Pacenotes Rally Magazine - 65

Issue 65 | March 09 | £3.60/€5.25

rally magazine

www.pacenotes.net

the best irish and uk rally action every month!

NATIONAL EXPRESS

ALSO INSIDE 9 771473 725967

ISSN 1473-7256

03

Patrick Elliott’s Emphatic Round One Victory…

‘Circuit’ Preview Raymond Mason Nicky Grist Column

REPORTS

REPORTS

Rally Ireland Snowman Rally Eurocable Stages

Wyedean Stages Tipp Forestry Meeke’s Monte

Red Kite Stages • Jack Frost Stages • North West Stages • South Down Stages + Loads More!

www.montgomery-motorsport.co.uk email: sales@ montgomery-motorsport.co.uk

TEL: 028 855 49851 • FAX: 028 855 49855

PROFESSIONAL MOTORSPORT EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES Race Suits

Race Boots Sparco Pro Driver ................£100.00 Sparco Top 3 ..........................£95.00 Sparco Speed Way ................£85.00 Sparco Slalom ........................£75.00

Omp trend FIA..................... £250.00 Sparco Sprint FIA ................ £229.00 Sparco FIA........................... £390.00

Underwear OMP Nomex Top......................£37.00 OMP Nomex Pants ..................£31.50 FIA Balaclava ...........................£14.30 Nomex socks............................£10.00

Helmets Corsa Parts Transmission Quaife F13/F15 Synchromesh 5-speed Gear Kit with Final Drive Ratio 4.5-4.8£1400.00 Quaife GM Gearlever................... £340.00 Quaife GM Turret Housing .......... £475.00 Helix Padle Clutch Plate ................ £82.00 Helix Clutch Cover ....................... £162.00 F15 L.S.D. Unit Plate Type .......... £450.00 Brake Components Alcon Front Tarmac Brake Kit – 4 Piston Caliper 300 x 26 Disc and Caliper Mounting Bracket ......... £1,200.00 Balance Bar Pedal Box (Grp A) .. £175.00 Dash Adjuster Click type................ £30.00 Girling Reservoir............................. £14.00 Alloy Handbrake kit ...................... £100.00 Suspension Components Adjustible Strut casing (Grp A) ...... £80.00 Bilstein Insert 270/120 ................. £100.00 21/4 x 12 Spring All Rates ............. £20.00 Alloy Spring Seat............................ £14.00 Alloy Lock Ring................................. £6.50 Steel Top Cap ................................. £14.00 Alloy Top Mount (Spherical Bearing) £65.00 Bilstein Front Strut & Insert.......... £195.00 Bilstein Rear Damper..................... £95.32 Roll Bars Sparco 16-Point Roll Cage .......... £430.00 Safety Devices CDS Weld-in Cage£499.00

Revolution Wheels

7 x 13" 4 spoke gp4 ......................£76.00 8 x 13" 4 spoke gp4 ......................£80.86 9 x 13" 4 spoke gp4 ......................£89.37 7 x 15" 5 spoke gp4 ......................£89.37 8 x 15" 5 spoke gp4 ......................£93.62 9 x 15" 5 spoke gp4 ......................£97.88

Graytronic Intercoms Clubman Set...........................£110.00 Spare Headset .........................£37.00 Practice Pair.................£130.00 Peltor Intercoms Peltor FMT 110 amp....£135.00 Battery Eliminator ..........£22.00 Practice Headset ...........£97.87

0

0

Seats

Co-Driver Accessories

Cobra Imola ..........£190.00 Sparco EVO .........£295.00 Sparco PRO 2000 £295.00 Sparco Sprint (V).. £116.00 Corbeau Pro .........£275.00 OMP RS ..........£299.00 Recaro SPG ....£395.00 Alloy Side Mounts .................... £32

Don Barrow Poti Light MKB6 ..£82.00 Avanti Map Light from ..............£20.00 Co-Pilote Stopwatch ................£69.00 Fastime 2 Stopwatch ...............£12.77 Fastime 11 Stopwatch .............£25.53 OMP Brief Bag .........................£20.00 Sparco Director Bag.................£32.00

Steering Wheels Sparco Safari from ..........£110.00 Sparco RAC from ..........£110.00 Sparco PRO .........£110.00 OMP WRC.£97.00 Steering Wheel Hub £30.00

Instruments Elliot Clubman Tachometer.....£117.39 Stack Oil Pressure..............£50.00 Stack Water Temperature.....£35.00 Stack Volt Meter.................£27.00 Stack Clubman Tachometer.....£180.00 Stack ST 8100...........£725.00

Minilite Mag Wheels 8 x 13 ... £89.36 7 x 13 ... £80.00 6 x 13 ... £76.60 ®

Harnesses

Sabelt 75mm 6 Point FIA.......£125.00 TRS 75mm 6 Point FIA............£83.00 TRS 75mm 6 Point L/W FIA....£99.00 TRS 6 Point FIA Hans .............£83.00 SRS 75mm 6 Point FIA ...........£83.00

Tripmeters Terratrip 202 + with probe..£160.00 Brantz Laser with probe..£230.00 Brantz Int 2 with probe...£160 Monit Rally Computer ......£290

Fuel Pumps/Accessories

®

Lifeline Fire Systems ®

Intercoms

Sparco pro-jet .........................£175.00 New peltor G78 white with (hans) ..............................£337.00 New peltor G78 grey / silver (with Hans)..............................£347.00 New OMP Jet4 with Hans .....£300.00 Peltor Helmet Bag ....................£31.00 Sport Hans 20 ........................£395.00 Pro Hans 20 ...........................£575.00

Fire Marshal 4.0 Litre System£150.00 Mechanical 360 System ........£300.00 Electrical Gas 360 System ....£359.00 Hand-Held 1.75 Litre ................£34.78 Hand-Held 2kg 360 gas.........£195.00 R

Red Top Competition Pump Kit ............ £63.00 Red Top Pump ...................................... £53.00 Bosch Inj Pump ...................................£135.00 Filter King............................................... £29.79 S/Steel Overbraid fuel Hose Per Metre . £8.00 Millers CVL .............................................. £6.00 Pro Boost ................................................. £8.00 Weber 45 DCOE ................................£220.00

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

Gloves Sparco Flash .....£42.00 Sparco Wind......£76.00 Omp Speed .......£32.00

Escort Mk2 Parts Suspension & Steering (NEW) Bilstein Grp 4 Adj Strut ...£175.00 Alloy Spring Seat 1” Deep ..............£8.00 Alloy Spring Seat 3” Deep ............£16.00 Alloy Lock ring .................................£6.50 Alloy Top Cap D-Hole ...................£12.00 Alloy C-Spanner ............................£12.00 Bilstein 300/70 Insert.....................£80.00 Bilstein 300/100 Insert ..................£80.00 Alloy Top Mount 2-Piece Grp 4 ....£72.34 Alloy Top mount & Nut ..................£64.00 Electric Power Steering Kits .......£750.00 Mk2 Quickrack with Bronze Bush ..£275.00 Grp 4 Steering Joint Cast .............£25.53 Gen Ford Green track Rod End ...£21.00 In Situ R/J Gen Ford T.C.A. ...£150 Each In Situ R/J Q/H T.C.A. .............. £79 Each Grp 4 Tension Sturt Kit................£345.00 Bilstein Grp 1 Rear Damper .........£70.00 Bilstein Grp 4 Rear Turret .............£75.00 Bilstein Coil-Over Damper ..........£130.00 Watts Linkage Kit Atlas ...............£245.00 Axle & Transmission Fully Floating Grp 4 Atlas Axle casing .........................from £400.00 Group 1 Atlas Axle Casing.from £395.00 Steel Spit Lock Rings LH/RH .......£12.00 Spring Saddles ..............................£20.00 4 Link Brackets ..............................£30.00 Grp 1 2-Piece Halfshaft (18 tooth)£97.00 Grp 4 Halfshaft F/F (18 tooth) ......£95.00 Grp 1 Halfshaft Flange..................£66.00 Grp 4 Halfshaft Flange..................£55.00 ZF Motorsport L.S.D. Unit...........£625.00 ZF Side Gear .................................£65.00 Ford C.W.P 5.1 & 4.6 Set ...........£220.00 Tran-X Club Gearkit 5 Speed .....£625.00 Alloy Astra 16v to Ford Bellhousing ..................................£140.43 Tran-X English LSD ....................£410.00 Brake Parts Mk 2 Bias Pedal Box (Cable) ....£212.00 Mk 2 Bias Pedal Box (HYD) .......£250.00 Mk 1 Bias Pedal Box (Cable) .....£235.00 Tube-Adjustor (Mk 2) ...................£29.00 Flexible Click Dash Adjustor .........£30.00 AP & Girling Reservoir ..................£14.00 Alloy Pro HYD Handbrake Kit ....£100.00 HYD Handbrake Kit ......................£42.00 Ralloy Vertical Handbrake ..........£115.00 Master Cylinder .625, .700, .750 ..£28.00 Alcon - 15" Front Brake Kit 304 x 28 Disc, Disc Bell & Alloy 4 Pot Calliper.. .............................£899.00 Alcon - 13" Front Brake Kit 267 x 21 Disc, Disc Bell & Alloy 4 Pot Caliper................................£825.00 Alloy Products Alloy Tarmac Arches Mk 2 Set ...£249.00 Alloy Front Spoiler .........................£65.00 Alloy Front Arch .............................£60.00 Alloy Front Arch 15” Wheel...........£75.00 Alloy Rear Tarmac Arch ................£68.00 Alloy Shaped Tank & Filler..........£170.00 Alloy Inj Tank & Filler...................£210.00 Fuel Tank Fitting Kit & Straps .......£68.00 Alloy Dry Sump Tank ....................£90.00 Rear Lamp Protectors...................£14.00 Alloy Strut Brace ..........................£48.00 Alloy Catch Tank............................£40.00 Alloy SumpGuard 8mm Chassis Mounted ........................£225.00 Alloy Radiator ..............................£200.00 Pace Astra 16v Dry Sump Kit..........£700 Pace Corsa 16v Dry Sump Kit ........£700 Pace Ford Duratec Dry Sump Kit ...£700

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www.pacenotes.net Issue 65 | March 09 | £3.60/€5.25

rally magazine

www.pacenotes.net

the best irish and uk rally action every month!

NATIONAL EXPRESS Patrick Elliott’s Emphatic Round One Victory…

the

contents 16

with andrew bushe

DUNLOP NATIONAL birr rally roundup

22

26

30

39

IRISH TARMAC

48

circuit of ireland preview

RALLY IRELAND

full rally report

SOUTHERN FORESTRY tipperary forest roundup

20 - QUESTION TIME with peter wilson

54 - IRC monte carlo rally

62 - PERFORMANCE CAR seat ibiza

deputy editor pete bleakley pete@pacenotes.net

24 - UK CLUBMAN PT1 clubmen across the water

56 - EVO CHALLENGE uk and ireland season preview

67 - ANICC awards photofile

design & production jeremy purdy jeremy@mooneymedia.com

32 - UK CLUBMAN PT2 clubmen across the water

58 - QUESTION TIME with drew stewart

73 - CLASSIFIEDS rally marketplace

cover photo seamus counihan

44 - BRC PREVIEW a look forward to 2009

60 - NICKY’S NOTES nicky grist column

published by

46 - QUESTION TIME with chris davies

61 - ULSTER RALLY gala dinner photofile

9 771473 725073

ISSN 1473-7256

65

BUSHE’S BLOG

ALSO INSIDE

‘Circuit’ Preview Raymond Mason Nicky Grist Column

REPORTS

REPORTS

Rally Ireland Snowman Rally Eurocable Stages

Wyedean Stages Tipp Forestry Meeke’s Monte

Red Kite Stages • Jack Frost Stages • North West Stages • South Down Stages + Loads More!

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

04

FULL CHAT news round-up

BTRDA wyedean stages

12

NIRC eurocables rally action

SCOTTISH RC snowman rally review

64

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 march 2009

03

Startline

FULL CHAT...

Rallying Round For Paul…

Welcome to another edition of your number one rally read – Pacenotes Rally Magazine!

The rally season has well and truly kicked into life, and all of the major championships are underway. There have been some fascinating battles and unpredictable results in some tricky weather conditions.

Unfortunately for Kris Meeke, his season didn’t get off to the best of starts after crashing during the Monte Carlo Rally. I just hope it’s not a case of déjà vu for his IRC campaign. Fingers crossed he can rack up the points in Mexico, and reward Peugeot UK who have put their faith in him.

Looking ahead we’re going to have another Easter extravaganza with the Circuit of Ireland, which will be based in Pacenotes’ hometown of Banbridge. For once, we’ll not have to travel too far to capture the action! Let’s hope all of the tarmac regulars line up for the challenge.

Well done to Pat Nolan and the 300 + people that attended the fundraising night for Paul Gallagher. Already, more than €25K has been raised for Paul and his family, with more to be added to that total soon. Don’t forget, there’s still a chance to win a navigating seat with Billy Coleman in West Cork – contact Cork Motor Club for more details.

As for Paul, I’m glad to say that he is now in a stable condition. He has a very long recovery process ahead of him but the generosity and support shown by the rally family has worked wonders in lifting his spirits and moral.

That’s all ‘til next month, keep safe on the stages!

Simon Mooney Editor Tel: +44 (0)28 40660 390 editor@pacenotes.net march 2009 04 pacenotes.net

Eugene Donnelly with Pat Nolan event organiser.

More than 300 people turned up

to offer both moral and financial support for Paul Gallagher and his family at the fundraising “in-car” night and auction held at The Commons Inn Hotel in Cork on Friday 20th of February.

Paul was seriously injured in an accident while competing on the Galway International Rally in January and has a long road recovery journey ahead of him.

The attendance at the event was made up of competitors, marshals, photographers, reporters and officials – in fact people from every aspect of the sport wanted to do their bit to help their colleague.

The night started with some great in-car clips from some of the top National and International competitors at home and abroad, before moving on to an auction.

Over 57 lots of rallying memoribilia went under the hammer, which ensured a busy night for auctioneer Hugh McPhilips.

The lots included free entries from the Killarney and Tipperary clubs as well as a navigator’s seat in the Loughall Stages Rally in the superfast Escort Mk 2 of Adrian Hetherington.

There were other significant items on offer such as signed drawings of both Billy Coleman and Eugene Donnelly by Donegal artist John Baird, which brought great interest from the floor and certainly raised at lot of money at auction.

A number of photographers had made up beautiful montages of top Irish competitors, which also sold well. One unusual item that went under the hammer was the door of Guy Wilks’ car used in Wales Rally GB, complete with the door panel signed by Wilks himself! In the North, ANICC collected £2200 and Mid-Antrim Motor Club contributed £655.

Organiser Pat Nolan said, “The success of the event has really surpassed everyone’s expectations.

What started out as a night run by the four Cork clubs ended up being supported by clubs and individuals from all over the country and from all aspects of the sport. So many people used the occasion to show their support for Paul and his family - it was an overwhelming occasion to say the least. I really can’t thank people enough for what they did and how they banded together to make sure the night was a success.

I would also like to assure everyone that every penny raised went to the fund, as any printing was sponsored

by C-Print Ltd, the food and function room were provided by the Commons Inn and the postage, stationery and other costs were covered by the organisers of the night.”

A huge 4ft x 4ft picture at the venue and was signed by everyone in attendance and transported to Paul in the hospital the following day.

The night raised €15,500, including sales of DVDs provided

by RPM in the run up to the event, plus another €3542.48 which was collected at the West Coast Rally Championship prizegiving recently, giving a total of €19,042.48.

The good news is that this does not include the money from the sale of the tickets for the seat with Billy Coleman in the (Frank O’Mahony prepared and run) Metro in the West Cork Rally in March. It is hoped to raise a further €10,000 through this draw. There are still some of these tickets left and more details are available from Pat Nolan on (353)087 7466557.

Signs Of Success…

Last year’s EventSigns Mewla Rally, organised by Epynt Motor Club, was voted by championship competitors as the best event in the 2008 Epynt Challenge and the 2008 ASWMC Championship. The committee now have plans well underway for this year’s rally, which will be held on Sunday 29th August. The event will consist of nine stages with approximately 90 tarmac stage miles on the Epynt Ranges. For the third consecutive year, the entry fee will be held at £299 to help competitors with their increased costs. For further details see www.epyntmc.co.uk.

Calendar March 09 01/03 Carrick-on-Suir Willie Loughman 07/03 Malcolm Wilson Rally (Cockermouth) 08/03 Mayo Stages 08/03 Roskirk Stages (Wigan) 08/03 AGBO Stages (Weston Park) 14/03 McGrady Insurance Stages (B’court) 14-15/03 West Cork Rally 14/03 DCC Stages (Crail) 15/03 Riponian Stages (Thirsk)

15/03 15/03 21/03 21/03 28/03 29/03 29/03 29/03 29/03

Bovington Stages (Bournemouth) Slaters Stages (Anglesey) Lough Neagh Rally TT Border Counties Rally (Jedburgh) Bulldog Rally (Llangollen) Circuit of Kerry SMC Stages (Blackpool) Pheonix Stages (Fulbeck) Tour of Caerwent (S. Wales)

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will see Marcus Grönholm return to the WRC fray driving a latest-specification Subaru Impreza WRC2008, prepared and run by Prodrive and co-driven by regular partner Timo Rautiainen.

Commenting on the comeback, Gronholm said, “It will be fun to return to the WRC, even in an ad-hoc way, in a car that I don’t know at all and after a year where I competed in some rallycross events. I will not start aiming for the win, as I want to compare my speed with the regular WRC boys over the first few stages. Of course I will test in the Impreza before the rally, not only to try to understand how it works but also, if possible, to adapt it to my driving style.”

Perez Focused On Pirelli…

Kick Energy rally driver Steve Perez is

intent on winning this year’s Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship, having taken delivery of the last rally car that double world champion Marcus Grönholm drove in competition.

The Chesterfield businessman has bought the Ford Focus RS WRC 07 that the Finn used on Rally GB in 2007.

Grönholm also drove it to beat Sébastien Loeb by 0.3 of a second in New Zealand that year, the closest finish in WRC history. “Mark Higgins is going to help me set the car up and give me some tuition on how to drive it.”

FST Regs Available…

The Fiesta Sport Trophy UK 2009

General Regulations are now available for the first two rounds of the series from the Malcolm Wilson Rally (www. malcolmwilson.co.uk) and Bulldog International Rally (www.bulldog-rally. co.uk) websites. Anyone with any queries should contact Richard Millener, 2009 Co-ordinator on +44 (0)1900 828888, email rmillener@m-sport.co.uk

Log On today at: www.rallyforums.com

Happy Fiftieth Dave...

David Mountain, founder and

boss of Mountune Racing, celebrated his 50th birthday recently. At a bash thrown by the staff he was presented with a commissioned painting of the Ford rally cars his company has supplied engines for.

Real Cork-er In Prospect…

A top class field is lined

up for March 14th/15th’s Quality Hotel West Cork Rally. This is the thirtyfirst running of the event, and among the top names taking part are Donie O’Sullivan in a Proton S2000, WRC men Liam McCarthy, James Harrison and Denis Cronin and GpN stars Kevin Kelleher and Keith Cronin.

Between them, Englishmen Phil Collins and John Dalton have taken the two wheel drive honours over the last seven years and both will be back to fight for the title again this year.

After eight years as clerk of the course, Brian O’Connell has decided to step down and his place will be taken by his assistant during that time, Darren McCarthy. The entry

fee is being held at the 2008 price of €630, which is excellent value for 16 stages and 240km of competition mileage. Road mileage at 170km is again very low this year, while service will be centralised as usual near Clonakilty.

As Pacenotes went to press, a few entries were still available - with 164 crews currently listed, including 14 historics and 14 juniors. As

usual the rally is the first round of the Southern 4 Rally Championship, and will host rounds 1 and 2 of the Irish Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, the C2 R2 Irish Cup and the inaugural Honda Cup. The Bones O’Connor Modified Challenge is back for a third year in 2009. There will also be a Historic Rally which will begin on Stage 5 of day one while the Junior Rally will cover the last four stages of the event. After the success of the scheme in 2008, junior competitors are also reminded that if they go marshalling on the Saturday stages then they will get a refund of €100 on their entry fee. For more details please log onto westcorkrally.com

Epynt Excitement…

A cheap day of high octane thrills is coming up with Herefordshire Motor Club’s Mini Epynt Stages, which offers 45 competitive miles for just £195! Based in the Welsh Marches on Sunday May 31st 2009, the route is contained within the west side of the ranges, so road tax won’t be required. The event is open to all, but WRCs, 6R4s and recent top 5 Epynt finishers will not be included in the results, instead being recorded in a separate class. Would be marshals should phone Gerald on 01568 612 547; competitors should contact Mark on 07890 777684. Regs out March 1st - log on to www. hertfordshiremotorclub.co.uk.

news round-up from around the clubs and stages

y age,

April’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal

Give Us Your Views FULL CHAT...

by eing uals om y w mily on nk d o ss. one the ored

Gronholm To Drive Sub WRC In Portugal

STEVE FLECK - RIP

The Master of Milbrook...

Everyone in the UK rally scene has been shocked to learn of the recent, untimely death of Steve Fleck. Known as the ‘Master of Millbrook’ - a track where he was virtually unbeatable - Steve was held in the very highest regard by all who knew him. He was totally down to earth, one of the sport’s true gentlemen and generous with it.

A real crowd pleaser, Steve got the most out of every car he drove, and through the years his cars included Escorts, an M3 and latterly Subarus.

Irish fans remember him fondly from his eleven

consecutive appearances at the West Cork Rally, which he almost won back in 2002. Steve is survived by his father John, his wife Lyn and his sons Archie and Freddie, and all at Pacenotes pass their condolences to them.

The family have asked that the funeral remain private, but those who knew him will have the chance to celebrate Steve’s life at a special evening being held at Newbury Rugby Club, on or about Friday 13th March, 2009. For more details, check out the thread on the BritishRally.co.uk forum.

pacenotes.net march 2009

05

FULL CHAT More Free Pirelli Rubber…

Further to the recent announcement that every competitor registering for the 2009 Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship, and contesting at least half the rounds, would be eligible for a free set of Pirelli tyres, comes news of even more free rubber courtesy of the series sponsors.

Following the restructuring of the classes for 2009 by the Association of National Championship Rally

Organisers (ANCRO), it has been agreed that the leading registered driver in each class after round four of the eight round series, the RBS International Manx Rally on May 8th/9th, will be awarded a further six tyres each, entirely free of charge.

These tyres can be claimed at the start of round five, the Severn Valley Stages Rally, on May 30th, 2009.

Wearden Sweeps Through Test...

Neil Wearden debuted his immaculate Ford Escort Mk2 on the Legend Fires North West Stages running as car 0 on the Blackpool based event. At the finish he told Pacenotes, “It’s been a good test which has helped us to identify and iron out a few little teething problems ahead of the Jim Clark where we plan to first run the car in anger.” Co-driver Rick Forster, who was keeping an unofficial check on their stage times, reckoned they had set a couple of fastest times pointing out, “That wasn’t bad against a number of World Cars!”

Historic Coverage Increases...

At least five rounds of the Dunlop/

Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship will be covered on TV this year thanks to Dunlop’s increased backing for the championship.

After two successful pilot programmes in 2008, covering the Mid Wales Stages and the Trackrod Historic Cup, the BHRC’s arrangement with Pit Lane Productions has been extended to cover at least five rallies.

This major development for the BHRC comes at a time when historic rallying is booming and becoming ever more popular among rally fans, both out on the stages and at home in front of their TV screens. It underlines the BHRC’s place at the pinnacle of

UK historic rallying and the scene is already set for a tremendous season in 2009.

The initial plan is to cover all five gravel events, while at the same time efforts will continue to add coverage of some of the asphalt events.

However, either due to filming rights issues or event locations, the three asphalt events are significantly more expensive to film.

“This is one of the first enhancements made possible by Dunlop’s increased support for the BHRC and is excellent news for all the competitors,” said championship coordinator Simon Marks. “We would like to add to the five events agreed so far.”

A Family Affair…

The last time “Evett/Chappell” appeared together on an entry list it was for the

1988 Lombard RAC Rally. The winner was Markku Alen, in a factory-entered Martini Lancia Delta S4. Evett/Chappell also completed the event, in 67th place overall from 198 starters.

In 2009, the name pairing appears on the Wyedean Forestry Rally entry list, but it will not be Rob Evett and Haydn Chappell in the car this time - it will be their respective children, Joseph Evett and Lorraine Chappell!

This will be their first event together and they will contest the rally in a 1.4 Vauxhall Nova. 19-year old Joseph, a student from Aston Clinton near Aylesbury said, “I am really looking forward to this rally and my aim is just to reach the finish. I need to gain experience on a proper stage rally. Further events in the 2009 BTRDA series will be considered after the Wydean.”

20-year old Lorraine, from Crawley in Sussex added, “I know this is Joseph’s first forest rally and I am happy to share my knowledge. I will always be grateful to those drivers who gave me that chance and now it is my turn to do the honours. We are just going out for a little fun and to gain some experience.”

march 2009 06 pacenotes.net

A Tribute to One of Rallying’s Unsung Heros Richard Donaldson - RIP As Chief Timekeeper, Monday 26 January was the day my deputy, Victor Lyness and I travelled to Sligo to prepare for Rally Ireland 2009. No sooner had we arrived at what was to be our workshop in Collooney, than word began to filter through that there had been an incident at the Stobart WRC team test at Cooley mountain. Apparently one of the radio crew on duty for organiser Bobby Willis had taken ill and the session had been abandoned.

Colin Duncan later phoned me with the unbelievably shocking news that Richard Donaldson had suffered a fatal heart attack.

At first both Victor and I could hardly believe what we were hearing, our close friend and timekeeping colleague gone. Suddenly Rally Ireland didn’t seem to matter anymore.

Richard had been a member of BMMC/BRMC for more than twelve years. We first met at a Bishopscourt Rally when Colin Rossborough introduced him to the club. Since then we became friends and shared many rallying adventures together.

As a dedicated rally marshal, the safety of all competitors, spectators and officials was always uppermost in his mind. He would volunteer to assist at events all over Northern Ireland and further afield, even when times were hard for him financially.

Richard Donaldson was everyone’s friend and most rally drivers knew him as “Richie the sweetie man” because, when he was on the stop line at events he always gave out sweets to crews as they finished a stage.

The funeral service took place in his home town of Magheralin and the Parish Church was packed with family, friends and motorsport representatives. He was laid to rest wearing his beloved orange overalls.

Rally Ireland went ahead as I know Richard would have wanted and for us it turned out to be a very successful event.

Everyone of my timekeepers were in position as planned and all stages ran on time, but at the stop lines of Glenboy, Ballinamallard and Donegal Town there was one timekeeper missing, my old mate Richard Donaldson.

To Anne, Danny and Megan I send my condolences and deepest sympathy at this very sad time, but at least they know that Richard passed away doing what he loved, monitoring rally cars in action, the last car to pass his radio location on Cooley was top WRC driver Urmo Aava travelling flat out as he tested his Ford Focus in readiness for Rally Ireland.

Robert Coursey, Vice Chairman, BMMC (NI)

STOP

WIN £10,000

PAYING OVER THE ODDS FOR YOUR MOTORSPORT INSURANCE IN 2009!!

IN OUR FREE DRAW

Photograph Courtesy of Aintree Racecourse.

Motorsport Insurance Services would like to give you the opportunity in securing a place in our free draw to win up to £10,000.

Our rates have been finalised with Insurers for 2009 and we “Guarantee to beat any reasonable quotation offered by our competitors.”

How this all works - The first 40 clients to take out an Annual On Track / On Event policy with Insurers in 2009 will be entered into our free draw. The first 40 policyholders will be allocated a random number from 1 to 40. This represents the number of the horse running for them in the “Grand National at Aintree on 4th April 2009.” The winner will receive a full refund of their premium up to a maximum of £10,000.

Terms and Conditions apply - visit our website.

Simply provide details of the events you will be participating in to receive a competitive quote for the 2009 season and take out an annual policy to enter.

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organised by the Armagh Tigers

Apple Blossom Fun Run

3 Days Craic

for only £200...

If you are a motor enthusiast and don’t have any major plans for the May bank holiday weekend, the Armagh Tigers can promise you 3 days of the best motoring craic you are ever likely to have!

The Tigers are launching their Apple

NOT TO BE MISSED

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Blossom Fun Run, from 1st - 3rd May 2009, and the event will cover approximately 700 miles.

The Fun Run is a non-timed, noncompetitive event on open roads, with its base in Armagh. It visits different areas of Northern Ireland each day, as well as having several short route sections in the south.

As well as plenty of breathtaking scenery for your team to experience through the sections, there are some hidden treasures, brain teasers and specific stop-off challenges you will be confronted with, in order to score points along the way. There are no back up teams or support vehicles allowed, just your car and your crew, which can be up to four people.

The event is open to all types of vehicles, but they must be a minimum of 20 years old.

The entry fee is only £200 for each car and up to four members in each team.

Giving your vehicle (and perhaps your crew!) a seriously flashy paint job is all part of the fun. Fancy dress and all types of silly behaviour is encouraged. This will be a great opportunity to renew old motoring acquaintances and perhaps meet a few new “eejits” along the way.

There is an overall first prize of £1000, 2nd nets £500, 3rd nets £300 and there’s a Spirit of the Event Award. All monies raised will be donated to local charities. So log on to www.armaghtigers.com and download your entry form now! There are also contact details of the organisers on the website.

Entries are on a first come, first served basis, so log on today and don’t be disappointed!

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bushe’s blog

A Clubmans Passion...

Moneyreagh’s Raymond Mason has built a first class reputation for rally car preparation and rally hire - a reputation built on success through 30 years of rallysport.

Raymond has been able to convert his prowess behind the wheel into success on the stages for his customers!

It was in on two wheels rather than four that Raymond first started his motorsport career, back in 1974. “I had motorbikes when I was young,” he told Pacenotes, “and I raced a 350 TZ Yamaha for a year on the tracks, but I got fed up coming last, and I still have some scars from that season!”

1979 saw Raymond buy his first rally car - a genuine RS1600 Escort - from Harold Bunting.

“The BDA blew up soon after I bought it, but I sold the remains of the engine and put a Cross Flow in the car,” said Raymond. “I contested a lot of the Trisport Trophy events back in those days, which used to be run by the Belfast, Bangor and Newtownards Motor Clubs, but eventually rolled the car and broke it. I wish I had it now though, as it was a genuine RS1600!”

It was with his next machine that Raymond really started to get noticed - an Opel Kadett with a little 1200cc engine. “I picked the Kadett at the time, because I knew they were a good handling road car, and we were contesting a lot of road rallies,” said Raymond. “I did a bit of servicing in those days for Will Corry in his Chevette, in which Stuart Carphin was co driving. Stuart was quite a name back then and I eventually plucked up the courage to ask him to sit with me in the championship road rallies. At that time Tommy Speers in his RS2000 was the man to beat, and although the 1200 had no power really, we did manage to win a couple of the rounds in the snow.”

It was a successful period for the crew and the wee Kadett with Raymond learning his skills, while extracting the maximum from a small engine. In 1984 he had another Kadett built, and this time it would have more power, but it was still 1200cc. “I borrowed a book from the library on turbo-charging, and decided to turbo the Kadett. It wasn’t very advanced in those days, and the lag was horrendous. Stephen Emerson had a 1600 Sunbeam at the time and we did a drag race, which proved the Kadett had about the same top speed.”

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Raymond’s performances in the turbo Kadett raised a few eyebrows. On his first outing in the car on the Hills of Donegal, he was 6th fastest overall over Atlantic Drive, taking 3 seconds off Dan Daly’s Nissan 240 RS! This was the start of some very good results on National events. One such event was the two day Circuit of Munster in 1985, where Louise Aitken Walker and the works Peugeot team were over to test, whilst Ed Colton had an Irish 205 Gti. “Stuart Carphin was taking great delight in giving the Peugeot team our times, and we

Sunbeams and he kindly offered me the loan of one, for the Aer Lingus MC Rally,” recalled Raymond. “It was the first time I had driven anything with a bit of power and I felt that I was taking it handy. We came into first service and Stephen asked me how it was going. ‘I’m enjoying it,’ I said. ‘Enjoying it?’ he said, ‘You are 22 seconds ahead of us and second overall in the rally!’ But it didn’t last too long as had a big off on the next stage over Cooley Mountain. The car snapped sideways in 4th gear on the narrow link section, hit a rock and rolled 3 or 4 times. There were no doors left on it and it even broke the crank. I still wake up with the bad back from that one! However I’m glad I took the car, as it made my mind up to buy a Sunbeam.”

Purchasing the McNeill Glassware 1600 Sunbeam in 1985, Raymond made a spectacular debut with the car at the Hills of Donegal, with Jim McSherry co driving. They finished fourth overall behind a full house of Group 4 machines.

The 1986 season wasn’t the most fortunate, but 1987, with another Sunbeam, was to prove Raymond’s best season. With Stuart Carphin co driving, on their first attempt they took the 1600 class in the AIB Irish National Championship and enjoyed some startling results, like 11th overall, 1st in class in Limerick, and 3rd overall, 1st in class in Monaghan. Added to this there was a 10th overall on the Donegal Hills, 9th overall in Ballycastle, and 3rd overall on the Boyd’s Quarry Rally, not to mention numerous quarry sprint class wins. It was a superb season for Raymond in the self built Sunbeam.

“I BORROWED A BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY ON TURBO-CHARGING, AND DECIDED TO TURBO THE KADETT. IT WASN’T VERY ADVANCED IN THOSE DAYS, AND THE LAG WAS HORRENDOUS... started the second leg in 13th overall I think, and finished ahead of the Works Peugeots. It was a bit hit and miss at times with the turbo engine, and I put a Cross Flow into the car, but the extra power made it unreliable,” said Raymond.

It was the move to a Sunbeam, however - a car that became synonymous with Raymond - that led to some great results, but his first taste of a Talbot was a baptism of fire.

“At that time Stephen Emerson had two

It was around this time that demand for Raymond’s services allowed him to go full time into rally preparation and the car trade, leaving behind his job servicing photocopiers, something he had worked at since leaving school.

Through the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Raymond produced consistently good results in Sunbeams, and established a fleet of three hire Sunbeams in 1992, forming the RallyHire business, although this fleet quickly became two, when one of

a damaged road car which he built into a rally car. With co-driver Peter Martin he embarked on a two year plan to take Group N on the Scottish Championship, but he ended up winning it on his first attempt, in 2004. “It was a good feeling to win it and there were some really good races during that year,” said Raymond. “It all went down to the last stage of the last rally, with one point deciding it!”

Since that time, Raymond has only been contesting selected events, looking after his hire business, which now sports the Evo 6, the Sunbeam and two Evo 9s. In trophy terms, winning the Bulldog Clubmans in the Evo 6, and the Severn Valley National in the Evo 9 has added to his massive collection of silverware, continuing testimony to Raymond’s remarkable record of reliability over the years.

Raymond’s car prep skills and smooth, car-preserving driving style have contributed in no small measure to his success. Today Raymond is working with his 15 year old son Matthew, who has graduated from karts to the Alltrak Nova class, and is showing good speed.

“I THINK WE WERE FIFTH IN GROUP N AT THE HALF WAY POINT, BUT STEPHEN DOWDS, WHO WAS CO-DRIVING, GOT A BIT BORED WITH JUST DRIVING ROUND, SO WE HAD A GO, AND AT THE FINISH WE HAD WON GROUP N BY ONE SECOND!” “My first event in the Sub was the Mourne, and the plan was just to drive easy and have a run round to check the car. I think we were fifth in Group N at the half way point, but Stephen Dowds, who was co-driving, got a bit bored with just driving round, so we had a go, and at the finish we had won Group N by one second!”

The Subaru brought many class wins, although Raymond is the first to admit that he couldn’t beat all the Evo 6s with it, so it was no surprise that an Evo 6 was his weapon of choice for 2003. Raymond bought

Raymond’s career has been a remarkable story of success on a low budget. Many drivers would be glad to settle for some of the results Raymond has simply forgotten over the years!

andrew bushe profiles raymond mason...

the Sunbeams was demolished on the Townparks Rally.

At this time Raymond prepared Stephen Emerson’s Manta 400, the car he won the Northern Ireland series in, and carried out set up work on other Mantas, as well as working on a dozen Sunbeam’s engines, which he would get to rebuild at the season’s end.

Raymond was now using the famous DWK 4T Sunbeam in competition, a car he is soon to rebuild into Historic specification.

In 1994 he met a neighbour, Stephen Whitford, helping him to build his similar DWK 19T Sunbeam.

This saw the start of a great rivalry, which pushed the little 1600s ridiculously high up the timesheets. “The first race we had was on the Ballymena Showground event,” said Raymond, “and we won by that by just a couple of seconds. Then came the Easter Stages, which was Stephen’s first event on the roads, so he took a while to warm up. But it proved to be my biggest disappointment in rallying. We were lying 3rd overall, just a few seconds behind Tom Spence’s Legacy, and I was hoping to have a go at that gap, then I landed heavily on a jump, and punctured the sump, and it was all over.”

The boundaries were being pushed and there were some spell-binding performances by both drivers. At the end of the season, Raymond made history by taking a 1600 car to 3rd place overall on the Northern Ireland Championship Townparks Rally.

After that, Raymond moved into four

wheel drive machinery by purchasing the “yellow cab” Group N Sierra. “I hated the car at first,” he recalled. “On my first event at Bishopscourt, I arrived at the first hairpin and I didn’t think we would get round!”

What followed were a remarkable few seasons of success on a very low budget, including Raymond’s first outright win, with Allan Harryman alongside, on the Ballynahinch Summer Stages, and another outright on the Dogleap Stages, which helped secure the Group N NI Championship.

“Richard Hogg had a similar car at the time and we had great battles,” recalled Raymond. “I remember we won the Dogleap and he was 21 seconds behind, and then the next year, he won the Dogleap, and I was exactly 21 seconds behind him, which was actually quite spooky.”

Soon after that Raymond built his first Group N Subaru, before acquiring the ex David Higgins Subaru bodyshell which had been rolled by Robert Woodside on the Manx. With the shell repaired, he used a 2 door donor road car to build the car, and it was a success right from the start.

bushe’s blog

THE CAR SNAPPED SIDEWAYS IN 4TH GEAR ON THE NARROW LINK SECTION, HIT A ROCK AND ROLLED 3 OR 4 TIMES. THERE WERE NO DOORS LEFT ON IT AND IT EVEN BROKE THE CRANK. I STILL WAKE UP WITH THE BAD BACK FROM THAT ONE!

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

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rally magazine Col de Turini, Rally Monte Carlo... a spectator’s dream. Image: Peugeot Sport

Freeze Frame

14

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march 2009

only the best images captured...

Woody’s

Back Up To Speed…

February has been a busy month,

despite my best efforts to avoid getting involved in rallying and to concentrate instead on work, which fortunately has been very busy.

I got roped into navigating for William Onions in his Millington engined Mark 2 on the Telford Winter Stages on 15th February.

The event was based in the Sweet Lamb Complex and we were running car seven on the road.

I must admit, it was difficult for me to get my head around reading pace notes again, having not sat in the navigators seat for approximately twenty years. Will uses the number system, but with the number before the direction, which is the opposite to my usual way. We had a few calls that were incorrect and a couple of late calls whilst I got up to speed, but I did manage to get the apology for a late call out with the late call!

We had an excellent run with no dramas, on a very slippery event, to

finish fourth overall and first two wheel drive against a number of Subarus. I must admit, I did enjoy it and it was a relaxing day out.

We then had the Maxi ready for the North West Stages on 20th and 21st February, when my co-driver was Matt Warren of CES. This was only Matt’s second rally, the first one being the Promenade Stages last year. I think the night stages on the Friday night and the

pressure of the road sections and stage diagrams took him a little bit by surprise, but to be fair, he coped very well, with no mistakes throughout the whole rally.

The Friday night stages were quite wet and slippery, particularly the Blackpool Promenade, but we ended up 12th overall at the end of the first day. We dropped back a little bit in the morning with wet stages on the Promenade and Hill

GUY WOODCOCK RAL LY DIARY

House, but climbed up the order throughout the day, setting some really quick times around Weeton and a few of the other venues. After 26 stages we ended up 8th overall and second in class behind the flying Mark 2 of Darren Atkinson.

Also this month, I purchased a Reliant Scimitar GTE which I am proposing to use on some historic rallies, reliability trials etc, and this is now being checked over ready for the Tour of Cheshire, which I will be competing on with Phill Harrison on in the first weekend in March.

It has been a varied start to the new rallying season. The new engine is due back for the Mark 2 historic car sometime in the next fortnight, and we’ll be getting it ready for the Bulldog at the end of March. Plenty to look forward to and I’ll be keeping you posted each month in Pacenotes.

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15

Nenagh Stages Rally

Dunlop National Rally Championship

Winners: Patrick Elliott & Paul Goodman

National Express…

The opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, the Abbey Court Hotel Nenagh Rally, resulted in an emphatic victory for defending champions Patrick Elliott and Paul Goodman.

Words Jonathan MacDonald & Martin Walsh PICTURES Seamus Counihan

RESULTS 1 Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman Subaru S12B.................. 1:16:27 2 James Harrison/Harvey Bell Subaru Impreza............... 1:18:46 3 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry Subaru Impreza............... 1:18:59 4 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally Subaru Impreza............... 1:19:42 5 Kevin Kelleher/Patrick Robinson Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 1:20:52 6 A nthony O’Halloran/Charlie McEnery Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 1:21:41 7 Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 1:22:26 8 Sean Flanagan/Brian Miller Subaru Impreza............... 1:22:31 9 Trevor Mulligan/Lisa Roe Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:22:58 10 Eamon Daly/Anthony O’Connaill Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 1:23:26 11 Des Moore/Conor Foley Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:23:30 12 Mike Quinn/Graine McInerney Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:23:53 13 Adrian Quinn/Alistair Wyllie Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 1:24:18 14 Jim McKenna/Thomas Treanor Toyota Starlet RWD......... 1:24:30 15 Trevor Bustard/Kenny Bustard Mitsubishi Evo 8............. 1:24:32 16 Paul Elliott/Brian Doherty Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 1:24:33 17 Mark Nangle/Michael Clyne Subaru Impreza............... 1:25:17 18 David Percy/John Kinihan Ford Escort Maxi............. 1:25:29 19 ED Synan/Denis O’Connell Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:25:32 20 Rory Byrne/Jeremy Patterson Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 1:25:53

They finished the eight-stage

event with a winning margin of two minutes and 19 seconds over the British crew of Jim Harrison and Harvey Bell, while Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry were third, 13 seconds further behind, after they punctured on the sixth stage.

Reigning Champion Elliott set the fastest time on the opening stage, Kilbarron, and quickly opened up a 15 second advantage over rival Niall Maguire, who opted for a hard slick in the slippery conditions. Jim Harrison, on his first outing in the Dunlop series in almost two years, was third quickest - 13 seconds adrift of Maguire, with Kevin Barrett fourth. Garry Jennings led Group N, and he was three seconds in front of Kevin Kelleher.

Elliott reigned supreme on the second test and extended his lead over Maguire to 25 seconds, as the latter traversed the stage

2nd: James Harrison & Harvey Bell

16

pacenotes.net march 2009

with a problematic track control arm. Harrison retained third as fourth placed Barrett reckoned the suspension of his Subaru was far too hard for the Nenagh roads.

Meanwhile, Garry Jennings

by Sean Flanagan (Subaru) and Eamonn Daly (Mitsubishi) and top two-wheel drive exponent, Brian O’Mahony (Renault Clio S1600).

Elsewhere, Kenny Bustard lost time as a result of the suspension

I’m very pleased, It was a tough rally, but very well organised. I had a few moments, but that was to be expected in the conditions. I was focused on gaining championship points, so to win is a bonus - Patrick elliott retired on the stage with throttle sensor issues. Thomas Fitzmaurice (Mitsubishi) set a strong pace to take over the lead in the category.

He also held fifth overall, five seconds clear of Kevin Kelleher after the latter lost time with an incorrect tyre choice.

The top ten was completed

of his Mitsubishi being too soft, while Fergal Costello retired his Mitsubishi with a blown engine.

Maguire posted the best time through the third stage and took three seconds from Elliott, but the rally leader was in devastating form through the fourth test. He added ten seconds to his advantage, which stood at 31 seconds at the Nenagh service halt.

Remarkably, Elliott stalled his Subaru on the third test and endured a slight spin on the next stage. Harrison was gaining in confidence on his return, while fourth placed Barrett was pleased that the adjustments made at the service halt were making a difference.

In Group N, Kevin Kelleher (Mitsubishi) was impressive through the third and fourth stages

(Mitsubishi) rounding off the top ten. Elsewhere, Trevor Mulligan completed the two stages without an intercom, but he still led class 14.

On the closing pair of stages, Elliott punched in the fastest times to clinch an impressive victory.

He finished two minutes and 19 seconds ahead of Harrison.

“I’m very pleased,” Elliott said afterwards. “It was a tough rally, but very well organised. I had a few moments, but that was to be expected in the conditions. I was focused on gaining championship points, so to win is a bonus.”

Harrison, who isn’t registered for Dunlop points, took the runner up spot, with Niall Maguire some 13 seconds further behind in third.

Kevin Barrett completed the top four in his Subaru Impreza WRC. Victory in the Group N category went to Kevin Kelleher,

Nenagh Stages Rally

and took control of the showroom category. He was fifth overall - 16 seconds ahead of Anthony O’Halloran (Mitsubishi). Brian O’Mahony held eighth overall and led the two-wheel drive category.

Completing the top 10, Sean Flanagan was eighth in his Subaru, ahead of Eamonn Daly and Thomas Fitzmaurice, who lost over 30 seconds on the third stage when their exhaust manifold came adrift.

Local driver Eoghain Fogarty was on the fringes of the top ten until a fourth stage puncture dropped him down the leaderboard.

Elliott added 13 seconds to his lead after the completion of stage five, Killoscully. Most of the places remained unchanged except for Brian O’Mahony, who spun and clipped the front of his Renault Clio.

He dropped one position as a result, allowing Sean Flanagan to move up to seventh.

On the sixth stage, Maguire lost substantial time when his Subaru punctured a third of the way through the 20km test. Elliott arrived at the final service halt in Nenagh with a lead of one minute and 38 seconds, while Harrison moved up to second despite dropping time with an overshoot.

A disappointed Maguire couldn’t find any specific reason for the puncture. Meanwhile, fourth placed Barrett lost a few seconds when he caught up with Maguire, however, he reckoned the time loss was insignificant.

Kelleher, in fifth, was 21 seconds ahead of O’Halloran, who had a few major moments on the sixth test. Sean Flanagan was untroubled in seventh, a position he shared with Thomas Fitzmaurice. Brian O’Mahony took a cautious approach to the sixth stage - he was ninth - with Eamonn Daly

Dunlop National Rally Championship

3rd: Niall Maguire & Enda Sherry

who finished 49 seconds clear of Anthony O’Halloran. Thomas Fitzmaurice, Sean Flanagan, Trevor Mulligan and Eamonn Daly completed the top ten.

There was late drama in the two-wheel drive category when Brian O’Mahony failed to finish.

His Renault Clio ran out of petrol and Trevor Mulligan (Escort) was perfectly placed to take the category win.

With the opening round of the 2009 Dunlop-backed series completed, crews now turn their attention to round two. The T.F. Royal Hotel and Theatre Mayo Stages Rally takes place on Sunday 8th March, and Gareth MacHale is seeded first on the road in a Super 2000 Corsa, ahead of reigning champion Patrick Elliott. Pacenotes will be there to catch all the action!

4th: Kevin Barrett & Sean Mullally

class report & images

5th: Kevin Kelleher & Patrick Robinson

pacenotes.net march 2009

17

Dunlop National Rally Championship

Nenagh Stages Rally

CL2: David Quigley & Des Sherlock

CL5: Eamonn McCafferty & Catherine Levis

CLASS RESULTS Class 2 1 David Quigley/Des Sherlock Honda Civic EK4............. 1:26:03 2 Stephen Carey/Mark Lee Honda Civic EK4............. 1:28:36 3 Eamon Dervan/David Gardiner Honda Civic.................... 1:30:06 Class 4 1 Kevin Kelleher/Patrick Robinson Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 1:20:52 2 Anthony O’Halloran/Charlie McEnery Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 1:21:41 3 Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 1:22:26 Class 5 1 Eamonn McCafferty/Catherine Levis Ford Puma...................... 1:40:30 2 Otto Gropler/Chrystal Culkeen Ford KA........................... 1:45:03 Class 6 1 Keith Power/Colin O`Toole Peugeot 106................... 1:28:16 2 Mark Kane/Raftery Dean Citroen C2 R2................. 1:32:05 3 Robert Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman Citroen C2 R2................. 1:32:14 Class 8 1 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally Subaru Impreza............... 1:19:42 2 Tim Enright/Stephen Buckley Mitsubishi Evo 7............. 1:26:03 3 Pat Kelly/Noel Lambert Subaru Impreza............... 1:28:11 Class 9 1 Thomas Carolan/Declan Smith Ford Escort..................... 1:33:16 2 Simon Evans/Barry Faul BMC Mini........................ 1:33:35 3 Kenny O’Brien/Franky O’Dwyer Vauxhall Nova................. 1:34:56 Class 10 1 Shane Maguire/Stephen Thornton Peugeot 205 GTi............. 1:33:59 2 Kevin Cleere/Keith Murray Ford Escort..................... 1:34:49 3 Darragh O’Brien/Niall O’Brien Peugeot 205 GTi............. 1:35:28

18

pacenotes.net march 2009

CL9: Thomas Carolan & Declan Smith

Class Battles…

Class 2

David Quigley and Des Sherlock claimed a start to finish win in class two. They powered their Honda Civic to the top of the leaderboard, winning the category convincingly by more than two minutes. Stephen Carey and Mark Lee were the best of the rest, with Eamon Dervan and David Gardiner completing the top three.

Class 3

Two crews entered class three but neither made the finish! Paul Quinn and Jason Harron took the initial lead from Ross Forde and Robert Fagg, only for the early leaders to retire on the following stage. That left Forde holding the honours, but he too retired after stage four.

went on to win the category by 49 seconds from Anthony O’Halloran and Charlie McEnery, with Thomas Fitzmaurice and Fionn Foley third.

Class 5

Eamonn McCafferty and Catherine Levis claimed a start to finish win with their Ford Puma in class five.

The crew grabbed control from the start, making their intentions loud and clear. Otto Gropler and Chrystal Culkeen had no answer to the flying Puma, and they finished second with their Ford Ka.

Class 6

It looked as though Brian O’Mahony and John Higgins were going to be another crew to join

Class 4

Garry Jennings and Martin Brady were the early class four leaders in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, but were promptly forced into retirement with ECU problems.

Meanwhile, Thomas Fitzmaurice and Fionn Foley overhauled Kevin Kelleher and Patrick Robinson to move into the category lead, but they dropped out of the top spot one stage later, allowing Kelleher to take the reins. Once in front, he was determined to stay there, and

CL6: Keith Power & Colin O`Toole

the start to finish winners’ list, but their rally ended almost within sight of the finish line. Entering the final stage, with five minutes in hand, they were forced into retirement after running out of petrol! That allowed Keith Power and Colin O’Toole to take the win ahead of Mark Kane and Dean Raftery, while Robert Barrable and Dermot O’Gorman finished third.

Class 8

The top three overall sacrificed their class awards, so Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally won class eight from Tim Enright and Stephen Buckley, with Pat Kelly and Noel Lambert third.

Simon Evans and Barry Faul took the early class lead in their BMC Mini and looked set to claim the class trophy. Going into the final stage, they were 38 seconds ahead of Thomas Carolan and Declan Smith, but a storming run by Carolan saw him take almost one minute out of his rival. That was enough to hand him the category spoils, with Evans in second position ahead of Kenny O’Brien and Franky O’Dwyer.

Class 12

Noel O’Donnell and Ronan Murrin took an early class 12 lead in their Peugeot 205, but dropped behind

Class 14 CL12: William Cavanagh & Dorothy C avanagh Woods

Class 10

Kevin Cleere and Keith Murray took the early class 10 lead in their Escort, but lost their advantage after a problem on stage six. Shane Maguire and Stephen Thornton moved into the lead as a result, and went on to claim the class win in their Peugeot 205 GTi. Cleere and Murray had to settle for second, with Darragh and Niall O’Brien third.

Class 11

With more than 30 competitors in class 11, there was plenty of competition for everyone to contend with! Mark Geraghty and Colm Doherty grabbed the initial lead in their Corsa but retired after stage two. Jim McKenna and Thomas Treanor slotted into the top spot, and stayed there until the finish. Their eventual winning margin was an impressive two minutes 50 seconds, with Declan and Eoin Gallagher second ahead of John Ward and Gary McNern.

their teeth! They powered their Ford Escort Maxi to a three-second victory over Ed Synan and Denis O’Connell. After a slow start, Synan clawed back some time but it was too little, too late. He had to settle for second with Alistair Fingleton and Debbie Greene third.

Nenagh Stages Rally

Class 9

CL11: Jim McKenna & Thomas Treanor

Dunlop National Rally Championship

CL10: Shane Maguire & Stephen Thornton

CL13: David Percy & John Kinihan

Des Moore and Conor Foley grabbed an early lead in their Mark 2 Escort, but were overhauled by Trevor Mulligan and Lisa Roe on stage four. Moore regained the advantage one stage later, only for Mulligan to return fire and move in front once again. He stayed there until the finish, claiming the win by 32 seconds from Moore, with Mike Quinn and Grainne McInerney third.

Class 15 CL14: Trevor Mulligan & Lisa Roe

William Cavanagh and Dorothy Cavanagh Woods on stage three.

Then Gerry Smyth and Gregory McQuillan moved in front, only for the Woods crew to return to the top after Smyth retired. The Woods stayed in front, recording the category win by 56 seconds from Noel O’Donnell, with Kieran Guinan and Alan Higgins third.

Class 13

David Percy and John Kinihan claimed a start to finish win in class 13 – but only by the skin of

Just three crews entered in class 15, with Jack and Paul Maguire taking a start to finish win. While Richard Burke and Frank Byrnes retired from the event, the Maguire crew went on to seal the honours by almost four minutes from Dan Mulcahy and Donnacha O’Callaghan.

Class 16 - Juniors

Stephen Greaney and Kieran Feeney also joined the start to finish winners’ list with victory among the Junior crews. They pedalled their Honda Civic to the limit, winning the class by 12 seconds from Christopher Snow and Thomas Melia, with Darren and Nicola McKenna third.

CLASS RESULTS Class 11 1 Jim McKenna/Thomas Treanor Toyota Starlet RWD......... 1:24:30 2 Declan Gallagher/Eoin Gallgher Toyota Starlet RWD......... 1:27:20 3 John Ward/Gary McNern Toyota Corolla................. 1:27:26 Class 12 1 William Cavanagh/Dorothy Cavanagh Woods Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:26:13 2 Noel O’Donnell/Ronan Murrin Peugeot 205 GTi............. 1:27:09 3 Kieran Guinan/Alan Higgins Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:32:29 Class 13 1 David Percy/John Kinihan Ford Escort Maxi............. 1:25:29 2 ED Synan/Denis O’Connell Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:25:32 3 Alistair Fingleton/Debbie Greene Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:29:20 Class 14 1 Trevor Mulligan/Lisa Roe Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:22:58 2 Des Moore/Conor Foley Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:23:30 3 Mike Quinn/Graine McInerney Ford Escort Mk2............. 1:23:53 Class 15 1 Jack Maguire/Paul Maguire Ford Escort Cosworth..... 1:26:27 2 Dan Mulcahy/Donnacha O’Callaghan Ford Escort Cosworth..... 1:30:20 Class 16 - Juniors 1 Stephen Greaney/Kieran Feeney Honda Civic....................... 45:15 2 Christopher Snow/Thomas Melia Honda Civic Type R............ 45:27 3 Mckenna Darren/Mckenna Nicola Toyota Corolla Twincam..... 45:55

CL15: Jack Maguire & Paul Maguire

Junior Winners: Stephen Greaney & Kieran Feeney

pacenotes.net march 2009

19

facttfile Driver: Peter Wilso n Height: 6ft Home: Moynalty, Co . Meath Birth date: 21st Se ptemb Occupation: Plant Ma er 1983 nager Road car: Mitsubis hi Pa Rally car: Honda Civ jero ic Marital status: Too young for that!

Hobbies: Rallying Sponsors: Navan Hir e& Hardware, James Ca ss Motors, Gerard Wilso idy n Construction Anything else you want to say: I’d like to say a huge tha James and Teddy Ca nk you to ssidy for all the help over the ye ars.

Peter Wilson

questiontime with Peter Wilson

march 2009 20 pacenotes.net

Donegal Is Wilson’s Country...

1. When did you first get behind a wheel?

I think I was about 11.

Stage Rally while lying second overall and only three seconds behind the leader!

2. Who taught you to drive?

Myself.

10. What drive are you most proud of to date?

Finishing fourth overall on the Castle Rally in 2005 – it was my first time driving a 4WD car. Also winning the Motorsport Ireland National Junior Rally Championship in 2008.

3. Did you pass your driving test first time?

Yes! 4. What was your first road car?

A Renault Clio which turned into a rally car a year later!

5. What is your favourite road car?

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.

6. Who were your motorsport heroes as a child?

Bertie Fisher, Rory Galligan and Connie Smith.

7. Who would you rate as the top three British or Irish rally drivers today?

Kris Meeke, Eugene Donnelly and Damien Tourish.

8. What was your first competitive event?

Cavan Autocross in 2002.

9. What is your worst memory in rallying?

Crashing out of the ALMC Mini

11. What is your most frustrating memory in rallying?

Retiring on the Sunday of the Donegal International with a broken gearbox. We had been leading the class from the start - ahead of all the locals.

12. What is your biggest accident to date?

The ALMC Mini Stages in 2007. It was stage three and the car just got away from me. It struck a tree on the outside of the corner, then did a few 360 degree spins down the road before hitting another tree. The car was wrecked.

13. What are your plans for 2009?

I’m going to do a few local events and maybe the Donegal International.

14. What is your favourite event?

Donegal International.

15. What is your favourite rally car?

It’s a 2.4 Mark 2 Escort - I’d love to have a go in one!

16. What do you think about youth development in rallying?

I hear it’s good in France and other European countries, but it doesn’t really exist in Ireland.

17. If you could change anything about current rallying rules/ admin what would it be?

I would do away with bale chicanes and the HANS devices.

18. What was the last CD you bought?

I can’t remember!

19. What is your favourite tipple?

Vodka and Red Bull.

20. What did you have for breakfast this morning?

A cup of tea.

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pacenotes.net march 2009

21

Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series

Wyedean Forest Rally

Photo Caption

Elsmore Takes White W The worst winter weather in almost twenty years threatened the running of this event and only some sterling work by the organisers saved the day.

Words Phil James PICTURES rallygallery.com

Event: Get Connected!

Wyedean Forest Rally.

Date: 07/02/09.

Location: Chepstow.

Surface: Gravel.

Stages: 7 scheduled, 6 actual.

Stage Miles: 45 scheduled, 35 actual.

Organisers: Forest of Dean Motor Club.

Championships: BTRDA; MSA English; Welsh National; ASWMC; CMSG. Starters: 157.

Finishers: 130.

RESULTS 1 Nik Elsmore/Craig Drew Mitsubishi EVO 9............. 0:41:28 2 Daniel Barry/Martain Brady Mitsubishi EVO 9............. 0:41:43 3 Andrew Burton/ Shelley Rogerson Peugeot Cosworth.......... 0:42:26 4 Nigel Griffiths/Robin Kellard Subaru Impreza............... 0:42:35 5 Thomas Naughton/ Horace Saville Mitsubishi EVO 9............. 0:43:39 6 Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley Mitsubishi Lancer WRC... 0:43:43 7 Tim Pearcey/Robin Hernaman Mitsubishi EVO 9............. 0:44:25 8 Dave Jenkins/Graham Cox Ford Escort WRC............ 0:44:50 9 Andrew Barnes/Guy Simmons Ford Focus WRC............. 0:45:06 10 Michael O’Brien/Paul Spooner Ford Focus WRC............. 0:45:07 11 Tony MacWhirter/Steve Green Mitsubishi EVO 7............. 0:45:12 12 Peter Egerton/Jamie Edwards Hyundai Accent WRC4.... 0:45:29 13 Roger Chilman-Jnr/ Andrew Sankey Subaru Impreza............... 0:46:06 14 Stephen Simpson/Patrick Walsh Hyundai Accent . ............ 0:46:16 15 Mad Mick Jones/Dale Furniss Ford Escort MK2............. 0:46:36

Some changes to the schedule and

the deployment of snow ploughs saw the rally go ahead with only the loss of one stage.

The conditions certainly played their part and with snow tyres in short supply, many crews struggled, especially on those inclines covered by sheet ice. At the finish of the rally it was surprising to find that the retirement rate wasn’t higher, as almost every crew claimed to have experienced more than one ‘moment’.

Only six seconds separated the five fastest cars through the opening six mile Sallowvallets test with the

RF1.0 - Lewis Roper & Ben Thomas

Peugeot Cosworth of 2008 winners Andy Burton and Shelley Rogerson leading the way. Nigel Griffiths and Robin Kellard were a second behind in their Subaru Impreza with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 of Daniel Barry and Martin Brady a further second down in third place. A brace of similar cars completed the top five with Tom Naughton and Horace Saville two seconds adrift followed

by Nik Elsmore and Craig Drew who were a further second in arrears.

David Howells and Andy Morgan spent over a minute in a ditch having chosen the wrong tyres for their Impreza but it was worse for Damian

RF 1.4 - Chris Jones & Chris Spilsted

Class 1.4L- Simon Taft & Steve Deeley

Class 14c - Sion & Gary Matthews

Class RF1.0 - Lewis Roper and Ben Thomas brought their hired Nissan Micra to a convincing win, finishing over three minutes ahead of the similar car of Dan Gray and Russ Joseph. Dafydd Williamson and Phil Spilsted finished third in another Micra.

Nova home a minute and a half ahead of the similar car of Euros Evans and Dylan Lewis. The winners passed cars on every stage and finished the final test with a puncture and minus the rear bumper. Eric Davis and Rob Baldwin finished third in their Mini.

Class RF1.4 - Rally school instructors Chris Jones and Chris Spilsted took the victory spoils in their Micra, finishing over four minutes ahead of Peter Scott and Graham Dance in the Daihatsu Sirion. Jason Hopkins and Richard Liveley finished third in their VW Lupo.

Class 1.4S - Julian Wilkes and Andy Ballantyne survived an off on the opening stage to finish the day over five minutes ahead of their closest rivals. The Nova crew distinguished themselves by setting a stage time faster than a clutch of Focus and Impreza WRCs in SS2. The similar car of runners-up Neil Matthews and John Connor kept dropping onto two cylinders for most of the day but they managed to hold off the Escort Mk2 of Malcolm Hague and Dave Read. Hague was counting himself lucky to collect maximum BTRDA points after an off on the last stage, which they completed with the car stuck in fourth gear.

Class 1.4L - Simon Taft may have been absent from the stages for the past four years but he was soon on the pace, as he and Steve Deeley swept to victory in their MG ZR. Roger Mustoe and Allison Perkins finished second in their Polo with the MG ZR of Vin Hughes and Mike Calvert completing the top three. march 2009 22 pacenotes.net

Cole and Paul Morris who retired their Hyundai Accent WRC with engine problems.

Elsmore was then quickest through Serridge 1 to close within two seconds of Burton whilst Barry overhauled Griffiths to slot into third place as Griffiths and Naughton completed the top five. A lack of suitable tyres had left Will Nicholls and Nick Broom so far off the pace at this point that the Subaru Impreza WRC crew elected to put the car on the trailer and head for home. Broom said “We didn’t have any offs, we just didn’t have any grip!”

Shaun Gardener and Ben Innes,

Class 1.4C - Sion and Gary Matthews brought their

Class N3 - Kit and Tim Leigh were the only finishers in their Ford Fiesta ST.

Class 14s -

Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series

lying in 19th place, were another crew struggling with tyre choice on their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo5.9. Innes described it as a “Lotterally” adding “The snow tyres work fine on snow but are dire on ice and most of the first two stages have been covered in ice.”

At 10.76 miles, SS3 Speech House was the longest stage of the rally and Elsmore used it to good effect taking a lead he would hold to the finish.

Barry also improved his standing, edging Burton, who was half a minute slower through the stage, into third as Griffiths and Naughton held station.

Howells was sixth quickest moving him into the top 30 but was soon to retire after falling foul of the reduced service allowance.

The short Piercefield Park stage, that followed service, gave crews a

Charlie Payne and Craig Thorley held sixth place throughout the day in their Mitsubishi Lancer WRC and took the class win. Tim Pearcey and Robin Hernaman almost threw seventh place away on the final test.

Having already survived one big moment the Evo9 crew then suffered a spin before the turbo blew forcing them to limp through the last two miles.

Dave Jenkins and Graham Cox finished eighth in their Escort WRC with Andrew Barnes and Guy Simmons taking ninth in their Focus WRC, finishing just a second ahead of O’Brien who completed the top ten.

Having held a top ten placing for most of the day, Tony MacWhirter and Steve Green, who were seeded at 56 in their Evo7, slipped to 11th after collecting a ten second penalty.

With the top two only tackling the event as a Rallye Sunseeker shakedown, top Gold Star points went to Burton whilst Mick Jones collected maximum points in his Silver Star title bid. The biggest accolades though should go to the organisers and their army of volunteers who made it all possible, it was a monumentous effort that deserves all our applause.

Wyedean Forest Rally

te Win!

chance to assess any tyre changes they’d made. Michael O’Brien and Paul Spooner were clearly happy with theirs as their Ford Focus WRC finally registered a top ten stage time, a feat they would continue on the remaining stages.

Barry meanwhile reduced Elsmore’s lead to 11 seconds but the advantage then swung back in Elsmore’s favour through Chepstow Park where he added two seconds to his advantage. Griffiths was now four seconds ahead of Burton whilst Naughton retained fifth but his run was threatened when part of the wiring loom, located in the boot, caught fire on the following road section.

With SS6 Mailscot cancelled on safety grounds only a return visit to Serridge for a slightly shorter stage than that run in the morning remained. Elsmore had concerns about a broken bracket on the oil cooler but still managed fastest time, two seconds up on Barry. Burton regained the final podium place at Griffiths’ expense and Naughton retained fifth place despite his rear differential not functioning, something he put down to the effects of the fire.

B11 - Mick Joines & Dale Furniss

B12 - Carl Davies & Andy Card

B13 - Nigel Griffiths & Robin Kellard

Class 14s - Julian Wilkes & Andy Ballantyne

Class N3 - Kit & Tim Leigh

Class N4 - Naughton/Saville; Pearcey/Robin Hernaman; Steve Holder/Steve McPhee (Impreza).

Class B10 - A constant misfire on their Citroen Saxo didn’t prevent Andy Gwynne and Holly Robinson taking class honours after leaving the Escort RS of Nigel Booley and Dave Catto over a minute in arrears. Chris Coe and Russell Downs guided their 205 into third spot.

Class B11 - ‘Mad’ Mick Jones and Dale Furniss stormed into a 30 second first stage lead but needed help from spectators after dumping their Escort Mk2 ‘in a big hole’ on SS2. Thereafter they stayed out of trouble as Jones finished, with Jon Ballinger and Alistair Douglas almost thee minutes behind in their Opel Manta. John Woodward and Rich Pover were a further minute down in their Escort.

Class B12 - Carl Davies and Andy Card took the honours in their BMW M3 holding off the Mk2 of Adrian Hetherington and Gary Nolan. It was a remarkable result for Davies who maintained a top twenty place throughout

Class N4- Naughton & Saville

B10 - Andy Gwynee & Holly Robinson

the day in his road rally spec M3. Ryan Barratt and Barry Ferris completed the top three in their Mk2 after a one minute penalty, for booking in early at a stage start, demoted the Focus of Paul Barrett and Dermot Colgan to fifth place.

Class B13 - Griffiths/Kellard; MacWhirter/Green; Chilman/Sankey (see main report).

WR1 - Charlie Payne & Craig Thorley

Historic 3 Theo Bengry & Les Forsbrook

Class WR1 - Payne/Thorley; Jenkins/Cox; Barnes/ Simmons (see main report).

Historics - There was a convincing H3 win for Theo Bengry and Les Forsbrook that saw the Opel Ascona crew rack up a winning margin in excess of eight minutes.

Richard Lane and Frank Richer finished runners-up with third place going to Ron Taylor and Kevin Lane, both crews being Escort mounted. Robert Close and Mike Reynolds took the H2 laurels in their Toyota Celica GT whilst H1 honours went to Graham Waite and Gill Cotton in their Volvo Amazon.

Historic 1 - Graham Waite & Gill Cotton

pacenotes.net march 2009

23

Round-Up of Clubman Rally Action

UK Clubman

Winners: Michael O’Brien & Paul Spooner

Winners: Paul Bird & Ian Windress

Winners: Peter Lloyd & Graham Handley

Events: Red Kite Stages & Red Kite Historic Stages. Date: 18th January 2009. Location: Llandovery. Surface: Gravel. Stages: 6. Stage Miles: 45. Organisers: Amman & District Motor Club. Championships: Welsh Clubmans; MSA Welsh National; ANWCC; ASWMC; ACSMC & ASEMC. Starters: 48 (+ 20 Historics). Finishers: 31 (+14 Historics)

Event: Cartersport Jack Frost Stages. Date: 18th January 2009.

Location: Croft Race Circuit, Nr Darlington. Surface: Tarmac.

Stages: 8. Stage Miles: 36. Organisers: Darlington & District Motor Club. Championship: NETR NECC; Borders; ANCC. Starters: 88. Finishers: 71.

Event: Brean Leisure Park Stages Rally. Date: 31st January/1st February 2009. Location: Brean, Nr Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. Surface: Tarmac. Stages: 14. Stage Miles: 52.

Championships: ASWMC; ACSMC; CMSG. Starters: 85.

Finishers: 56.

Gary Jones

www.pro-rally.co.uk

Sean Forde

O’Brien Flies On Red Kite!

Bird’s Jack Frost Victory!

Lloyd Lands Leisure Park!

Michael O’Brien and Paul Spooner’s Wyedean shakedown went according to plan with a trouble free run in their Ford Focus WRC. A clean sweep of fastest stage times saw them take a convincing win, finishing with more than a minute in hand.

That was more than can be said for the similar plans of Damian Cole and Paul Morris who failed to reach the start of stage one after a relay in the new paddle shift gear change system on their Hyundai Accent WRC malfunctioned.

Closest to O’Brien through the opening Cefn Llwydlo test, just two seconds behind, were Geoff Underhill and Adrian Grinstead in the ex-Sean Devine Subaru Impreza WRC. Third fastest time came from Dave Brick and Rob Woodhouse who lost time after oil was sprayed over the windscreen of their Subaru Impreza. Paul Barrett and Dermot Colgan were early retirees knocking a wheel off their Focus.

With a clean screen and his power steering leak fixed Brick moved ahead of Underhill on SS2, the first visit of the day to Crychan.

Underhill maintained third spot despite only managing fifth fastest time whilst Grant Rees and Wyn Davies were the surprise package in fourth in their Nissan Sunny. Andrew Bowen and Mathew Lloyd retired here after putting their Escort G3 through a fence whilst a blown turbo put paid to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 of Chris and Jo Tooze, who had been lying seventh.

With O’Brien and Brick edging further ahead through Esgair Daffydd, a spin saw Underhill slip down the order. Henri Grehan and Chris Ridge now moved up to third in their Ford Escort Mk2, demoting Rees to fourth, with Underhill now fifth.

A second run over the opening loop of stages followed with O’Brien and Brick strengthening their grip on the top two places.

Both Grehan and Rees ended their rallies with engine problems, leaving the way for Underhill to grab third by the finish. The top five was completed by a pair of Imprezas with Wug and Max Utting finishing fourth ahead of Steve Holder and Steve McPhee.

Historic honours went to Terry Brown and Den Golding’s Ford Escort RS1800.

Leading from start to finish, Paul Bird and Ian Windress went one better than their Christmas Stages result three weeks previous, bringing their Subaru Impreza WRC home in pole position. A first stage spin ruined any hope Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor-West harbored of mounting a serious challenge leaving the MG Metro 6R4 crew to settle for a distant second spot. Steven Hogg and Phill Short, who had been closest to Bird after stage one, completed the podium places in their Subaru Impreza.

The dry and bright conditions at the start proved deceptive as early morning rain left standing water on parts of the track waiting to catch out the unwary. That didn’t worry Mark Jasper and Don Whyatt though, as their Metro 6R4 never left the service area after petrol was poured into the cars oil tank.

Fastest time by Wise on stage two put the Metro neck and neck with Bird’s Impreza WRC but a run of five fastest stage times placed the Subaru pilot in an unassailable position. Wise was second fastest and Hogg third quickest throughout this sequence and in spite the latter setting best time through SS8 it had no bearing on the final outcome.

By this juncture the weather had made a turn for the worse with driving rain and sleet making for some horrendous driving conditions. James and Kevin Knox put their BMW M3 into the armco on SS7 before Brian Morris and Mark Leybourne followed suit in their Datsun 240Z on the following stage. Both crews escaped serious injury but their rallies were run.

The change in conditions suited Richard and Edwin Cook who moved their prize drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 ahead of a pair of Imprezas to finish fourth. David Hardie and Michael Baird finished fifth after overhauling John and Mark Gaskin on the final stage. A misfire left the Evo5 of Chris Marshall and Simon Hunter seventh with Class 3 winners John Deegan and Giles Dykes eighth in the Honda Civic Type-R. Impreza pairing Kev Dunn and Alison Woodcock gained ninth place when Alistair Hutchinson and St John Dykes had a last stage off in their Renault Clio.

Peter Lloyd, co-driven by Graham Handley, made a winning start in his newly acquired ex-Eamonn Boland Subaru Impreza WRC S12, taking a 21 second victory over the Audi A3 Quattro of David Kynaston and Andy Russell.

A maximum 85 car entry lined up to tackle the caravan park based two-day rally and it was the MG Metro 6R4 of Karl Broad and Trasie Moore which set the early pace. Quickest after SS1 they held top spot until Lloyd moved ahead on SS4, a place the Subaru pilot would make his own for the rest of the event. By the end of the first day’s schedule SS8, Lloyd had accumulated a 19 second advantage, with third placed Steve and Yvonne Furzeland a further five seconds back in their older version Impreza WRC. Kynaston completed the first leg in fourth place after surviving an altercation with tyre barrier as he struggled to find grip.

Lloyd had a nervous start to Sunday’s proceedings losing 12 seconds on the opening test when he stalled at the stage start whilst Broad’s rally ended here with a broken steering column after he hit a concrete post.

Fastest time from Kynaston saw him leapfrog Furzeland to take second spot but he couldn’t improve on that as Lloyd then set about setting a string of fastest stage times.

Furzeland’s third place was under attack from James Harvey and Paul Arberry until rear differential problems put their Impreza into retirement. Class D winners Dave Parnell and Pete Bold finished fourth in their Ford Escort Mk1, with the similar car of Adrian Brown and Chris Jarman completing the top five.

Class A winners Julian Wilkes and David Whitehead claimed sixth in their Vauxhall Nova. Seventh placed Dave Harris and Glyn Thomas won Class C in their Escort Mk2 after Dave West and Keith Hounslow retired their Peugeot 306 having removed a wheel in a collision with a concrete barrel. Tim Porter and Dave Warner finished eighth with Nigel Wilcox and Robert Symes taking ninth, both crews Escort mounted.

Stuart Bliss and Rich Marsh collect Class B prizes completing the top ten in their Honda Civic Type-R.

Results: 1 Paul Bird/Ian Windress (Subaru Impreza WRC) 41:47.

2 Chris Wise/Tracey Taylor-West (MG Metro 6R4) 42:31. 3 Steven Hogg/Phil Shortt (Subaru Impreza) 43:01. 4 Richard Cook/Edwin Cook (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) 44:12. 5 David Hardie/Michael Baird (Subaru Impreza) 44:18. 6 John Gaskin/Mark Gaskin (Subaru Impreza) 44:27.

7 Chris Marshall/Simon Hunter (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo5) 44:47. 8 John Deegan/Giles Dykes (Honda Civic Type-R) 45:30. 9 Kev Dunn/Alison Woodcock (Subaru Impreza) 46:01. 10 Alistair Hutchinson/St John Dykes (Renault Clio RS) 46:02.

Results: 1 Peter Lloyd /Graham Handley (Subaru Impreza WRC) 57:10. 2 David Kynaston/Andy Russell (Audi A3 Quattro) 57:31. 3 Steve Furzeland/ Yvonne Furzeland (Subaru Impreza WRC) 58:15. 4 Dave Parnell/Pete Bold (Ford Escort Mk1) 59:40. 5 Adrian Brown/Chris Jarman (Ford Escort Mk1) 60:19. 6 Julian Wilkes/David Whitehead (Vauxhall Nova) 62:10. 7 Dave Harris/Glyn Thomas (Ford Escort Mk2) 62:23. 8 Tim Porter/Dave Warner (Ford Escort) 62:40. 9 Nigel Wilcox/Robert Symes (Ford Escort) 63:00. 10 Stuart Bliss/Rich Marsh (Honda Civic Type-R) 63:14.

Class Award Winners: 1: Steven Crowther/David Batley (Peugeot 205); 2: Chris Platt/Mick Robinson (Vauxhall Tigra); 3: Deegan/Dykes; 4: John Stone/Lee Carter (Ford Escort Mk2); 5: Wise/Taylor-West; 6: John Cockerill/Jim Goodman (Ford Escort Mk2).

Class Award Winners: A: Wilkes/Whitehead B: Bliss/Marsh; C: Harris/ Thomas; D: Parnell/Bold; E: Kynaston/Russell.

Results: 1 Michael O’Brien/Paul Spooner (Ford Focus WRC) 48:14. 2 Dave Brick/Rob Woodhouse (Subaru Impreza) 49:19. 3 Geoff Underhill/ Adrian Grinstead (Subaru Impreza WRC) 50:15. 4 Wug Utting/Max Utting (Subaru Impreza N12B) 50:47. 5 Steve Holder/Steve McPhee (Subaru Impreza) 51:28. 6 Huw Jeffries/Avarina Connor (Subaru Impreza) 51:43.

7 Richard Fishleigh/Chris Brooks (Subaru Impreza) 51:55. 8 Neville Jones/Julian Jones (Subaru Impreza) 52:06. 9 Emyr Morgan/Emyr Hall (Subaru Impreza) 52:24. 10 Tony Macwhirter/Steve Green (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo8) 53:38.

Class Award Winners: 1: Callum Black/Paul Wakely (MG ZR); 2: Dale Owen/Adam Jeffs (Peugeot 205XSi); 3: Wyn Hughes/D Davies (Ford Escort Mk2); 4: Craig Golder/Tim James (BMW 325); 5: Brick/ Woodhouse; 6: Utting/Utting; 7: Barry Jones/Chris Williams (Ford Escort Mk2).

march 2009 24 pacenotes.net

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Eurocables Rally

Hankook NI Rally Championship

northern ireland rally championship

Winners: Derek McGarrity & James McKee

McGarrity’s ‘Champion’ Performance…

Luke Mooney just loved Shane Braniff’s Feckin Irish Whiskey Tank!

Words Jonathan macdonald PICTURES Martin McCorriston

RESULTS 1 Derek McGarrity/James McKee Subaru Impreza............... 26:52.3 2 Connor McCloskey/Francis Regan Ford Focus WRC............. 27:18.7 3 Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr Ford Focus...................... 27:31.9 4 Denis Biggerstaff/Damian McCann Subaru Impreza............... 27:53.6 5 Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty Subaru Impreza............... 27:57.2 6 George Robinson/Tommy Speers Subaru Impreza............... 28:08.1 7 Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont Subaru Impreza............... 28:17.0 8 Ray Brammer Matt/Whattam Subaru Impreza............... 28:22.9 9 Kieron Graffin/Vincent Fergus Subaru Impreza............... 28:28.3 10 Wesley Patterson/Terence Teggart Ford Escort MK II............ 28:40.3 11 Mark Doyle/Cormac Doyle Toyota Celica.................. 28:48.2 12 Drew Stewart/Steven Park Ford Escort MK II............ 28:56.0 13 Raymond Johnston/Fabain McAleer Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 28:56.3 14 Cathal Rogers/Eoighan Rogers Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 28:58.5 15 Mark Massey/Andrew McVeigh Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 29:08.8

Glengormley’s Derek McGarrity emerged as the ‘champion of champions’ at this year’s Eurocables Stages Rally, round one of the Hankook MSA N.I. Stage Rally Championship!

The event, which was also sponsored by Pedro Pet Foods, saw four former Northern Ireland Championship title holders enter the rally, as well as reigning champion Connor McCloskey...

It was McGarrity and navigator James McKee who led in their Subaru Impreza WRC S12b from the outset though, setting fastest time over the first of six stages.

While some of his rivals caught slower cars during their second lap of the circuit, the 2002 champion capitalised to take the rally lead by six seconds, from Connor McCloskey and Francis Regan.

But it was no fluke that McGarrity was fastest on that opening test, and the stage one results set the scene for the day as far as the Glengormley driver and rival McCloskey were concerned.

McCloskey tried hard to catch the flying Subaru, but McGarrity held the edge. He claimed a total of six fastest times out of six stages to take a convincing Kirkistown victory, finishing 26 seconds ahead

2nd: Connor McCloskey & Francis Regan

of reigning champion Connor McCloskey.

“It was very enjoyable,” rally winner McGarrity said at the end of the final stage. “It’s good to get the win and it was good to get more seat time in a left-hand drive car.”

Second placed McCloskey was equally happy with the result. The young Kilrea driver was always going to find it difficult to match McGarrity’s pace in an older specification Ford Focus WRC, but he was consistently second fastest throughout the event.

“We had a good enough day,” McCloskey said. “We didn’t have any major dramas, although the car needs a new door after we hit a bale on the first stage! But everything was 100 percent and I’m happy with the result. Our car just didn’t have the legs for Derek’s Subaru, but I didn’t expect to beat Kenny!”

Banbridge’s Kenny McKinstry, navigated by Noel Orr, claimed third after tussling for the final podium position with a number of other drivers. It was Alan Carmichael and Ivor Lamont who

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26 march 2009

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northern ireland rally championship

Girl Racer...

3rd: Kenny McKinstry & Noel Orr

held the position after the opening stage, but they dropped down the order after catching another car on the circuit.

That left McKinstry, who was a multiple winner of the N.I. Championship during the late ‘80s, in third, ahead of Denis Biggerstaff

4th: Denis Biggerstaff & Damian McCann

Biggerstaff lost around 20 seconds as a result, but there was more trouble just around the corner. An oil ring broke in one of his gearbox pipes towards the end of the fourth stage, which resulted in his Subaru catching fire!

Thankfully, marshals at the stage

It was very enjoyable and it’s good to get the win and it was good to get more seat time in a left-hand drive car.

Derek McGarrity and Damian McCann. It was nip and tuck between the two drivers, until the third stage saw Biggerstaff overshoot a junction!

“I was trying to get a bit closer to the Focus WRCs and in order for me to get there, I had to brake later - so I did!” Biggerstaff laughed afterwards. “I came down into a junction at what felt like 100mph too hard. She just locked up - I probably should have changed my tyres a stage earlier.”

“I could see the tyre wall getting closer and closer,” Biggerstaff continued, “but unbelievably she stopped before we hit it. I reversed back but didn’t reverse far enough and broke the front bumper when getting around a bale. I also cooked the clutch so had to wait for it to cool down before we were back up to full speed.”

finish were able to douse the flames, and with the help of the McKinstry team, Biggerstaff changed his gearbox in preparation for the final two stages.

Biggerstaff ’s problems provided McKinstry with some breathing room, and the Banbridge driver kept his nose clean during the final two stages to take third overall.

“We had a very good day,” McKinstry said afterwards. “It’s just a pity we lost time when we were stuck behind another car for a whole lap. My daughter Emma’s car caught fire on stage two and I’d like to ask all those competitors who used their fire extinguishers to give me a call.”

The source of Emma’s fire still remains a mystery as Pacenotes goes to print. Thanks must go to the marshals and competitors who

5th: Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty

used their fire extinguishers to put out what could have been a very expensive blaze for the Banbridge lady.

While Emma McKinstry and Kenny Hull retired after their fiery dramas, Denis Biggerstaff and Damian McCann were lucky to finish fourth overall. Only for the help received from the McKinstry Motorsport team, Biggerstaff may not have reached the finish at all.

He managed to overhaul Seamus Leonard and John McCafferty on the penultimate stage, and held on to make it a top four of current and former N.I. Champions!

Fifth placed Seamus Leonard enjoyed his first foray in the Hankook MSA N.I. Rally Championship, although he also caught slower cars around the track.

In the end, he finished 11 seconds ahead of 1995 N.I. Champion, George Robinson, who admitted to losing some time with a bad tyre choice.

Round two of the Hankook MSA N.I. Stage Rally Championship, the McGrady Insurance Stages, takes place on Saturday 14th March. Based near Downpatrick at Bishopscourt Race Circuit, the event has already received almost 50 entries. Both the Eurocables Stages and the McGrady Insurance Stages will be televised on UTV on Thursday 26th March, and as always, Pacenotes will be there to catch all the action!

Eurocables Class Battles…

Class 1

Declan and Dara Leonard claimed the class one honours aboard their Ford Fiesta. While their father Seamus claimed fifth overall in the standings, his two sons faired well in what was their first event in the Fiesta. Niall and Seamus Braniff had taken the early lead but retired during the following test, paving the

way for Leonard to claim the spoils.

In the end, they finished almost two minutes ahead of Becky and Phil Cherry, with Martin Devine and Declan Cairns third – despite only completing one lap of the first stage!

Class 2

Sunoco Fuels Group N contenders John McGlaughlin and Neil

www.hankookmotorsport.com

1st CL1: Declan Leonard & Dara Leonard

Despite retiring from this year’s Eurocables Stages, 17-year-old Samantha Thom deserves a special mention. Having turned 17 on Valentine’s Day, she only passed her driving test a few days before the opening round of the Hankook MSA N.I. Rally Championship!

But Samantha is no stranger to competition.

She has been successfully competing in motorsport since the age of eight! And in spite of breaking her arm during her first race, that failed to put a dampener on her spirits.

Samantha raced karts for a number of years and went on to become the 2005 Northern Ireland Junior Max Champion. Then, in 2006, she moved to rally sprints at Aghadowey Race Circuit, quickly becoming the first lady to win an event. She went on to finish second in the championship, and then moved to rallycross.

Samantha also took the rallycross world by storm, winning her category at the first round before going on to finish third in the British series on her first attempt.

She also finished second in the Irish Rallycross Championship, and now she is turning her attention to rallying.

Sadly, at Kirkistown, mechanical problems brought an end to her rally on only the third stage. It had been a fraught day for the 17-yearold, with a maximum time on the first stage and problems during the second before her retirement.

“We think it’s a fuel problem with the car,” Samantha told Pacenotes.

“The car kept stopping and starting but hopefully we’ll get it fixed before Bishopscourt.”

Needless to say, the regular rally guys haven’t sampled the true speed of Samantha, so don’t discount her – she will be fighting strong at the next event!

Class Report & Results continued >> pacenotes.net march 2009

27

Eurocables Rally

Hankook NI Rally Championship

northern ireland rally championship

CLASS RESULTS Class 1 1 Declan Leonard/Dara Leonard Ford Fiesta...................... 32:47.6 2 Becky Cherry/Phil Cherry Peugeot 205 GTI............. 34:33.7 Class 2 1 Raymond Johnston/Fabain McAleer Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 28:56.3 2 Cathal Rogers/Eoighan Rogers Mitsubishi Evo 9............. 28:58.5 Class 3 1 Dermot O’Hagan/Robert Fyfee Vauxhall Corsa................ 30:32.8 2 Brian Black/Ian Crozier Toyota Starlet.................. 30:59.0 Class 4 1 John Devlin/Gavin Devlin Chrysler Sunbeam.......... 31:53.3 2 Damien McGauran/Thomas McGauran Peugeot 205................... 33:34.5 Class 5 1 Robert Erwin/Neil Ervine Talbot Sunbeam.............. 30:02.3 2 Andrew Wilson/Cathy Wilson Toyota Starlet.................. 30:15.3 Class 6 1 Paul Mogey/Willis Cooper Ford Escort MK II............ 29:43.4 2 William Armstrong/Frank McPolin Ford Escort..................... 30:15.8 Class 7 1 Drew Stewart/Steven Park Ford Escort MK II............ 28:56.0 2 Fintan McGrady/Cormac McGrady Ford Escort MK II............ 29:27.9 Class 8 1 Wesley Patterson/Terence Teggart Ford Escort MK II............ 28:40.3 2 Trevor Moore/JM McGrath Ford Escort MK II............ 29:15.8 Class 9 1 Derek McGarrity/James McKee Subaru Impreza............... 26:52.3 2 Connor McCloskey/Francis Regan Ford Focus WRC............. 27:18.7 Class 10 1 Philip Hunter/Michael Faloon Ford Escort MK II............ 30:32.6 2 Alan Jardine/Jim McSherry Ford Escort MK I............. 30:49.2

1st Cl10: Philip Hunter & Michael Faloon

1st CL2: Raymond Johnston & Fabian McAleer

McCance both retired from the event with mechanical problems, McGlaughlin with gearbox issues and McCance with engine problems after an accident. So it was Raymond Johnston and Cathal Rogers who enjoyed a battle for victory.

The tussle between the reigning champion and Johnston went right down to the wire, and in the end, it was Johnston who emerged as the victor. Cathal was slowed by another car during the fifth stage, and with it he lost hope of winning the category. In the end, he finished two seconds behind Johnston, while Mark Massey and Andrew McVeigh took third.

1st CL3: Dermot O’Hagan & Robert Fyfee

for the spoils. Going into the final stage, the crews were separated by a handful of seconds, but Wilson lost 10 seconds on the stage, ensuring Erwin and navigator Neil Ervine claimed the victory. Despite the time lost, Andrew and Cathy Wilson finished comfortably in second position, ahead of Andrew Mulholland’s Escort.

Class 6

Paul Mogey and Willis Cooper were on top of the class six times from the start, leading the category from the rest of the pack. The crew were simply untouchable as they accelerated into the distance,

1st CL4: John Devlin & Gavin Devlin

Class 8

Class eight saw the quickest twowheel-drive man in the field not only claim class honours, but also the Superdrive 2WD spoils. Wesley Patterson and Terence Teggart notched up another Kirkistown victory, although they almost threw it all away on the final stage. They spun during the test, and Patterson admitted that it was like steering a ‘shopping trolley’ with a tyre stuck under a wheel arch! He survived to tell the tale, winning the class from Trevor Moore and JM McGrath, with Seamus O’Connell and Gabriel Campbell third.

Class 3

Dermot O’Hagan and Robert Fyfee won class three in their Vauxhall Corsa. The crew finished the event less than 30 seconds ahead of Brian Black and Ian Crozier. Black had started to close in on the class leader, but broke his gearbox on stage five. He still managed to finish the event in second position, with Glen Irwin and Derek Torrens third.

1st CL5: Robert Erwin & Neil Ervine

1st CL6: Paul Mogey & Willis Cooper

1st CL7: Drew Stewart & Steven Park

1st CL8: Wesley Patterson & Terence Teggart

Class 4

There were just two finishers in class four and it was John and Gavin Devlin who topped the standings.

Driving their Chrysler Sunbeam, the crew finished the event almost two minutes ahead of Damien and Thomas McGauran. David and Chris Baird failed to start the event.

Class 5

There was plenty of competition in class five and the battle went down to the finish line between Robert Erwin and Andrew Wilson. But it was Andrew Bushe and Safron Thomas who were leading the category from the start. Despite a big spin during the second test, Bushe still led the category, but his time at the top was short-lived when he was forced to drive headon into a bale while trying to avoid another competitor.

That marked the end of his rally, leaving Erwin and Wilson to fight

eventually winning by half a minute from William Armstrong and Frank McPolin. Samuel Wilson and Liam Quigg completed the top three.

Class 7

Drew Stewart and Steven Park sealed another category success at Kirkistown. After topping the pile at the New Year Stages, they claimed another victory aboard their new Escort. It was a close fought affair though, as Fintan and Cormac McGrady fought hard in their Escort. In the end, seven seconds separated the two crews, with Stewart winning ahead of McGrady, while Alistair Cochrane and Jonathan Charlesson were third.

Class 9

Event winners Derek McGarrity and James McKee topped class nine ahead of Connor McCloskey and Francis Regan, with Kenny McKinstry and Noel Orr third.

Class 10

After years of consideration, a new historic category was finally introduced to the Hankook MSA N.I. Rally Championship. Sponsored

by Montgomery Motorsport, the new class attracted seven entrants to the event, and it was Philip Hunter and Michael Faloon who took victory in their Mark 2 Escort.

The crew finished 17 seconds ahead of Alan Jardine and Jim McSherry, with Philip McDowell and Mark Stirling third.

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1ST OVERALL - SNOWMAN RALLY

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1ST GROUP N - SNOWMAN RALLY

ALICK KERR

CLASS 5 & STAGE 1 WINNER!

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Scottish Rally Championship

Snowman Rally

Words Phil James PICTURES Colin Smith

Event: Arnold Clark Thistle Hotel Snowman Rally.

Date: 14th February 2009.

Venue: Inverness.

Surface: Gravel.

Stages: 5 (scheduled).

Stage Miles: 42 (scheduled).

Organisers: Highland Car Club Ltd. Championship: Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

Starters: 126.

Finishers: 82.

RESULTS 1 REAY MACKAY/ROBERT MACDONALD MG METRO 6R4................ 55:15 2 STEVEN CAMPBELL/GRAHAM LAW MITSUBISHI EVO 5............ 56:15 3 JOCK ARMSTRONG/KIRSTY RIDDICK SUBARU IMPREZA N11...... 56:26 4 DAVID BOGIE/KEVIN RAE MITSUBISHI EVO 9............ 57:34 5 RORY YOUNG/ALLAN CATHERS MITSUBISHI EVO 5............ 57:53 6 WILLIAM BONNIWELL/NEIL EWING SUBARU IMPREZA............. 58:08 7 JOHN MORRISON/MARTIN FORREST MITSUBISHI EVO 9............ 58:17 8 DONNIE MACDONALD/PAUL BEATON MITSUBISHI EVO 9............ 58:17 9 SHAUN SINCLAIR/CHRIS HAMILL MITSUBISHI EVO 6............ 58:31 10 MALLOCH NICOLL/ROBERT LUMGAIR MITSUBISHI EVO............... 58:38 11 ALICK KERR/DREW STURROCK FORD FIESTA ST................ 58:44 12 DAVID HUGHES/BRUCE HARPER LANCER EVO 9.................. 58:59 13 GORDON SMITH/PETER CARSTAIRS ESCORT COSWORTH......... 59:09 14 MIKE FAULKNER/PETER FOY MITSUBISHI EVO 6............ 59:20 15 DOUGLAS GILBERT/DAVID ANDERSON MITSUBISHI EVO 4............ 59:30 16 EUAN THORBURN/CLAIRE MOLE SUBARU IMPREZA............. 59:46 17 J CHRISTIE/D MACFADYEN MITSUBISHI EVO 9......... 1:00:23 18 GORDON STODDART/ALASTAIR LOGAN SUBARU IMPREZA.......... 1:00:38 19 JOHN MACKENZIE GORDON CHALMERS ROVER METRO 6R4........ 1:00:51 20 BRUCE MCCOMBIE/MICHAEL COUTTS FORD PUMA................... 1:01:21

pacenotes.net

30 march 2009

Reay Wins On Home Event!

The 2009 Snowman Rally certainly lived up to its name as the forests around Inverness were covered in ‘the white stuff’ making for some truly treacherous driving conditions.

With the rally being run at the same time as Rally Norway there were, inevitably, many comparisons made between the two events.

Without doubt though, the biggest difference was in tyre availability.

In Norway the World Rally Championship contenders could choose studded tyres but in Scotland, as in the rest of Britain, such tyres aren’t an option. As a consequence running order on the road, rather than tyre choice, would play the major part in the final outcome.

It came as no surprise then that the fastest car through the 7.5 mile SS1 Meall Mor was seeded in the thirties. What was a surprise however, was that it was a Ford Fiesta ST that outpaced a whole range

Class 2 - Fraser Wilson & Steven Broll

Class 1

A fine 24th overall earned Stephen Murray and Gary McDonald the honours in their Peugeot 106 with Scott MacDonald and Stewart Hurst finishing a distant second in their Vauxhall Nova.

Class 2

A close contest between

of cars that benefitted, in theory at least, from four wheel traction.

Alick Kerr and Drew Sturrock had borrowed some old snow tyres and coupled with their 37th seeding it had all gone rather well. They emerged from the test as rally leaders 16 seconds ahead of John Morrison and Martin Forrest who’s second placed Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 was shod with gravel tyres. Third fastest, albeit a further 11 seconds slower, were David Bogie and Kevin Rae who were running snow tyres on their Evo9. They were three seconds up on 51 seeds Neil Coalter and Hannah Cessford who were debuting a Fiesta ST equipped with gravel tyres.

Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick had been first to tackle the

Class 3- Dougal Brown & Breagha Dobney

two Nova crews saw Fraser Wilson and Steven Broll emerge as victors ahead of Craig Rutherford and Derek Forsyth.

Class 3

Dougal Brown and Breagha Dobney took the spoils guiding their Talbot Sunbeam home ahead of the Nova of Niall Inglis and Chris Munro.

stage in their hired Subaru Impreza.

They too had borrowed snow tyres but Armstrong found the car’s settings to be too hard and struggled through in 19th place. Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy fared a little better completing the test in 14th spot despite losing time when they understeered into a snow bank. A similar incident left Euan Thorburn and Clare Mole’s Impreza in 24th place.

It was worse though for top seeds Jimmy Girvan and Mike Ramsay who buried their Subaru Impreza in a snow bank. Fortunately they had a shovel, but almost 25 minutes were lost digging out the car and with that went all hope of a good result.

For the second stage the rally headed to the Black Isle for the

Class 4 - Bruce McCombie & Michael Coutts

Class 4

Finishing 20th overall ensured Bruce McCombie and Michael Coutts collected top class honours in their Ford Puma S1600. Runners-up Stuart Davidson and Keir Beaton were over four minutes behind after breaking the clutch of their Proton Satria on the final stage.

Class 7 - Alec Kerr & Drew Sturrock

Class 8 - St

Class 5

Neil Morrison and Graeme Anderson were convincing winners in their Talbot Sunbeam with second place falling to the Peugeot 205 of James Brims and Sandy Coghill.

Class 6

Historic honours went

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Snowman Rally

Morrison suffered a 180 degree spin whereby he was forced to back track to find somewhere safe to turn the car whilst MacDonald’s excursion into a ditch resulted in him having to complete the stage with defective brakes.

Having recovered from landing on a SS1 snow bank, then losing time catching slower cars in SS2 & 3 and finally stalling in SS4, Shaun Sinclair and Chris Hammill brought their Evo6 home in ninth place.

Malloch Nicholl and Robert Lumgair completed the top ten in their Evo9 after Kerr broke a driveshaft and missed out on a deserved top ten finish, ending the day in 11th place.

Having survived an excursion in SS3 David Hughes and Bruce Harper steered their Evo9 home 12th followed by the Escort Cosworth of Gordon Smith and Peter Carstairs. Having completed the final mile of the rally with a puncture Faulkner finished 14th with the Evo4 of Peter Gilbert and David Anderson just ten seconds behind. Thorburn ended the day 16th having set fifth fastest time through the final test after sacrificing his maximum lateness time in order to run late on the road. Jimmy Christie and David MacFadyen survived a last stage coming together with a snow bank to finish 17th in their Evo 9.

At the finish MacKay expressed his delight saying “To win our home event makes it all the more special.

The last eight mile stage was the longest stage of our lives but we made it and the smile on my face is going to take a while to go away.”

Scottish Rally Championship

!

of luck again as gearbox problems nine mile Millbuie stage where Reay finished his rally. Andy Horne’s good MacKay and Robert MacDonald set run also ended here, as he and Jim fastest time on the icy surface in their Howie went no further after putting MG Metro 6R4. They passed three their DAM 4100 in a ditch. The stage cars in stage in the process and it also claimed the Escort Mk2 of Frank catapulted them from 30th to fourth Kelly and Liam Brennan together place at a stroke, however the crew with the Evo4 of Ivor and Tom Clark, were counting themselves lucky just both as accident victims. to have started the test. Heading With SS5 cancelled on safety north on the road section the wipers grounds SS4 Corrimony became began to slow before the car ground the final stage of the rally and third to a halt. A quick check showed the fastest stage time, equalled by Bogie, alternator belt had jumped off but was enough to give MacKay his first fortunately they carry a spare which was quickly fitted to send them on their way again.

Kerr was unable to repeat his stage one feat and slipped to 11th. Armstrong, who caught and passed both Thorburn and the Evo9 of Barry Groundwater and Jude Wylie in the test, now topped the standings. Still running the same snow tyres, the Impreza’s handling had been transformed by switching to the 2nd Overall - Steven Campbell & Graham Law softest suspension settings. The Impreza of Willie Bonniwell forest win. Quickest time was set and Neil Ewing was second place at

by Campbell enabling him make this point whilst Bogie, who having it a ‘local’ 1 – 2 as he overhauled switched to gravel tyres wished he Armstrong who slipped to third. hadn’t, retained third place.

Bogie gained four places to finish Following service at the Black fourth whilst a last stage charge Isle crews faced the 13 miles of

by Rory Young and Allan Cathers Torrachilty, close to the Rogie Falls. moved the Evo5 crew to fifth, up MacKay was again quickest, moving eight places from 13th at the stage him into pole position ahead of start. Their only problems during the Armstrong, as Steven Campbell and day had come from catching slower Graham Law now edged their Evo5 cars in SS1 and being bombarded by into the final podium place. Kerr snowballs thrown by spectators! improved his standing to fourth with Bonniwell ended the day sixth Donnie MacDonald and Paul Beaton whilst Morrison took seventh ahead regaining the fifth place they had held of MacDonald on the tie-break after SS1, in their Evo9. Morrison rule, but only after both Evo9 got away with planting a “Glasgow pilots survived last stage moments. kiss” on a log pile but Girvan was out

“To win our home event makes it all the more special.

The last eight mile stage was the longest stage of our lives but we made it and the smile on my face is going to take a while to go away.”

- REAY 3rd Overall - Jock Armstrong & Kirsty Riddick

Class 12 - John Morrison & Martin Forrest

Class 8 - Steve Bannister & Louise Sutherland

Class 9 - Adrian Hetherington & Gary Nolan

to Walter and Martha Aitken who brought their Escort Mk1 home two minutes ahead of the Hillman Avenger of Colin Wilkinson and Ailie Donaldson.

Class 7

Kerr finished almost six minutes ahead of Coalter who ended the day 29th

Class 10- Donnie McDonald/Paul Beaton

overall after a multitude of moments followed his superb first stage start (see main report).

Class 8

Top honours went to Steve Bannister and Louise Sutherland who finished 22nd overall in their Escort Mk2. The similar car of early leaders Mike

www.hankookmotorsport.com

Horne and Robbie Mitchell finished more than a minute in arrears.

Class 9

Escort Mk2 pairing Adrian Hetherington and Gary Nolan collected the prizes after the early retirement of the similar car of Viv and Paul Hamill.

Class 11- William Bonniwell & Neil Ewing

Class 10

MacDonald/Beaton; Sinclair/Hamill (see main report).

Class 11

Bonniwell/Ewing; Faulkner/Foy (see main report).

Class 12

Morrison/Forrest; Nicholl/ Lumgair (see main report).

pacenotes.net march 2009

31

Round-Up of Clubman Rally Action

UK Clubman

Winners: Adrian Brown & Chris Jarman

Winners: Peter Lloyd & Graham Handley

Winners:Tony Bardy & Reg Smith

Event: Towncross Engineering South Downs Stages.

Date: 7th February 2009. Location: Goodwood.

Surface: Tarmac. Stages: 8. Organisers: Southsea Motor Club & Bognor Regis Motor Club. Starters: 32. Finishers: 26.

Event: Rali Cwm Gwendraeth. Date: 8th February 2009.

Location: Pembrey. Surface: Tarmac. Stages: 6.

Stage Miles: 55. Organisers: Gwendraeth Valley Motor Club.

Championships: WAMC Welsh National Tarmac. Starters: 54.

Finishers: 34.

Event: Legend Fires North West Stages. Date: 20th & 21st February 2009. Location: Blackpool. Surface: Tarmac. Stages: 26. Stage Miles: 85. Organisers: Motor sport (North West) Ltd. Championships: ANWCC; ANCC; NETRC; SD34; F1000.

Starters: 103. Finishers: 47.

mandhphotography

Gary Jones

pro-rally.co.uk

Brown’s Goodwood Glory!

Lloyd Ice Dances Bardy Bags to Victory!

Blackpool Win!

A tense battle for honours ended in favour of Adrian Brown and Chris Jarman who guided their Ford Escort Mk1 home 20 seconds ahead of the Toyota Celica GT4 of Gary Le Coadou and Paul Hollingham.

Brown was quickest from the off taking a four second lead from Le Coadau on the opening stage. The Toyota pilot pulled a second back on SS2 before moving ahead of his rival, but only by a second, after SS3. By the end of SS4, having added a further two seconds, Le Coadou had tripled his lead as he made the most of his four wheel drive on the frost covered roads.

As the roads dried in the afternoon, Brown soon reeled in his rival as the Toyota developed engine problems, which resulted in it leaving a smoke trail in it’s wake. Quicker times on all four stages left the Escort driver with a comfortable margin with Le Coadou unable to answer.

There was a similar story to the battle for third place that ended with Alister Flack and Ralph Higson taking the final podium place in their Triumph TR7 V8. Flack took the early advantage but was soon trailing the Subaru Impreza of Elliot Dunmore and Susanna Kenniston who had accrued a two second advantage at the mid point. Flack was then faster over the following three tests and with Dunmore only able to match his rival’s time on the final stage Flack was triumphant!

Class B winners Dominic Worsfold and Steve Chapman finished a fine fifth overall in their 1600cc Ford Fiesta, leaving a string of more powerful cars trailing behind them.

Gavin Hearnden and Anton Shaw came out on top in a battle of Escort Mk2s with Gavin Rogers and David Morgan who’s chances of catching them were ruined by a slow start.

Richard Brogan and Colin Paul brought their Mk2 home eighth ahead of the Escort Cosworth of Tony and Emma Hewitt with Chris Selfe and Paul Lowman completing the top ten in their BMW Compact. Robert Ingham and Ben Smith had been on target for a top ten finish before retiring their Sierra Cosworth with gearbox problems.

A delayed start, whilst organisers allowed competitors to inspect the stages for ice patches, didn’t faze Peter Lloyd and Graham Handley. They picked up where they left off on the Brean Stages to add another victory to their winning start in the ex-Eamonn Boland Subaru Impreza WRC S12.

Setting the early pace though were WWRS Christmas Stages winners Robert and Laura Tout who were looking for a second successive Pembrey win in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9.

They completed the opening test 21 seconds ahead of Lloyd, who had the Ford Escort Mk2 of Barry Jones and Chris Williams in hot pursuit, just six seconds behind.

A downpour at the start of SS2 clearly suited Lloyd as he set fastest stage time, a feat he would repeat on all of the remaining tests. Tout was eight seconds slower but it was enough to enable the Evo9 pilot to retain top spot, a place he still kept after SS3, despite dropping another six seconds to his rival.

Jones had slipped to fourth by this point as Eirian and Thomas Benyon had edged their Mk2 ahead. Lloyd then hit the front on SS4 as Tout slipped to second with Benyon third and Jones fourth and this order then remained unchanged for the duration of the rally.

Damien Gill belied his inexperience, this was only his fourth event, to finish fifth overall and first in class 3 in his Mk2, with Phillip Tedstone co-driving. Class 1 winners Mydrian Harries and Deian Phillips were close behind in their Darrian T9 with class 7 winners John Thwaites and Gareth Davies taking seventh overall in their Mk2.

A late charge from Paul Fowden and Kevin Lewis saw the Impreza crew snatch eighth, relegating the Mk2 pairing of Peter Barrett and Dilwyn Llewellin to ninth place. Class 2 winners Colin and Katie Davies completed the top ten in another Mk2. Class 6 winners Jonathan and William Butler-Jenkins brought their Peugeot 205GTi home in 12th place.

Gwyndaf Jenkins and Llinos Jones-Edwards missed out on a top ten finish when their Darrian T90 developed mechanical problems on the final stage.

Results: 1 Adrian Brown/Chris Jarman (Ford Escort Mk1) 30m56s; 2 Gary Le Coadou/Paul Hollingham (Toyota Celica GT4) 31m14s; 3 Alister Flack/Ralph Higson (Triumph TR7 V8) 32m09s; 4 Elliot Dunmore/Susanna Kenniston (Subaru Impreza) 32m21s; 5 Dominic Worsfold/Steve Chapman (Ford Fiesta) 33m01s; 6 Gavin Hearnden/Anton Shaw (Ford Escort Mk2) 33m27s; 7 Gavin Rogers/David Morgan (Ford Escort Mk2) 33m38s; 8 Richard Brogan/Colin Paul (Ford Escort Mk2) 33m53s; 9 Tony Hewitt/Emma Hewitt (Ford Escort Cosworth) 34m10s; 10 Chris Selfe/Paul Lowman (BMW Compact) 35m10s.

Class Award Winners: A: Mark Holding/Alec Holding (Austin Mini) B: Worsfold/Chapman; C: Rogers/Morgan; D: Flack/Higson; E: Dunmore/ Kenniston; F: Roy Edwards/David Shields (Ford Escort Mk1).

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pacenotes.net march 2009

Results: 1 Peter Lloyd /Graham Handley (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1hr:06m:47s. 2 Robert Tout/Laura Tout (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) 1hr:07m:19s. 3 Eirian Benyon/Thomas Benyon (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr:09m:30s. 4 Barry Jones/Chris Williams (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr10m:11s. 5 Damien Gill/Phillip Tedstone (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr:10:41.

6 Mydrian Harries/Deian Phillips (Darrian T9) 1hr10m:48s. 7 John Thwaites/Gareth Davies (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr:11m:07s. 8 Paul Fowden/ Kevin Lewis (Subaru Impreza) 1hr:11m:22s. 9 Peter Barrett/Dilwyn Llewellin (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr:11m:39s. 10 Colin Davies/Katie Davies (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr11m:55s.

Class Award Winners: 1: Harries/Phillips; 2: Davies/Davies; 3: Gill/ Tedstone; 4: Tout/Tout; 5: Benyon/Benyon; 6: Jonathan Butler-Jenkins/ William Butler-Jenkins (Peugeot 205GTi); 7: Thwaites/Davies.

After finishing runners-up in each of the past two years Tony Bardy and Reg Smith brought their Nissan Sunny GTi-R to victory almost half a minute ahead of the Subaru Impreza WRC of Graham Coffey and Simon Hunter.

The MG Metro 6R4 of John Stone and Lee Carter headed the standings after Friday’s opening leg with Steve Simpson and Mark Booth one second behind in their Hyundai Accent WRC. Mark Holmes and Tony Lindsay were third in another 6R4 with Bardy lying fourth and the Darrian T9 of Rob Dick and Barry Green in fifth place.

Bardy took the lead when Stone crashed out on Saturday’s opening stage before Simpson went ahead on SS9. Once back in pole position Bardy stayed there to the finish, chased all the way by Coffey. A slipping clutch forced Holmes to nurse the car through the later stages but his podium place wasn’t under threat.

Darren Atkinson and Phil Sandham looked likely to finish fourth before a missed split at Clifton dropped the Escort Mk2 crew behind the Impreza of Darren Doherty and Michael Wilkinson. Gwyn Thomas and Phill Harrison finished sixth in the Puma ahead of the Lancer Evo6 of Shaun Tomlinson and Chris Sanderson.

A broken alternator earth lead was Guy Woodcock and Matt Warren’s only problem and their Escort Maxi finished eighth ahead Alan and Lawrence Kirby’s Impreza that only had two-wheel drive for most of the rally. Keith Taylor and Steve Rogers survived a two-wheel moment at Weeton to finish tenth in their Impreza.

Duncan Taylor and Stephen Graveson completed Friday’s opening promenade stages in tenth place before the engine of their Lancer Evo4 expired. Howard Chopping and Jonathan Turnbull’s rally ended with an under bonnet fire to their Impreza 555 midway through SS7.

Dick’s Darrian bent a strut on SS9 and SS10 claimed the Escort Mk2 of Lyndon Barton and Jonny Vance with a broken differential.

Stephen Bethwaite and Ann Forster won class A in their Nova finishing 36 seconds ahead of Nissan Micra crew Tony Bilham and Ian Barber. Malcolm Davey and Paul Singsby won class B despite brake problems with their Escort Mk1.

Results: 1 Tony Bardy/Reg Smith(Nissan Sunny GTi-R) 1hr43m09s; 2 Graham Coffey/Simon Hunter (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1hr43m38s; 3 Mark Holmes/Tony Lindsay (MG Metro 6R4) 1hr45m07s; 4 Darren Doherty/ Michael Wilkinson (Subaru Impreza) 1hr46m36s; 5 Darren Atkinson/Phil Sandham (Ford Escort Mk2) 1hr46m42s; 6 Gwyn Thomas/Phil Harrison (Ford Puma 4x4) 1hr46m57s; 7 Shaun Tomlinson/Chris Sanderson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6) 1hr47m41s; 8 Guy Woodcock/Matt Warren (Ford Escort Maxi) 1hr47m56s; 9 Alan Kirby/Lawrence Kirby (Subaru Impreza) 1hr48m09s; 10 Keith Taylor/Steve Rogers (Subaru Impreza 1hr48m35s.

Class Award Winners: A: Stephen Bethwaite/Ann Forster (Vauxhall Nova SR); B: Malcolm Davey/Paul Singsby (Escort Mk1); C: Atkinson/ Sandham; D: Doherty/Wilkinson; E: Paul Stringer/Amy Cadman (Nissan Micra).

The opening round of the ITV Men and Motors televised 2009 Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship gets underway at Croft Circuit (Darlington) on Sunday March 22nd.

Nutts Corner Rallycross Circuit will play host to rounds two and three of the Championship on April 25th & 26th, as premier Rallycross action returns to Northern Ireland for the first time since 2004. Over 100 cars will be taking part in the event, featuring ten different categories, from Junior Rallycross, all the way up to the Division 1 Supercar class. Each race consists of five laps on a combination of tarmac and loose surface, and with approximately 100 races throughout the weekend, the crowd are to treated to spectacular ‘first corners’, sideways driving at three figure speeds, and furious race action throughout the day.

‘Mad Mark’ Watson (Citroen Xsara WRC) has won back to back Rallycross Open Championship titles in the 550bhp+ Division 1 category, but this season he

is going to face increased competition from the likes of Mike Manning (Ford Puma), Tommy Graham (Ford Fiesta WRC), David Binks (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9), Aiden McCullagh (Peugeot 206 WRC), Derrick Jobb (Ford Escort RS2000), Bob Gooding (Ford Focus WRC), Chris Langley (Ford Escort RS2000) and Eddie Kinirons (Ford Focus).

The Super National category is another

Kris Meeke tries his hand at Rally Cross.

category that produces top competitive racing. Jamie Lea at the wheel of a rear wheel drive Toyota MR2 will begin the season as one of the pre season favourites, where he will be up against a variety of machinery including a rear wheel drive supercharged MG ZS and a Vauxhall VX220.

The RX150 Racing category is one of the new features included within the 2009 Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship. The category has already attracted a great deal of interest from International Rally Stars, including Peugeot UK IRC Rally driver Kris Meeke, Irish international Rally driver Eugene Donnelly and ex Rallycross and Rally Champion Kenny Mckinstry have all committed to taking part in rounds two and three of the Championship at Nutts Corner on April 25th & 26th.

For further information on the 2009 Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship, please visit the official website – www.RallycrossOpen.com

Rallycross Open Championship

Rallycross Open championship ready for action...

season preview

2009 Fuchs Lubricants

pacenotes.net march 2009

33

World Rally Stars arrive at John Mulholland Motors!

Hundreds of people flocked to John Mulholland Motors recently when world rally stars Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen flew into Randalstown!

John Mulholland (centre) with his team.

The Finnish rally heroes, who are Ford’s number one crew in the FIA World Rally Championship, attracted masses of people to John Mulholland’s new Ford dealership.

“I can’t believe how many people are here!” Hirvonen said as he was busy signing autographs. “And it’s great to see a number of older Ford cars on display. I have always been a fan of Ford, and it was always a boyhood dream to drive for the team.”

Mulholland’s premises had a number of road and rally cars from past and present on display, including a Ford RS200, as well as Bjorn Waldegard’s Safari Rally winning Escort. Hirvonen, who has recently placed an order for his own Mark 2 Ford Escort rally car, was almost overwhelmed!

A mint Escort Mk2 Mexico

In recent weeks, the Finnish rally star had been busy testing his Ford Focus WRC, but took some time out for photo-calls and autograph signing sessions in Randalstown. He was due to spend two hours at the dealership, but stayed for an extra 30 minutes as there were so many fans!

John Mulholland and Mikko Hirvonen share the same passion for the Blue Oval. John is also a keen rally enthusiast, and in 1983, he entered his first rally behind the wheel of a Ford Escort RS2000.

“My first event was the Hills of Donegal Rally,” Mulholland said. “I was 18 years old, and didn’t even have a spare wheel! In fact, we were using forest tyres, and we still managed to finish third in class!”

Hirvonen, who was just three years old when John entered his first event, has since made a career out of driving. He finished runner-up in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship.

“Mikko is one the best drivers in the world,” John Mulholland said. “So it seemed appropriate that we should Mikko, John & Jarmo pose with the beautiful...

Waldegard Safari Escort!

John Mulholland Ford Showroom

Photo Caption

34

pacenotes.net march 2009

WORDS: Jonathan McDonald IMAGES: Pat McGuigan (main) & John O’Neill

invite him to Northern Ireland’s newest Ford retailer.”

John Mulholland Motors is a family run business, and boasts in being the largest motor group in the Antrim area. The company stocks Ford, Hyundai and Skoda, as well as more than 100 used cars.

“We have a large choice of vehicles here, including a wide range of new, economical cars,” Mulholland said.

“The new Ford Ka is stunning, as is the new Ford Fiesta, and then there’s the new Hyundai i10 and i20, as well as the Skoda Fabia. And from a personal point of view, I’m very proud to be able to offer the Ford brand through our new dealership.”

Both Mikko and John Mulholland have similar aims in 2009. While Mikko will be bidding to become the number one World Championship driver, John Mulholland will be driving his new dealership forward, ensuring that he quickly establishes his new outlet as number one for Ford in Northern Ireland!

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McAree Border Championship Overall Winner Dunlop National Championship Class 6 Champion.

John Corrigan Ford Focus 2.0 Group A Southern Four Championship Class 7 Champion

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35

Red Sky In Morning, A Shepherd’s Warning!

Just before the downpour started on Rally Ireland.

Image by John O’Neill

rally magazine

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Freeze Frame the best images captured...

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march 2009

march 2009 38 pacenotes.net

report in association with

Banbridge Beckons Circuit Faithful…

This year’s Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally, which takes place over 11th/ 12th April, features an all new format for the UACs esteemed event.

With growing concerns over the economic climate, the UAC has whittled down what was once the longest tarmac rally in the world into a compact, two day Easter extravaganza.

The decision should help to reduce costs for competitors across the board, with less mileage to cover and fewer accommodation costs to pay. Ironically, however, the decision to allow all competitors to contest all stages, regardless of which category they enter, could see some pay a higher entry fee.

Now pay attention, as this could get a bit confusing. As already mentioned, the club has decided to call this year’s rally the ‘Larsen Circuit of Ireland’ – there’s no mention of International, National or otherwise. Everyone will run under the banner of Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally.

So does that mean that everyone will be part of the same field, with no breaks between what would have been International and National rallies in previous years? Er, not quite!

The complexities of MSA permits, championship permits and the like mean that the UAC has no option but to run the International

entrants separate from the National entrants. So essentially there will be an International Rally and National Rally…they’re just not mentioned in the event title!

That brings me back to the costs involved. In previous years, the National Rally followed behind the International field, and missed some stages which the International field completed.

As a result, the entry fee for the National Rally was less when compared to the International fees. But the decision to allow all competitors to contest all stages, regardless of which category they’ve entered, has essentially seen the National Rally entry fee increase.

Competitors must remember though, that as with everything in life, you get what you pay for. The entry fee may have increased for them, but so too has the competitive stage mileage. And as the UAC mentioned at their press launch, the £700 entry fee equates to a little more than £5 per stage mile, which isn’t half bad by today’s standards.

In fact, a lot of our counterparts across the water would donate a vital organ to get the opportunity to compete on a closed road event for

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that amount of money! Either that, or they could book a boat to Ireland…

So this year’s Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally will have International and National events, with separate results classifications for each event.

The motor club is also mooting the idea of printing what would be an ‘unofficial’ set of results, showing both the International and National events combined.

Whether this comes to fruition or not remains to be seen. Surely the stage times for the National field would not be a fair comparison to those in the International field, due to the differing road conditions?

Think back just a few years, when it was possible for crews entered in the International event to score N.I. Championship points.

Complaints were rife among the N.I. Championship crews entered in the National Rally, as they encountered more slippery roads due to the muck pulled out by International crews.

And if the combined results are unofficial, is there any point? Perhaps the combination of International and National event times should be best left to those who have some spare time on their hands, and I reckon that is what will happen.

Larsen Circuit of Ireland Preview

Irish Tarmac Championship

2008 Circuit Winner: Eamonn Boland

Words Jonathan MacDonald PICTURES Pacenotes Archive & Rallyretro.com

MacHale had to settle for 2nd place in ‘08!

The Circuit 30 Years Ago & Great Circuit battles >>

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39

2009 Larsen Circuit Of Ireland Having a set of ‘unofficial’ results coming from an official source could potentially confuse matters further!

As for the issue of points scoring, those who want to score points in the Hankook MSA N.I. Rally Championship this year must enter the National Rally.

Likewise, those who want to score TROA Irish Tarmac Championship must enter the International event. It is not possible to score points for the N.I. series when entered in the International event, and vice versa.

Still confused? I’m not surprised if you are! But to summarise, the format of having an International and National event is no different than last year, with the exception that the National Rally field will follow the International field through all stages. Each rally will run under the one name – the Larsen Circuit of Ireland – and, of course, it will be a two day event instead of three.

With regards to the championships involved, in addition to the TROA and Hankook series, the event is also a counting round of the (take a deep breath!)

Irish Tarmac Historic Championship, Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Championship, Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland, Citroen C2R2 Irish Cup and the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy Ireland.

Winner in 1979 - Penti Airikkala

Circuit of Ireland - 30 Years Ago!

How times have changed. The once world-renowned five-day marathon that really was a true ‘circuit’ of Ireland has been reduced to a compact two-day format.

Gone are the days of travelling through the night, and gone are the tactics of survival. The expense and intricacy of modern day rally machinery requires short, sharp blasts from start to finish. We are not living in changing times…we are living in changed times.

30 years ago, Richard Young wrote in the Circuit of Ireland Rally programme, “There can be very little doubt in anybody’s mind now that rallying today is a ‘big time’ sport. It has changed over the past decade from a largely amateur sport, one in which private entrants made up 99 percent of the entry, to the highly professional contest you will see this weekend.”

Of course, 1979 was also the inaugural year of the World Rally Championship for drivers. Those were exciting times for the sport of rallying, and Young suggested that the increasing popularity was aided by the excitement provided by a new concept – rally championships!

Indeed, the maiden Irish Tarmac Championship took place in 1978, and had gained its first title sponsor in 1979 in

The 2009 Route…

For the first time in the event’s history,

a ceremonial start will take place in Banbridge town centre! The event headquarters and parc ferme will be based at the Park Inn, Dundalk, but crews will travel to Banbridge on the Saturday morning for the ceremonial start.

Service during day one will be located at The Outlet, just outside Banbridge (off the main A1 carriageway), with stages in the South Down area. Service will move to Newry for day two with stages in the South Armagh area, before the champagnespraying finish takes place.

Rumblings also suggest that the team behind the event are trying to entice the Slowly Sideways crews to attend. They would certainly keep the spectators entertained while waiting for the National rally field.

By the time you read this, the event will be a little more than one month away.

Let’s hope the slowing economy won’t stop the entries from flying in for the Larsen ‘Circuit’, so we can all enjoy a bumper, high octane-fuelled Easter!

2009 Event Preview Next Month

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march 2009 40 pacenotes.net

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Have a read at this amazing 1979 entry list!

Billy Coleman

the form of Tudor Photographic – a London based company. At that time, the Circuit of Ireland was a counting round of not only the new Irish Tarmac Championship, but also the European Rally Championship and the Sedan Products British Open Championship.

Ironically, in 1978, the maiden ITC crown was won by an English former jockey, John Taylor. But in 1979, the champion crashed out of the opening round in Galway. So it was Billy Coleman who entered the 1979 Benson & Hedges Circuit of Ireland as the championship leader.

Yes, these were also during the days that cigarette companies could be involved in the sponsorship of sporting events! Benson & Hedges, as well as the likes of Rothmans, were familiar sights around the stages. Remember the Rothmans rally jackets? It was fashionable to smoke…and it was ‘cool’ to be involved in the Circuit of Ireland!

In 1979, Coleman had to fight for his round one Galway win, both on and off the stages. After early leader Taylor crashed out during the second day, Coleman also had troubles of his own to deal with. He was excluded from the results for “leaving the official route”, only to be later reinstated as the rally winner after a Royal Irish Automobile Club (RIAC) enquiry.

Victory at the Circuit of Ireland was going to be a much harder fought affair though. It was an accomplishment for an Irishman to get inside the top 10 on the seeded entry list, never mind finish the

event inside the top 10!

In fact, in 1979, Billy Coleman was the only Irishman seeded inside the top 10. Russell Brookes was the top seed, having won the event in 1977 and 1978. He was navigated by Paul White while at number two, Pentti Airikkala and Risto Virtanen were ready for battle in their Vauxhall Chevette.

Per Eklund and Hans Sylvan were next in line at number three in a Triumph TR7, followed by Stig Blomqvist and Timo Salonen.

Then there was Ari Vatanen and Tony Pond, who were ahead of Billy Coleman, John Taylor and Jimmy McRae. It’s incredible to think that there were three future World Champions in that list (Vatanen, Blomqvist and Salonen), not to mention British and Irish champions. It was like a who’s who of not Irish or British rallying, but world rallying!

Looking further down the entry list, there were famous names such as Derek Boyd (No. 11), Malcolm Wilson (No. 14), Roger Clark (No. 17), Bertie Fisher (No. 19), Henri Toivonen (No. 20), Austin McHale (No. 46)…and Bobby Willis was navigating for Robin Kerr at number 124!

Suffice to say that 30 years ago, the Circuit of Ireland was a huge event, not only in terms of length, but in terms of stature. In the world of rallying, it was one of the ‘must win’ events. Win the ‘Circuit’, and you gained a lot of respect from your fellow competitors.

From an organisational point of view, it must have been a logistical nightmare. The 1979 event started from Carrickfergus Castle in Co. Antrim and finished not too far away at the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle. But between the start and finish, hundreds of miles were covered by the organising team, competitors, spectators and media.

Bertie Fisher

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

Pirelli Tyre Service Available On All Championship Events

pacenotes.net march 2009

41

Irish Tarmac Championship

Larsen Circuit of Ireland Preview

report in association with

After leaving Carrickfergus Castle at midday on Friday 13th April, 1979, the 150 crews tackled their first stage, Carmavy Hill, in the early afternoon. From there they went on to tackle White Port, Aghanliss, Willies, Knockmanny Forest, 19 miles of Screeby, 14.5 miles of Ballyreagh, 11 miles of Killycat, and almost 15 miles of Glengevlin.

It was now dinner time – but was it time for a break?

Not a chance! The day was only getting started! One hour after starting Glengevlin, Poor House was underway at 6.15pm before almost 22 miles of Arigna. Then, not far from Sligo, competitors entered stage 11, Zion Hill, before moving to another five stages!

The first car was due to arrive at the so-called ‘supper halt’ in Galway at 4.30am – yes, that’s 4.30 in the morning! And when was it time to leave? Less than two hours later!

The Circuit of Ireland was a real test of man and machine, both being tested equally to their limits of durability. In 1979, there were 58 stages it total, with crews travelling to the far south-west, before rallying

back towards the north.

And for the winners, there were fairly substantial prizes too! Pentti Airikkala and Risto Virtanen won the 1979 event, and collected a £1000 cheque for their efforts, while the class award winners each received £250.

It’s a well used phrase and I hate to say it, but those really were the days. And no disrespect is intended towards the Ulster Automobile Club when I say that.

Modern times call for modern ideas and modern methods, and a two-day format is most definitely the right decision by the club. It would be out of reach for most spectators to follow an event of such magnitude today, never mind finding enough competitors who could afford to enter such an event.

The Circuit of Ireland is but a shadow of its former self, but at least it is still alive and kicking. While we may no longer be able to experience a true Circuit of Ireland, at least when Easter comes around each year, we can relive the memories of days gone by through the ‘Circuit’ in its current format.

Great ‘Circuit’ Battles...

There have been numerous great battles at the Circuit of Ireland Rally over the years that are quite simply unforgettable. Those that witnessed them first hand should count themselves as very lucky people, while the rest of us have to be satisfied by reliving those golden moments through old videos and magazines.

longest running rally sponsorship in Britain and Ireland. Of course, Ari Vatanen was driving a Rothmans Escort, and the event sponsors were determined that their opposition couldn’t take their limelight! McRae was left to battle on behalf of the rally sponsors, and it was the Scot who emerged as the victor in the end

1985 McRae v Brookes

Then, in 1985, Jimmy McRae was

1985 - Jimmy McRae

1980 - Vatanen in the Rothmans escort

1980 Vatanen v McRae

1998: Bertie Fisher

During the last 30 years, a number of those great battles really stand out. Think back to 1980 when it was Ari Vatanen versus Jimmy McRae. Vatanen had entered the event in ’79, but failed to make the start due to injury. So 1980 was his first taste of the Circuit, and he found himself pitted against Scot Jimmy McRae. But there was more to the story.

1980 saw Benson & Hedges renew its sponsorship of the Circuit for the 16th consecutive year, making it the

involved in another famous battle – with team-mate Russell Brookes.

Both men were driving Opel Mantas under the GM Dealersport banner, and it was a tit-for-tat battle throughout. Team orders came into play before the finish in favour of McRae, but Brookes managed to get his own back on the Isle of Man later that year when the tables were turned.

1998 Fisher v MacHale

And who could forget the Bertie

Fisher versus Austin MacHale saga in 1998? MacHale received a 20 second penalty during the opening leg of the event, a penalty which he protested from the start. On to the final day and Bertie Fisher led going into the final stage. But after a long

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

delay, rain and hail stones arrived, and Fisher found himself on the wrong tyres!

Fisher managed to cling on to his lead by 19 seconds and sprayed the champagne at the Bangor finish.

But it didn’t end there as MacHale protested his penalty. It was only a few days later, after a meeting among various stewards, that the penalty was overturned and MacHale was announced as the winner by one second.

Eamonn Boland on last years event

2008 G MacHale v Boland Last, but certainly not least, the

2008 Circuit went down to the wire.

10 years after Austin’s battle, it was his son, Gareth MacHale, who was in the mix. Fighting tooth and nail with Eamonn Boland, it was still anyone’s game going into the final stage. In the end, it was Boland who emerged as the victor by a handful of seconds from MacHale.

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

GOOD LUCK IN 2009 NEW YEAR - NEW SERVICE Pirelli Tyre Service Available On All Championship Events

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For supply and on event service of Pirelli Tyres please contact Jim Crozier or James Foley from ENTYRE Rallysport Official Suppliers of Pirelli Motorsport Tyres In Ireland. Tel: +44 7778 288108 or Tel:- 00 353 2310089

Season Preview by Simon Moss

British Rally Championship

Citroen C2R2 2008 Champion: Jason Pritchard

o t d a e h a k o A lo . . . n o s a e s the 2009

2008 Swift Sport Cup title holder: Mark Gamble

MSA BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

2009 BRC CALENDAR 28 March – (new for 09)

Bulldog International Rally North Wales Bala, Gwynedd

17/18 April

Pirelli International Rally Carlisle, Cumbria

22/23 May

Jim Clark International Rally Duns, Scottish Borders

10/11 July

Isle of Man International Rally Douglas, Isle of Man

21/22 August

Toddsleap.com Ulster International Rally Antrim, Northern Ireland

26 September

International Rally Yorkshire York, North Yorkshire For more information visit www.rallybrc.co.uk

44

pacenotes.net

march 2009

After a highly successful and competitive 50th year, the MSA British Championship moves into 2009 with a great deal of interest from potential competitors and new formats for most of the constituent events.

A positive outcome of the strong Euro means that competing in the British Isles has never been as attractive from overseas crews.

Already registrations have come from Ireland and there is interest from as far afield as Australia.

The average age of competitors was down to just 27 in 2008, showing that the BRC is a more and more attractive place to be, to learn the rally craft. With continued control fuels and tyres a part of the structure of the Championship, Pirelli will play their part again, not only helping keep a level playing field, but helping nurture talent by offering their fabulous Star Driver Scheme as an incentive.

Sky Sports will continue to cover the British Rally Championship the Greenlight TV produced programmes broadcast on the Monday night immediately after each rally. This one hour programme will cover all the top action from the front of the field, carrying the stories from each round of the series. The remainder of the action will be covered in Rallyzone which is extended to an hour and goes out before the following event.

RALLIES

The format of six events has worked well for a number of years now, but keen to keep the championship fresh, BRC organisers have selected a brand new season opener. The strength of any series is in its constituent events and as such, March’s Bulldog International Rally of North Wales has a lot to live up to.

Whilst still being a single day rally, a new format has been devised for the classic forestry rally. Centred by the beautiful Lake Bala, around 20 miles south east of Snowdonia National Park, David Higgins

competitors will be delighted with the quality of legendary stages such as Dyfi, Dyfnant, Gartheiniog and Aberhirnant.

The organisers of the traditional first round, the Pirelli International Rally, have not rested on their laurels though. The new base for the rally will be Carlisle Racecourse; close to the City centre and with excellent facilities, this is coupled with new stages in the infamous Kielder forest complex, keeping the April event fresh and exciting.

While the core stages of the Jim Clark International Rally, the

first asphalt event, remain centred on its namesake’s birthplace of Duns, the format of the only closed public road event on mainland sees competitors start from Edinburgh, with stages running into darkness on Friday. The whole event including the service area is now based at Kelso racecourse, the centralised format bound to make a buzzing atmosphere.

International Rally Isle of Man is next, while the mileage is basically unchanged, the second all tarmac event has been reduced by a day. Based, as always at the TT Grandstand in Douglas, the new two day format will include a ceremonial start on Thursday evening and action on Friday and Saturday on the classic Manx stages around the motorsport mad Island.

The Toddsleap.com Ulster International Rally has had the most changes since 2008, with not only a new base in Antrim, but new stages to boot. The move to the north of Northern Ireland will see a return to some stages not used for several years and with it new challenges for the competitors.

Moving back to gravel for the final rally of the season, crews head to Pickering for International Rally Yorkshire towards the end of September. The only event to carry over the same basic format as 2008, the stages in the classic North Yorkshire forests have a 50% loading, meaning the fast nature of the stages will be a sprint from the start.

MSA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

County Cork’s Brian O’Mahony was the 2008 MSA British Junior Rally Champion, but he plans to take a break in 2009, giving the chance of the prestigious award to one of the new batch of youngsters in two wheel drive cars.

PIRELLI STAR DRIVER COMPETITION

The concept of the Pirelli sponsored initiative was to assist talented drivers to progress and prove their potential, with a view to moving up in the sport.

In 2007 the prize of a fully funded drive in the BRC was realised by 19 year old Darren Gass, following a rigorous selection process. 2008’s competition

Peugeot’s 207 and Proton’s Neo S2000 hoping to compete.

FIESTA SPORT TROPHY

Brand new to the BRC is M-Sports highly successful Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy (FST). Now in its fourth successful year, five of the seven-round series events will follow the BRC, replacing Rally Yorkshire with the Malcolm Wilson and Scottish Rallies.

The front wheel drive 2 litre Fiesta ST has proved popular when the series followed national events; consequently drivers have an option in the BRC. Crews can either contest the full International or the BRC Challenge rallies, points being allocated at the point the BRCC national event ends.

CITROËN C2R2 CUP

MSA Junior Champion 2008: Brian O’Mahony

Pirelli Star Driver Award 2007: Darren Gass

Citroën C2R2 and Swift Sport Cups, will also take part in a final selection competition. The winner will secure a fully funded drive in the 2010 BRC in a car appropriate to their experience.

The runners up from the 2008 competition will be rewarded further

by Pirelli prize money on each of the six events. The top three on each of the 2009 rallies will take a share of £10,500, also allocated for the 2009 runners up in their 2010 BRC programmes.

CLASSES

The Rally 1, 2, 3 and 4 class structure continues for a third successive year, the only change being the adoption of the Fiesta Sport Trophy and other 2 litre production (Group N) cars into Rally 3.

This class still includes turbo diesels and S1600 cars, but elsewhere the Rally 2 class will remain totally unchanged, still encompassing the Citroën C2R2 Cup original and new Max specification 1600cc cars. Rally 1 will contain the Swift Sport Cup and other production cars up to 1600cc.

The Rally 4 class is where the four wheel drive machinery resides; Mitsubishi and Subaru being the mainstay. But there is still the option for Super 2000 screamers to compete for R4 and overall honours within the BRC,

The BRC’s Citroën C2R2 Cup is now in its third year and has continued support from Belfast’s Charles Hurst Motors. The main change to the 1600cc Championship is the addition of the C2R2Max which is an evolution of the brilliant C2R2. Both cars will be eligible for points in the BRC and several competitors, including 2008 champ Jason Pritchard, plan to make the change to the new spec for the 2009 season.

Season Preview by Simon Moss

Two prize drives have been confirmed in the BRC, the Pirelli Star Driver concept offering up Adam Gould as the second winner of the championship’s coveted and innovative prize. He and Seb Marshall will crew a Pirelli funded Subaru Impreza N14. Likely team-mates to the four wheel drive newcomer have a wealth of BRC experience to offer; triple Champion Mark Higgins and double Champion Rory Kennedy are working on a deal to drive in a Pirelli TEG Sport Impreza alongside Gould, the overall and Teams’ Championships their focus in 2009.

Revolution Competition Wheels is likely to return to the Teams’ Championship with two cars. Rob Swann and Darren Garrod will take the number one spot in their N14 Impreza and although the second driver is as-yet unconfirmed, there may well be a pool of drivers to choose from, specialists on gravel and tarmac possibly being employed for individual rallies.

There is interest from Proton and Peugeot as well as enquiries from Ireland about a two car team of quick youngsters, making a great Teams’ Championship battle a real possibility.

Plenty of talent from individual drivers is also guaranteed, the second BRC prize driver confirmed as David Bogie, whose victory on the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge netted him a full season in an Evo IX. A trio of quick Irishman are due out in Mitsubishis, County Cork’s Owen Murphy, County Wicklow’s Daniel Barry and from north of the border, County Down’s Jonny Greer should all be competitive, the latter already having experience in the BRC.

has produced 21 year old Adam Gould who drove the door handles off his Clio to take his nomination on the Jim Clark Rally.

The scheme, which continues in 2009, still allows any registered BRC driver, irrespective of class or nationality, to be eligible for the scheme. It will again choose one person from each of the six events to go forward to the end of season Pirelli Star Driver Shootout. A team of adjudicators will evaluate and nominate each candidate who will be presented with the Pirelli “Yellow Jersey” at the finish of the event.

In addition to this, the highest placed junior drivers in the three one make series’; the Fiesta Sport Trophy, the

British Rally Championship

RALLY 4 CREWS & MSA TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

SWIFT SPORT CUP

Despite Suzuki’s withdrawal from the WRC, the BRC has secured a rescue package for the Swift Sport Cup, which will contest the entire British Rally Championship in 2009. It will see drivers battling in identical Suzuki Swift Sport cars built by MSE, already receiving a boost in the form of 2008 BRC Challenge winners David Harrison & Glyn Thomas who will be run by 2008 title holder Mark Gamble. They were the first to commit to the Championship, although 2008 round-one winner Gordon Nichol is keen to return along with new codriver Emma Morrison.

DIESEL & PRIVATEER CUPS

Once again there will be opportunities for diesel cars to compete in the BRC, the competition in the Diesel Rally Cup likely to be between Steve and Tony Graham’s Vauxhall and Irishman Fin McCaul’s BMW. Lancashire’s Myerscough College also have plans to wheel out their Skoda Fabia, but are keeping the identity of the driver a closely guarded secret.

The Privateers Cup rewards the highest placed driver not entered in a team, Jonny Greer taking the accolade in 2008. With the potential influx of Irish drivers this year, it would be foolish to bet against another Emerald Isle victory in 2009. pacenotes.net march 2009

45

facttfile Navigator: Chris Da vies Height: 5’9” Home: Gilfach Goch , South Wales Birth date: 25th Fe br uary 1991 Occupation: Student Marital status: Sin gle Hobbies: Rallying!

I’m an organiser and officia l as set up the Legend Fir well. I es Epynt Challenge, which ha d more than 140 competitor s registered in 2008. It was a res ounding success!

Sponsors: Sparks Tra ns TAD Spor t, Karl Davie port, s Cars, Pet Jerome Car Care, JMS Photographic.

Anything else you want A big thank you to my to say: family, friends, drivers and everyone else who has helped me to get as far as I have in such a shor t space of time!

Happy In The Hot Seat...

questiontime with Chris Davies Co-Driver march 2009 46 pacenotes.net

1. When did you first get behind a wheel?

The week after my 17th birthday.

2. Who taught you to drive?

A driving instructor - my old man is not a brilliant passenger. He took me out once and chucked up!

3. Did you pass your driving test first time?

No…my test is in two weeks time! I think I’m a terrible driver - I’ve already had two bumps!

4. What was your first road car?

It will probably be a Ford Fiesta - I’ve yet to have a proper go in it!

5. What is your favourite road car?

The ‘old shape’ Subaru or an Evo 10.

6. Who were your motorsport heroes as a child?

You’ll never be able to beat Colin McRae, and for me, as a navigator, Phil Mills. He won the world title just as I was getting into rallying.

7. Who would you rate as the top three British or Irish rally drivers today?

Mark Higgins, Eugene Donnelly and Guy Wilks.

8. What was your first competitive event?

The John Price Rallying Tour of Epynt in 2007 - we finished the day 40th overall and third in class, and won the JPR Star Drive award.

9. What is your worst memory in rallying?

Back in 2007, we went to the Cheviot Rally in Otterburn. If we had finished the event, we’d have finished second overall in the championship.

Unfortunately, on stage one, we hit two big rocks and that was the end of play.

10. What drive are you most proud of to date?

This year’s Wyedean Rally - I jumped in with a lady driver and we set ninth fastest time on the first stage in tricky conditions, and it was her first gravel event.

11. What is your most frustrating memory in rallying?

I really couldn’t pick one - I suppose Otterburn comes up again!

12. What is your biggest accident to date?

There haven’t been many. Otterburn was the biggest, we hit two big rocks and stopped dead. And I bit my tongue!

13. What are your plans for 2009?

The Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship and Evo Challenge with Jonathan Sparks in his yellow Evo. I’m also doing a couple of BRC rounds as well, and I’m going to try and keep my junior title this year in the ANCRO. I’d also like to enter some European rallies to broaden my experience and help me reach the top of my game.

14. What is your favourite event?

Wyedean – the Forest of Dean is

absolutely fabulous.

15. What is your favourite rally car?

I have a soft spot for Subaru S11 WRC cars!

16. What do you think about youth development in rallying?

I applied this year for the MSA British Rally Elite Academy, and luckily I’m through to the final interview stage!

I think it’s a very good thing for the younger people in the sport, and the opportunity to work with Phil Mills, Robert Reid and Mike Broad is a dream come true.

17. If you could change anything about current rallying rules/admin what would it be?

I think making HANS devices compulsory on certain events may put a lot of people out of rallying. Maybe they should allow time for the price to come down a bit and make it compulsory in a couple of years time.

18. What was the last CD you bought?

I don’t buy them any more - I’ve moved on to the modern iPod! 19. What is your favourite tipple?

I’m boring…a glass of Coke!

20. What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Egg on toast.

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pacenotes.net march 2009

47

WRC Round 1 review

Rally Ireland

Winners: Sebastien Loeb & Daniel Elena

Condition Red...

Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latvala and the entire Ford World Rally Team must be wondering what they have to do to overcome the might of Citroen and Sebastien Loeb.

Words Jonathan MacDonald & Jason Craig PICTURES John O’Neill, John Bayly, William Neill & Jonathan MacDonald

RESULTS 1 S. LOEB....................... 2:48:25.7 2 D. SORDO.................... 2:49:53.6 3 M. HIRVONEN.............. 2:50:33.5 4 H. SOLBERG................ 2:54:58.1 5 C. ATKINSON............... 2:56:17.6 6 S. OGIER..................... 2:59:09.7 7 M. WILSON.................. 2:59:49.5 8 K. AL QASSIMI............. 3:02:33.6 9 E. BOLAND.................. 3:03:49.1 10 U. AAVA....................... 3:04:01.1 11 A. MACHALE............... 3:04:35.4 12 T. MCNULTY................. 3:09:23.6 13 S. GALLAGHER............ 3:09:41.9 14 J. LATVALA.................. 3:11:58.2 15 G. JENNINGS............... 3:12:37.8 16 A. BURKART................ 3:16:41.5 17 M. PROKOP................. 3:17:28.8 18 C. RAUTENBACH......... 3:25:03.6 19 S. BERTOLOTTI . ......... 3:25:41.6 20 Y. BONATO................... 3:29:47.7 21 T. KELLY....................... 3:32:12.5 22 K. ABBRING ................ 3:34:19.5 23 P. ELLIOTT .................. 3:38:33.0 24 R. BYRNE ................... 3:42:15.4 25 L. GRIOTTI . ................ 3:43:49.9 26 S. GRAHAM ................ 4:09:15.1 27 D. JOBB . .................... 4:09:22.2 28 K. TREACY . ................ 4:33:39.8

march 2009 48 pacenotes.net

Once again, at Rally Ireland, it was

a Loeb walkover, as he and Daniel Elena powered their C4 to another emphatic victory.

In many ways, Loeb is the ultimate bull fighter, waving his Citroen in front of the opposition like a red rag, but skilfully avoiding any close contact. Of course, that means Ford’s Hirvonen and Latvala are the bulls (no offence intended guys), and on this occasion, it was Latvala in the proverbial china shop.

Latvala briefly held the upper hand after stage one, where Loeb was caught out on the wrong tyres.

One stage later however, the Finn aquaplaned into a rock, damaging his suspension. With Latvala out of the running, Urmo Aava was the surprised new leader – the first man from Estonia to hold the number one spot since Markko Martin.

Sadly, Aava and navigator Kuldar Sikk failed to hold off the mighty Loeb after the Frenchman switched his tyres. In the space of three stages, Loeb switched a 42 second deficit into a 32 second lead.

Meanwhile, Niall McShea and Marshall Clarke were enjoying a

Lotto winner Ken Tracey enjoys his run in the event!

very impressive drive in their hired Proton Satria Neo Super 2000. The GT Exhausts crew were a superb third overall after stage one, but sadly their rally came to an end with a mechanical problem after stage two.

With the final two stages cancelled due to waterlogged roads, stage six was the final test of the day, and it was here that Aava also came unstuck. The Estonian was caught out at a left hander and slipped into a soft, waterlogged ditch. There was little damage to the car but only a handful of spectators were on hand to help him out, and he lost more than 10 minutes.

There were no such troubles for Sebastien Loeb though, as he ended the day 44 seconds ahead of team mate Dani Sordo. Mikko Hirvonen was upholding Ford honours in third position, already two minutes ahead of Henning Solberg. Conrad Rautenbach was using the experience he gleaned from Galway to hold an excellent fifth, ahead of Sebastien Ogier.

Outside the top six, Chris Atkinson was seventh in his hired Citroen C4 WRC, ahead of leading

British pilot, Matthew Wilson.

Navigated by Scott Martin, the crew were just a handful of seconds in front of Gareth MacHale, with reigning Irish Tarmac Champion Eamonn Boland completing the top 10.

The relentless rain continued to pummel the roads, but sterling work by the organisers ensured no additional stages had to be cancelled due to the atrocious weather. It was a wet and wild Saturday morning which greeted competitors, but it was ‘business as usual’ at the head of the field for Seb Loeb and Daniel Elena.

A different story was told for ‘Seb Mark 2,’ as Ogier dropped to eighth behind Atkinson, Wilson and MacHale. Conrad Rautenbach and Daniel Barritt were also in trouble, as they were caught out over some standing water - their Citroen snapped sideways before landing in the traditional Irish ditch.

While Loeb continued to set the pace, Ogier quickly overhauled Gareth MacHale, while Khalid al Qassimi and Michael Orr became the meat in a MacHale/Boland sandwich.

Ogier continued his recovery drive

A merry band of timekeepers pictured with Chief Timekeeper Robert McDaid

9th: Eamonn Boland

GpN Winner: Shaun Gallagher

Austin MacHale

Max Mosley & John Naylor

and reclaimed sixth before the end of the leg, but the luckiest man of all must have been Chris Atkinson...

The Australian lost control of his Citroen at a fast right hander, and slid off the road. His car mounted a bank and hit a telegraph pole before bouncing back on to the tarmac. It should have been all over, but on this occasion, Atko stole some of that Irish luck. Andrew Nesbitt was on hand as a spectator, and he helped guide the Citroen pilot out of trouble with little time loss.

So the top four overall finished day two as they started, with Loeb leading from Sordo, and Hirvonen third.

Hirvonen had entered the leg with his hopes pinned on swiping second from Sordo’s grasp, only for powersteering problems to thwart his drive.

As a result, Hirvonen was in no man’s land. More than one minute behind Sordo, and three minutes ahead of Henning Solberg, he could do little but concentrate on reaching the finish line.

On the other hand, Henning Solberg was coming under pressure from Chris Atkinson. Despite the Australian’s near disastrous accident, he had powered his Citroen to within five seconds of the Norweigan.

The final day was going to be very interesting for these two crews.

Outside the top six, Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin continued to hold seventh, but it was Al Qassimi who was now in eighth. Gareth MacHale’s hopes of finishing as the number one Irish driver were dealt a massive blow when his Focus hit mechanical troubles.

MacHale’s woes were Eamonn Boland’s gain, and the Wexford driver assumed ninth overall while Aaron

MacHale moved into 10th. Urmo Aava had moved up to 11th after his day one accident, while Gareth MacHale had slipped to 12th.

A whole quartet of Irishmen followed with leading Group N crew, Shaun Gallagher and Paul Kiely, holding 13th overall. Gallagher was less than five seconds ahead of Tim McNulty and Eugene O’Donnell, with Alan Ring and Adrian Deasy less than one second further back. Meanwhile, Garry Jennings and Rory Kennedy were 16th after running out of fuel.

“The fuel tank in our car isn’t big enough,” a despondent Jennings told Pacenotes. “She was filled to the brim - there was nothing more we could do.”

The third and final day saw few changes at the head of the leaderboard. The rain had eased off but the roads were still very slippery, however that didn’t faze the rally leader. Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena remained cool, calm and collected. A small ‘moment’ during the penultimate stage, when their Citroen brushed against a hedge, kept them on their toes, but the rest, as they say, is history.

A near faultless drive saw Loeb claim the 48th WRC victory of his career, while Dani Sordo and Marc Marti ensured Citroen claimed maximum manufacturer points with second overall. Mikko Hirvonen upheld Ford’s honours by taking third, finishing 40 seconds adrift of Sordo in the end.

But what of the battle between Henning Solberg and Chris Atkinson?

Atkinson entered the final leg with all guns blazing, immediately moving ahead

of his rival on the day’s opener. He extended his advantage through stages 16 and 17, but then disaster struck at the start of the Donegal Bay stage.

Atkinson misjudged his braking for the first corner of the stage, and slid off the road on top of a bank.

Spectators helped him back on to the road but the damage had been done.

He had lost more than one minute to his rival, so it was Solberg who claimed fourth overall, ahead of the Australian.

The final stage saw no changes to the leaderboard, so Sebastien Ogier claimed a deserved sixth overall.

Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin arrived home in seventh ahead of Khalid al Qassimi, while Eamonn Boland and Damien Morrissey upheld Irish honours to take ninth overall.

Aaron MacHale was overhauled

by Urmo Aava during the final leg, so it was Aava who completed the top 10 ahead of the Dubliner. Meanwhile, Tim McNulty moved in front of Shaun Gallagher to take 12th, while Shaun claimed Group N honours as well as 13th overall. Jari-Matti Latvala put in an excellent recovery drive to take 14th, leaving Garry Jennings to complete the top 15.

So that’s it for another year. The second instalment of Rally Ireland has been completed. But what are the plans for the future? Motorsport Ireland’s John Naylor is reportedly trying to bring the WRC back to Ireland as soon as next year. Watch this space!

Toni Kelly happy with day 2 of the rally Wet weather gear was needed for most of the weekend

Scrutineering prior to the event Firemen helped with the safety of the event

3rd: Mikko Hirvonen Garry Jennings on Sloughan Glen Alistair Fisher tackling the Glenboy stages!

VERY FANCY - Seb Ogier flies through Donegal Town stage. Image: Emma Gallagher

pacenotes.net march 2009

49

Super2000plus - A Super 1600 -Rd1 Rally Ireland also marked the opening round of the Junior World Rally Championship, and it was Hans Weijs who grabbed the early lead. After the opening leg, he was ahead of Aaron Burkart, but dreams of a maiden JWRC win were dashed during day two.

Weijs was caught out at a fast right-hander when a puddle of water sent his Citroen aquaplaning towards a large tree. It was a heavy impact which landed the Dutch driver in hospital, thankfully without serious injuries.

Weijs’ retirement left the coast clear for Aaron Burkart to take the reins at the head of the leaderboard. He kept his Suzuki Swift out of trouble to arrive at the finish almost 50 seconds clear of second placed Martin Prokop.

“I never expected to win such a tricky event, and I’m absolutely delighted,” 26-yearold Burkart said. “I drove on the Galway International Rally recently in order to gain experience of the car and the conditions, so I had some idea of what to expect. The biggest difficulty was coping with all the standing water – sometimes the car was completely out of control!”

Simone Bertolotti and Luca Celestini survived a few punctures to take third, their best ever finish. Meanwhile, fellow Suzuki Swift crew, Yoann Bonato and Benjamin Boulloud, claimed fourth despite skating off the road and getting stuck in a ditch during day one.

“It’s a pity that we lost time on the opening day,” Bonato said. “When we went off, we thought that there would be a quick way to get back on the road, but unfortunately our car got stuck in a ditch!”

The final two places were occupied by Renault Clio R3 crews, Kevin Abbring and Luca Griotti. Ross Forde has also been among the JWRC crews, albeit driving a lesser powered Group N Suzuki Swift. Despite their disadvantage, he and his brother Arron were on course for claiming seventh, only for gearbox problems during the final day to put them out of the event. march 2009 50 pacenotes.net

Pacenotes scribe, Jason Craig talks Super2000 with Seb.

As motorsport’s governing body, the

Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) counts down the weeks before an allnew rally formula gets the 2010 World Rally Championship underway at Rally Monte Carlo, the confirmed presence of one particular WRC driver at the start line is still shrouded in uncertainty writes Jason Craig.

Last December, the FIA’s President rubber-stamped and approved an all-new rally formula, but it hasn’t passed without well-publicised criticism from the current and five-time World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb, who at one point, threatened to quit the sport unless revisions were made.

From 2010, World Rally Cars can still compete in the World Rally Championship but they will not be eligible to amass points, irrespective if they finish in a position that warrants them. As it stands, Super 2000 cars, such as Skoda’s Fabia will become the new breed of World Rally Car.

Max Mosley wants to cap costs by minimising the time, money and man power used in the development of the new car formula. Unnecessary parts that would increase costs for teams will also be banned on Super 2000 cars. WRC cars are notoriously expensive, as Subaru and Suzuki duly highlighted by quitting the sport.

Sebastien Loeb believes adopting a normally aspirated 2.0-litre engine with no turbo or aerodynamic aids would, in essence, make the sport less exciting and appealing for him, and on a wider scale, for those spectators and fans who religiously attend rallies.

The Frenchman has called for the introduction of a more powerful Super 2000 derivative, the Super 2000-plus. This would allow teams to use a number of bolt-on parts, such as a turbo to increase torque and bhp levels, and a rear wing to help generate downforce. Therefore, performance would be similar to an ’08 or ’09 spec WRC car.

Although these performance enhancing components will increase costs, their additional value will be determined by the FIA in keeping costs minimal. This is expected to be chieved by contracting one company, such as Garrett to provide every team with the same turbo.

It is widely accepted that Loeb is happy with the idea of cost-cutting in World Rallying – particularly in the tough economic climate which is adversely affecting car companies – but that Super 2000-plus is the most suitable compromise for everyone involved with the WRC.

s - A Great Idea?

It has to be said that the Super 2000 formula has been nothing but successful, with no fewer than six teams already competing in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).

For 2010, five more teams are imminent, one of whom may be Ford with their Super 2000

enhancements, he set the third fastest time on the first stage of Rally Ireland, Glenboy 1.

Despite encountering an electrical fault before the start of the third stage, Aughnasheelan 1 (an o-ring was missing from a seal and let water into the car’s ECU), he was

SO FAR, I’VE HAD A GOOD FEELING WITH THE CAR AND THAT HAS MADE IT GOOD TO DRIVE ON STAGE... ADMITTEDLY, THESE CARS CAN FEEL UNDERPOWERED ON OCCASIONS, SO NOT ONLY WOULD FITTING A TURBO INCREASE PERFORMANCE, IT WOULDN’T BE OVERLY EXPENSIVE, EITHER,” - MCSHEA Fiesta, and Citroen has also confirmed that work on a Super 2000 car, most probably based on the C3 model has started.

Talking to Pacenotes at a blustery and rain swept Rally Ireland Parc Ferme in Sligo, I asked Loeb if he had given further consideration to competing in a Super 2000 rally during the winter break.

“I watched the Monte Carlo rally, and I was impressed,” said the Citroen driver. “But I am not completely sure about it. I have never actually driven a Super 2000 rally car, so I cannot say what it is like. In motorsport, if you have not driven another car, it makes it difficult to compare, so for me that is important.”

Fermanagh man, Niall McShea drove a Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 that was designed and built in England by Mellors Elliott Motorsport. Without a turbo or aerodynamic

able to rejoin under super rally rules before going off on stage fourteen, Tempo 2 due to the treacherous conditions.

Speaking to the former Production World Rally Champion, McShea was understandably delighted with how the car had performed on its preliminary outing, and could not understand why Loeb was so strenuously opposed to the Super 2000 idea.

McShea said: “I think Loeb made those comments because he hasn’t actually driven a super 2000 car and therefore knows little about them. So far, I’ve had a good feeling with the car and that has made it good to drive on stage.

“Admittedly, these cars can feel underpowered on occasions, so not only would fitting a turbo increase performance, it wouldn’t be overly expensive, either,” he revealed.

Not only has rallying been adversely affected in recent times, but Formula One has been dealt a blow with Honda’s withdrawal, Mitsubushi has postponed future involvement with Dakar rallying, while the 2009 MotoGP grid has been lessened by the absence of the Kawasaki team, too.

Sebastien Loeb has a powerful and influencing say in the World Rally Championship. He has been a loyal servant to the sport, and his concerns for its future are warranted. However the World Rally Championship progresses, the hope is that when the WRC returns to the emerald isle in 2011, the Frenchman will return to be part of the action.

What is Super 2000?

It aims to attract new manufacturers into the sport at world championship level without frightening them off with excessive levels of financial commitment. The FIA first published a specific set of rules for the Super 2000 Rally formula in 2003 with various cost-cutting characteristics set to feature.

Where did Super 2000 start?

Unsurprisingly, it was Japanese automaker, Toyota who produced the first Super 2000 rally car. More surprisingly, it was at the company’s South Africa competition department in Sandton, Johannesburg. It was based on the Corolla family car, which incidentally formed the basis of the successful World Rally Car, too.

When did a Super 2000 rally car make its competitive debut?

Toyota’s Corolla initially featured at Wales Rally GB with Scotsman, Alister McRae at the helm in December, 2006. Before this outing, the FIA homologated the car for competition in South Africa’s national championship events only.

Months later, the FIA then homologated it for use on the world’s rally stages.

Who has been most influential in Super 2000 rallying?

You could say Toyota, then again German company, Volkswagen soon followed Toyota’s example by building their own 20-valve Polo, then latterly a 16-valve which was allowed to compete outside its home country. But it was Peugeot and Fiat who took Super 2000 to an all-new level by 2007 when both companies laid down production lines for their cars.

What Championship do the Super 2000 cars compete in?

It is called the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, a series that bans WRC cars and provides a TV platform for those companies competing.

Furthermore, it is an opportunity for companies not yet ready to engage in the financial and logistical scale of the World Rally Championship.

What car companies have a Super 2000 rally car?

More than those who have a World Rally Car to their name! These include Peugeot, Skoda, Volkswagen, Ford, Proton, MG, Opel, MG, Toyota and Fiat/Abarth with Renault and even Lada possibilities.

What next?

Niall McShea in action and inset right, proved that the Super2000 is competitive.

Super 2000-plus appears to be becoming increasingly likely. Performance can be controlled by turbo boost controls, restricting torque and rev limits. The additional cost for bolt-on parts will be determined by the FIA based on an ‘off-theshelf ’ price. pacenotes.net march 2009

51

Can Ford’s Duo Beat Loeb & Co?

Loeb vs Hirvonen

Image:John O’Neill

Could this be the year when a sixth consecutive World Drivers’ title eludes Sebastien Loeb?

Jason quizzes Mikko.

Image: J MacDonald

march 2009 52 pacenotes.net

With only two tarmac events on the WRC calendar for 2009, BP Ford’s Abu Dhabi Team drivers are confident they can end the Frenchman’s domination of the sport writes Jason Craig.

Citroen’s number one driver prefers sealed surface events, but with Rally Ireland having been negotiated successfully, the only remaining event of its kind will be Rally Spain in October, albeit in a more predictable climate.

Loeb’s domination on tarmac events speaks for itself. Last year he won each of the four asphalt rallies which included Monte Carlo, Germany, Spain and Corsica. Surprisingly, he only amassed nineteen more points than second placed Mikko Hirvonen in the final Championship standings.

And although the Finn has improved considerably on asphalt – conducting extensive testing prior to Rally Spain last year, for instance – the only driver seemingly capable of posing a real threat to Loeb is his team-mate and fellow tarmac specialist, Dani Sordo.

This season, however, the guarantee of the Citroen Total World Rally Team securing as many one-two finishes will not be as frequent with ten of the remaining eleven rounds being loose surface events.

Ford’s young Finnish pairing of Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala have

always been fast on loose surfaces, but individual error has cost them dear.

Not only did they fail to win their home event, Rally Finland, they gifted Loeb a win in New Zealand when he was out of contention and eighteen valuable points were within their grasp: Latvala hit a rock, and Hirvonen spun on the last stage with a slow puncture.

At the mid-way point during Rally Ireland in Sligo’s Parc Ferme, I asked the

maximum points on loose surface events, too.

But the two Ford drivers won’t have it all their own way, especially as Loeb is a figure of consistency, a characteristic that the two Finns have been lacking.

Not only has this hampered their individual ambitions, it also rendered the Manufacturers’ Championship back to the French marque last year.

Hirvonen said: “I’m aiming to secure the driver’s title and bring the Constructor’s Championship back to Ford. To do that, I need to be faster and

“I’M AIMING TO SECURE THE DRIVER’S TITLE AND BRING THE CONSTRUCTOR’S CHAMPIONSHIP BACK TO FORD. TO DO THAT, I NEED TO BE FASTER AND MORE CONSISTENT, AND JARI-MATTI HAS TO IMPROVE AS WELL. IT WON’T BE EASY. - MIKKO Frenchman if he felt fewer tarmac events would hand the initiative to Ford, but more importantly, if he felt this would hamper his efforts in securing a sixth successive Drivers’ title.

“No, I don’t think so,” said Loeb. “Yes, I have won many tarmac rallies and these victories are important to me, but I have also won loose surface events too, most recently Rally Finland. This isn’t a problem,” he added.

Unsurprisingly, when speaking to Hirvonen, he was bullish in his assessment of the situation, saying that the aim this year was to secure some points at both sealed events and to secure

more consistent, and Jari-Matti has to improve as well. It won’t be easy.”

These were sentiments repeated by 23-year-old Latvala who admitted that although he is unlikely to win the driver’s title, he can become Hirvonen’s reliable number two, adding: “Coming from Finland, we are not so used to tarmac roads, but I can compete for wins and help Mikko on loose surfaces.”

If both drivers can fulfil their personal objectives, they will repeat a feat achieved exactly thirty years ago when Bjorn Waldegaard secured both championships for Ford behind the wheel of his rearwheel drive Escort.

Rally Ireland 09 - Our Thoughts...

Niall McShea

Donegal stages. I suppose my claim to fame is setting joint fourth fastest time in Donegal town!”

“I enjoyed it,” McNulty continued. “It was tough but it’s a round of the World Championship so it’s meant to be tough. The organisation was great, Gordon Noble did a good job, as did the cops.”

“Then, on the Saturday evening, we were caught out at particularly difficult right hander which had caught a few others as well. We banged a wheel and managed to get it fixed in time for Sunday but decided not to continue. I really enjoyed driving the car, it’s really good and showed a lot of potential.”

Aaron MacHale

“I was quite surprised with our time on stage one,” McShea said. “But I think it was just down to everyone else being very cautious. After that our pace would have put us somewhere between seventh and eighth overall so I was very disappointed when the car broke down.”

Tim McNulty

“We had a rough weekend but it was my own fault,” McNulty told Pacenotes. “We made a few wrong decisions on the setup and tyres, and we had some intercom problems. But we recovered well in end and had a good run on the final two

“I didn’t have much trouble. The snow tyres were the weirdest thing ever but once I got used to them, they were unreal. We had a puncture on Friday’s last stage, had a good Saturday and stalled on Sunday’s second last stage. I would like to have finished 10th and had a fighting chance as Urmo Aava was on snow tyres, but once we stalled, that was it.”

“The event was very well organised and there were huge amounts of marshals and huge crowds despite the weather. There were a lot of people at the ceremonial start in Enniskillen, and the

Donegal town stage was a great idea. It’s a pity the night stages were cancelled, and I know we get rain in Ireland but that was freak weather.

But the marshals did a fantastic job – I couldn’t believe the amount of people out. There were young girls marshalling in service, getting drowned at the same time, but they still had smiles on their faces!”

Garry Jennings

“It was probably one of best rallies that I’ve ever done. It was very well organised – if you arrived at a stage at 1pm, you started it two minutes later.

Other than having fuel problems, we had a great event. My car has a standard tank in it and it just wasn’t big enough to hold enough fuel for a loop of stages. We had to stop at what looked like a garage but they didn’t have any fuel. So we had to siphon a bucket of petrol out of a spectator’s car to make it back! We were caught out on the wrong tyres on Friday morning but after that, I think we were one of the quickest in Group N.”

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53

kris meeke

IRC Is

The Full Monte...

The organisers of the FIA World Rally Championship better watch out, because the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) could steal their thunder in 2009!

In the space of a few days, the opening

were treacherous, and it just so happened we were one of the first to tackle the stage.”

round of the IRC outshone the WRC in terms of media coverage, in terms of competition - and most importantly from a rally fan’s point of view - in terms of excitement!

You would think that the snow and ice of the Monte Carlo Rally would make it nigh on impossible to broadcast live footage, but the team behind the IRC succeeded…big style!

Live footage from the stage start, from helicopters and planes, from midpoints on the stage, onboard the rally cars and at the stage finish (with interviews) combined to make a superb package. If you want to promote rallying to the masses, then this is the way to do it!

Competition was stiff among the Super 2000 teams, and six manufacturers have registered for this year’s championship.

Undoubtedly, from an Irish point of view, the inclusion of Kris Meeke in the Peugeot team made the event even more interesting, especially when combined with the unpredictability of the Monte stages.

Kris acquitted himself well during the rally. Driving a Peugeot 207 Super 2000, he claimed his first stage win on only the third test of the event – in what was his

march 2009 54 pacenotes.net

Live Stages on Eurosport were fantastic.

first time driving on snow! Alongside names such as Freddy Loix, Didier Auriol, Toni Gardemeister and Sebastien Ogier, it wasn’t for a lack of competition!

After stage four, the Dungannon man found himself holding second overall, a little more than one minute behind event leader Juho Hanninen. He lost some time before the end of the leg though, and found himself in fourth overall going into the final day.

Sadly, leg two brought disaster to the Meeke camp, as stage 10 claimed the early rally leader as well as the Dungannon man.

While Juho Hanninen crashed his Skoda out of the rally, Meeke was also caught out in the difficult conditions.

“I knew we just needed to get through SS10, and we would have been well in contention for a podium, possibly a win,” Meeke said afterwards. “But the conditions

“After a series of sixth gear right and left corners, I hit slush and from then on I was a passenger. We hit a bridge, and rolled a few times. It’s a testament to the strength of the Peugeot 207 that we managed to get out unscathed.”

It was a disappointing end to the event after such a promising start. With Hanninen also out on the same test, Meeke wasn’t alone in his disappointment. Freddy Loix also hit trouble and after everyone’s problems, Sebastien Ogier was the man out in front. A neat and tidy drive saw the young Frenchman go on to claim victory in his Peugeot 207, almost two minutes ahead of Loix, with Stephane Sarrazin third.

Those that followed the action on Eurosport were entertained by some fantastic rally action. The IRC has raised the bar higher and it will be interesting to see what the WRC can do to match the new standard. With confirmation of the WRC’s global promoter, there could be some exciting times ahead. But in the meantime, if you want to see live rally action while sitting in the comfort of your own home, make sure you tune in to watch the IRC!

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 meeke’s IRC season

Rally Winner - Seb Ogier

Asphalt Gravel Gravel Gravel Asphalt Gravel Asphalt Asphalt Asphalt Asphalt Gravel Gravel

kris meeke

..

2009 IRC Calendar

Kris puts up another great stage time.

“AFTER A SERIES OF SIXTH GEAR RIGHT AND LEFT CORNERS, I HIT SLUSH AND FROM THEN ON I WAS A PASSENGER. WE HIT A BRIDGE, AND ROLLED A FEW TIMES. IT’S A TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH OF THE PEUGEOT 207 THAT WE MANAGED TO GET OUT UNSCATHED.” - KRIS pacenotes.net march 2009

55

UK Mitsubishi Evo Challenge For further details and to download regulations visit: www.evochallenge.co.uk

All Three Evo Challen 2009 sees the official one-make series for Group N Mitsubishi Lancers continue to run in three countries: The UK sees the Evolution Challenge run for its ninth year in succession and in Ireland and Sweden for a second season.

Since it began at the start of 2001, the core values of the Evolution Challenge have remained the same: To provide drivers and teams using homologated Group N Lancer Evolutions with an ultra-competitive, well-managed, fair and high-value championship – very important in today’s economic climate.

“We are delighted we are able to continue with the three separate series this year,” said Evo Challenge Manager Simon Slade. “Even though the economy is not ideal for motorsport and rallying is likely to see less competitors in general, I am confident that the Evo Challenge will continue to provide excellent competition and some of the best prizes in the sport.”

2008 UK Evo Winner: David Bogie

UK

Following the recent announcement that the UK Evolution Challenge will continue for it’s ninth consecutive season, it was confirmed that last year’s UK Evolution Challenge Champion David Bogie will receive a full season’s drive in this year’s British Rally Championship. The award is jointly supported by Mitsubishi Motors UK, JR Motorsports and a

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge UK 2009 2009 Calendar February 27-28 Rallye Sunseeker March 21 Border Counties Rally April 18 Pirelli Tour of Cumbria May 8-9 RBSI Manx Rally May 30 Severn Valley National July 18 Swansea Bay Rally August 21-22 Ulster Rally September 26 Rally Yorkshire Competitors nominate seven of the eight rounds and count their best six scores.

ninth a r o f k c a B ive consecut season!

out of x i s h t i w re to ente to count. s d n Still tim u o r t eigh

number of other sponsors.

The young Scot will drive a brand new Group N Lancer Evolution X built by JR Motorsports (formally ADR Motorsport), the team that prepared and ran the works cars for Mitsubishi UK since 2004. On hearing the news of his award Bogie said: “I’m absolutely over the moon.

Although the decision was a longtime coming, as it’s turned-out it was well worth waiting for. Competing in the British Championship in a new Evo X is a really exciting prospect and a great opportunity. It’s exactly what I was hoping for.”

In light of this award being presented, series orgainsers are delighted to announce that the prize for winning the 2009 Championship will be a brand new Lancer Evolution X RS, which can also be redeemed towards a similar award to that of Bogie’s. Further adding to the prize fund, there will be vouchers that can be exchanged for parts, Pirelli tyres and a host of other awards on each round and at the end of the season.

Series Features • First prize: A brand new Lancer Evolution X RS, which can be redeemed for a supported drive in the 2010 British Rally Championship.

• Prize money vouchers and tyres awarded on each round and at the end of the season.

• Eight top quality events - six gravel and two asphalt.

• Extensive PR and media activity.

• Manufacturer backing.

• Professional organisation.

• Strict policing of technical regulations.

• Controlled fuel and tyres to ensure a fair and level playing field.

• Preferential deals from sponsors and suppliers.

• Allocated service area.

• Great social atmosphere.

• Dedicated website.

• Regular news bulletins.

• Links with Irish and Swedish Evo Challenges.

• Exclusive team clothing and race wear available.

• Competitive rallying guaranteed!

Features subject to change.

For further details and regulations please contact: Championship Coordinator Simon Slade: Tel: +44 (0)7966 153555 | Email: simon@rpmpromo.com

www.evo-challenge.co.uk march 2009 56 pacenotes.net

allenges Are Go!

Ireland

This year’s Irish Evo Challenge sees a revised format, with six events split into nine rounds – the two-day rallies providing a double-points scoring opportunity for competitors, who will count their best six results. Once again, the series will feature a 100% all-asphalt surface and a good mixture

2008 Irish Evo Winner: Brendan Cumiskey

of top-quality events.

Another first for this year’s Irish Mitsubishi series will be its trip north of the border for the Ulster Rally and, with this event also representing a round of the UK Championship, this will be the first time ever that two Evo Challenges have converged. To further spice things up, series organisers have said they will present a Nations Cup to the most successful of the two countries.

Once again, the series offers competitors an excellent prize fund, with the Champion winning a supported drive in a James Foley Rallysport prepared Group N Lancer Evolution X for selected rounds of the 2010 Irish Tarmac Championship.

Adding to the profile of this award, organisers are delighted to announce that Mitsubishi Motors Ireland has provided its endorsement. The car will therefore appear in works colours and the campaign will be known as JFR Mitsubishi Team Ireland.

Other prizes up for grabs for Evolution Challenge competitors will be tyres, fuel and other awards on each round and at the end of the season.

Last year saw Dundalk driver Brendan Cumiskey scoop the first Irish Evo Challenge title, who has already contested the Galway Rally as part of his prize, with the Circuit of Ireland and Rally of the Lakes still to come.

The 2009 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland is supported by: James Foley Rallysport, Pirelli tyres, Sunoco fuels, Speedline Corse wheels, Carbon Lorraine brake pads, Murray Motorsport, PIAA lights, Sparco racewear, Pacenotes and Mitsubishi Motors Ireland.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland 2009 2009 Calendar March 14-15 West Cork Rally April 10-12 Circuit of Ireland May 24 Cavan Stages July 19 ALMC Stages August 21-22 Ulster Rally September 12-13 Wexford Rally Six all-asphalt events split into nine rounds.

Competitors count their best six scores.

Back for a second season!

ork Rally C t s e W arch.

Ist round 14-15 M

Irish Mitsubishi Evo Challenge

This year’s UK Evolution Challenge calendar will feature eight rounds, six with the MSA National Gravel Championship, plus two with the British Championship. It includes six loose and two asphalt surface rallies. Competitors will nominate seven events and count their best six scores, which means anyone entering after the first round will not be at a disadvantage.

The 2009 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge UK is supported by: Mitsubishi Motors UK, Ralliart, JR Motorsports, Pirelli tyres, Sunoco fuels, Walkinshaw Performance, Speedline Corse wheels, Carbon Lorraine brake pads, PIAA lights and Sparco racewear.

Congratul Winners o

2008 MITSU

2008 Calendar

1 2/3 February - Galway

2 15/16 March - West Cork 3 3/4 May - Killarney 4 14/15 June - Donegal 5 6/7 September - Wexford

For further details and to download 6 27/28 September - Cork 20 regulations visit: www.evo-challenge.ie

Series Features • First prize: A supported drive in a JFR Evo X on selected rounds of the 2010 Irish Tarmac Championship.

• Awards on each round and at the end of the season.

• Six top-quality asphalt events.

• Multi-day rallies feature two rounds.

• Reserved event entries for registered crews.

• Extensive PR and media activity.

Manufacturer backing.

• Professional organisation • Strict policing of technical regulations.

• Controlled fuel and tyres to ensure a level playing field.

• Preferential deals from sponsors and suppliers.

• Allocated service area and race centre.

• Great social atmosphere.

Dedicated website.

• Regular news bulletins.

• Links with UK and Swedish • Evolution Challenges.

• Exclusive team clothing and • race wear available.

• Competitive rallying guaranteed!

Features subject to change.

For further details and regulations please contact: Series Coordinator Jim Crozier: Tel: +44 (0)7778 288108 | Email: jimcrozier@tiscali.co.uk Series Manager Simon Slade: Tel: +44 (0)7966 153555 | Email: simon@rpmpromo.com

www.evo-challenge.ie pacenotes.net march 2009

57

facttfile Driver: Drew Stewa rt Height: 5’8” Home: Antrim Birth date: 17th No vember 1976 Occupation: Truck mechanic Road car: SEAT Alh ambra and there’s an Impreza P1 in the garage!

Rally car: Ford Esco rt MkII Marital status: I’m getting married to Nicola on 9th March!

Hobbies: Motorspor t and football Sponsors: Stewart Commercials in Antrim.

Anything else you want to say: Thanks to the boys for all the help in building the new car!

questiontime with Drew Stewart

march 2009 58 pacenotes.net

Drew Just Keeps On Truckin’…

1. When did you first get behind a wheel?

I started racing karts in 1989 when I was 11 years old, and then moved to Formula Ford in 1999. I spent four years doing the Scottish Formula Ford Championship, and then decided to go rallying in 2002.

2. Who taught you to drive?

My dad, Henry. He was big into motorsport too, racing stock cars and doing a bit of rallycross at Nutts Corner in his Mini.

3. Did you pass your driving test first time?

Yep! 4. What was your first road car?

Peugeot 205 – it was nothing special!

5. What is your favourite road car?

Subaru Impreza P1.

6. Who were your motorsport heroes as a child?

Ayrton Senna is one that I watched while I was growing up. Then Mr. McRae when I was a bit older. They both stood out from the rest.

7. Who would you rate as the top three British or Irish rally drivers

today?

Eugene Donnelly, Kris Meeke and Kevin Lynch.

build! I’ll hopefully do a few other rallies as well, such as Swansea Bay, the Ulster and maybe Lurgan Park.

8. What was your first competitive event?

I hired a car from Philip Hunter for the Eurocables Stage in 2002 and I think I finished third in class five.

13. What is your favourite event?

Tour of the Sperrins.

9. What drive are you most proud of to date?

2005 was a good year - we won class six in the Northern Ireland Championship.

10. What is your most frustrating memory in rallying?

The Circuit of Ireland in 2004 – we were pipped for the win on the final stage by two seconds!

11. What is your biggest accident to date?

Lakeland Stages in 2004 when we put the car into a hedge. We were in fourth gear, so it was a very abrupt stop!

12. What are your plans for 2009?

We’re going to do the Northern Ireland Championship – it’s my first year in class seven. So we’re in a new car, which has taken four years to

14. What is your favourite rally car?

Ford Escort MkII. 15. What do you think about youth development in rallying?

I’m not sure what can be done – the one thing about rallying is that it’s money that helps young ones get to the top, rather than talent.

16. If you could change anything about current rallying rules/ admin what would it be?

There’s nothing that I can think of!

17. What was the last CD you bought?

Faithless.

18. What is your favourite tipple?

Diet Coke.

19. What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Frosties!

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59

Rossetti in the Super 2000 Peugeot

nicky’s notes nicky grist writes exclusively for pacenotes

Dawn Of The ‘S’ Express...

After watching the recent Tour of Epynt, it suddenly dawned on me how much difference there is between the performance of a modern World Rally Car and one that is a few years older.

What highlighted it specifically

was the performance of Peter Lloyd’s S12 Subaru against Damian Cole’s Hyundai WRC. Both drivers know Epynt very well, and even though Damian spent a lot of money upgrading his car during the winter months - shedding 150kg, fitting the latest paddle gear change to his transmission and with a more powerful engine – he was seriously struggling to keep up with the more modern machinery.

It has to be said that Melvyn Evans was in a league of his own at the event, but I wonder how much more competitive the rally would have been if the top six were all using Super 2000 rally cars?

While they would be slower, they would certainly sound 100 times better, and of course the budget to run these cars would be far more economical. While a Super 2000 is

slightly cheaper to buy than a WRC, it’s in the running costs that the big savings are made, and parts last longer too.

It has to be said, that in the clubman side of the sport, it may take some time before these cars filter down. Not everyone can afford to buy a new Super 2000, but they will be a lot cheaper and it would probably make competition dramatically closer.

When we think back to Rally Ireland, the performance of Niall McShea on the first day of the event was testimony to how well these cars can perform. Maybe it’s not such a bad idea to have these cars in competition, sooner rather than later.

On another note, I’m excited to hear the news of Marcus Gronholm returning to the World Rally Championship - albeit for just one event at the moment. I think the

news will be great for television and the sport as a whole. No disrespect to anyone that’s there, but we need a charismatic person like Marcus to bring excitement back to the sport.

One could argue that the Subaru is not the best car out there, but Marcus is certainly a driver that could extract more from it than some others. This year the WRC does look a little diluted in terms of teams and drivers, so his entry will certainly add a lot more spice. It’s a pity it could not be for more than one event!

On a final note, I was saddened to hear the news of Paul Gallagher’s accident in Galway, and I’d like to wish him a speedy recovery. From what I’ve heard, the entire rally community is rallying around to support him. So Paul, keep your spirits up, you have a lot of support out there and we’re all wishing you well!

Call us for

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Email: info@nickygrist.com march 2009 60 pacenotes.net

advice on Hans device issues

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Ulster Rally 2nd Fifteen Gala Dinner Northern Ireland Motor Club’s starstudded Ulster Rally second 15 gala dinner took place at the luxurious Armagh City Hotel on Friday 6 February. Celebrating the second 15 years of the Ulster Rally, famous names from the world of rallying attended the

event, including Ford World Rally Team boss, Malcolm Wilson.

The Simmonite sisters, Rachael and Stephanie, who were three times British ladies champions in the 90s, also returned to Irish shores for the dinner, as did Mark Higgins

and Howard Davies. And closer to home, the likes of Cahal Curley, Andrew Nesbitt, Austin MacHale and Eugene Donnelly were among those present. Of course, there was an important part to the evening, and all funds raised were donated to Action MS.

Friday 6th February 2009

61

pacenotes.net march 2009

Performance Car Seat Ibiza Cupra by Jason Craig march 2009 62 pacenotes.net

Ibiza Gets The

Party Started!

Called the Ibiza Cupra, it’s the latest performance model to roll off the production line at the Spanish company’s plant in Martorell near Barcelona, Spain.

Seat’s Design Director, Luc Donckerwolke has given the Ibiza Cupra a visually aggressive exterior with the front adopting twin chrome headlights, a U-shape air vent and a centre honeycomb structure grille with black surround.

A newly designed bumper also features, comprising of driving lights with cornering function and sizeable air vents to channel air to the engine and disc brakes, the latter of which has four-pot red callipers.

Seat’s ‘Arrow Design’ means the bumper graces a prominent lower lip to aid airflow at speed and the wheel arches are now more pronounced in appearance.

Although exaggerated, they are necessary to accommodate the dual-spoke, 17-inch alloys shod with low profile 215/40 tyres.

This athletic and purposeful look continues to the back of the Ibiza where bulbous shoulders encase the car’s rear lights, and as with the front, the back bumper has integrated air vents, too.

The bottom of the bumper incorporates an underbody style diffuser with centrally placed trapezoid tailpipe.

Black mirror pods, a small boot-lid spoiler and Cupra badging finishes off the look.

Open the driver’s door and you are greeted with a cabin of the highest quality for this segment. The Ibiza’s fit and finish is firstrate including new figure hugging Cupra

embossed sports seats, a race-inspired three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel and aluminium accelerator, brake and clutch pedals.

As you’d expect, standard equipment is very generous, comprising of MP3 audio with Auxiliary connection, six speakers, cruise control, a trip computer and low tyre pressure warning light.

A raft of safety features ranging from driver, passenger and head airbags, ESP, ABS, EBD and Traction Control are also included.

Lift the bonnet and you may be surprised to see that its 180bhp comes from a 1.4-litre engine. Such a small capacity means lower levels of CO2 emissions estimated at 159g/km, with fuel economy averaging at a respectable 42mpg.

A brand-new TSI unit that uses both turbocharging and supercharging has been chosen – technology both car and company shares with German owner, Volkswagen – and looks set to feature in the forthcoming Polo GTI , too.

The Ibiza Cupra is no slouch. The 0-60mph time can be covered in seven seconds with 140mph the claimed top speed.

An all-new seven speed Direct Shift

Gearbox (DSG -7) comes as standard and means gear changes are now made via paddles mounted near the steering wheel.

Until now, no other car in the Volkswagen Group has featured this transmission nor has any other car in the hot hatch segment, until now.

Seat is confident the Ibiza Cupra’s driving dynamics will live up to the looks and performance of the front-wheel drive car, with four major changes having been made to the hot supermini in addition to the ‘Cupra’ sports suspension.

The car has a wider track, larger diameter wheels, a greater distance between shafts, and substantial improvements have been made to the Agile Chassis system that affects all the elements anchored to it, such as the suspension, steering and brakes.

High-levels of traction are guaranteed and under-steer reduced thanks to a new electronic traction mechanism: it acts as a self-locking electronic differential but without introducing any additional cost or mechanical elements.

The Cupra version of Seat’s muchloved Ibiza is a fantastic car. Not only is it competitively priced (ask your own local dealer), well-equipped and ridiculously fast, but its design typifies how a sporting supermini should look. It’s easy to see why this little wonder remains the jewel in the Spanish car company’s crown.

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63

Irish National Forest Championship

Tipperary Forestry Rally

Winners: Keith Cronin & Greg Shinnors

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

RESULTS 1 Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors EVO 9........................... 00:33:26 2 Trevor J. Harding/Andrew Purcell Subaru Impreza............. 00:34:01 3 Denis Cronin/Helen O’Sullivan Subaru Impreza............. 00:34:54 4 Pat O’Connell/Mark Wiley EVO 7........................... 00:34:59 5 James Murphy/Anthony Nestor WRC Escort.................. 00:35:42 6 Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan Escort MK2.................. 00:35:50 7 John Reid/Enda Shields Toyota Corolla............... 00:36:12 8 PJ McGrath/Billy Collins Subaru Impreza............. 00:36:20 9 Stephen McGrath/Kevin Joyce EVO 6........................... 00:37:08 10 Seamus O’Connell/Sean Duggan Escort Mk2................... 00:37:17 11 Gerard Lucey/James Lucey Toyota Celica................ 00:37:43 12 Mark Sheehan/Jonathan McGrath EVO 9........................... 00:37:48 13 John McLoughlin/Ray Fitzpatrick EVO.............................. 00:38:07 14 Paul Stauton/Conor Murphy Ford Escort................... 00:38:12 15 Shane McGirr /Anthony Concannon Toyota Starlet................ 00:38:17 16 Christy Carey/Mark Bowens EVO 9........................... 00:38:30 17 Aurther Kierans/Ashley McAdoo Ford Escort................... 00:38:31 18 Craig Breen/Sorcha Kelly Citroen C2R2................ 00:38:38 19 Timmy England/Eoghan Fogarty Ford Escort................... 00:38:44 20 John Reddington/Stephen Quin EVO 8........................... 00:39:02 march 2009 64 pacenotes.net

Cool Cronin Collects Forestry Maiden...

With snow capped mountains as a backdrop, 77 competing crews left the start ramp in The Square, Mitchelstown, for the Sean Conlon Forestry Rally, round one of the 2009 Petro Systems National Forestry Championship.

With a host of Ireland’s top forestry competitors in attendance, the competition was going to be hot!

As the crews headed out of service and made the short journey to stage one, Kilcoran, a decision was made by the organisers to cancel the stage on safety grounds, due to a heavy snowfall overnight.

So it was stage two, Goatenbridge, where number seven seeds Pat O’Connell and Mark Wiley set the pace in their Mitsubishi, with a time of 5.04.

Keith Cronin and Greg Shinnors were two seconds adrift on 5.06, while Trevor J Harding and Andrew Purcell stopped the clocks in their Impreza WRC with a time of 5.10.

In Group N, Stephen McGrath and Kevin Joyce set the early pace from Christy Carey and Mark

Bowens, with Mark Sheehan and John McGrath back in third.

Meanwhile, Brian Lawlor and Peter Kavanagh were leading the two wheel drive battle with a time of 5.23, five seconds ahead of Frank Kelly and Liam Brennan. Limerick’s John Byrne and Kenneth Shiel led 2nd Overall - Trevor J. Harding & Andrew Purcell

the Junior Rally by 18 seconds from Vincent and JP McAree, with Craig Breen and Sorcha Kelly a further two seconds behind.

After a 30 minute service halt, it was on to the first run over stage three, Kilworth. Cronin pulled out

6th Overall - Frank Kelly & Liam Brennan

7th Overall - John Reid & Enda Shields

all the stops and set a blistering time through the stage to take the overall lead from Trevor J Harding, with Paul O’Connell dropping to third.

Denis Cronin moved up to fourth, just ahead of the hard charging Frank Kelly, who took over the lead of the two wheel drive section after the retirement of Brian Lawlor. That also moved Seamus O’Connell up to second and Paul Staunton into third. Unfortunately for 2008 reigning forestry champion Ray Breen and co-driver Martin Brady, a broken throttle motor caused them to lose seven minutes.

It was back to service once more before the crews headed out for a repeat of stage one, Kilcoran, which had received the ‘okay’ from the organisers to run. Keith Cronin and Greg Shinnors were once again fastest and the top five overall remained unchanged.

Frank Kelly held on to his two wheel drive lead, Stephen McGrath led Group N and Craig Breen took the Junior category lead after the retirement of John Byrne. But things were not so good for Craig’s father, Ray Breen. After replacing the broken throttle motor on his Kel Tech Ford Focus WRC in service, the same problem came back to haunt them, causing the disappointed crew to retire from the rally.

With two stages remaining, it was still tight at the top of the leaderboard. Stage five was a repeat of stage two, Goatenbridge. Cronin’s 17 second advantage was soon down to 13 seconds as Harding set fastest time. Pat O’Connell held on to third spot from Denis Cronin in fourth, with James Murphy moving into fifth overall, from Frank Kelly.

With one stage remaining, it was all to play for! On this occasion though, it was Keith Cronin and Greg Shinnors who displayed their exceptional talent through the final stage, to set fastest time once again.

They finished 22 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals, Trevor Harding and Andrew Purcell, which secured the 22-year-old West Cork man his first Irish Forestry win!

Denis Cronin and Helen O’Sullivan pulled out all the stops

Tipperary Forestry Rally

4th Overall - Pat O’Connell & Mark Wiley

Irish National Forest Championship

3rd Overall - Denis Cronin & Helen O’Sullivan

over the final test to just get ahead of Pat O’Connell and Mark Wiley, with James Murphy and Anthony Nestor rounding off the top 5.

Frank Kelly and Liam Brennan finished sixth overall and secured the top two-wheel-drive award, while seventh place went to the 2008 Forestry Championship runnerup, John Reid. P.J. McGrath and Billy Collins brought their Subaru Impreza WRC home in eighth, while Stephen McGrath and Kevin Joyce finished ninth, ahead of Seamus O’Connell and Sean Duggan.

Round two of the Petro Systems Forestry Championship takes place on 1st March, with the Carrick-onSuir Willie Loughman Stages Rally.

Pacenotes will have a full report in next month’s edition!

class reports >>

CLASS RESULTS Class 1 1 Shane McGirr/ Anthony Concannon Toyota Starlet................ 00.38.17 2 Enda McLoughlin/Declan Tynan Escort MK2.................. 00.39.28 Class 2 1 Michael Nevin/Alan Higgins Escort Mk 2.................. 00.40.07 2 Michael Sheedy/Sean O’Neill Ford Escort................... 00.42.06 Class 3 1 Michael Cuddihy/Richie Coady Toyota Starlet................ 00.39.38 2 Mark Dolphin/Martin O’ Ford Escort........................... 00.39.43 Class 4 1 Aurther Kierans/Ashley McAdoo Ford Escort................... 00.38.31 2 Alan Commins/Paul Collins Escort Mk 2.................. 00.39.42 Class 5 1 Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan Escort MK2.................. 00.35.50 2 Seamus O’Connell/Sean Duggan Escort Mk2................... 00.37.17 Class 6 1 Gerard Lucey/James Lucey Toyota Celica................ 00.37.43 2 Declan Cuddy/Nigal Moody Subaru Impreza............. 00.40.50

Class 7 1 James Murphy/Anthony Nestor WRC Escort.................. 00.35.42 2 John Reid/Enda Shields Toyota Corolla............... 00.36.12 Class 8 1 Pat O’Connell/Mark Wiley EVO 7........................... 00.34.59 2 Stephen McGrath/Kevin Joyce EVO 6........................... 00.37.08 Class 9 1 Craig Breen/Sorcha Kelly Citroen C2R2................ 00.38.38 2 Vincent McAree/JP McAree Peugeot........................ 00.39.43

Seamus O’Connell & Sean Duggan finish in 10th place

pacenotes.net march 2009

65

Irish National Forest Championship

Tipperary Forestry Rally

Class 5 - Frank Kelly

Class Battles...

Class 1

It was a rush to get their car ready but in the end it was all worthwhile as Shane McGirr and Anthony Concannon claimed victory in class one aboard their Toyota Starlet.

The crew claimed 15th overall in the process, and even set a top 10 stage time on the final test! In class terms, they finished more than one minute ahead of Enda McLoughlin and Declan Tynan, while Lloyd Hutchinson and Kevin Flanagan completed the top three.

Class 2 Class 1 - Shane McGirr & Anthony Concannon

Michael Nevin and Alan Higgins topped the class two tree at the finish line. They kept their Escort out of trouble to seal the victory by an impressive two minutes, with Michael Sheedy and Sean O’Neill second, ahead of Kevin Fowler and Darren Walsh.

Class 3 Class 3 - Michael Cuddihy & Richie Coady

Class 6 - Gerard Lucey & James Lucey Class 8 - Pat O’Connell & Mark Wiley

It was a fight to the finish line among the class three crews as only a handful of seconds separated Michael Cuddihy and Mark Dolphin. But after a slow start, it was Cuddihy and navigator Richie Coady who took the spoils by five seconds, with Mark Dolphin second ahead of Owen Mulcahy and Paul Dewane.

Class 4

The Escort men were once again out in force in class four, with the top four places occupied by the crews Class 2 - Michael Nevin & Alan Higgins

went on to win the category from Declan Cuddy and Nigel Moody.

Class 7 Junior Winners - Craig Breen & Sorcha Kelly

at the finish line. The Escorts has a field day, with Arthur Kierans and Ashley McAdoo claiming victory by an impressive 71 seconds. Alan Commins and Paul Collins took second, with Ray Benskin and Mossie Griffen third.

Class 5

Just four crews reached the finish in class five, and here it was Frank Kelly and Liam Brennan who returned to winning ways. They claimed sixth overall in the process, and finished more than one minute ahead of Seamus O’Connell and Sean Duggan. Pal Staunton and Conor Murphy were third.

Class 6

There were four retirements among the six crews entered in class six, but that made little difference to the category winners, as they led from the start. Gerard and James Lucey took their Toyota Celica to the top of the podium after stage one and never looked back. While John Meade, Mark Murphy, Hans Matthia and Danny Creedon all retired, the Lucey crew concentrated on building their advantage, and

The expected charge from Ray Breen never materialised, as he was in trouble from the start. So it was Trevor Harding who went on to claim the top class seven spot ahead of Denis Cronin. But as both of these crews finished inside the top three overall, they sacrificed their class positions, allowing James Murphy and Anthony Nestor to take the spoils ahead of John Reid and Enda Shields, with P.J. McGrath and Billy Collins third.

Class 8

Overall event winners Keith Cronin and Greg Shinnors sacrificed their class position, allowing Pat O’Connell and Mark Wiley to claim the spoils. They actually set fastest time on the rally opener, but later dropped to fourth overall. That was more than enough to seal the category spoils, as they finished more than two minutes ahead of Stephen McGrath and Kevin Joyce, with Mark Sheehan and Jonathan McGrath third.

Class 9

The Junior category saw Craig Breen and Sorcha Kelly add another trophy to their cabinet, taking the win by 65 seconds from Vincent and J.P. McAree, with Kevin and Gavin Gallagher third.

Class 4 - Arthur Kierans & Ashley McAdoo

Class 7 - James Murphy & Anthony Nestor

pacenotes.net

66 march 2009

2008 Rally Champions & Class Winners

ANICC Night Of Champions...

Saturday 24th January 2009

ANICC Chairman - Henry Campbell with a bevie of beauties.

2008 Rally Champions - Connor McCloskey (3rd right) & Francis Regan (2nd right) pictured with NI Championship sponsor, Pacenotes owner Simon Mooney.

Lewis & co show off their awards haul...

MMP Award winners.

Sean Devine - 2008 Runner-up Driver.

Sunoco GpN Champions - Cathal Rogers (2nd right) Superdrive 2WD Champion - James Kennedy

67

pacenotes.net march 2009

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Italian helmet firm Stilo has built the new ST4 F18860 helmet specifically to respond to these new rules. The extensive use of carbon fibre, allied to cutting-edge construction techniques, has nonetheless kept the weight

THE NO.1 PLACE TO BUY & SELL YOUR RALLY CARS AND PARTS

of the helmet down. The Stilo ST4 F1 is available in both Formula (pictured) and GT versions, with the latter offering a slightly wider visual range. Noise-attenuating headphones come as standard, which are fully-homologated for track use and come with integrated electronics and connectors. The helmet is also designed to accept a drinks system, which is available as an option.The ST4 F1 is now on sale at 2092 Euros, plus VAT. For more information, please visit www.stilo.it or your Irish dealer EARS Motorsport Ireland www.ears.ie Tel: 00353 (0)22 42050

To Advertise Here Contact Beverley on +44 (0)28 4066 0390 Email: sales@pacenotes.net

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69

Classified Services

PEUGEOT 106 SUPER CUP CAR Full spec with rear Proflex suspension fitted. Perfect car, ready to rally. Complete with Lamp Pod & Large spares package.

Call for price & further details. +44 (0) 7976 766664 or, +44 (0) 7801 105688

The Best Rally Car Marketplace

CITROEN SAXO CHALLENGE CAR 2009 This car was built this year ready for the 2009 season built from a brand new shell.

Engine and gearbox have been rebuilt.170bhp. The car is unregisterd, its completley brand new and ready to go. 106 rear to it to make it personally nicer.

Offers around £14k contact via email: cosworth666@hotmail.co.uk

MICRA STAGE RALLY CAR 1275 cc, Strong car built using high quality parts. Little use since 2007 build. Comes with good selection of spares, wheels etc. NME Cage, Bilsteins, Goodridge hoses throughout, re-built gearbox, MSA Log Book.. Ready for 2009 Season either Forest or Tarmac spec. Delivery possible. £4495 ono Tel: 07968 126227

NEWLY BUILT HONDA CIVIC RALLY CAR 1.6 DOHC EG6. Y21 Gear box with Diff. OMP Seats, Sparco Cage, Ajustable Suspensions.

All in Date. PRICE €9,800 Also Honda Civic 16 DOHC 1998 EK4. Competition Clutch.

Suitable for Rally Car. Price €3,600 Phone 087 2589692 (Cavan)

70

pacenotes.net march 2009

FOR SALE MK2 ESCORT 2.0 LITRE 16 VALVE All Steel Vauxhall Engine Fuel Injection 293 BHP with Cold Airbox, etc built by C Bradley Motor Engineers. Tractive Gearbox. 2 piece driveshaft. F/F Atlas Axle with ZF Motorsport LSD, Watts Linkage and H/D Halfshafts. 15” wheels. Alcon 4 pots front & rear. WRC Handbrake. Tinted Heated front windscreen. Carbon Floor Trays. Powersteering. Twin Bosch Fuel Pumps in special C Bradley Bracket. Special Foam Filled Fuel Tank. Flocked Dash.

Electric Gas Fireeater This car was built by C Bradley Motorsport to the absolute highest standard regardless of cost - this is not your average rally car! It has done 1 season, 9 events, from new and came 1st in class National Championship and 1st in class Border Championship and has since been fully serviced and is ready to rallly again. This car is in absolutely brand new condition.

For more information call 028 7962 7282 / 07710712007 £59000/€65000

MK2 ESCORT 2.0 LITRE 16 VALVE 2.0L 16V All Steel Vauxhall Engine Fuel Injection built by C Bradley Motor Engineers. 5 Speed Dogbox. Fully Floating Atlas Axle with ZF Motorsport LSD. Heavy Duty Halfshafts.

New Type Large AP 4 pot front brakes. Alloy Radiator.

Motordrive Seats. Tension Struts. Anti-roll bar (front & rear). 6 linked. Tinted heated front windscreen. Carbon Floor Trays. Powersteering. 2 piece driveshaft This car has had many 1st in Class wins. £29,500 or €33000 Option to buy with Quaife 60G 6 speed sequential at extra cost.

Spares package also available including: 36 Tarmac wheels & tyres, 20 Forest wheels & tyres and selection of new tyres This registration will not be sold with this vehicle - the car will be relogged on another set of plates For more information call 028 7962 7282 / 07710712007

MARK BARNETT’S GP4 MK2 ESCORT NI Class Championship winning car. 2.0L 16v All Steel Vauxhall Engine Fuel Injection 293 BHP with Cold Airbox, etc built by C Bradley Motor Engineers.

5 speed dogbox. TT/FF Atlas axle with 5.1 CW&P. 5 Linked.

Round turrets. Monte Carlo front brakes. AP2382 rear calipers. AP twin paddle clutch.

Alloy radiator. Heated front screen. Bilstein GP4 adjustable suspension all round. Alloy tops. Tension strut assemble.

Genuine Ford adjustable TCA. Fully aeroquipped. A proper car, maintained well - needs nothing!

This car has had many outright class wins and is ready to rally! £25000 /€27900 For more information call 028 7962 7282 / 07710712007

MK2 ESCORT 2.0 LITRE 16 VALVE New 2.0L 16v Vauxhall Engine Fuel Injection 245 BHP built by C Bradley Motor Engineers. 5 speed dogbox. Fully Floating Atlas axle with ZF Motorsport LSD. Heavy Duty Halfshafts.

Monte Carlo front brakes. AP 4 pot forestry rear brakes. Alloy radiator. Motordrive seats Lots of good results. Very well maintained car. This is a proper car, properly set up and ready to rally! £27000 or €29500 For more information call 028 7962 7282 / 07710712007

2.0 LITRE PINTO ENGINE - Newly Rebuilt. Arrow steel crank & rods. Pace dry sump kit.

Jenvey throttle bodies. Omex ECU & loom. ARP head studs.

New big end & main bearings.

Accralite flat top pistons.

Cosworth 4 x 4 gasket. Gates timing belt. This is a very special engine with a lot of work on the cylinder head and a special camshaft made to suit cylinder head £8000 or €8900 For more information call 028 7962 7282 / 07710712007

MITSUBISHI EVO 9 RS GRP N Full international spec, Built from new car May 2008. Only competed on three rallys. Fully Aeroquiped brake and fuel lines. Latest GEMS engine and diff controllers. Coralba trip meter. Ralliart hydraulic handbrake. Ralliart competition bushes throughout. Ralliart prop and diff guards. Quick release carbon sump guard with stainless steel skids. Full under body protection. Carbon fibre mirrors, door cards, floor trays. Electric master switch.

Flocked dash. Latest Proflex suspension. Can be sold in either tarmac or gravel trim.

Car must be seen and is totally immaculate throughout. Can send more photographs via E-Mail if necessary. For further details call. £43,500 ono May part exchange.

Tel: 02890448111 or 07788453742 VAUXHALL NOVA SHELL Complete with bonnet,doors bootlid etc. Engine bay seam welded. Dry stored for six years in immaculate condition. €550 o.n.o.

Sparco roll cage to suit the above. Never fitted. Excellent Condition. €250.

Tel: 00353 (0) 860626441 (Located in Donegal)

MK2 ESCORT 2.0 LITRE 16 VALVE Fresh 2.0L 16v Vauxhall Engine Fuel Injection 245 BHP. 5 speed dogbox. Fully Floating Atlas axle with ZF Motorsport LSD Heavy Duty Halfshafts. Monte Carlo front brakes. AP 2 pot rear brakes. Sparco Prodrive Seats This is a proper, well maintained car - ready to rally! £27000 or €29500 For more information call 028 7962 7282 / 07710712007

Classified Deadline for next issue 18th March

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Well Done to Frank Kelly in the Sean Conlon Forestry Rally 1st in Class, 1st 2wd, 6th Overall Running an Elite 6 Speed Seqential and DMS Suspension’

Euro M-Sport are Proud to be the Sole Distributor of Dixcel Brake Pads and Disks in Ireland

e Proud to Euro M-Sport ar ibutor for be the Sole Distr n DMS Suspensio

JLS Hose and Fittings, Oil, Fuel and Brake line Kits in Stock.

Now available for Evo, Honda, Escort etc.Trade inquires Welcome

DMS Suspension 2 and 4 way in stock, available for Honda Civic, Ford Escort & Mitsubishi Evo 4.9 Straight cut Final drives now in stock

Official Motorsport partner for the Honda Cup. Regs now availible

www.hondacupireland.com

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DefNder Neckbrace Available Soon

www.flockeddashes.com

Flocking all dashes • Trade inquires Welcome

OPENING HOURS: Mon: 9.00AM – 6.00PM Thur: 9.00AM – 9.00PM Tues: 9.00AM – 9.00PM Fri: 9.00AM – 6.00PM Wed: 9.00AM – 9.00PM Sat: 9.00AM – 3.00PM Any other time By Arrangement

Elite Gearboxes 6 speed sequential as used by Frank Kelly

Honda Y21 Dog Box • Evo Dog Kit - ZF replacement gear kit for Escort Historic Cars - Elite Atlas and English LSD’s now in stock.

- Coming soon ZF complete synchro gear box