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Irish Notes
by Brian & Liz Patterson |
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Irish Notes 16th April 2014.
Last weekend’s Moonraker Forestry Rally, based around Ballyvourney’s Abbey Hotel, attracted 58 entries. The stages were of great quality and pretty well new to most of the drivers. Former Forestry Champion Owen Murphy, with James O’Brien co-driving in his Lancer, scored a hard-earned win from Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan in a similar Mitsubishi. Andrew Purcell/John Rafter did lead the event initially in their Lancer, but had to be content with 3rd at the end following some car problems. Once again Shane McGirr in his Starlet was the dominant factor in the 2WD section.
Desi Henry won the opening round of the Valvoline series, so his 2nd place on this Moonraker, the 2nd round, extends his lead in the series. Owen Murphy missed the first round as he was competing on the Red Kite in a Lotus Sunbeam.
Indeed it took Owen a mile or two to get back into the swing of his Lancer, following all his exploits in the Sunbeam Lotus. He observed at the Abbey Hotel finish: "I was kind of asleep on the first stage. I have been out of the Lancer for so long it took a while to get going after the Lotus Sunbeam. Then it was nip and tuck all day, great competition."
Owen Murphy’s only real worry was a slightly damaged front suspension unit on his Lancer, as a result of trying to take a stage 5 water splash flat out. Andrew Purcell, who set the early pace, also had problems at the water splash, his Lancer suffering from a soft brake pedal which meant he hit the crossing very hard. A damaged oil cooler pipe was the result. There was a chicane before the ford, but it became widened out with the passage of the cars. Purcell ended up putting tractor oil and all sorts into the car to keep it going. Then a gear change bracket broke and instead of fighting for the win he did well to finish 3rd. Another driver who had trouble at the water splash was Martin Cairns. He damaged his Impreza WRC’s radiator but somehow managed to get classified 6th at the finish.
Josh Moffett was driving his brother Sam’s Lancer, as his own car is still being rebuilt. Josh won GpN from Pat O’Connell, Pat admitting afterwards that he just wasn’t driving well on the first half of the rally. Niall Henry was 3rd in GpN.
Shane McGirr now leads the two-wheel section of the Championship. Shane and his co-driver Jackie Elliott were happy to get their Starlet, badly accident damaged on the Fivemiletown Rally, through the day. Their only problem this time was a bolt on the steering rack coming adrift in stage 3. Fortunately this happened just before service. Dean Raftery/Aileen Kelly had a brilliant run to 2nd in 2wd and took a class win. This was their first proper outing in their new Fiesta R2. The hard packed dry stages probably helped the Fiesta, but it was still a very noteworthy drive, a great warm up for the BRC Pirelli Rally. West Cork’s Conor McCarthy/Dan O’Donovan took the Junior Award in their Civic.
Also last weekend Stephen Wright, co-driven by his sister Susanne, had a great run to best Junior and 2nd in the Peugeot Cup on the Belgian TAC Rally. Stephen reported afterwards, "Really enjoyed the rally, but very tough. Sixteen stages in one day, heavy fog for the first loop and we dropped quite a bit of time. When it lifted we set a couple of fastest times and came home 2nd ‘208’, receiving 2000 Euro and also a free entry as Junior driver of the day. We are looking forward to racing some Europeans on home territory this weekend!"
Home territory indeed – the Circuit of Ireland this Friday and Saturday certainly has the makings of a brilliant rally. Many of the drivers who completed their recce last weekend reported the stages as good as anything they had ever driven – a never ending kaleidoscope of challenge through the Co. Down drumlins. In terms of winning and losing, in the International section we are still looking at four works cars. The two new Peugeot 208 T16 RS’s of Craig Breen and Kevin Abbring, as well as the ‘factory’ Skoda Fabia S2000 R5’s for Esapekka Lappi and Sepp Wiegand. These should, in theory, be the cars to beat. The last time the Skodas were here for the Circuit, two years ago, they were the dominant factor. Time has of course moved on and the Fabia may just run out of puff on this year’s fast Circuit stages through Co Down and the Peugeots will have the edge. And yes, there of are lots of other possibilities regarding the International leaderboard. Drivers such as Robert Barrable and Neil Simpson will surely be there or thereabouts. A gambling man however would possibly take a punt on Sam Moffett. Sam may, in relative terms, not have the experience of some of the other top drivers. However in winning the Monaghan and Donegal Rallies last year he clearly showed he is not afraid of success. His trump card is probably his car – the Fiesta RRC is a superb bit of kit, and with its proven pedigree shouldn’t flinch, no matter how tough or strenuous the going. A Regional World Rally car has just that bit more in every department going for it than an R5 car – even the latest state of the art offering from Peugeot. There are all sorts of equations to be looked at in the International section of course. There are many good drivers in all sorts of machinery, but it will be surprising if the winner doesn’t come from the seven drivers above.
Similarly in the National section, there are six drivers in a position to take the big prize. Garry Jennings, Declan Boyle, Donagh Kelly, Eugene Donnelly, Derek McGarrity and Kenny McKinstry. All drive World Rally Cars and Derek McGarrity will probably be in a Focus WRC, and not a Mini WRC – all have a point to prove. Yes, there are loads more good drivers in the National section, many with ambitions as regards class rivalries and gaining points in various Championships. However it is those top six who will surely attract the spotlight. Just how many of them will still be in contention on Saturday night is another matter, as this Circuit will be one very demanding rally.
Demanding seems in any case to be the name of the game at the moment. Immediately after the Circuit we have the Monaghan Rally. Clerk of the Course Brendan Flynn has laid on three tough but very good long stages which should provide the drivers with a fantastic day’s driving. Similarly the Killarney Rally of the Lakes on the following weekend has a dream of a classic route – the stages are just jaw- dropping brilliant, superlative, gilt edged, unparalleled.
Sandwiched in there, on the same weekend as Monaghan, is Lark in the Park. This year it includes a closed road stage out the Letterkenny Road at An Grannian, which should put the icing on the cake of what is always a unique little rally in St Columbs Park. Add in events such as the Pirelli Rally and the RAC Historic Hamsterley Stages, and with events like the Sperrins and the Carlow approaching fast, and it really does look to a be a hectic time ahead.
So, it is all stations go on the rally front. There are a lot of events, many stage miles over the coming few weeks – just hope there are enough competitors to go around! Interestingly, despite being on an opt-out year from the Dunlop National Championship, the Monaghan Rally already has over 100 entries, and so reportedly does the Killarney Rally of the Lakes. With so much happening it is really remarkable that the entries are rolling in. One driver struggling to get sorted for the Lakes is previous winner Denis Cronin. The Ballylickey man’s Subaru gearbox is being rebuilt and almost certainly will not be ready for the rally. Denis is hoping though to get his iconic BMW M3 out for a blast, in some capacity or other.
Finally, RallyNews will be LIVE from the Circuit of Ireland this weekend. Keep up to date with our website and on Twitter @Pacenotes & @RealRallyNews.
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