Birr Forestry Stages Rally - 14 Aug 05

Posted: August 17, 2005 1:51 AM

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Double Delight for MacHale/ Nagle in Birr
It was double delight for Gareth MacHale/ Paul Nagle (Corolla WRC) as they sprayed the champagne at the finish ramp of the Birr Forest Rally. The Dublin/ Killarney duo sensationally won the event by 3 secs after a blistering attack on the final stage crowning them the 2005 “McCauley Trailers” National Forest Rally Champions.

Glenn Allen/ Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) set the pace on the short opening stage (Nealstown), 3 secs clear of MacHale/ Nagle. Although MacHale only needed a top eight finish to take the title he responded to Allen on the second stage “Gurteen” turning a 3 sec deficit into a 11 second advantage. Cork winner Allen was up for the battle, took 6 secs off MacHale through ss3, Ballyhuppahane and 10 secs on ss4, arriving into first service in Clonaslee Village with a 5 sec lead.

Billy Coleman Award Winner; Shaun Gallagher (Evo 6) came to Birr as a shakedown for Rally GB and caused quite a stir. He and co driver Charlie McGinty held 3rd overall and led Gp N at first service. Stephen Moore/ Tony McHugh (N10 Impreza) occupied fourth, 30 secs down on Gallagher but were happy to be leading the championship regulars. Danny Barry/ Mark Bowens (Evo 6) were a further 45 secs back in 5th. Holding 6th, Frank Kelly/ Liam Brennan led the 2WD contingent with their Mountune-powered mk2. Brendan Murphy/ Pat Condon (Impreza) held 7th and turned a fine time through ss4 – 5th fastest overall. Donegal’s Kevin/ Patrick Duggan (Evo 6) occupied 8th. Monaghan men rounded off the top ten with Andy Mackeral/ Richard Cassidy (Evo 4) 9th and teammate Michael Tynan/ Colin Brady (Evo 5) only 8 secs in arrears in 10th after the first four stages.

There were plenty of casualties on the first loop. Number 12, Brian McGillin/ Dave Doherty retired on the second stage after sliding into a post damaging the rear cradle/ suspension assembly on their Impreza. Dan Mulcahy/ Pat Naughton (Escort Cosworth) lost turbo boost and retired on ss2 but resumed for “00” duties in the afternoon. 2WD ace Brian Lawlor (Mk2) was forced to retire after ss3 as his rear axle jammed. Jonathan MacHale/ Trevor Payne (Nova) retired on ss3 with a broken gearbox casing. Pete McCullagh/ Alan Dolan put their Evo into the bushes on stage 4, little damage but there to stay. Many more were sidelined on ss4 “Clonaslee” as it was the longest stage of the rally with a bit of everything. Adrian Hetherington/ Andrew O’Donoghue seized their pristine mk2 having dropped oil pressure, Noel Driver/ Joe Shinnors (Mk2) stopped with front suspension failure, James Murphy/ Anthony Nestor made it to service but retired as their Escort lost centre diff pressure and Richard/ Bobby Nugent rolled their Suzuki powered mk2 about 2 miles in, both crew were ok.

Ballyhuppahane and Clonaslee were repeated before the second service in Clonaslee Village. Gareth MacHale set FTD through ss5 reducing Allen’s lead to 2 secs. Allen pilled on the pressure over the following stage taking 4 secs of his rival to hold a six sec advantage at service before the final two stages. Gallagher held third, Moore fourth, Kelly fifth, Duggan sixth, Mackeral 7th, Tynan 8th, Daniel Barry slipped to 9th after losing over 1 min on stage six due to a burst brake pipe. Justin/ Norman Dunne (Evo 6) climbed to 10th. Pat O’Connell/ Paul Manton were having a super run lying just outside the top ten and second 2WD with their 206 Cup Car. Brendan Murphy retired on ss5 – transmission.

Stage 7 was a repeat of stage one in but the opposite direction. Glenn Allen set FTD albeit one sec up on MacHale. Going into stage 8 “Gurteen” Allen held a seven sec advantage over MacHale and looked on course for back-to-back victory. Gareth was getting orders to drive for the Championship and keep it together, but the young gun wanted to have a go and had opted for a harder compound tyre at service - planning a big attack for the final stage which was a repeat on ss2 where he had taken 14 secs of Allen earlier.

MacHale raised his game as he has done on many occasions this season to set a scorching time, 24 secs quicker than his previous run and a breath-taking 10 secs up Allen netting the Dubliner a slender but convincing 3 sec winning margin and landing the “McCauley Trailers” title on the penultimate round. Gareth MacHale/ Paul Nagle were delighted to do the business and both their families were there to support them all the way. At 25 Gareth is the youngest driver ever to clinch the “National Forest Championship Title” and looks on course for a prosperous rallying career.

Second placed Glenn Allen/ Damien Connolly never gave up, they too set a serious time through Gurteen – 28 secs up on their first attempt but it wasn’t enough to beat MacHale. Glenn has been a great competitor all year and has shown his speed on recent rounds as he gets more acquainted to the Corolla. The Cookstown Garage proprietor takes second in the championship after a huge effort often competing in the North on a Saturday, re-preparing the car and travelling through the night to make the startline Sunday morning.

Shaun Gallagher/ Charlie McGinty (Evo 6) had a trouble free run taking third and the Gp N spoils. Stephen Moore/ Tony McHugh (Impreza) took fourth and only need a start in Killarney to take the Gp N title. Kevin/ Patrick Duggan (Evo 6) took fifth. Daniel Barry/ Mark Bowens (Evo 6) recovered from their burst brake pipe to 6th overall on only his third rally in a 4WD Gp N. In 7th spot Frank Kelly/ Liam Brennan (mk2) took class five spoils and Best 2WD. Andy Mackeral/ Richard Cassidy (Evo 4) 8th, Michael Tynan/ Colin Brady (Evo 5) 9th, Justin/ Norman Dunne (Evo 6) completed the top ten.

Cahir’s Andrew Fanning/ Alan McCormack powered their Ka to class 1 honours. Club Member; Mick Nevin/ John Kinahan (1600 Escort) finished 20th and took class 2 honours. James Flynn/ Jonathon McGrath (Civic) finished 12th overall and clinched class 3. Ray Benskin/ Peadar Walsh (2.0 Escort) were class 4 winners. Douglas Stewart/ Andrew Purcell (206) secured class 7 after Pat O’Connell/ Paul Manton (206) lost 5 mins on the final stage. Ashley McAdoo/ Adam Murray (Nova) secured class 9 spoils as their main opponents Conor Kelly/ John Quill (Nova) were off losing 4 mins on stage four.

The event went well, good weather, the stages were well received by competitors and it ran on time. Well done to COC Eoghan Fogarthy and all involved in Birr and District Auto Club for successfully reviving the rally after a 3-year lay off.

1 Gareth McHale/Paul Nagle (Toyota Corolla WRC) 59m 00s,
2 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC) 59m 03s,
3 Shaun Gallagher/Charlie McGinty (Mit. Lancer Evo 6) GpN 60m 28s,
4 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Subaru Impreza N10) GpN 61m 17s,
5 Kevin Duggan/Patrick Duggan (Mit Lancer Evo 6) GpN 63m 46s,
6 Danny Barry/Mark Bowens (Mit Lancer Evo 6 GpN 63m 52s,
7 Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Escort) 63m 59s,
8 Andy Mackarel/Richard Cassidy (Mit Lancer Evo 4) 64m 10s,
9 Mickey Tynan/Colin Brady (Mit Lancer Evo 5) GpN 64m 41s,
10 Justin Dunne/Norman Dunne (Mit Lancer Evo 6 GpN 66m 00s.

Leaders After:
SS1 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS2-3 Gareth McHale/Paul Nagle (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS4-7 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS8 Gareth McHale/Paul Nagle (Toyota Corolla WRC)

Stage Winners:
SS1 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS2 Gareth McHale/Paul Nagle (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS3 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS4 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS5 Gareth McHale/Paul Nagle (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS6 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS7 Gareth McHale/Paul Nagle (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS8 Gareth McHale/Paul Nagle (Toyota Corolla WRC)

• Download Full Results and Stagetimes in Excel Format

Photos
crspics.com - Counihan Rallysport Pictures
RE raggededge.net
GER LEAHY PHOTOGRAPHY & PR

Birr Motor Club

• 2005 National Forestry Championship
• 2005 South East Stages Championship

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PRE EVENT NEWS

• Entry List to be made available at the end of the week.
• Marshalls and Timekeepers Wanted.
• Entries Still available
• Forestry rallying Returns to the Midlands
• Regulations and Entry Forms available
• Event Details

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Entry list will be available at the end of the week
All entries received will get a start.

Entries still being taken.

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03/08/05
Entries Still available.
Entries are still available for the Grants Hotel Roscrea Forestry Stages Rally.
Regulations and Entry from available to download below:

For more info. Contact:
Eoghan Fogarty (COC) 087 6931369, Mick Boland 087 2688054 or Leona Dolan (Secretary) 087 2996237

Marshalls and Timekeepers Wanted
Marshalls and Timekeepers should contact Eoin Longworth 086 8179297 if anyone wants to help out. A great hassle free day in the woods is guaranteed.

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26/07/05
Forestry rallying Returns to the Midlands Sunday the 14th of August next will see the long awaited return of forestry rallying to the midlands. After 3 years without running a forestry stages rally Birr & District Auto Club are delighted to announce details of this years event. Based in The Damer Court Hotel (formerly known as Grants Hotel), Roscrea the stages will spread over the counties of Laois, Offaly and Tipperary with a total stage mileage of 57 miles. Clerk of the course for the event is Eoghan Fogarty, the 22-year-old Roscrea man is known for his action on the Stages in his Ford KA and more recently Honda Civic. Son of the legendary Mick Fogarty, Eoghan has no shortage of experienced and willing support in running this event. “The organizing crew is basically the same as it was for our tarmac stages,” says Eoghan. “I’ve been promised that they’re going to perform as well for me as they did for Bill in February, I’m confident that we’ll bring forestry back with a bang! Not literally though! The Stage surface! is really good as forestry goes and as a competitor myself I know that they’ll go down a treat”

Although Regulations only went out last week rumour has it that Gareth Mc Hale, son of the famous Austin McHale will be competing in the event. He and his navigator Paul Nagle have been turning heads in their ‘98 Spec Corolla WRC in this year’s forestry Championship. With a result of third overall last weekend in the Cork Forestry Stages you can be sure that if Gareth is coming to Roscrea, he’s coming to win!

The event is the penultimate (7th of 8) round of both the South East Stages and the McCauley Trailers National Forestry Championships. This means pressure for points for a lot of competing crews and in turn that means a great days spectating.

Further information on sponsors and entrants will be available in the coming weeks, but until then take out your calendar and cross off the 14th of August, it’s a day not to be missed!

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14/07/05

• Download Regulations and Entry Form in Word

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11/07/05
Event Details
HQ: Damer Court Hotel (Formally known as "Grant's Hotel"), Roscrea.

Format: 4 Stages x 2, including a 20KM stage

Service Area: Mountrath Mart (As per Multi-Stages Rally)

Regulations available after Cork Forestry

Birr Motor Club

• 2005 National Forestry Championship
• 2005 South East Stages Championship