Laois (Birr MC) Stages Rally - 27 Feb 05

Posted: March 2, 2005 6:52 PM

Event Report
Crowds flocked to County Laois last Sunday to witness one of the finest battles which ever took place on the rally stages. The victorious Ray Breen in his newly acquired ex-Marco Martin Focus WRC held off strong competition from Irish National Rally Champion Niall Maguire, who’s Subaru Impreza usually leaves all in it’s wake in a cloud of dust.

All credit must be given to Ray for his victory, even though Niall had not got the services of his usual navigator Paul McLoughlin he did manage to secure the services of Enda Sherry. This being Ray’s first major Tarmac Victory leaves him hungry for more! Will Niall have a little more competition in making this year his fourth consecutive Championship Win ??

Corkonian Liam McCarthy was delighted with his third place result, he commented that he couldn’t have had a better warm up for the championship.

In Fourth place overall Maynooth crew Kevin Barrett and Barry Goodman were delighted with the days proceedings, they complimented the organisers and the people of Portlaoise for a fun filled weekend, something which can get lost amongst all the competitive pressure of modern rallying. As Niall Maguire’s main Sponsor (Triton Showers) Kevin had the challenge of keeping tabs on the lively Mr Maguire for the weekend, and it must be said that he did this job well!

Noel Redmond rounded off the top 5 in his Kenny McKinstry Subaru Impreza, rumour has it that a few flames slowed Noel down a bit but he obviously made a good recovery to take time of 71m 36sec.

Seeded at number 13 Tadhg Linehan broke the “unlucky for some” rule by artistically drawing some stars on his doorplates! Finishing at 9th overall Tadhg in the Biotech Impreza proved his consistency (he was last years group N Winner in Roscrea)

In the Junior Class Colin O Toole took victory setting an overall time of 33mins 32secs.

Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman award winner Eamon McElvaney suffered an early retirement. After a successful Recce run and holding a position of 16th overall after SS2 Eamon swung the car slightly wide with the result being one wheel off the road. This left him stranded, however he was glad of the experience of making his own notes. Best of Luck in the National Championship Eamon!

Aside from some unfortunate crews suffering bad luck, the day was extremely positive. The weather was bright and dry, ideal for spectators and service crews, a ,minimal stock of tyres required!

Members of Birr and District Auto Club were in awe of the response they got about the event. All competitors full of praise, not a cross word spoken all weekend. Spectators could be seen enjoying the craic in the bar of the heritage looking back at their camcorder footage. And marshals piled their plates high at the buffet. A special thanks to all the staff at The Heritage Hotel for all their help, it was over and above the call of duty.

To our Co-Sponsor Laois Tourism and all the sponsors involved, many thanks. None of it would have been possible without you. To the residents in the many townlands of Laois who had their Sunday interrupted, thank you for your absolute co operation and for the many cups of tea! To all the spectators who left their beds in the wee small hours, thanks and we hope you enjoyed it and of coursethe same to the mad crowd of competitors who kept the crew in the rally office on their toes, great fun was had.

And without a doubt the most thanks go to the talented, patient and completely insane organising committee and their families who put months into the event, enjoy the peace while it lasts – the forestry rally’s only a few months away!!

Anyone who may be interested in getting involved with rallying should contact their local club, Birr and District Auto Club 0872996237 (Leona) or Laois Rally Sport Club 0872675333 (Maria).

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McElvaney Suffers First Retirement of 2005
Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award winner Eamon McElvaney competed in the Laois Stages Rally this weekend. The young Monaghan driver was using the rally as a training event where he would make his own pacenotes for the fist time.

Following a very successful recce Eamon, and co-driver Alan Kenna, were confident and looking forward to the rally.

The day got off a great start and after two stages Eamon was lying 16th overall, 1st two-wheel drive car and leading his class by over a minute. However his luck changed on SS3 when he slid slightly wide dropping one wheel off the road leaving the Peugeot 106 stranded.

"I'm obviously disappointed," admitted Eamon" But we had a great recce and I have definitely benefited from the experience of making my own notes.

Eamon will now begin preparations for the opening round of the Irish National Championship on 13th March.

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Results

1 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) 68m 47s 
2 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC) 69m 28s 
3 Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Subaru Impreza WRC) 69m 52s 
4 Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 70m 24s 
5 Noel Redmond/Diarmuid Falvey (Subaru Impreza WRC) 71m 36s 
6 Alan Ring/Sean Moriarty (Subaru Impreza N11) Gp N 71m 38s 
7 Adrian Quinn/Alan Moran (Mit. Lancer EVO 8) Gp N 72m 20s 
8 Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Mit Lancer Evo 8) Gp N 72m 34s 
9 Tadhg Linehan/John Kearney (Subaru Impreza N9) Gp N 72m 50s 
10 Peter McCullagh/Hugh McKenna (Mit. Lancer Evo 8) Gp N 73m 41s. 

JUNIOR RALLY:
1 Colin O'Toole/John McGrath (Corsa) 33m 32s 
2 Barry Meade/Kenneth Deane (Escort) 33m 48s 
3 David Lyons/Paul Purtill (Escort) 34m 24s. 

Stage Winners:
SS1-6 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS7 Niall Maguire/Edna Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS8 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)

Full Results: rally.connect.ie
RallyNews by Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd

Photos
Seamus Counihan
NG Motorsport Images
Peespeed Photography

More to follow.....

Birr Motor Club Website: www.birrmotorclub.com

• 2005 West Coast Rally Championship
• 2005 Midlands East Rally Championship

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PRE-EVENT NEWS

Pre Event Press Release
Next Sunday 27th February will see some of Irelands most prominent rally crews descend upon the town of Portlaoise. The entry list speaks for itself with Ireland’s 3 times National Tarmac Champion Niall Maguire in the number 1 spot, Unfortunately last year’s winner, John Spain from Loughrea, won’t be in a position to claim his deserved place due to ongoing engine preparations, although we are informed he will be keeping an eye on the day’s proceedings A Quality Entry from Start to Finish!

Another man of achievement on the entry list is Eamon McElvaney, winner of the 2004 Billy Coleman Award. Eamon recently proved his merit by finishing 3rd overall in the Sligo Single Stage Rally and will be a strong contender for his Class in the National Championship which starts in March. Hopefully his Portlaoise outing will provide firm footing for the rest of the year!!

With something for everyone’s taste competing cars include the most up to date technology (Subaru’s, Evo’s, Ray Breen’s new Focus) to the playful simplicity of the rear wheel drives (a huge quantity of mark 2 escorts, the clubman’s favourite as well as a Manta and a few Sunbeams).

The event is the first round of the West Coast Championship, open to drivers with both international and national licences and consisting of 6 rounds, the Championship calculates victory on the competitors best 4 rounds. It is also the opening round of the new Sleator MG Rover Midlands East Stages Championship, an innovative championship set up by some of rallying’s most experienced and familiar faces. It is essentially a clubman’s championship with best 3 of 4 rounds deciding a winner.

Rally HQ is the fabulous Heritage Hotel, a perfect location just on the outskirts of the town centre. The hotel will be home to many of the crews and officials attending the rally for the weekend. Staff can expect to be busy as hungry rally spectators enjoy the fabulous bar menu and no doubt the weekend entertainment. The adjoining multi-story car park will be pairc feirme for all competing cars on Saturday night.

Most of the activity will start early on Saturday with the recce or familiarisation run over the stages. Then crews are required to put their cars through mechanical scrutiny which is taking place in Downey’s Auto stop on the Old Dublin Rd. Then it’s back to the hotel to lock the cars away in pairc feirme, eat a bite and enjoy Portlaoise’s social scene.

Birr & District Auto Club, event organisers and promoters are hoping for a safe and enjoyable day for both competitors and spectators, the rally programme, which will be available from Thursday night in the hotel and in local shops and filling stations, will guide spectators to safe vantage points. First car leaves the Hotel on Sunday morning at 8.30 am; they are scheduled to do 3 loops of 2 stages then a service and then the final 2 stages followed by the podium finish at HQ. The club wish to thank all residents for their help and cooperation, all sponsors, especially main sponsors The Heritage Hotel & Co-Sponsors Laois Tourism.

Come along and enjoy a great days rallying Sunday 27 February!

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Laois Stages await for Sleator MG Rover Championship The exciting new Sleator MG Rover Middlands East Tarmac Championship heads this weekend the 27th of February to its first round, the Laois Stages Rally.

Birr and District Auto Club are the organising club and they will run a Multi Stage Rally of 4 Special Stages ran twice. The cars will leave the start ramp at 9am, and race over 80 competitive stage miles on 8 Special Stages in the West Laois area. The victorious crew will return to the Heritage Hotel Jessop St., Portlaoise at approximately 6pm.

The Sleator MG Rover Championship is a brand new championship and it will arrive to Laois for its maiden event. It is to be a maiden voyage that will hopefully bring close competition and excitement. The championship is class based and covers every class of car right across the clubman range from a 4wd Group A car right down to smaller cars 1400cc and below. Already registrations for the championship coming in at a steady rate and entrants are varied across the classes and further registrations will be accepted at the event sign on. With the class based points structure the winner could come from any class and the winner will be decided on a very equal footing. So the scene is set for the opening act in what is sure to be an exciting championship that will offer competitors good even competition over the season.

Thanks must go to the sponsors who make the championship possible, championship main sponsor and competitor Jack Sleator of Sleator MG Rover and to fellow competitors Tom Holton of Holton uPVC and Patsy Carberry of Ardee Sand and gravel who are associate sponsors.

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22/02/05

Junior
No DRIVER /CO-DRIVER (CAR) CLASS
1 COLIN  O TOOLE/JOHN MC GRATH (CORSA) [16]
2 SEAMUS O GRADY/AIDAN KENT (205 GTI) [16]
3 ROSS FORDE/TBA (COOPER S) [16]
4 KENNETH HOGAN/SEAN MAC MAHON (SUNBEAM) [16]
5 TIM FOLEY/CONOR COLLINS (CIVIC) [16]
6 BARRY MEADE/DARRAGH MEADE (ESCORT MK2) [16]
7 DAVID LYONS/CHRISTINA SHANAHAN (ESCORT MK 2) [16]
8 BRIAN CULLEN/JOHNNY KEATING (CIVIC) [16]
9 PAUL FOOTE/OLIVIA COEN (ESCORT MK2) [16]
10 MARTIN LEONARD/RAYMOND COPPINGER (STARLET) [16]
11 BRIAN MC SWEENEY/GERRY MYERS (ESCORT) [16]
12 BARRY RYAN/SEAN DUGGAN (ESCORT) [16]
13 JOHN F O MAHONY/DONAL FALVEY (CORSA) [16]
14 JOE NACEY/PJ MALONEY (NOVA) [16]
15 ADRIAN O GORMAN/TBA (COROLLA) [16]
16 LIAM RYAN/JIM RYAN (CIVIC) [16]
17 ENDA KENNEDY/TBA (NOVA) [16]
18 GARY HIGGINS/ALAN HIGGINS (ESCORT MK2) [16]
19 MARK FURLONG/LIAM HOWLETT (SWIFT) [16]
20 WILLIAM KIELY/TBA (106) [16]
21 ALAN WHELAN/JP KILMURRAY (CIVIC) [16]
22 NEIL HICKEY/NED DOHERTY (ESCORT MK2) [16]
23 JAMES RYAN/JAMES MURRAY (205 GTI) [16]
24 PADDY O DWYER/PAT DOYLE (NOVA) [16]
25 FRANCIS KELLY/CHARLOTTE EGAN (CORSA) [16]
26 BARRY MURPHY/ANN MARIE KENNEDY (NOVA) [16]


No DRIVER /CO-DRIVER (CAR) CLASS
1 NIALL MAGUIRE/PAUL MC LOUGHLIN (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [8]
2 PATRICK ELLIOT/TBA (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [8]
3 NOEL REDMOND/DIARMUID FALVEY (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [8]
4 KEVIN BARRETT/BARRY GOODMAN (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [8]
5 RAY BREEN /ANDREW PURCELL (FORD FOCUS WRC) [8]
6 JJ FLEMMING/TBA (FORD FOCUS WRC) [8]
7 TOMMY GRAHAM/ANTHONY NESTOR (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC) [8]
8 NOEL MC CARRICK/EUGENE O DONNELL (MIT. LANCER EVO 8.5) [4]
9 PETER CLIFFORD/JOHN YOUNG (MIT. LANCER EVO 7) [4]
10 GABRIEL MARTIN/MARK KANE (MIT. LANCER EVO 7) [4]
11 ALAN RING/SEAN MORIARITY (SUBARU IMPREZA N11) [4]
12 WILLIE FANNIN/MICHAEL COURTNEY (SUBARU IMPREZA N9) [4]
13 TADHG LINEHAN/JOHN KEARNEY (SUBARU IMPREZA N9) [4]
14 JAMES COLEMAN/EOIN ONEILL (ESCORT 2.0) [13]
15 AIDAN WALSH/GER RYAN (ESCORT 2.0) [13]
16 LIAM WALL/BOB KELLY (ESCORT MK 2) [13]
17 PAT SPAIN/PADRAIG RYAN (ESCORT) [13]
18 JACK SLEATOR/TIMMY ENGLAND (SUBARU IMPREZA N10) [4]
19 TOM HOLTON/SEAN WALSH (TOYOTA CELICA GT-FOUR) [8]
20 JAMES MC CANN/PAUL MCCANN (ESCORT RS COSWORTH) [13]
21 EDDIE GARRY/TBA (IMPREZA N9) [8]
22 SEAN MC EVOY/LIAM GRANT (ESCORT) [13]
23 ADRIAN QUINN/ALAN MORAN (EVO 8) [4]
24 EAMON DOWLING/SARAH DOWLING (ESCORT) [12]
25 PETER RAHILL/TBA (ESCORT) [13]
26 CHRISTY CAREY/RICHARD TALBOT (LEGACY) [15]
27 DAVY PERCY/OWEN PERCY (ESCORT MAXI) [6]
28 EAMON MC ELVANEY/ALAN KENNA (106) [6]
29 EAMON DALY/GER HEALY (EVO8) [3]
30 GERRY MAHER/DEC NEVILLE (ESCORT) [13]
31 JOHN DANAGHER/KEITH CURLEY (ESCORT) [14]
32 GORDON PERCY/JOE SHINNORS (ESCORT) [13]
33 SEAMUS DOYLE/JOHN RAFTER (ESCORT) [13]
34 THOMAS MC GOVERN/KEVIN MC GOVERN (ESCORT) [13]
35 JOHN KELLY/ROBBIE SHAW (EVO 7) [4]
36 MICK SHAW/TBA (EVO6) [7]
37 ALAN KANE/KEVIN WALSH (ESCORT G4) [11]
38 DAVID DELANEY/JOHN HIGGINS (FOCUS) [7]
39 JOHN CULLETON/MARIE CULLETON (CELICA) [12]
40 DONAL CROSSAN/RAYMOND DUFFY (ESCORT) [12]
41 MICHAEL HALLY/RAY  FITZPATRICK (CIVIC) [11]
42 PETER MC CULLOUGH/TBA (EVO) []
43 LARRY BRADY/ANTHONY BRADY (CIVIC) [6]
44 GERERD MC GIVNEY/BRIAN RUTH (ESCORT) [12]
45 NIALL BRENNAN/JOHN BYRNE (CIVIC) [6]
46 NIALL WHELAN/DOMINIC DUNNE (CIVIC) [2]
47 PAT CALLANAN/KENNETH SHIEL (CIVIC TYPE R) [3]
48 BRIAN DOYLE/TOMMY DOYLE (ESCORT MK 2) [13]
49 IAN BARRETT/EOIN FLAHERTY (EVO6.5) [3]
50 JOHN QUINN/ALICE QUINN (CHEVETTE) [13]
51 JOHN MURPHY/MATTEW MURPHY (IMPREZA WRX) [4]
52 SHANE MAGAN/TBA (ESCORT) [12]
53 PAT KELLY/MARTIN FLYNN (IMPREZA) [4]
54 MICHAEL O SULLIVAN/DONNACHA O CALLAGHAN (ESCORT) [12]
55 WILLIAM CAVANAGH/DOROTHY CAVANAGH (ESCORT) [12]
56 EMMET CALLAN/JASON O MAHONY (PEUGOT 106) [6]
57 WILLIE FITZGEARLD/BREDA PIGGOT (CIVIC) [11]
58 GENE CALLAN/SEAN BRUNTON (ESCORT MK 2) [12]
59 GERARD HODGINS/GEARD DERVAN (205) [10]
60 JOE CURRAN/MARTINA MC GARRITY (IMPREZA) [4]
61 BREEN MCNAMEE/PAUL KELLY (306) [7]
62 KIERAN GUINAN/TBA (ESCORT MK 2) [12]
63 NEIL PEARSE/ENDA O LEARY (CIVIC) [6]
64 JIMMY BRENNAN/GEARD KENNY (ESCORT COS) [15]
65 MARK MARTLEY/JOE HEARNS (SUNBEAM) [11]
67 EAMON LEE/PETER HOWLEY (ESCORT) [12]
68 PAT BOLGER/DENIS FOLEY (ESCORT) [14]
69 PETE LEONARD/TBA (COROLLA) [12]
70 OWAIN DROUGHT/PADRAIG RYAN (CIVIC) [2]
71 JOHN PAUL RUTH/PIERCE DOHENY (306 KITCAR) [7]
72 FRANKIE SWEENEY/SEAMUS O CONOR (ESCORT) [13]
73 DES MC KENNA/TBA (CORROLLA) [11]
74 NIALL FORTUNE/JAMES KELLY (CORSA) [13]
75 BRIAN TURNER/GARETH TURNER (OPEL CORSA) [11]
76 ANDREW LANG/OLIVER OREILLY (FIESTA RWD) [9]
77 PAUDIE CASEY/SINNEAD OKEEFE (COROLLA) [13]
78 LEO DOYLE/ALISTAR CHAMBERS (ESCORT MK1) [12]
79 PAT LOWBRIDGE/TBA (205 GTI) [13]
80 MARTIN LORDAN/RORY HENNESSY (ESCORT) [9]
81 TREVOR HOGAN/JOHN MAHER (ESCORT) [10]
82 DAVID ROE/TBA (CIVIC) [6]
83 CHRISTOPHER KELLY/MARIA COADY (SWIFT GTI) [5]
84 CHRIS CULLEN/CHRIS CULLEN (NOVA) [9]
85 MIKE KENNY/GENE STACK (ESCORT) [12]
86 JOHN D MURPHY/GEARD A MURPHY (IMPREZA) [4]
87 PHILIP CONNEELLY/MICHELLE CROWLEY (205) [10]
88 JASON CLIFFORD/MICHAEL O SULLIVAN (205 RWD) [13]
89 JOHN QUINN/marain Brady (PEUGOT 106) [6]
90 GRAHAM SCALLAN/BRENDAN CULLIMORE (ESCORT MK2) [13]
91 JAMES CASSIDY/JOE CASSIDY (ESCORT MK 2) [12]
92 KEVIN O DONOGHUE/JOE OLEARY (EVO 8) [4]
93 PADDY O ROURKE/BILLY ROCHE (ESCORT) [13]
94 JOHN RIORDAN/EDDIE MURPHY (ESCORT MK2) [10]
95 KIERAN DALY/MARIE DALY (KA) [5]
96 JOHN O DONNELL/BRENDAN FURLONG (SWIFT GTI) [9]
97 STEPHEN OCONNOR/MARK O CONNOR (COROLLA) [11]
98 DAVID WOODCOCK/ROBERT WOODCOCK (SWIFT GTI) [4]
99 NIGEL MC GINN/PHILIP TOBIN (ESCORT MK 2) [12]
100 LIAM LYNCH/KIERAN MADDEN (ESCORT) [11]
101 TONY GIBBONS/MICHAEL CARLEY (CIVIC) [11]
102 ENDA SULLIVAN/JONATHAN PRINGLE (ESCORT) [11]
103 COLIN FLANAGAN/TBA (PUMA) [5]
104 ALAN WHYTE/ANTHONY HOEY (SUZUKI SWIFT) [1]
105 PAKIE DUFFY/COLIN DUFFY (ASTRA) [3]
106 ALAN QUINN/GARY QUINN (MANTA) [12]
107 FRANK MC NAMARA/DEAN LAFFEY (ESCORT) [13]
108 AIDAN NEVILLE/JOE CROWLEY (CIVIC) [2]
109 MATTEW MURPHY/BARRY ODONNELL (COROLLA) [11]
110 JOHN MURPHY/MARTIN OCONOR (COROLLA) [11]
111 THOMAS CAROLLAN/DECLAN SMYTH (ESCORT) [9]
112 PATRICK  HERITY/JUSTIN GILMARTIN (COROLLA RWD) [11]
113 TOM CURLEY/PARAIC CALLAN (CIVIC) [2]
114 JOHN CORRIGAN/JOHN QUILL (ESCORT) [7]
115 SARAH MOYNIHAN/AMY MOYNIHAN (MICRA) [5]
116 BILLY O KEEFE/PETER BRENNAN () [9]
117 DAVID FORDE/ANTHONY RYAN (CIVIC) [9]
118 LIAM DELANEY/KEVIN  NOLAN (CIVIC) [9]
119 JOHN DEVINE/BARRY DEVINE (FORD SIERRA) [12]
120 BILLY CAVANAGH/BRIAN LEWIS (ESCORT MK2) [12]
121 THOMAS KEARNS/JENNIFER KEARNS (SUNBEAM) [10]
122 DERMOT REILLY/DAVE DOYLE (SWIFT  ) [1]
123 PAT SHORTALL/WILLIE FITZPATRICK (ESCORT MK2) [12]
124 DAVID MC LOUGHLIN/GARETH MULALLY (SIERRA COS) [14]
125 DERMOT MC NEILL/TBA (205) [10]
126 NATHAN MC GURRELL/RICHARD BURRELL (CIVIC) [11]
127 CONOR CONVEY/MARK CONVEY (ESCORT MK 2) [10]
128 MARTIN MOORE/DARREN MOORE (205 RWD) [11]
129 VINCENT TWOHIG/GER FEHILY (COROLLA) [10]
130 TOMMY MARTIN/MARTIN KERLEY (UNO) [9]
131 DECLAN CUDDY/THOMAS CUDDY (MEGANE) [9]
132 GARY GARGAN/PATRICK CUNNINGHAM (RENAULT 11) [10]
133 BRIAN CONNOLLY/TBA (SAXO) [6]
134 GEROID O REGAN/SEAN HENEHAN (CORROLLA) [10]
135 JJ WALL/ENDA DELANEY (106) [9]
136 ENDA KELLY/ADRIAN GREALY (ESCORT MK 2) [10]
137 KEN LAWLOR/COLM HAUGHNEY (NOVA) [10]
138 EDDIE GRISNELL/CHRISTINE O LEARY (PEUGOT 206) [6]
139 GER CULLEN/BRENDAN TYNDALL (205 GTI) [10]
140 TOMMY DONLON/PADDY MC GANN (CITREON AX) [9]
141 FERGAL HENEY/RAYMOND HENEY (COROLLA) [11]
142 SEAMUS BEHAN/DOLORES BEHAN (CORSA) [9]
143 JOHN COLLINS/JASON O BRIEN (CIVIC) [11]
144 JOHN MC GEEHAN/DECLAN BYRNES (205 GTI) [10]
145 AIDAN CUNNIFFE/TBA (205) [10]
146 JAMES RYAN/STEVEN RYAN (ESCORT) [10]
147 PAT BELLEW/JOHN CARROLL (NOVA) [9]
148 TONY DUNNE/LIAM GRIMES (STARLET) [9]
149 MICHAEL BRAZIL/JOE BERIGAN (205) [10]
150 STEPHEN BIRD/DOMINIC DOWNEY (ESCORT) [12]
151 SEAN SMYTH/TBA (ESCORT) [10]

152 ADRIAN BOYLE/TBA (SWIFT GTI) [9]
153 TOMMY FLAHERTY/ENDA HALLINAN (ESCORT) [13]
154 LIAM MULCAIRE/SHANE MEADE (ESCORT MK1) [9]
155 MICHAEL MULCAHY/EMMETT O GRADY (CORROLLA) [11]
156 MICHAEL WHELAN/MICHAEL MC GRATH (ASTRA) [9]
157 PETER KELLY/CON LUCEY (ESCORT) [14]
158 PAT RYAN/DERRY O CONNELL (ESCORT) [9]
159 PATRICK CARBERRY/ARTHUR CAMPBELL (SIERRA COS) [5]
160 COLM MC NAMARA/BRIAN CLARKE (ESCORT) [12]
161 DECLAN O TOOLE/SEAN O TOOLE (NOVA) [10]
162 IAN ROCHE/PAUL ROCHE (SAXO) [6]
163 GARETH MC CULLAGH/DOMINIC MC ARDLE (ESCORT) [13]
164 KEVIN MURRAY/TBA (EVO 7) [4]
165 SEAN FLANNAGAN/BRIAN MILLER (IMPREZA) [4]
166 LIAM MC CARTHY/KIERAN MURPHY (IMPREZA) [8]
167 IAN LARACEY/RAY STACK (ESCORT) [13]
168 ALAN O MEARA/TBA (309) [10]
169 PASCAL HENNESY/PHILIP QUINN (CIVIC) [11]
170 JOHN AGNEW/DAVID MOLLOY (206) [7]
171 BILLY BYRNE/MATT O BRIEN (ESCORT) [10]
172 DEREK CONSIDINE/LOUISE MC GUIRE (COROLLA) [11]
173 MICHAEL CURRAN/MC NOLLY (ESCORT) [13]
174 CONOR WATTERS/DEREK HEENA (ESCORT) [12]
175 RAYMOND GILEECE/ALAN LEONARD (ASTRA) [3]
176 KEVIN GALLINAGH/PAUL MC DERMOTT (CORROLLA) [11]
177 JOHN O ROURKE/TBA (CORSA) [9]
178 JOHN KEARNEY/DENIS CONNELL (ESCORT) [13]
179 TADHG O CONAILL/MOSSIE OCONAILL (205 GTI) [10]
180 SEAN O CONNOR/MARTIE QUINN (EVO 6) [4]
181 NIALL MURRAY/RAY NASH (CIVIC) [2]
182 DECLAN TREACY/ALAYNE DOAK (KADETT) [11]
183 IAN PERICHO/COLUM BROWNE (ESCORT) [12]
184 EUGENE FERRY/NEIL DOHERTY (EVO) [3]
185 THOMAS FOLEY/MATTEW O RIORDAN (COROLLA) [11]
186 JOHN NEWMAN/TBA (SATRIA) [6]
187 JOHN WARD/GARY MC NERN (CORROLLA) [11]
188 JOHN CAPLIS/LIAM CAPLIS (SWIFT) [1]
189 PAUL O CONNELL/CARL GEOGHEGAN (CIVIC) [2]
190 ANDREW MC LOOME/GABRIEL OLEARY (CHEVETTE) []
191 MICHAEL DOWLING/DAVID DOWLING (ESCORT) [10]
192 MICHAEL DENNEHY/TRAVIS SLATTERY (SIERRA  ) [10]
193 MARTIN KELLY/PATRICIA FITZPATRICK (COROLLA) [11]
194 DONAL KELLY/JOHN MC MAHON (CIVIC) [2]
195 SHANE MCCARTHY/TBA (206) [6]
196 ALAN SIMON/TBA (NOVA) [9]
197 JAMES M STAFFORD/AMY RYAN (NOVA) [11]
198 COLM MC GRATH/TBA (CIVIC) [2]
199 NIALL O BRIEN/DARRAGH O BRIEN (205 GTI) [10]

More Details on Birr Motor Club Website:

www.birrmotorclub.com

• 2005 West Coast Rally Championship
• 2005 Midlands East Rally Championship

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McElvaney Aims For Class 6 Victory
Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award Winner, Eamon McElvaney will compete in the Laois Stages Rally on 27th February 2005. The young Monaghan driver will compete in the event, based in Portlaoise, in his class winning Peugeot 106.

Eamon will use the rally as a training event when he will make his own pacenotes for the first time. He will also use the rally to prepare for his assault on the National Championship, which begins in March.

Following his outstanding result of 3rd overall on the Sligo Single Stage in January, the talented youngster will hope to continue his winning ways by taking yet another Class 6 victory.

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West Coast Preview
The Midlands Town of Portlaois will play host the opening round of the 2005 Top Part West Coast Rally Championship,The Laois Stages Rally organised and promoted by Birr Motor Club will be held on Sunday February 27th based in the Heritage Hotel in Portlaois. This very popular event will open proceedings in the six round Championship which includes five multi stage rallies and one mini stage event.

The Championship will be decided on the best four scores from the six events with starters points awarded on all events.The championship will be open to all national and international licence holders.( Drivers of World Rally are reminded that they cannot compete on the final round the Kerry Mini Stages rally as per Motorsport Ireland Year book 2005 Appendix “O” Article 2.6.) Competitors can score overall and class points on each event. Championship awards will be presented to the Overall Winners, Overall Group N Winners, Overall 2 Wheel Drive Winners, and Junior Champions , as well as the Top three in each class.

www.birrmotorclub.com

• 2005 West Coast Rally Championship
• 2005 Midlands East Rally Championship

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28/01/05
Tarmac Titans Come To Town!
On Sunday the 27th of February, 151 of Ireland’s top rally cars will be flagged off from the Heritage Hotel in Portlaoise to compete in the Laois Stages Rally.

Building on the outstanding success of last years Mini Stage Rally, Birr and District Auto Club have been granted permission to run what’s known as a Multi Stage Rally. This means that the competitors will have to battle it out over 4 Special Stages ran twice. Birr & District Auto Club would like to thank the co-sponsors of the event; The Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise and Laois Tourism for without their support this fantastic motorsport event could not happen.

This years Clerk of the Course, Bill Ryan, has chosen 4 challenging stages to test every element of the driver and navigator’s skill. Bill was been involved with the club for more years than he cares to remember and has been COC for many auto crosses as well as various rallies. Bill, from Knockaroo, is ably assisted by his Deputy Clerk of the Course John Tynan and his Assistant Clerk of the Course Mick Culleton. Bill also has a very experienced committee behind him bringing together members from counties Offaly, Laois, Westmeath and Tipperary which goes to show the vast catchment area of Birr & District Auto Club. Bill and his team have spent hours and hours over the past 8 months busily preparing for the long awaited event to ensure that everything runs smoothly over the course of the weekend. Bill praised the Laois people for the warm reception the event has received and thanked the residents along the rally route for their patience and goodwill during the event. Bill would also like to thank the management and staff of this years rally headquarters; the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise which will be a hive of activity over the rally weekend.

On Saturday the 26th of February the colourful cavalcade of rally cars and their support vehicles will converge on the town of Portlaoise. They’re first task is to familiarize themselves with the stages, which is known as a “recce run”. When they have completed they’re recce, they have to present their cars at mechanical scrutiny where the cars are tested both for safety and legality. This also provides an opportunity for the spectators to get the first glimpse of the competitor’s machinery. Scrutiny takes place at the Downeys Auto Stop, Old Dublin Rd., Portlaoise and commences at 3pm.

On Sunday the 27th of February the cars will leave the start ramp at 9am, to battle it out over 80 competitive stage miles split into 8 Special Stages circling the West Laois area. The winning car will arrive back at the Heritage Hotel at approximately 6pm. Full details on stage locations, starting times and competitor entry list will be included in the official colour programme which will be available in local Newsagents, Service Stations and at Rally HQ from Friday evening the 25th February.

This years Birr & District Auto Club rally occurs later in February than previous years to ensure that the event does not run into darkness for safety reasons. This date change has also made a big difference to competitors as it is just before the opening round of the National Rally Championship which means they can use the event as a “shakedown” or testing session for their championship campaign. For this reason, the Laois Stages Rally will boast a plethora of Ireland’s top machinery from Impreza’s & Evo’s to the not-so-humble Escort! It’s hard to credit the hundreds of thousands of euros worth of rally cars which will be winding their way through the Laois countryside on the last weekend in February. Unfortunately as seeding has not been confirmed yet the club cannot name individual drivers but it is fair to say that entrants include both National and International Irish Tarmac Champions. A capacity entry is expected as the Laois Stages Rally is a counting round of both The Top Part West Coast Championship and the Sleator MG Rover Midlands East Rally Championship. As soon as seeding is complete a full entry list will be available from www.birrmotorclub.com.

To ensure a safe and successful running of the event, Birr & District Auto Club will require the assistance of over 200 marshals, rescue units, ambulances & recovery vehicles during the rally weekend. Chief Marshal, Eoin Longworth has enrolled the help of marshals from Birr & District Auto Club, Connaught Motor Club, Mayo & District Motor Club, Midland Motor Club, Castle Auto Club, Cavan Motor Club, ALMC, Laois Motorsport Club and the Galway Marshals Club because the event carries extra safety procedures this year the club requires a larger number of marshals than ever before. Eoin still requires marshals so anyone willing to volunteer on the day can contact Eoin on 086 8179297. From Saturday to Monday 26th-28th February, the duties to be undertaken will include stage setup, spectator control and stage clean up.

Not only is the Laois Stages Rally a huge sporting occasion, it contributes significantly to the local economy. Along with the 300+ competitors and their service crews, there will be a massive influx of enthusiastic rally followers all requiring accommodation in the Portlaoise area. This, coupled with the extra revenue generated from extra spending in the area, means that Portlaoise and surrounding areas will benefit to the tune of over five hundred thousand Euros. As in previous years, Birr & District Auto Club welcome competitors, service crews, supporters and spectators to the area and hope they all enjoy the spectacular occasion.

www.birrmotorclub.com

• 2005 West Coast Rally Championship
• 2005 Midlands East Rally Championship

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17/01/05
PORTLAOISE PROUD TO HOST THE LAOIS STAGES RALLY 2005
Birr and District Autoclub, organisers of the event report enthusiastic feedback from the residents and businesses in Portlaoise in relation to the event which is to take place in the town over the weekend of the 26th and 27th of February. Rally HQ will be the Heritage Hotel, generous main sponsors of the rally.

Portlaoise has a strong rallying heritage with many ALMC events running from the town in the 1990’s. Local club Laois rally sport club are providing BADMC with excellent help and support, which is greatly appreciated.

At the head of this year’s committee is Borris on Ossary man Bill Ryan, Bill has extensive experience in running rallies, most recently last years mini stage rally which was an outstanding success.

Luanch
The club are hosting a launch in the heritage hotel Portlaoise on Friday 28th Jan 2005 at 8.30pm. Information will be available for any interested parties. Some highly impressive rally cars will be on display at the hotel on the night, all are welcome to come along and have a look!

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10/01/05 Regs and Entry Forms are now available for the opening rounds of the West Coast Championship and the Midlands East Rally Championship

New for 2005 is a Junior Section.

HQ: The Heritage Hotel Portlaoise, Jessop St., Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

Regs and Entry Forms available to download from the Birr Motor Club Website:

www.birrmotorclub.com

Details of the new Junior section:

• 2005 West Coast Rally Championship
• 2005 Midlands East Rally Championship