTS ®

Sunseeker Rally

Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship

Winners: Will Nicholls & Nick Broom

Where There’s A Will… There was plenty of excitement ahead of this year’s Rallye Sunseeker, round one of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship, but the sparks really flew when Geoff Underhill and Adrian Grinstead crashed, knocking down a lamppost and leaving live electricity wires exposed! Words Jonathan MacDonald PICTURES Mark Sims

RESULTS 1 Will Nicholls/Nick Broom SUBARU IMPREZA.......... 56:14.0 2 Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield SUBARU IMPREZA.......... 56:36.7 3 Sean Devine/Francis Regan SUBARU IMPREZA S11... 58:05.2 4 Daniel Barry/Martin Brady MITSUBISHI EVO IX......... 58:43.0 5 Simon Hughes/Patrick Walsh MITSUBISHI EVO IX......... 58:45.8 6 Anthony Willmington/Andrew White MITSUBISHI EVO VI........ 58:52.9 7 Andreas Magnusson/Henrik Hulterskog MITSUBISHI EVO IX......... 58:57.8 8 Nik Elsmore/Craig Drew MITSUBISHI EVO IX......... 59:02.2 9 Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley MITSUBISHI WRC........... 59:02.9 10 Alan Cookson/Julian Wilkinson SUBARU IMPREZA.......... 59:30.5 11 Owen Murphy/Dai Roberts MITSUBISHI EVO IX...... 1:00:01.9 12 Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont MITSUBISHI EVO IX...... 1:00:52.6 13 Dave Weston Jr/Neil Shanks SUBARU IMPREZA....... 1:01:04.1 14 Peter Egerton/Jamie Edwards HYUNDAI ACCENT....... 1:01:16.1 15 Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe SUBARU IMPREZA....... 1:02:16.8

The organisers were forced to cancel the opening two stages as both men were taken to Poole hospital. Grinstead sustained minor injuries while Underhill was detained at the hospital with ankle injuries. Pacenotes wishes both competitors a speedy recovery. With both of the Friday evening stages cancelled, nominal times

were awarded to most of the top seeds, so everyone had to wait until the Saturday to find out who was on the pace. On the Saturday, it was Marcus Dodd and Andrew Bargery who were quickest out of the blocks in their Hyundai Accent WRC. Dodd completed the opening stage at Silverstone Rally School more than four seconds faster than

CL5: Barrie Purrett & Andrew Papadopoullos

CL2: Craig Breen & Gareth Roberts

GpN: Daniel Barry & Martin Brady

Class Battles… Class 2

Craig Breen and Gareth Roberts had a successful weekend aboard their Ford Fiesta as they claimed class two honours. The crew finished the event comfortably ahead of media moguls Tony Jardine and Franca Davenport, with James Wesley and Glyn Thomas third.

Class 3

Daniel Barry and Martin Brady topped the Group N standings in their Mitsubishi, finishing fourth overall in the process. They claimed the award by a slender 2.8 seconds from Simon Hughes and Patrick Walsh, with Andreas Magnusson and Henrik Hulterskog third. pacenotes.net

56 april 2009

Will Nicholls and Nick Broom, who moved into second position, with Roger Duckworth third. In fact, Dodd continued to set the pace, and it was only on stage six that Paul Bird and Ian Windress broke the Accent driver’s stranglehold. Unfortunately for the early rally leader, his Accent could go no further as cambelt failure halted

CL4: Charlie Payne & Craig Thorley

Class 4

Event winners Will Nicholls and Nick Broom were the highest placed class four competitors, while their nearest rivals were at the opposite end of the top 10. Charlie Payne and Craig Thorley claimed ninth overall in their Mitsubishi Lancer WRC, with Alan Cookson and Julian Wilkinson in 10th.

Class 5

Only one class five crew reached the finish line, and that honour went to Barrie Purrett and Andrew Papadopoullos. Driving their Proton Compact, they kept between the hedges to claim 48th overall.

Class 6

Lee and Daniel Robinson emerged on top in class six.

Breen and Gareth Roberts were up to 28th overall in their Fiesta. Back at the top of the leaderboard, Paul Bird managed to overhaul Will Nicholls after stage seven to take the rally lead. It was a short-lived affair though, and after losing time on stage 10, electrical problems put him out of the event before the start of stage 11. Bird’s retirement allowed Will Nicholls and Nick Broom to regain the top spot, and they kept their noses clean to claim the rally victory! They had almost 23 seconds in hand at the finish, with Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield claiming second overall. Neither Nicholls nor Duckworth were registered for the championship, so maximum points were awarded to Strabane’s Sean Devine. He and navigator Francis Regan finished in an excellent third overall, ensuring they top the championship tables after the opening round.

In fourth position, Daniel Barry and Martin Brady also upheld Irish honours by winning Group N, while Simon Hughes and Patrick Walsh were fifth ahead of Anthony Willmington and Andrew White. Further down the order, Irish visitor Owen Murphy, who had Dai Roberts calling the notes, finished 11th overall in a Mitsubishi, ahead of Alan Carmichael and Ivor Lamont. Craig Breen was the only remaining Irish contestant and he claimed 24th overall, as well as the class two spoils, with Gareth Roberts navigating. With the opening round of this year’s Championship brought to a close, competitors are already looking forward to round two, the Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally. As Pacenotes goes to print, championship leader Sean Devine is still unsure whether or not he will continue his campaign, but either way, Pacenotes will be there to report on the action!

Sunseeker Rally

his progress at the start of stage six. Meanwhile, on the previous stage, Steve Perez and Paul Spooner retired from third overall in a ditch. So that left Will Nicholls leading the event by less than three seconds from Paul Bird and Ian Windress, with Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield third. Meanwhile, in terms of the Irishmen, Sean Devine and Francis Regan were acquitting themselves well in their Impreza WRC. The crew held a top six position from the start of day two, and were working their way up the order. Fourth overall after stage six, they were on course for a healthy points haul in the Championship. Further down the order, Daniel Barry and Martin Brady were seventh overall and third in Group N, while Owen Murphy was just outside the top 10. Despite some intercom trouble, Alan Carmichael and Ivor Lamont held 13th aboard their Impreza WRC, while Craig

3rd: Sean Devine & Francis Regan

Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship

2nd: Roger Duckworth & Mark Broomfield

H13: Dominic Worsfold & Steve Chapman

drew os

CL6: Lee & Daniel Robinson

CL7: Tom Walster & Tim Sturla

The crew took their Mark 2 Escort to the top of the pile, winning the class by more than one minute from Bradden Axon and Graham Patten. Andrew Hebron and Simon Illsley completed the top three.

Class 7

Class seven was a fairly closely fought affair, with a little more than 30 seconds separating the two contenders at the finish line. In the end it was Tom Walster and Tim Sturla who claimed the award, leaving Geoff Bennett and Michael Stewart to settle for second. Alec Holding and Tony Cotton completed the top three.

Class 9

Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield finished the event as the leading class nine contenders, ahead of Sean Devine and Francis Regan, while Anthony

C9: Roger Duckworth & Mark Broomfield

H14: Peter Hall & John Billet

Willmington and Andrew White were third. See main report for more details.

Class H13

Dominic Worsfold and Steve Chapman were the sole finishers in class H13. The Ford Escort crew grabbed a top 40 position, bringing their mount home in 34th overall.

Class H14

Two crews made the finish in H14, with the spoils awarded to Peter Hall and John Billet. They kept their RS2000 TC out of trouble to claim 39th overall, while Jim Valentine and Andrew Harris finished second in class. pacenotes.net april 2009

Stage Notes great co-driver tips from shelley rogerson

Cheap Thrills With Shelley… Hi and welcome to the April edition of my co-driving column! With a credit crunch starting to bite, I am looking at going back to our roots. No, I’m not talking about the need for Just For Men, but more on how to have some rallying fun for less cost. An excellent way of beginning to navigate is a table top event. All you need to buy is a pencil, roamer and a map - you don’t even need a car! Local car clubs usually run these at the end of navigator classes. I know you’re thinking maybe it’s a bit dull, but no way they are actually very competitive and you can really put the skills into practice. If you’re not a member of a car club, a great way (that I used) to practice was get a friend to set a route of grid references and spot heights etc, and then you plot the route. You don’t even need to leave the sofa! Twelve Cars are also fantastic fun. Costing roughly £10-£20 to enter, you can use any car you want and they usually culminate in a hotpot supper. Seriously though, these are fun and do give practice to any budding navigator. Twelve Cars really give good explanations on map reading, timing and other quizzes such as herring bones and spot heights. Half night road rallies are an extension of this, a little more expensive and harder in navigation. You can usually find one close to home. Again they test timing and map skills. They are also a good way of meeting people who are also beginning or people who are experienced that you can ask advice from. If you do prefer stage events, single venues are probably the cheapest way of stage rallying. They are great value for money and also very close and competitive. Also if you are a beginner at co-driving, there are no roadbooks to worry about and the timing is very straight forward. You can also meet a lot of people through this type of rallying and the championships are normally very reasonable to enter. Drivers should watch out for any car club trails, autotests and sprints, because here you can practice car control for a snip. You really don’t need to miss out - just make sure you budget and pick and choose carefully for the year, if you want to do bigger rallies. If you don’t have a big budget you can still enjoy navigating. Get along to your local car club find out what’s happening! ‘Til next time (I’m high on)

Shell x april 2009 58 pacenotes.net

Hall dominates on home ground... changing the order significantly. Current leader Kris Hall (19) won the first round of the Kick Hall lost over a minute with a fuel pump issue Energy Fiesta SportTrophy UK, the Malcolm dropping him into third position, a problem Wilson Rally, by 54 seconds and finished 18th that would also affect Ross Forde and Neil in the overall classification. The event is Hall’s Coalter (26) from Belfast and co-driver Hannah local rally. However, not all odds were stacked Cessford. Second-placed Breen was the first in Hall’s favour, as it was the first time he had retirement from the event, losing forward teamed up with navigator Robbie Durant. drive three miles into the stage and into a very There were many ‘firsts’ for FST competitors disappointed retirement after a strong showing. on this rally. The event was to be 2008 FST Matthias Boon and current Belgian champion International Shootout winner, Belgium’s co-driver John Lavaerts, John Boyd and coMatthias Boon’s (19) ninth rally, but his first driver Fred Bell, Donnelly and Edwards all rally on gravel and his first rally outside of his sustained punctures in Greystoke Forest. home country. Harry Hunt (20) from London had never competed before and only had five miles of experience in a rally car. Matt Edwards   (24) from Bothel, Cumbria had worked hard  to build his own car in a three sided barn, only  just completing it in time; while Stefan Davis        from Aylesford bought his  Fiesta ST just one                day before the rally, so neither driver had much  experience of their cars before the start of the  rally.   Heading into SS1, Hobcarton (2.73 miles), conditions were reported to be inconsistent,                 with stages covered in slippery mud with    Th    occasional areas  of grip. e first stage was            won by Hall, setting a stunning time of 3                 The problems for Hall and Breen resulted minutes 12 seconds a new FST record for the               in Stefan Davis the stage win and rising stage. In  second position    was Craig Breen (19)     taking   into the lead. Kyle Orr (19) from Dromore and from Waterford with 2008 FST UK and FST  co-driver Owain Davies snatched second place  Ireland champion co-driver Gareth Roberts.    on the stage and overall, with Manx Motorsport In joint third place were Stefan Davis with  Youth Trust supported Martin Jones from co-driver Louise Cook and Matt Edwards with  Douglas with co-driver Kris Killip third fastest co-driver Andy Murphy. Last year’s Malcolm  on the stage. Wilson Rally winner, Stevie Brown was aiming               Next, the rally headed south to SS5, for another win, but a broken driveshaft on SS1  Grizedale South (11.11 miles), where Hall took caused major time loss.            his fourth fastest time of  the day. Edwards was SS2, Comb (5.63 miles), a second stage     saw           second and Davis third. win by Hall, six seconds ahead of Breen and  eight seconds ahead of Edwards in 3rd. FST SS6, Grizedale North (7.38 miles), saw Hall            inherit  the lead once again, with the retirement regulars Barry Greer (21) from Carryduffwith  of Davis. Hall was followed by Edwards and the co-driver John Lemon broke a driveshaft and  recovering Stevie Brown in third. Th e scene was had to limp through the stage  set for a thrilling finish as both Kyle Orr and  SS3, Wythop (3.25 miles), saw Hall and Matt Edwards where tied on time going into the Breen set exactly the same time, with Edwards    final stage. once again third. There where three drivers  fourth       Th    run  e final stage, the second through in equal position again showing how  Greystoke 2, was shortened to three miles to try tight the FST series is. Stefan Davis, Barry                 to improve the conditions. Hall took his sixth Greer Mark Donnelly (17) from Omagh  and             fastest stage time of the day, earning himself the with co-driver Paddy Robinson, whose team  Castrol Hard Charger Award and winning the  had worked round the clock to repair his rally by a margin of 54 seconds.   Fiesta ST after Donnelly rolled it in Ireland the  weekend,      rally just      Second was taken by Matt Edwards, just 4 previous making it to the in  seconds ahead of Orr, who was happy to finish time. Billy Coleman Award winner Ross Forde            third on the first round of the series.  (25) from Galway and co-driver Arron Forde  Th e awful luck of 2008 winner Stevie Brown struggled with an intermittent engine problem.           continued with another puncture and he got SS4, Greystoke 1 (6.55 miles) was the last             stuck off the road, the stage stage before the cars were due into service       eventually finishing   with the help of spectators.  and paid its toll on a number of the Fiestas,

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pacenotes.net april 2009

Round 1 - Sunseeker Rally

UK Mitsubishi Evo Challenge

Winners: Daniel Barry & Martin Brady

Barry’s Bournemouth Belter… Words Simon Slade

PICTURES rallygallery.com

RD1 RESULTS 1 Daniel Barry/Martin Brady Mitsubishi....................... 58:43.0 2 Simon Hughes /Patrick Walsh Mitsubishi....................... 58:45.8 3 Andreas Magnusson/Henrik Hulterskog Mitsubishi....................... 58:57.8 4 Nik Elsmore/ Craig Drew Mitsubishi....................... 59:02.2 5 Owen Murphy/Dai Roberts Mitsubishi.................... 1:00:01.9 6 Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont Mitsubishi.................... 1:00:52.6 7 Neil Armstrong/Max Ferri Mitsubishi.................... 1:03:36.8 Retirements SS3 Daniel Sigurdarson/Isak Gudjonsson - Transmission SS6 Johnathan Sparks/Chris Davies - OTL SS13 Hans-Erik Weng/Roger Gunnarsson - Turbo

Championship Drivers 1 Daniel Barry............................ 12 2 Simon Hughes........................ 10 3 Andreas Magnusson................. 8 4 Nik Elsmore.............................. 7 5 Owen Murphy........................... 6 6 Alan Carmichael........................ 5 7 Neil Armstrong.......................... 4 Co-drivers 1 Martin Brady........................... 12 2 Patrick Walsh.......................... 10 3 Henrik Hulterskog...................... 8 4 Craig Drew................................ 7 5 Dai Roberts............................... 6 6 Ivor Lamont.............................. 5 7 Max Ferri................................... 4

Bournemouth’s Rallye Sunseeker hosted the opening round of this year’s Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, and Daniel Barry and co-driver Martin Brady got their 2009 title bid off to a flying start by winning, just 2.8 seconds ahead of series newcomer Simon Hughes, who was accompanied by 2007 Champion co-driver Patrick Walsh. Evo Challenge front-runner Alan the first four stages and when crews From its Sunseeker debut in Carmichael was disappointed to arrived at the first service halt, the 2001 the Evolution Challenge has find himself seventh, but knew that time sheets showed Nik Elsmore earned itself a reputation of being most of his time had been lost when in the lead, albeit just half a second one of the most competitive rally his intercom had failed during the ahead of Barry. championships in the UK – and this morning’s stages. Point nine of a second back year’s round one did not disappoint. Armstrong was eighth of the Evo was Hughes, who was making an Ten Evo Challenge crews started runners at this point and was clearly impressive Evo Challenge debut. the event, with just a few seconds enjoying his first ever rally on Magnusson was next and admitted separating the front-runners all day British soil – albeit quite different he was off to steady start, having and the lead changing five times. to the conditions he is used to when not driven his Evo since the final Even more interesting was the appearance of drivers from outside the UK and Ireland. These included 2008 Swedish Evo Challenge Champion Andreas Magnusson and runner-up Hans Erik-Weng, plus to Daniel Barry & Martin Brady the re-appearance ofCongratulations Icelandic Rally Champion Daniel Sigurdarson and Winners of Round 1 - Rallye Sunseeker Barbados driver Neil Armstrong. 2nd: Simon Hughes & Patrick Walsh 3rd: Andreas Magnusson & Henrik Hulterskog Sticking to tradition, the Rallye 2009 MITSUBISHI RALLIART EVOLUTION CHALLENGE UK Sunseeker began with two runs rallying in the Caribbean. round of the Swedish series in through the host town’s botanical 2nd: Simon was Hughes 2009 and Calendar More unfortunate Evo& September. Switching from the gardens along the sea front. Patrick Walsh 1 27/28 February Challenge regular Jonathan Sparks, Irish series to the UK for this However, an accident meant that Rallye Sunseeker who retired after exceeding his season, Owen Murphy was in fifth, these popular 2 21 March spectator stages Border Counties Rally maximum lateness during the road but hampered by a car that was had to be abandoned and the 3 April 18 began in earnest on the section on the way to service. But handling as if it were rear-wheel competition Pirelli Tour of Cumbria by far the worst luck of the day was rather than four-wheel drive. Saturday morning. 4 8/9 May RBSI reserved for Sigurdarson, when Next was Weng, who also started The dayManx was Rally to feature 11 stages 3rd: Andreas Magnusson & May his car’s rear differential broke just cautiously, this being the first event in 5the30th Ringwood and Wareham Henrick Hulterskog Severn Valley National a few hundred yards into the first in his brand new Evo X – and Forests and first to set the pace was 6 18 July Swansea Bayan Rally stage of the day. the first time Mitsubishi’s latest Barry. However, intermittent 7 21/22 August Four of the next loop of five version of the Lancer had been seen problem with the car’s anti-lag Ulster Rally stages took place in Wareham rallying in the UK. Another ex-Irish system saw him lose time during 8 26 September Rally Yorkshire

april 2009 60 pacenotes.net

www.evo-challenge.co.uk |

4th: Nik Elsmore & Craig Drew

delighted with the potential the Evo X showed. Commenting on his win, Barry said, “It’s great to have won the first round of the Evo Challenge and to finish fourth overall. We had a great battle all day and it was very close at the end, although the problems with the anti-lag system made it harder work than it should have been. However, it’s just the start we were

looking for and there’s no doubt we have an exciting season ahead of us.” From an initial field of 80 cars, the overall results saw four Evo Challenge competitors finish in the top ten and the first six home were also the first six Group N runners. The Evolution Challenge now moves north for round two, the Border Counties Rally, which takes place in Kielder Forest on 21st

UK Mitsubishi Evo Challenge

morning, whilst Armstrong was seventh and delighted to get to the finish, reporting he had thoroughly enjoyed his new experience. In contrast it was disappointment for Weng when his new car’s turbo lost boost in the final stage and, not wanting to do any more damage, he decided to stop rather than try to make it to the finish. However, his team was

Round 1 - Sunseeker Rally

Forest and saw Elsmore drop back, last year’s runner-up putting his loss of pace down to pushing too hard on what was a softer surface. Seeing his rival’s speed reduce, Barry edged ahead on stage seven, but admitted he had taken his eye off Hughes’ times, and on stage nine the series debutant took the lead. Surprised not to be in front, Barry fought back, but a repeat of the earlier anti-lag issues, plus an overshoot in the final two stages meant that it was a neck-and-neck battle to the finish between him and Hughes. Just behind the leading pair a fight was also going on for third. Magnusson had now found his feet and was flying, recording the fastest Evo Challenge times in both SS12 and SS13, which was enough to nudge him ahead of Elsmore by 4.4 seconds. Murphy was fifth, still having to cope with a car that went sideways at every opportunity, which did little to help his progress, but a lot to entertain the spectators. Carmichael got quicker as the day progressed, but could not make up for the lost time in the

5th: Owen Murphy & Dai Roberts

March. The 2009 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge is supported by Mitsubishi Motors UK, Ralliart, Pirelli tyres, Sunoco fuels, JR Motorsports, Speedline Corse wheels, Carbone Lorraine brakes, Walkinshaw Performance, Sparco racewear and PIAA lights - who sponsor the junior award for under 25-year old drivers.

Congratulations to Daniel Barry & Martin Brady Winners of Round 1 - Rallye Sunseeker 2009 MITSUBISHI RALLIART EVOLUTION CHALLENGE UK 2009 Calendar 1 27/28 February Rallye Sunseeker 2 21 March Border Counties Rally 3 April 18 Pirelli Tour of Cumbria 4 8/9 May RBSI Manx Rally 5 30th May Severn Valley National 6 18 July Swansea Bay Rally 7 21/22 August Ulster Rally 8 26 September Rally Yorkshire

2nd: Simon Hughes & Patrick Walsh

3rd: Andreas Magnusson & Henrick Hulterskog

www.evo-challenge.co.uk | pacenotes.net april 2009

Clubman rally action from lough neagh

Lough Neagh Rally TT

Words Jonathan MacDonald PICTURES Martin McCorriston

Gareth Sayers

Niall Braniff

RESULTS 1 Ryan Graffin Mitsubishi Evo................ 1:27.49 2 Derek McGeehan Toyota Celica.................. 1:27.70 3 Kieron Graffin Mitsubishi Evo................ 1:28.33 4 Davy Graham Mitsubishi Evo................ 1:30.35 5 Alan McGeehan Toyota Celica.................. 1:31.02 6 Brian Muldoon Subaru Impreza............... 1:31.10 7 Mervyn Wedlock Ford Escort..................... 1:31.39 8 Mark Massey Mitsubishi Evo................ 1:31.48 9 Jonny Mc Kenna Subaru Impreza............... 1:31.98 10 Trevor Ferguson Subaru Impreza............... 1:33.24 11 Seamus Donnelly Mitsubishi Lancer............ 1:33.71 12 Aidan Toner Ford Escort MKII............. 1:33.80 13 Gary Price Ford Escort MKII............. 1:34.06 14 Gareth Neely Mitsubishi Evo................ 1:34.23 15 Denis Ferry Subaru Impreza............... 1:34.27

april 2009 62 pacenotes.net

WINNER: Ryan Graffin

Graffin Grabs Lough Glory…

2nd: Derek McGeehan

This year’s Envirocare backed Lough Neagh Rally time trial saw a nail-biting finish to the event. All competitors tackled five runs over the stage, and as the day progressed, the stage became drier and quicker. In fact, each of the top eight crews set their fastest time of the day over the final run! During the early stages, it looked as though Derek McGeehan had everything in hand in his Toyota Celica. He was fastest from the outset, beating his rivals by two seconds over the first run. Then Ryan Graffin closed the gap to less than one-tenth of a second after run two, while McGeehan failed to better his time. The heat was on and run three saw both men set their personal bests of the day, but McGeehan held the advantage by almost half a second. Graffin knew he had to pull something extra special out of the bag, and run four saw him nip in front of McGeehan by a slender tenth of a second. The tables had turned but with one run remaining, it was still anyone’s rally. Both men bettered their times once again over the fifth test, but it was Ryan Graffin who emerged from the event as the victor in his Mitsubishi Lancer. His fastest time of the day was 0.21 of a second quicker than Derek McGeehan, handing him the spoils at the Lough Neagh Car & Tarmac Rally Marshals Club event! Derek McGeehan had to settle for second position, while Kieron

Graffin arrived home in third. Davy Graham also set his fastest time of the day on run five, which was enough to take fourth overall, with Alan McGeehan fifth ahead of Brian Muldoon. In the two-wheel-drive category, Mervyn Wedlock dominated the

4th: Davy Graham

event from the start. Quick from the off, he was a handful of seconds faster than his rivals over the first run. Bit by bit, the competition closed the gap, and after run four, Aidan Toner was less than onetenth adrift of Wedlock’s fastest time. It was all down to the final run, and while Toner failed to better his time, Wedlock made victory a certainty when he went two seconds faster. As well as the 2WD spoils, Wedlock netted seventh overall, with Toner taking second ahead of Gary Price, Gareth Sayers and Trevor Allen. Barry McKenna finished sixth, despite only

completing two runs, while Seamus O’Connell and William McClurkin completed the top eight.

Class Warfare…

JP McSorley took his Honda Civic to the top of the class one tree, with Garrett Loughran in second

6th: Brian Muldoon

position. Brian Muldoon won class two from Mark Massey, while Gareth Sayers took the class three spoils ahead of Glenn Campbell. Simon Gordon won class four from Andrew Bustard’s Corsa, with Damien McGrath taking the class five spoils in his Civic from Hugh Francis Dillon. William McClurkin took the class one spoils by more than one second from Gerry McGivney, with 2WD winner Mervyn Wedlock topping the class seven tree from Aidan Toner. Finally, overall event winner Ryan Graffin topped class eight, ahead of Derek McGeehan.

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Willie Loughman Rally

Irish National Forest Championship

Winners: Trevor J Harding & Andrew Purcell

Words Seamus O’Connor & Jonathan Macdonald PICTURES John Bayly & Trevor McGrath

RESULTS 1 Trevor J Harding/Andrew Purcell Subaru Impreza.......... 00:42:35.8 2 Pat O’Connell/Mark Wiley EVO 7........................ 00:43:17.0 3 Mark Sheahan/ Jonathan McGrath EVO 9........................ 00:44:37.9 4 Stephen McGrath/Kevin Joyce EVO 6........................ 00:45:14.1 5 John McLoughlin/Ray Fitzpatrick EVO........................... 00:45:22.5 6 Brian Lawlor/Peter Kavanagh Escort MKII................ 00:45:38.4 7 Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts Citroen C2R2............. 00:45:59.7 8 Shay Power/Johnny Rafter Escort MKII................ 00:45:59.7 9 John Reid/Enda Shields Toyota Corolla WRC... 00:46:06.8 10 Patrick Keenan/Barry McNulty EVO 9........................ 00:46:15.3 11 Arthur Kierans/Andrew Grennan MKII Escort................ 00:46:17.5 12 Sarah Moynihan/Amy Moynihan EVO 7........................ 00:46:44.7 13 Gerard Lucey/James Lucey Toyota Celica............. 00:47:00.2 14 Jason Roche/Ray Greene Escort MKII................ 00:47:01.7 15 Michael Cuddihy/Richie Coady Toyota Starlet............. 00:47:25.2 16 Mark Murphy/Carol O’Keeffe Subaru Impreza.......... 00:47:42.6 17 John Byrnes/Kenneth Sheil Citroen C2R2............. 00:47:48.5 18 Gerry Ronan/Francis Kenny EVO 6........................ 00:47:50.5 19 Darragh Rafferty/Dean Rafferty Impreza..................... 00:47:57.6 20 John Fleming/Eugene McGrath Escort MKII................ 00:48:18.8 april 2009 64 pacenotes.net

Harding Ahead As Breen Slips Up… A high class entry of 70 crews arrived at the start ramp outside the Carraig Hotel for round two of the Petro System National Forestry Championship, the Willie Loughman Forestry Rally. Stage one, Clondonnell, acted as the opening test and after a non-finish on round one, reigning Forestry Champion Ray Breen and his co-driver Martin Brady stopped the clocks with a time of 3.35 in their Ford Focus WRC. Just two seconds off Breen’s time was Frank Kelly with Liam Brennan, who set a superb time in their Mark 2 Ford Escort, with Trevor J Harding and Andrew Purcell a further two seconds behind. Setting fourth fastest time was Limerick’s James Murphy with Anthony Nestor (Escort WRC), followed by the first of the Group N runners, Pat O’Connell and Mark Wiley, who rounded off the top five. Stage two was the longest stage of the rally - 20 kilometres through the famous Gurteen forestry complex. It was on this stage that the rally lead was to change. Breen slipped off the road on a slippery square right, damaging his radiator and forcing the crew to retire. With Breen out of action, Trevor Harding moved in front after

setting fastest time through the stage. James Murphy was second fastest on 12.52, with Pat O’Connell third, a further six seconds adrift of Murphy’s time. On stage three, Trevor J was once again fastest from O’Connell, with Jeremy Drislane powering his Evo 8 through just one second slower than O’Connell. James Coleman, who finished top two-wheel-drive at last year’s running of the event, had switched to a James Foley Evo 9 for the day. He was beginning to get to grips with the four-wheel-drive 2nd: Pat O’Connell & Mark Wiley

machine, and was setting top five times. As the crews headed for service in Portlaw’s Murphy Brothers Agri Contractors, the timesheets showed that Trevor Harding and Andrew Purcell held a commanding lead of 45 seconds from the Evo 7 of Pat O’Connell and Mark Wiley. Limerick crew James Murphy and Anthony Nestor were third, while James Coleman and Michael Hally moved into fourth place, ahead of Mark Sheehan and Jonathan McGrath.

5th: John McLoughlin & Ray Fitzpatrick

7th: Craig Breen & Gareth Roberts

After a 45 minute service halt, it was back once again for a repeat of stage one, Clondonnell. Jeremy Drislane and Liam McLoughlin set the pace with a time of 3.39 in their Evo 9, just one second quicker than the Subaru Impreza 555 belonging to the rally leaders. James Murphy was only four seconds adrift of second overall going into the stage and at the stage finish he had reduced this margin down to three seconds. Stage five was a repeat of the 20 kilometre Gurteen stage, and this time it was Pat O’Connell who was quickest. Trevor Harding’s Subaru suffered gearbox trouble, leaving the rally leader to drive through the stage stuck in third gear. A clear run through the stage may have put James Murphy in the lead, but as he made his way to the stage finish he encountered engine problems, which forced him to retire his Escort WRC. James Coleman, who was up to fourth overall, also encountered problems when a brake pipe burst. This put the local man out of his home event and suddenly Mark Sheehan was up to third place. It was on then, to the final test of the day, and once again Trevor Harding was quickest through the stage from O’Connell, with Mark Sheehan taking third fastest. That was more than enough for Harding and Purcell to secure their maiden outright win of this year’s Championship, and with a maximum points haul, they now lead the series!

Pat O’Connell and Mark Wiley brought their Mitsubishi Evo 7 into second overall. They are also lying second overall in the championship, on 34 points. Limerick’s Mark Sheehan and co driver Jonathan McGrath took the final podium place, moving Mark up to fourth overall in the driver’s standings, and Jonathan up to fifth overall in the codrivers’ standings. Stephen McGrath and Kevin Joyce finished fourth in their older model Mitsubishi Evo 6, with John McLoughlin and Ray Fitzpatrick rounding of the top five in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8. Round three of the Petro Systems Championship, the Moonraker Forestry, will be hosted by Munster Car Club on 12th April. Pacenotes will be there to cover all the action!

Two Wheel Drive

After a non-finish at round one of the series in Mitchelstown, Dublin’s Brian Lawlor and co-driver Peter Kavanagh

were back to their winning ways at the Willie Loughman Forestry Rally, as they finished sixth overall and top two-wheel-drive! The Dublin crew were lying second overall after stage one in their powerful Mark 2 Escort, then put in a stunning performance through stage two and grabbed the lead. Over the remaining four stages, the very popular Forestry crew could not afford to make any mistakes, as challenges for the lead came from Shay Power, Arthur Kierans, Jason Roche and Craig Breen. Lawlor is more than capable of handling a bit of pressure though, and he put in a superb drive to arrive at the finish ramp 21 seconds ahead of his nearest challengers. It was a great result for Lawlor and Kavanagh, who have been loyal supporters of the Forestry Championship over the years and are now back in the title hunt!

2WD: Brian Lawlor & Peter Kavanagh

Willie Loughman Rally

4th: Stephen McGrath & Kevin Joyce

Irish National Forest Championship

3rd: Mark Sheahan & J onathan McGrath

CLASS RESULTS Class 1 1 Emmet Cronin/Ian Stanley Escort MKII................ 00:51:33.1 2 David Laddin/Martin O’Riordan Mazda 323................. 00:53:53.0 Class 2 1 Michael Nevin/Des Moran Escort MKII................ 00:51:10.8 2 Kevin Fowler/Darren Walsh Vauxhall Nova............ 00:51:15.9 Class 3 1 Michael Cuddihy/Richie Coady Toyota Starlet............. 00:47:25.2 2 John Fleming/Eugene McGrath Escort MKII................ 00:48:18.8 Class 4 1 Arthur Kierans/Andrew Grennan MKII Escort................ 00:46:17.5 2 John McIlwraith/Brendan McCullagh Escort MKII................ 00:48:42.7 Class 5 1 Brian Lawlor/Peter Kavanagh Escort MKII................ 00:45:38.4 2 Shay Power/Johnny Rafter Escort MKII................ 00:45:59.7 Class 6 1 Gerard Lucey/James Lucey Toyota Celica............. 00:47:00.2 2 Mark Murphy/Carol O’Keeffe Subaru Impreza.......... 00:47:42.6 Class 7 1 John Reid/Enda Shields Toyota Corolla WRC... 00:46:06.8 Class 8 1 Stephen McGrath/Kevin Joyce EVO 6........................ 00:45:14.1 2 John McLoughlin/Ray Fitzpatrick EVO........................... 00:45:22.5 Class 9 1 Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts Citroen C2R2............. 00:45:59.7 2 John Byrnes/Kenneth Sheil Citroen C2R2............. 00:47:48.5

class reports >> pacenotes.net april 2009

Irish National Forest Championship

Willie Loughman Rally

CL1: Emmet Cronin & Ian Stanley

Class Battles... Class 1

Enda McLoughlin and Declan Tynan grabbed the early class one advantage, but were forced to retire their Escort shortly afterwards. That left Emmet Cronin and Ian Stanley leading the category, and a stunning run through stage two saw them hold a substantial lead. They held on to the number one spot until crossing the finish ramp, while David Laddin and Martin O’Riordan took second. ahead of Paul Driver and Fiona Cullen.

Class 2

CL6: Gerard Lucey & James Lucey

CL7: John Reid & Enda Shields

CL8: Stephen McGrath & Kevin Joyce Juniors: John Byrnes & Kenneth Sheil

Ger Brett and Daire Murphy led class two after the opening test but retired during the long Gurteen forestry complex. That left Michael Nevin fighting with Kevin Fowler for the honours, and after the second stage, two seconds separated the crews. It was nip and tuck all the way to the finish, but in the end, only one crew could win. That honour went to Michael Nevin and Des Moran, as they claimed victory by five seconds from Kevin Fowler and Darren Walsh.

Class 3

In class three, John Fleming and Eugene McGrath topped the timesheets after stage one, but victory was destined to be awarded to another crew. Michael Cuddihy and Richie Coady were up to speed in time for the second test, where they went one second faster. That was the beginning of a trend, as Cuddihy continued to take time out of Fleming. In the end, Cuddihy won by almost one minute from Fleming, with Neil Hickey and Gary Byrne

third, ahead of Noel Wade and Eamonn Tuohy.

Class 4

Arthur Kierans and Andrew Grennan dominated class four, as they claimed a start to finish victory in their Mark 2 Escort. Fastest on every stage, they were never headed as they rallied towards the class trophy. In the end, the crew claimed the class spoils by more than two minutes, with John McIlwraith and Brendan McCullagh second, ahead of Sean Benskin and Bobby Nugent.

CL2: Michael Nevin & Des Moran

Class 5

Brian Lawlor and Peter Kavanagh returned to their winning ways in class five, not only claiming the class spoils, they also nabbed the top 2WD position, as well as sixth overall. The crew were initially headed by Frank Kelly and Liam Brennan, but Kelly retired his Escort. Lawlor still had to up his pace to create an advantage over his rivals, and he went on to win by more than 20 seconds. Shay Power and Johnny Rafter came home in second position, while Roche was lucky to take third after losing more than one minute on stage five.

Class 6

Jeremy Drislane and Liam McLoughan took the early advantage in class six, but lost a CL4: Arthur Kierans & Andrew Grennan

pacenotes.net

66 april 2009

CL3: Michael Cuddihy & Richie Coady

lot of ground over the long second stage. That allowed Hans Mattia and Thomas Maguire to move in front, while a number of crews tussled for second position. Unfortunately, Mattia retired after stage three, while Drislane also exited the event after stage four. Suddenly, it was Gerard and James Lucey who held the category lead, and they went on to win from Mark Murphy and Carol O’Keeffe, with Gerry Ronan and Francis Kenny third.

Class 7

Trevor J Harding and Andrew Purcell sacrificed their class award as a result of finishing inside the top three overall, so John Reid and Enda Shields claimed the class seven trophy. See main report for more details.

Class 8

Both Pat O’Connell and Mark Sheahan sacrificed their class eight awards as a result of finishing inside the top three, so fourth placed Stephen McGrath and Kevin Joyce took the trophy home. They finished a slender eight seconds ahead of John McLoughlin and Ray Fitzpatrick, with Patrick Keenan and Barry McNulty third.

Class 9

Craig Breen and Gareth Roberts took a convincing victory in class nine. They led the category from start to finish, eventually claiming the spoils by almost two minutes from John Byrnes and Kenneth Shiel. Vincent and JP McAree took the final podium position in their Peugeot 206. CL5: Brian Lawlor & Peter Kavanagh

West Cork Rally

Irish C2R2 Cup - Rounds 1 & 2

Top ‘pocket rocket’ pilot Adrian McElhinney (left) has emerged victorious on the opening two rounds of the Citroen Racing Trophy, which were part of the recent West Cork Rally.

McElhinney Leads Series... Round 1

Stephen Baxter was also in the wars.

Sport C2 R2s was frenetic right from the drop of the flag in Clonakilty. Tipperary’s Paul Manton was rapid right away, with some fast times on the opening stage to lead after three stages, but a rare engine failure was to finish his weekend, resulting in no score on the opening two rounds.

Adrian McElhinney was having brake trouble, but a change in compound on the brake pads soon sorted this and Adrian was again commanding the front running. The battle for second was heated however, with Sam Moffett ahead of Barry Evans by just a few seconds after stage 14, where Barry had set a storming stage time.

The battle between the Citroen

Soon into the round one lead however was Adrian McElhinney. He had been held up on stage one when he caught five cars that had been bunched together because of an accident, but a very fast time on stage two proved he meant business, and he took up the front running. In second was young Monaghan driver Sam Moffett, who admitted to being a little rusty on the opening loop, but was still marginally ahead of last year’s championship runner up, Barry Evans. On the final tests of the day, Adrian McElhinney was building on his lead, and also now having to revise his braking distances, as the new Carbon Lorraine pads he fitted at service where seriously shortening the C2’s stopping distance. Behind him, Sam Moffett had a spin on stage 5 and also a major moment when the C2 took to the grass at high speed on stage 8, but held onto his second place, despite Barry Evans rapidly closing.

Sam Moffett & James O’Reilly

Mark Kane & Don Montgomery

Round 2

Round two of the Citroen Racing Trophy was day two of the West Cork Rally. The opening test - stage 9 in the overall rally - presented a delay for Adrian McElhinney, as he stopped to render assistance to a crashed Evo in front of him. Adrian admitted to being off the boil on the next stage, before once again taking up the front running. Stage 10 was quite dramatic as Sam Moffett spun and got wedged at a hairpin, and Barry Evans’ co driver Alister Wyllie was using hand signals after their intercom failed! The newcomers where getting it tough too, Mark Kane having two spins, and getting stuck in a ditch, whilst

The final loop presented problems for both crews, however, with Sam Moffett retiring with a broken engine mount and Barry Evans losing considerable time stuck up an escape road after an overshoot. These dramas let newcomer Mark Kane into a fabulous second place ahead of Barry, with the other newcomer, Stephen Baxter, fourth. Kane was the fastest C2 on the final test, ahead of Baxter. John Quill had a trouble free run to fifth. The fastest driver in the Citroen Racing Trophy for the R2 cars was Adrian McElhinney. With two maximum scores it’s a perfect start to the series for Adrian, in his selfprepared C2 R2. “It’s a dream start to our year, and it’s great to be in the prize money,” said Adrian afterwards. Next up is Monaghan Stages on the 26th April... Pacenotes will of course, have a full report after each event.

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RESULTS Round One Results 1 Adrian McElhinney/ Shane Buckley 2 Sam Moffett/ James O’ Reilly 3 Barry Evans/ Alister Wyllie 4 Martin Tynan/ Andrew Greenan 5 Mark Kane/ Don Montgomery Round Two Results 1 Adrian McElhinney/ Shane Buckley 2 Mark Kane/ Don Montgomery 3 Barry Evans/ Alister Wyllie 4 Stephen Baxter/ James Allman 5 John Quill/ Alan Hartigan

Barry Evans & Alister Wyllie

Stephen Baxter & James Allman

Martin Tynan & Andrew Greenan

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PEUGEOT 205 GTI RALLY CAR Full Irish 205 Challenge spec. Regular front running car in 2008. Winner of Round 2. Immaculate newly painted shell. Bilstein suspension all round. Braided fuel / gearbox built and sealed by Martisport. €6,000. Tel 00353 (0)87 9776386 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER SWB 3.0 Ex 1998. 200K miles. Full DOE Completed. Excellent Condition both inside and out. Used for light trailer work. Also 8 x 4 Box Van Trailer for sale. Sliding Rear door. Excellent Condition. €5,000 for Both. Tel: 00353 (0)87 9776386 PEUGEOT 205 PARTS FOR SALE Selection of bumpers, doors etc. All genuine 205 Gti fitment. Also selection of part worn 14” competition tyres. Also some competition parts for sale. Please contact for more info. Tel: 00353 (0)87 9776386 FIESTA XR2 – RED Cage, Seats, Belts, Fire and Cut off Ready for Rallysport Association Events Very Clean. Never used. £1500.00. Tel 028 71 81 1161 or 07753566295 VAUXHALL 1400 16V ECOTEC ENGINE Dry sump, steel rods, Omega Pitstons, solid lifter camshafts, Vermer pulleys, ported head etc, Weber 45s (new). MBE and loom brand new with RWD manifold around 160 – 165 bhp. Lovely engine! Cost £7,000 will accept £5,000 Tel : 07761 104252

FOR SALE Stripped, rolling, solid shell with spares. Ideal redtop conversion. Tel: 00 353 87 6386480 for more details. Car located in Killarney. €1800. PEUGEOT 205 SHELLS FOR SALE One car used as Recce car in ‘08 Both non sunroof, rust free shells. Ideal for a rally build / re build. Also 14” and 15” alloy wheels for sale to suit 205. No reasonable offers refused. Tel: 00353 (0)87 9776386

FIESTA ST 05 REG Number on car will be replaced with original number, bolt in cage, all updated modifications, very reliable car in good condition. Contact - Jim Robertson 01848 330235 or 07840685811

2001 TOYOTA CELICA 1.8 VVTI 140 bhp,6 speed gear box, 90563 miles, full service history from main toyota dealer, not a mark on the body inside in perfect condition, air con, C/D stereo with tape deck, electric windows, electric mirrors. Very good car, not heavy on fuel, taxed ‘til 04/09, trade in considered, €7650. Contact Declan on 00353 (0)86 197 2806. 1983 TOYOTA STARLET RWD SHELL Would suit rally car or road car. Light damage to LHS front otherwise shell in good condition. Also some other spare parts. €2,500. Tel: 00353 (0)87 9915155

FOR SALE Collection of Ford Rally Ephemera from Boreham 1960-1984. Books, Photo’s, 8mm films, Press Releases and much more. Full list and photo’s available. Contact - murphy.rebel@tiscali.co.uk TRACTIVE SIX SPEED SEQUENTIAL GEARBOX With Gear Display And Stick. Out Of R/w/d Escort.about 250 Stage Miles. £7000. Tel: Stuart On 07843 413840.

HONDA CIVIC SIR Poly windows, hydraulic handbrake, Bias valve, new CV joints, Speedline alloys. Spares included. €6,750. Phone 00353 (0)86 7392334. No Texts please

pacenotes.net april 2009

1999 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI version5 (300bhp standard), full years mot & 6 months tax, one of last of the classic shapes. Same redtop phase 2 engine that can be found in the p1, full STi supension and STi strut braces as standard, light weight bonnet, panels and wishbones/ arms, 295bhp as standard with de-cat pipe and full Kakimoto 3.5” stainless exhaust with rally spec exit giving the much loved Subaru burble. Only two owners from when first imported in 2003, all receipts and bills from when in use in the UK. Much loved car in mint condition and must be seen. £5500. Contact Peter on 07990 688210.

2005 IMPREZA RECCE/ROAD CAR All the usual bits that a recce would have - trips, all guards and all gravel protection, carbon floor wells for driver and navigator etc. Has map light and also a camera mounting bar. Comes with five gravel rims and tyres, also has 2-din touch screen radio/TV/DVD. Car was built by RED. €16000 ono. Contact Brian on 00363 (0)86 170 9321

FORD ESCORT MK2 RALLY CAR Only completed 50 stage miles from new, fully seam welded shell with multipoint weld in cage, fully 4 linked and 15” tubs. Good spec 2.0 16v Vauxhall engine, dry sumped on throttle bodies and management system. Fully floating atlas axle on watts linkage, brembo brakes and 5 speed pro Quaife box. £33500. Contact 07595 608175

HONDA CIVIC EG6 (CLASS 11) Built 07, seam welded, SIR engine, Mugen ecu, Type r gearbox Mfactory gearkit, Cusco diff, Proflex suspension, Polybushed, Helix pedal clutch, 305mm AP 4 pot brakes, Tilton floor mounted pedal box, Hydraulic handbrake, Alloy rad, Kevlar tank guard, Brake and fuel lines in car, safety gear in date, large spares, forestry/tarmac setup, wheels/tyres. Runner-up junior forest championship 2007. Many class wins including fastest FWD. €10000

2004 SMART FOR TWO CITY CABRIOLET 25,000 miles, 2 Door Convertible, Red/ Black, Petrol, Semi-automatic, ABS, Alloy wheels, driver & passenger airbag, electric windows, front fog lights, CD player/radio, 1 previous owner, almost 60mpg and only £35 for 12 months road tax. Very easy to park (straight to the tape every time at rallies!) £4300. Contact 07989 283055

1992 HONDA CIVIC EG6 Fresh B16A2 engine from ‘97 road car only 3 rallies ago, new wiring loom also. New Honda timing belt, water pump and idler, Kazz diff and M factory gear kit, 3 way

Proflex all round, only re-conditioned, all new poly bushings, Spoons ECU, Upright Hydraulic Handbrake, Ferodo front pads (1 rally old), new ball joints, track rod ends (3 rallies old), New braided brake lines at callipers, Zero 360 Plumbed in fire system, Seats/Belts all in date, Full proper weld in cage (correct anchor point for HANS belts), Group N / Group A papers, currently on tar spec but gravel setup also available, €7000. Contact 087 328 9093.

HONDA CIVIC TYPE R EP3, late 2001 (51 reg), just out of england, FHSH, 118k motorway miles, HPI clear, never damaged, two keys, all mot certs/ bills etc, 4 new tyres, mp3 player, MOT August, no problems, everything working as it should, gearbox 100%, priced to sell, €4995 or £4195stg. Contact 07888 697 226 or 00353 (0)86 167 3245.

VAUXHALL ASTRA GSI GPN RALLY CAR Fitted with brand new Sparco seats in 2007 and brand new Nicky Grist harnesses this year. Very cheap to maintain and run . 100% finishing record with numerous top three class finishes. Ideal beginners car. Ready to rally. Comes with 14 rims and approx 25 - 30 tyres (gravel and tarmac). POA. Contact EugeneRally@aol.com

RENAULT SERVICE TRUCK With 1 years PSV. Renault midlum 7 1/2 tonne, fully kitted out, generator, built in water tank, built in air tank, shelving for spares, vertical tyre poles, the box on lorry is divided in half with the rear half for spares/tyres. Front half of lorry has a seated/living area with table, cupboards etc. £7250 ono. Contact 028 2175 8677.

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