Killarney Forestry Rally - 3 Sep 06

Posted: September 7, 2006 12:21 AM

---

Moore/ McHugh Fastest in the West
Tyrone’s Stephen Moore/ Tony McHugh (Focus WRC) won the Killarney Forest Rally in fine style setting FTD on all six stages.  The “Waste Water Solutions”/ “Farrell Brothers Crushing” sponsored rally was the final round of the 2006 “McCauley Trailers” National Forest Rally Championship” attracting a formidable line up as many class battles went down to the wire. The Castleisland based event consisted of six stages in the Mount Eagle and Forehane forests with the third stage in the mammoth Mullaghareirk complex near Rockchapel Village in North Cork. 

  Top seed Moore came to Killarney fresh from a trip to “M-Sport” where his Focus was fully sorted for the loose.  The trip paid dividends as the Tyrone man set the pace on the opening stage taking a 4 sec lead.  West Cork’s Keith Cronin (Evo 7) was the strongest challenger holding second overall ahead of the Gp N regulars.  Brian Lawlor (Evo 9) held third 2 secs off Cronin.  Owen Murphy (Evo 5) held 4th, Brian McGillin (N12) 5th trailing his championship rival by five secs and Seamus O’Connell (BDA) led the 2WD brigade to hold 6th after ss1.  James Murphy (Escort WRC) had an overshoot on the first junction losing valuable time but held a place inside the top ten.  Killarney’s Kevin O’Donoghue/ Con Duggan (Evo 8) retired with gearbox woes.  Pat Curran/ Kevin Barry were the hard luck story of the rally - their Escort snapped a half-shaft between the arrival and start of ss1 abruptly ending the rally and their class 3 title bid. 

Moore was fastest on ss2 “Forehane” which ran in reverse.  McGillin was six secs in arrears with Cronin a further sec back.  Seamus O’Connell was on a charge for the 2WD honours as his “BDA” roared through the woods on a staggering 4th fastest time ahead of many 4WD’s.  Stage 3 “Mullaghreirk” was the most challenging stage offering long straights, lots of junctions, varied surface changes and plenty of twisty sections certain to impact on the leader-board.  Moore relished his position setting FTD again, arriving into service near Abbeyfeale holding a 21 sec lead.  Second placed Keith Cronin reported no drama.  Brian Lawlor trailed Cronin by 13 secs and was beginning to show a return to form completing the top three.   

Casualties on “Mullaghreirk” included; Brian McGillin/ Dave Doherty attacked but were caught out by a deceptive 3-Right, their Impreza shot up the escape road and got stuck in a drain.  There was not a scratch on the car but it was there to stay ending their bid for the Gp N crown.  Pete McCullagh/ Martin Brady (Evo 7) had been in the hunt until they got stuck on a hairpin right - not a scratch but there to stay.  Frank Kelly/ Liam Brennan were going ok, doing enough to retain the “Best 2WD” title until they spun off at a square right - like the others not a mark on the car but it was beached and there to stay.  Pat O’Connell/ Paul Manton pulled out at service as their Evo 5 blew the turbo.  

Rally leader Moore consolidated his position setting FTD through ss4 and ss5.  Justin Dunne/ Mark Bowens retired on ss4 with gearbox failure while James Murphy lost a minute having stalled on a square left and his WRC wouldn’t re-start.  Connie Smith (Sierra) and Andrew Mackarel (Evo 4) were having a great battle swapping seconds for a top ten position.  Alan Ring acquired the “Prodrive” N12 Impreza for his annual forest fling and was enjoying the big slides while holding 4th in Gp N.  John Bagge (Starlet) and Kevin Hickey (mk2) were fighting tooth and nail in class three until they retired on the same corner of ss4 – Hickey’s gearbox packed up and Bagge suffered a broken steering rack.

  Stephen Moore/ Tony McHugh emerged from the final stage with a 41 sec winning margin after a flawless drive in their “Michelin” shod Focus WRC.  This has to be the best performance to date from the popular Tyrone crew and brings them into second overall in the final Championship standings.  Second placed Keith Cronin/ Anthony O’Conail never put a wheel off line and showed serious potential, as this is only their third event in their Evo 7.  The West Cork teenagers finished over half a minute clear of the nearest challenger and have been sensational over the closing rounds of the championship.  Brian Lawlor/ Conor Foley were back on the pace completing the podium with the “Stone Mad” Evo 9.  Owen Murphy/ Gary Nolan took fourth overall and more importantly clinched Gp N honours on the day and in the Championship.  The Cork / Wexford pair were very competitive with their “Yokohama” livered Evo 5 often displacing the more modern Gp N machines.  James Murphy/ Anthony Nestor (Escort WRC) completed the top five after a trying day “Mount Eagle” being their bogus stage every time.   

Seamus O’Connell/ Brian Duggan (BDA) took 6th overall and won the esteemed “Best 2WD” championship award after a titanic battle all season with previous winner Frank Kelly.  O’Connell has been a great competitor all season and a joy watch and hear- there’s nothing like the sound of a BDA on full song in the woods.  Donegal’s Kevin Duggan/ Keith Bovaird (Evo 6) finished 7th and take second in the final Gp N standings.  Adrian Hetherington/ Terry Walkingshaw (mk2) competed on the Ulster, retired Friday night, converted the car back to gravel spec and travelled to Killarney.  Their efforts were rewarded with a top ten result as they climbed to 8th overall and take class five honours in the final championship results.  Completing the top ten Andy Mackeral/ Richard Cassidy (Evo 4) pipped Connie Smith/ Breen McNamee (Sierra) by a second after a daylong battle.  Michael O’Connor Snr partnered by Sinead O’Keeffe (Evo 5) finished just outside the leader-board, while Alan Ring/ James O’Brien (N12) had their best result on gravel taking 12th overall and 4th in class.

  Liam Ryan/ Keith Power (Ka) took class 1 spoils.  Ventry brothers Alan/ Tony Dineen (Nova) clinched class 2.  Paul Fitzgerald/ Ger Fahy (Escort) took class 3 on the day and in the championship.  Danny McEvoy/ Michael Walsh (G3) clinched class 4 and finish 3rd 2WD in the championship.  Jonathon Kenneally/ Ken Carmody (mk2) took class 9 honours.  The event ran like clockwork, good testing stages and all on time.  While the first loop was damp and slippy clear skies prevailed in the afternoon making for a perfect championship finale.  Well done to COC; Tim Clifford and all at Killarney District Motor Club.

---

MOORE THE MERRIER IN KILLARNEY FORESTS
Last Sunday’s Waster Water Solutions/Farrell Brother Crushing Killarney Forestry Rally saw Stephen Moore and his co-driver Tony McHugh take a convincing victory in their Ford Focus WRC. The Tyrone crew were fastest on each of the event’s six stages and eventually finished with a margin of forty one seconds over second placed Keith Cronin and Anthony O’Conaill, who upheld Killarney and District Motor Club honours in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7.

While the top two positions remained static throughout the rally, there were many battles behind the leading duo. Brian Lawlor/Conor Foley (Lancer Evo 9) eventually took third place after a day long battle with Owen Murphy/Gary Nolan (Lancer Evo 5) although the margin between them at the finish was just one second. Both had the upper hand at different stages of the event, but Lawlor and Foley eventually took the final podium place. Owen Murphy also has cause to celebrate, however, as his performance was sufficient to grant him the Group N Drivers’ title in the 2006 McCauley Trailers National Forestry Championship, of which the Killarney Forestry Rally was the final round.

The battle for third place also included Peter McCullagh/Martin Brady early on, but their Lancer Evo 7 slid off the road at a hairpin on stage three. Although there was little damage and despite the best efforts of the marshals at the scene, the car could not be manhandled back onto the road, and retirement beckoned.

At the end of the event’s six stages James Murphy/Anthony Nestor Ford Escort WRC and Seamus O’Connell/Brian Duggan (Escort RS) tied on total of 47 minutes, 39 seconds, but the tie was resolved in favour of Murphy and Nestor. O’Connell was the top two wheel drive finisher on the event and took the 2WD category award in the championship as a result.

Some of the other local crews who finished twelfth overall included Alan Ring and James O’Brien in the Prodrive–supplied Subaru Impreza N12; James and Andrew Lehane, who finished second in class in their Honda Civic; Gerard Lucey and Peter Somers who finished just outside the top twenty in their Toyota Celica and Alan and Tony Dineen who took class two honours in their Vauxhall Nova.

However the day belonged to the overall winner Stephen Moore, speaking at the finish at the River Island Hotel, Stephen said “I would like to thank the Clerk of the Course, who ran a wonderful rally, my crew and my navigator, Tony for today’s success”.

---

Cork Teen is Gp N National Forestry Champion
Cork rally teen sensation Owen Murphy is the 2006 Gp N McCauley Trailers National Forest Rally (Drivers) Champion. Owen in his Mitsubishi Evo5 clinched the championship with a controlled drive today (Sunday) on The Killarney Forestry Rally in very changeable conditions.



The bad news for the team was that due to Owens commitment to the Fiesta ST Challenge in the UK the team missed two rounds of the Forestry championship and this demoted co driver Garry to 3rd position in the navigators championship in Gp N.

Owen said going down there today my ambition was second in the championship but when Brian McGillin retired I still had to push hard to keep the championship Gp N competitors behind, I would have loved to have gone for a cut at the leaders but the championship was more important and I had to leave Keith Cronin and Brian Lawlor off.

Owen drove with maturity and must be the youngest Irish driver to win such an important championship. Fourth was just reward for his effort but today the car was fantastic as good as it was in Carrick early in the year when Owen made his name by beating Irish rally legend Kenny McKinstry on some stages and finishing second overall.

Owen said at the finish ramp I am so sorry for Garry my co driver the two events we missed hurt his points total but he is every bit the champion I am, we were a team in the car .I must also thank all my chief mechanic Colm o Mahoney and all my crew and my friends for the brilliant work on the car and everyone who helped us ,I also want to thank the marshals, event organisers and everyone who kept the McCauley Trailers National Forest Rally Championship going all year we certainly enjoyed it and a special thanks to my Gp N competitors there a great bunch of lads.

Looking back on a year that seemed to fly ,a decision by team manager Jerry Murphy to run Owen in the forest in a 2000 spec (6 year old car) Gp N car may have seemed a bit ambitious however Jerry was advised to get a proper dog box which was supplied by Wayne in AMS and knowing Owens ability to extract the maximum for any car good results could be expected.

Owen has proved he has the talent but talent is not enough, last but by no means least Owen must thank the people who made it all possible his sponsors without whom he would not be competing .

Owen is supported by Yokohama Tyres, Owen says the” tyres were great all year and Keith Cronin who went so well today is also on the Yokohama tyres (A035E)”.

Owen Murphy Rallying is also supported by Mac Tyres Ireland ,O Flynn Construction, Irish Aggregates , Nyhan Motors Mitsubishi Dealers Bandon, O Brien Crowley Accountants , Wolfrace Wheels,HPG Security,Treadwell Tyres,Permafrost and Carnet.ie .

---

Results
1 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC) 45m 25s,
2 Keith Cronin/Anthony O’Connell (Mit. Lancer Evo 7) GpN 46m 06s,
3 Brian Lawlor/Conor Foley (Mit. Lancer Evo 9) GpN 46m 39s,
4 Owen Murphy/Gary Nolan (Mit. Lancer Evo 5) GpN 46m 40s,
5 James Murphy/Anthony Nestor (Ford Escort WRC) 47m 39s,
6 Seamus O’Connell/Brian Duggan (Ford Escort Mk2 BDA) 47m 39s,
7 Kevin Duggan/Keith Bovaird (Mit. Lancer Evo 6) GpN 48m 54s,
8 Adrian Hetherington/Terry Walkinshaw (Ford Escort Mk2) 49m 08s,
9 Andy Mackarel/Richard Cassidy (Mit. Lancer Evo 4) 49m 45s,
10 Connie Smith/Breen McNamee (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4) 49m 46s.

Leaders After:
SS1-6 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC)

Stage Winners:
SS1 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC)
SS2 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC)
SS3 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC)
SS4 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC)
SS5 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC)
SS6 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC)

Full Results and Times:
rally.connect.ie (Angus Sealy)

Photos:
Nagle Rally Photography - rallyaction.co.nr
GER LEAHY PHOTOGRAPHY & PR

Killarney and District Motor Club

• 2006 Forestry Championship

---

Pre Event News

• Late Entries
• Alan Ring to use Chris Atkinson's "Rally Ireland" Car
• Killarney Forestry Rally Shapes Up For Close Contest
• Entry list on line.
• Time and Distance Schedule
• Entries Still Available
• Killarney and District Motor Club Set For Forestry Finale
• Regulations available to download.

---

31/08/06
Late Entries:
(These will be reseeded before the start)

J64 Kenneally, Jonathon/Carmody, Ken (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
65 Nugent, Richie/Nugent, Bobby (Ford Escort) [1]
66 Duggan, Kevin/Boutraid, Keith (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [8]
67 Murphy, James/Nestor, Anthony (Ford Escort WRC) [6]
J68 Kelly, Conor/Ryan, Denis (Opel Corsa) [9]
69 English, Michael/TBA, ( ) []
70 Mackarel, Andrew/Cassidy, Richard (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4) [6]
71 Hallahan, Edward/Murphy, Barry (Ford Escort Mk2) []
72 Harron, Stephen/Mullally, Sean (Subaru Legacy RS) [6]
73 O'Connor, John/O'Connor, Kevin (Ford Escort Mk2) [4]

---

Local Driver Alan Ring is to use Prodrive's Test Car "N12 GPN" on his home Forestry Rally this weekend.

The car was last seen in this Country in the hands of Chris Atkinson on Rally Ireland.

Ring, who will have James O'Brien on the Notes is out for fun this weekend, before he returns to the National Championship in Clare.

---

Killarney Forestry Rally Shapes Up For Close Contest
With the closing date for entries fast approaching, the Waste Water Solutions/Farrell Brothers Crushing Killarney Forestry Rally is shaping up to be an intriguing contest of the country’s leading loose surface drivers. The event, which takes place on Sunday September 3rd is the final round of the McAuley Trailers National Forestry Championship, which has been decided in favour of Corkman, John McCarthy, following his victory on the Birr Forestry Rally.

The battle for victory in the Killarney Forestry Rally can be expected to be fought out between a number of drivers in WRCs and Group N cars, including Stpehen Moore (Ford Focus WRC), Trevor Harding (Subaru Impreza WRC), Owen Murphy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5), Brian Lawlor (Lancer Evo 9), Keith Cronin (Lancer Evo 7), who finished in an impressive fourth place on last weekends Birr event, and tarmac ace, Alan Ring, who is hiring an Impreza N12 for the occasion.

Killarney’s Jimmy Devane/Mike Buckley (Nissan Sunny) and Dingle brothers, Alan and Tony Dineen (Vauxhall Nova) will be among those competing for two-wheel drive honours.

The Waste Water Solutions/Farrell Brothers Crushing Killarney Forestry will consist of 6 stages over the Mullaghareirk Mountains, traversing counties Kerry, Cork and Limerick. The Rally HQ will be the Riverisland Hotel, Castleisland.

---

29/08/06
Entry List

Car Driver/Navigator (Car) [Class] 1 Moore, Stephen/McHugh, Tony (Ford Focus WRC) [6]
2 McGillin, Brian/Doherty, David (Subaru Impreza N12) [8]
3 Cronin, Keith/O'Connelly, Anthony (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [8]
4 Murphy, Owen/Nolan, Garry (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5) [8]
5 Lawlor, Brian/Foley, Conor (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [8]
6 McCullagh, Peter/Dolan, Alan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [8]
7 Kelly, Frank/Brennan, Liam (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
8 O'Connell, Seamus/Duggan, Brian (Ford Escort Mk2 BDA) [5]
9 Hetherington, Adrian/Walkinshaw, Terry (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
10 Ring, Alan/TBA (Subaru Impreza N12) [8]
11 Dunne, Justin/Duggan, Sean (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [8]
12 O'Connell, Pat/Manton, Paul (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [8]
14 Moffet, Robert/Moffett, Sam (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [8]
15 O'Connor Snr, Michael/O'Keeffe, Sinead (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5) [8]
16 McEvoy, Danny/Walsh, Michael (Ford Escort G3) [4]
17 Devane, Jimmy/Buckley, Mike (Nissan Sunny) [5]
18 Anthony O'Halloran/ (Escort G3) [5]
19 Smith, Connie/McNamee, Breen (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth) [6]
20 Mulcahy, Dan/O'Callaghan, Donnacha (Ford Escort RS Cosworth 4x4) [6]
21 Price, Pat/O'Connor, Seamus (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [8]
22 Benskin, Ray/Walsh, Peadar (Ford Escort Mk2) [4]
23 Fitzgerald, Moss/Cremin, Denis (Toyota Corolla) [3]
24 Curran, Pat/Barry, Kevin (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
25 McGillin, Micky/Hayde, Sean (Ford Escort) [4]
26 O'Connell, Billy/Power, Derek (Toyota Corolla) [4]
27 Wright, David/Wright, Stephen (Mitsubishi Evo 6) [8]
28 Fitzgerald, Paul/Fahy, Ger (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
29 Hickey, Kevin/Wylie, Alistair (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
30 Fagan, James/Fagan, Rachel (Ford Escort Mk2) [2]
31 Nevin, Michael/Flynn, Martin (Ford Escort Mk2) [2]
32 Lehane, James/Lehane, Andrew (Honda Civic) [3]
33 Benskin, Sean/O'Leary, Denis (Ford Escort) [4]
34 Lynch, Diarmuid/Horgan, Mark (Ford Escort Mk2) [4]
35 Carroll, JJ/O'Connell, Mossie (Vauxhall Astra) [5]
36 O'Riordan, Daragh/McCarthy, Sean (Opel Corsa) [3]
37 Roche, Ian/O'Connor, Liam (Peugeot 205) [3]
38 Fleming, John/Fleming, David (Honda Civic) [3]
39 Fanning, Andrew/McCormack, Alan (Ford Ka) [1]
40 Dineen, Alan/Dineen, Tony (Vauxhall Nova) [2]
41 Murphy, Michael/Cashman, Pat (Toyota Corolla) [3]
42 Stewart, Douglas/Ryan, Billy (Peugeot 206) [7]
43 Deane, James/Murphy, Peter (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
44 Bagge, John/Mackey, Ron (Toyota Starlet) [3]
45 Lucey, Gerard/Somers, Peter (Toyota Celica) [6]
46 Sheahan, Martin/Clancy, Gerard (Subaru Legacy) [6]
47 Cronin, Colm/TBA, (Peugeot 206) [7]
48 Ryan, Liam/Wiley, Mark (Ford Ka) [1]
49 Quill, John/Kearney, Caroline (Peugeot 106) [1]
50 Cullinane, Martin/Crowley, Kieran (Ford Escort) [2]
51 Piggott, Michael/Breeda, Piggott (Honda Civic) [1]
52 Wade, Noel/O'Brien, David (Ford Escort) [2]
53 Benskin Jnr, Ray/TBA, (Ford Escort) [4]
54 Hegarty, Nick/Jennings, Allyn (Skoda Felicia) [9]
55 Curran, John/O'Callaghan, Jason ( ) [3]
56 Bradley, Conor/Kelleher, Michael (Honda Civic) [1]
57 McAuliffe, Shane/White, Thomas (Toyota Corolla) [3]
58 Tyndall, Brendan/Cullen, Ger (Peugeot 205 GTi) [2]
59 O'Leary, Danny/Angland, William (Honda Civic) [1]
60 Dowling, Joseph/Doody, Mark (Austin Metro) [1]
61 Greaney, Denny/Hallinan, Davie (Vauxhall Nova) [1]
62 Byrnes, John/Nugent, John (Toyota Corolla) [3]
63 O'Keeffe, Paddy/Fleming, Damien ( ) []

Late entries will be given numbers after 63 and reseeded before the start.

---

29/08/06

• Download Time and Distance Schedule in Excel Format

---

22/08/06
Entries are still available up until 1st September.

Killarney and District Motor Club

• 2006 Forestry Championship

---

24/07/06
Killarney and District Motor Club Set For Forestry Finale
The Killarney Forestry Rally which will take place on Sunday 3rd September, is to be sponsored by Waste Water Solutions and Farrell Brothers Crushing, and will once again be based at The River Island Hotel, Castleisland. The Killarney and District Motor Club – organised event will form the final round of the McCauley Trailers National Forestry Rally Championship. The Clerk of the Course, Cyril Wharton, has devised a route consisting of seven stages amounting to 88km.

The 2006 National Forestry Championship has been very competitive throughout the season, with four different drivers wining the six rounds held so far. Kenny McKinstry won the opening round based in Carrick-on-Suir, Stephen Moore took his Group N Subaru Impreza to victory in the second round based in Mitchelstown, while Cork man John McCarthy then won the following three rounds, The Circuit of Wicklow, The Middleton Moonraker Rally and The Monaghan Forestry Rally. Last weekend Kevin Lynch won the two day Cork Forestry Rally, but it is McCarthy who currently heads the Championship standings.

Last years Killarney Forestry Rally was won by Gareth McHale and Paul Nagle, capping an ultra-successful year for the Dublin-Killarney pairing. The 2005 National Forestry Champions graduated to the World Rally Championship this year and scored their first WRC points in Mexico last March.

Regulations and Entry Forms for the 2006 Waste Water Solutions/Farrell Brothers Crushing Killarney Forestry Rally are now available from

Killarney and District Motor Club

or Tel/SMS
087 2399864 (+353 87 2399864) Telephone between 6pm and 9pm only
or email killarneyforestryrally2006@eircom.net

• 2006 Forestry Championship