Rally New York (National) - 30-31 Mar 07

Posted: April 2, 2007 3:37 PM

---

Donnelly/Gallagher Win Rally New York USA
Celsus Donnelly/Noel Gallagher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) made it two-for-two in the U.S. Rally Championship by winning Rally New York USA. The Irish duo took control of the event at mid-distance and drove to a minute-and-a-half victory. Their performance might have been even stronger, but the waste gate (which regulates pressure in the turbocharger system) malfunctioned early in the rally (it was fixed by their mechanics) and the alternator broke just before the end.

  Enda McCormack/Bernard Farrell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) placed second, 8 seconds ahead of Daniel O’Brien/Dominik Jozwiak (Subaru Impreza WRC). McCormack’s run seemed trouble-free, but O’Brien was trying a new car for the first time, and found that it suffered from “teething problems.” Most notably, the Subaru’s brakes were too “soft,” and he was forced to drive conservatively until the problem was rectified by the team’s mechanics.  

Seamus Burke (a former winner) and co-driver Eddies Fries (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) were among the pre-event favorites, but unfortunately became the first team on the sidelines. On the first of 20 special stages, the car’s ignition system failed. (This followed broken engines in their first two events of the season.) Another front-runner out early was Patrick Brennan/Shane McCann (Subaru Impreza WRX), co-leader after 8 special stages, but put out by suspension damage after hitting a rock on special stage 9.

  The brothers Joshua and Jeremy Wimpey (Volkswagen Golf GT) placed fourth overall, winning the rally-within-the-rally for two-wheel-drive cars. In the process they beat some very powerful all-wheel-drive entries, such as the team of Gerard Coffey/Dave Dooley (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo).

  The rally was run under mild and sunny conditions. Competitors reported that the roads were generally good, but there were occasionally sand or gravel spots on some of the corners in the paved portion, and cut-up areas on the dirt/gravel legs.

  One of the most popular results came from local driver Jay Menzo (of Goshen, New York) and co-driver Dave Florina (Mazda 323). Menzo was competing in his first rally, and was entered in the accompanying events for the New York Rally Championship only – not in the U.S. Rally Championship round. But if he had entered the national, he would have finished a remarkable fifth in the two-wheel-drive division.

  Top-10 at the finish, after 20 special stages (unofficial):
1. Celsus Donnelly/Noel Gallagher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) 1:09:32
2. Enda McCormack/Bernard Farrell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) 1:11:05
3. Daniel O’Brien/Dominik Jozwiak (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1:11:12
4. Joshua Wimpey/Jeremy Wimpey (Volkswagen Golf GT) 1:14:34
            (1st two-wheel-drive, and 1st in Open 2WD class)
5. Gerard Coffey/Dave Dooley (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) 1:14:58
6. Patrick Lilly/Thomas Taggart (Subaru Impreza WRX) 1:15:17
7. Scott Gardner/Constantine Mantopoulos (Audi S2 Quattro) 1:16:39
8. Emilio Arce/Sarah Gardnescu (Subaru Impreza 2.5RS) 1:17:45
            (1st Production AWD class)
9. Justin Chiodo/Adam Wangerin (Honda Civic Si) 1:20:02
            (1st Production 2WD class)
10. Patrick Cournane/Damien Treanor (Subaru Impreza) 1:20:15

Rally New York (USA)

---

PRE EVENT NEWS

• Preview: Rally NY USA
• Rally NY USA: a test for all-around drivers
• Sullivan County Will Host Rally New York USA 2007

---

20/03/07
Preview: Rally NY USA
With the majority of the entries filed for Rally New York USA (Narrowsburg, New York, March 30-31), we know many of the stars and cars who will appear in the starting line in Narrowsburg, New York on the evening of March 30. But who will lead the field when they return to Narrowsburg on March 31?

While there are favorites, there is no way of predicting the outcome. The winning team will have to prove their skill on 43 miles of special stages (speed tests) on paved roads on Saturday morning, followed by 50 miles of special stages on dirt and gravel in the afternoon. All of these “stages” will be in the Tusten area, including some on the grounds of the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation. The winners must also avoid spin-outs (which will cost them time and possibly mechanical damage) and flat tires, and deal with any changes in the weather.

The competitors will represent the United States, Canada, Europe and South America, including many of the front-runners in the Unites States Rally Championship. Some of the entries to watch are the following:

Emilio Arce (Argentina)/Sara Gardescu (USA), Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS – Arce will be back to try to duplicate the stock class win (and perhaps better the fifth overall) that he achieved in International Rally New York in Fall 2005.

Seamus Burke (Ireland)/Eddie Fries(Ireland), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 – Georgia-based Irish driver Burke was the 2006 U.S. Rally Champion. He was runner-up in this event last year, and winner in 2005.

Celsus Donnelly (Ireland)/Noel Gallagher (Ireland), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 – Winners of the ’07 season opener, the Sandblast Rally in South Carolina.

Scott Gardner (USA)/Constantine Mantopoulos (Greece), Audi S2 Quattro – This is a quick, consistent team in a very robust car. Mantopoulos is a former North American champion co-driver in his class, who also placed second overall in the Northeast series as a driver in ‘96.

Michael Hall (USA)/Dave Stockdill (USA), Mitsubishi Mighty Max pickup – This team is a favorite among the truck crowd, and always one of the best-placed two-wheel-drive vehicles. They won the M1 (modified) class in the Eastern States championship segment of International Rally New York ’05.

Patrick Lilly (Ireland)/(co-driver and car to be announced) – A frequent top-ten finisher here, and third in the 2005 Eastern States Rally Championship.

Danny O’Brien (Ireland)/(co-driver to be named), Subaru Impreza WRX STi – O’Brien won the Eastern States Rally Championship in 2004 and 2005.

Joshua Wimpey (USA)/Jeremy Wimpey (USA), Volkswagen Golf GT – One of the series’ best two-wheel-drive teams. Co-driver Jeremy placed fourth here in last Spring’s Rally New York USA while navigating for Matt Iorio.

One notable co-driver who will probably not be in the starting field is Robbie Durant, the 2004-5 Junior British National Champion co-driver and member of the prestigious 2007 MSA British Rally Elite. David Anton, with whom Durant finished third in Rally New York USA ’06, is unlikely to have his Subaru ready in time for this year’s event. Therefore, Durant will be teaching a course on making pace notes (i.e. short-hand notes on the roads) on the day before the rally, and will be working as a rally official.

Rally New York (USA)

---

27/02/07
Rally NY USA: a test for all-around drivers
Who can be quickest on the roads of Sullivan County? – that’s the question that Rally New York USA ’07 should answer. And when we say roads, we mean every kind of road, from pavement to dirt and gravel, with perhaps a little snow, ice, or rain thrown in.

It is common for a rally driver to face one type of surface in a national auto rally: either asphalt or dirt/gravel. But Ivan Orisek and the Rally New York organizing team have arranged for both types of tests. (It goes without saying that the variable weather of the Catskills in early spring could provide some additional variations.)

On Saturday morning, March 31, competitors will face 43 miles of special stages (races against the clock) on paved roads in the town of Tusten. This will require quick, precise driving akin to circuit racing. That afternoon, they will encounter 50 miles of special stages on gravel roads, some in Tusten and some in the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation. Drivers usually adopt a more aggressive, “sideways” style for loose surfaces, perhaps kicking up a little dust. The main requirement for the top finishers will be ability to motor quickly and safely on a variety of surfaces, through curves, hills, and the occasional bump.

The rally begins with an official start on Erie Street in Narrowsburg, on Friday evening, March 30. It ends back on Erie Street on the evening of March 31. For those interested in watching the action, more information is available on the event web site,

Rally New York (USA)

---

12/02/07
Sullivan County Will Host Rally New York USA 2007
On March 30-31, 2007, Sullivan County, New York will once again host the competitors of the United States Rally Championship, in Rally New York USA. This is one of the most popular events in the Northeastern U.S., an area where rallying is particularly strong. The entire rally will be run in the Southern Catskill Mountains of Sullivan County, New York, approximately 90 miles from New York City.

The rally will begin with Ceremonial Start in Narrowsburg at 7 p.m. on Friday and end back in Narrowsburg at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday. It will feature 20 special stages totaling approximately 100 miles, the first half on pavement, the second half on gravel.

More Details on:

Rally New York (USA)