Wexford Forestry Rally - 08 Jun 08

Report: Harding hangs tough for victory when Breen buckles at last gasp.

Posted: June 17, 2008 2:50 PM

The Hankook National forestry championship reached round 5 with its visit to pastures new in the sunny south east as Wexford Motor club revived their forestry rally which has been absent from the calendar since the millennium. True to form the weather was bright and sunny as the top crews tackled the short blast of SS1 near Camolin. Although only 2.8Km it was a tough wakeup call for all crews as the smooth surface was a touch damp in places and No1 seed Breen and no 10 seed Trevor Harding both reported it difficult to stop under the more shaded parts of the test. Harding was making his return to forestry rallying having been away from the scene for a while, yet he got into the groove quickly and was second to fastest man Breen by only 3 seconds.

Stage 2 was a longer affair at 9km and here the field could really stretch their legs. Breen was again fastest and this moved him securely into the lead, however such was the pace of the championship leader through the test he and co driver Martin Brady were under the bogey time by 4 seconds so some of the pace was to no avail as the bogey time of 4:59 was applied. When the rally moved to Carnew for its first service halt of the day it was Breen leading from Harding in the Grp A Subaru that he was now beginning to get to grips with and enjoy, closely followed by James Murphy & Anthony Nestor in their Escort WRC, however a cruel blow was to befall Murphy as transmission woes were to end his rally before long and loose him this great run. Pat O Connnell & Mark Wiley were setting the GrpN pace and holding 4th overall, his championship rival Colin Britton was having a troubled day down in tenth and although setting top 3 times after service he was soon to be parked up with mechanical troubles also. Brendan Murphy & Pat Condon held 5th o/a in their Mitsubishi but they too were to retire and forfeit a chance of a top finish. This Wexford challenge was proving tough, the stages were in supreme order and blisteringly fast and machinery was perhaps struggling to match the pace asked of it. Brian Lawlor in the Stonemad Mk2 Escort was top 2wd exponent in the first service but he too joined the growing list of early baths with a suspected broken half shaft.

On leaving service the same route was repeated and once more it was Breen heading the time sheets with Trevor Harding in close pursuit. Both men again broke the bogey time on the Slieve Boy test, a testament to the speed of the leading pair. Denis Cronin survived a high speed spin on that stage and still finished with a respectable 5:06 on the stopwatch, closely followed by championship rival John Reid in the Corolla. When bogey times were factored in it was Breen who lead Harding by ten seconds, Harding testified to be pushing on but was now happy to back off and settle for second, but the wry smile as he gave this opinion seemed to suggest he intended to do the opposite. Pat O Connell still held the lead in Grp N and an impressive 5th overall which was soon to be 4th with the demise of James Murphy with transmission failure. This similarly promoted John Reid & Enda Shiels to 5th o/a. Top 2wd car was now the Escort of Ollie Williams & Michael Walsh in 15th o/a but they had a very small advantage of 4 seconds over Seamus Cooke & Ger Hyland who was pushing them hard in their 1300 example Escort.

The crews then went out to a tough loop of 3 stages which again saw Breen take his Focus to fastest on each stage and just ahead of Harding & Purcell, but it was just enough on each stage to chip out a lead of 33 seconds after 7 stages. Reid and Cronin were in a good battle and were having a good battle as they traded times closely in the battle for 4th overall and valuable championship points. Harding confessed to some big slides and said that co driver Purcell was constantly reminding him to tidy up and heed the deep ditches, but to be fair the car was as pristine as it began the days action. Cronin was getting back the confidence after his high speed morning spin and the quiet Corkman was enjoying the smooth stages. Martin Cairns & Gary Monteith retired his Grp A 555 Subaru from the top ten with a leaking rear diff and a broken driveshaft. Hans Mathia & Tommo Maguire had diff problems too which reduced their Subaru to rear wheel drive, fun while it lasted but soon the transmission cried enough.

As the rally moved into its final loop the positions seemed to have settled and the natural order had been found, or so it would have appeared. Breen & Brady were again to continue their run of fastest times and were ahead of Harding on stages 8 and 9 and going into the final stage the gap stood at 50 seconds of a lead in Breen's favour, knowing it was not completed yet Breen set his Focus into the last stage still in rally mode and concentrating on driving to the finish without any mistakes. However cruel fate was to strike and with less than half a mile to go on a narrow part of the stage a wheel slightly on the grass then made contact with a bank of stones and the result was literally upside down on its roof in a split second. Coming to rest in a ditch both Ray and Martin were unhurt but most certainly out of the rally at half past the eleventh hour. It was the slightest of errors with the greatest of consequences. Harding passed and found himself so surprised that he spun at the next hairpin corner such was the unexpected sight that he had just met. Trevor and co driver Andrew Purcell went on to take a well deserved if surprised win. In rallying nothing is certain till the finish ramp and even then it is sometimes still not guaranteed. Trevor J adapted well to his new car and was never far off the pace all day and he was there to pick up the pieces when Breen & Brady faltered at the last hurdle. Denis Cronin & Helen O Sullivan took their Hankook shod Subaru to second place having come out on top in their battle with John Reid. Pat O Connell & Mark Wiley took a strong and well deserved 3rd o/a and first Grp N car home just ahead of John Reid & Enda Shiels who once again were consistent and steady when many faltered around them and the valuable points this earns them sees them now head the Hankook forestry championship as we head to the Cork forestry

American based Patsy Keenan & Barry McNulty scored a brilliant 5th o/a their best result of the year and a reward for the Patsy's long commute to the event. Shane Mc Girr was top 2wd as he took his Toyota Starlet to tenth overall, a fine performance ahead of many more powerful 2wd cars, he also took the class 1 award. In class 2 it was Emmet Cronin & Joe Fitzgibbon in their Escort the took the victory. For Class 3 the pacesetters were Waterfords Keith & Robert Power in a 1600 Peugeot. Sean Benskin & Bobby Nuggent won class 4 and class 5 was the domain of 3rd placed 2wd crew Ollie Williams & Michael Walsh.

The return to Wexford was a resounding success and praise must go to the club who revived the event and provided excellent stages which were a new, fresh but difficult challenge which not all survived but most relished.

The championship now moves to Cork for the traditional 2 day event which this year is going to be new and improved and all squeezed into 24hrs, expect the quality to be the same but at a more frantic pace!! Only Cork motor club with Mr McCarthy at the helm could pull off such a feat.

Results / Photos

Posted: June 9, 2008 1:14 AM

1 Trevor Harding/Andrew Purcell (Subaru Impreza 555) 36m 59s,
2 Denis Cronin/Helen O’Sullivan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 37m 53s,
3 Pat O’Connell/Mark Wiley (Mit. Lancer Evo Gp N) 37m 59s,
4 John Reid/Enda Shields (Toyota Corolla WRC) 38m 21s,
5 Patrick Keenan/Barry McNulty (Mit. Lancer Evo Gp N) 39m 57s,
6 John Reddington/Frank Dwyer (Mit. Lancer Evo Gp N) 40m 06s
7 Sean Heaney/ Liam Mc Laughlin (Mit. Lancer Evo Gp N) 40m 10s
8 Connie Smith/ Breen McNamee (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4) 40m 26s
9 Stephen Cullen/ Aidan Kent (Mitisbushi Lancer Evo 7) 40m 54s
10 John Cairns/ James Cairns (Subaru Impreza WRX) 41m 07s

Stage Winners
SS1 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC)
SS2 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC)
SS3 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC)
SS4 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC)
SS5 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC)
SS6 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC)
SS7 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC)
SS8 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC)
SS9 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC)
SS10 Denis Cronin/Helen O’Sullivan (Subaru Impreza WRC)
& Pat O’Connell/Mark Wiley (Mit. Lancer Evo Gp N)

Leaders After
SS1-9 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC)
SS10 Trevor Harding/Andrew Purcell (Subaru Impreza 555)

Full Results
Wexford Motor Club

Photos:
GER LEAHY PHOTOGRAPHY & PR
LINK REMOVED - Sideway Shot Motor Sport Photography

Event Preview - Seems a Breeze for Breen, but Reid is right in the hunt.

Posted: June 5, 2008 4:32 PM

On every rally this season the Hankook National forestry championship has provided exciting and closely fought Irish Motorsport Wexford Motor club make an exciting return to the championship. Last ran in 2000 and then won by Dominic McNeil in an Escort WRC the return of this event will be a new venue for many of todays championship players. Clerk of the Course for the event, Brendan Harpur has devised an excellent route in the sunny south east and there are ten good stages waiting for the crews that total approx 70km of competitive distance, a real challenge by anyone's standards.

The picturesque Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy will be the base of the event and mechanical scrutiny will take place Saturday afternoon at Wexford Mart on the Old Dublin Road from 4pm onwards.

First competing car leave parc ferme at the mart from 8.45am on Sunday morning. The action begins then with the first two stages of the day in Camolin Park and Slieve Boy. Then the rally moves to a service halt in Carnew and then the same two stages will be repeated again followed by a return to service in Carnew.

After their second visit to service in Carnew, the crews will compete on stages in Craughan, Mount Leinster and Gibbet Hill with these three stages repeated again in the evening to bring the rally to a finish.

The first car is due to finish the event back at the mart in Enniscorthy at approximately 5:20pm with the champagne reception for the winner and finishing ceremony due to take place shortly afterwards down at the Riverside Park Hotel.

Who can be that winner in 2008? The stages are in good condition and the club is looking forward to the support of competitors old and new. Ray Breen can no longer be classed as a new comer to the forests as he has won the last 3 events on the trot, once again his son Craig is absent due to clashing circuit racing commitments and Martin Brady will again deputise. John Reid is second on the road and second in the championship points. Buoyed by his consistent driving and the ever reliable Corolla WRC he and co driver Enda Shields are just close enough to Breen that he cant afford to make a mistake and risk a non score as it will put him right in the clutches of the Meath crew in their Toyota WRC. Denis Cronin & Helen O Sullivan are another crew who could challenge for victory, the Cork crew are improving with every mile as they adapt to the forestry series but have been gaining pace at an impressive rate. A top contender would surely be Andrew Purcell however this time he is not in the driving seat and has forsaken his championship challenge temporarily due to lack of a suitable car. This weekend he will still be in the hunt for overall honours as he will navigate for the very rapid Trevor J Harding in a Grp A Subaru Impreza which comes straight from Scotland with many winning laurels in its pedigree. Trevor J does not make regular appearances in the series but perhaps the acquisition of this car will change that, certainly any day he does appear then he is at the head of the race so expect this pair to be in the battle for overall honours. James Murphy had good times and better reliability in his Escort WRC on the last rally, he will have a slight advantage over the rest of the pack in Wexford because he was one of the pacesetters in 2000 when the rally last ran. He has placed a late entry and can be expected to go well. The victor could come from any of the above and none of the front runners are there to make up the numbers on a Sunday drive.

The Group N race will also be fierce. Colin Britton has been the man to beat all year, but Pete Mc Cullagh appeared at the last round with a new Evo and a serious pace. The battle between these two will certainly be close to watch, expect John Reddington and Sean Heaney to be in this battle also. Brian Lawlor was entered in his Evo but will now switch to his Escort MK2 after parts for his Mitsubishi did not arrive to him in time to ready the car.

The return to Wexford is set to be a triumphant one; but its not too late to join in, entries are still available via the very simple to use on line entry system on www.wexfordmotorclub.com it's guaranteed to be an enjoyable and novel days sport in Wexford.

Wexford Motor Club

Latest News

Posted: May 27, 2008 3:28 PM

The final preparations for Wexford Motor Club’s Forestry Rally which is to be held on Sunday the 8th June are now in place and the event is ready to go. The event, to be run in association with the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy, will be a counting round of the Hankook Tyres National Forestry Championship and the South East Stages Championship as well as the Club Championship.

This will be the first time since 2000 that the club has organised an event in the forests and are looking forward with anticipation to the event. Entry details are currently available on www.wexfordmotorclub.com and entries are still available.

Clerk of the Course for the event, Brendan Harpur, assisted by Tommy Murphy and Martin Nolan have put together a route totalling approximately 160km, of which 70km will make up the 10 stages that are planned for the event.

The event will be based in the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy for the weekend with mechanical scrutiny due to take place at Wexford Mart on the Old Dublin Road from 4pm on Saturday afternoon.

The event will see the first competing car leave parc ferme in the mart at 8.45am on Sunday morning. From there they will travel to compete on the first two stages of the day in Camolin Park and Slieve Boy. These two stages will be repeated again after service in Carnew.

After their second visit to service in Carnew, the crews will compete on stages in Craughan, Mount Leinster and Gibbet Hill with these three stages repeated again in the evening.

The first car is due to finish the event back at the mart in Enniscorthy at approximately 5.15pm with the finishing ceremony due to take place shortly afterwards down at the Riverside Park Hotel.

Former National Tarmac Champion and current Forestry Championship leader Ray Breen is just one of those who have already placed an entry for the event. Entries have also been received from Denis Cronin and Trevor Harding, who, although better known for success on tarmac events, continue to gain experience in the forests and an outright win for either can’t be far away. Maybe the Wexford event will be their turn?

A large number of local drivers are also expected to enter the event to get a taste of forestry rallying. As always, help is needed to run the event and anyone wishing to do so should contact the chief marshal on 086 2566149 or as always, details are available at www.wexfordmotorclub.com.

On Line Entry System now available

Posted: May 15, 2008 1:41 PM

See Club website below

Regulations available

Posted: May 13, 2008 2:42 PM

Wexford Motor Club

• 2008 Forestry Championship

Press Release 1 - Event Details

Posted: April 21, 2008 10:07 AM

The Riverside Park Hotel backed Wexford Forestry rally is the 5th round of the 2008 Hankook tyres forestry rally championship. Rally COC Brendan Harper and his team have put together a compact route totalling approximately 170km, 65 of which will make up the 10 special stages. The event will be based in the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy, on the banks of the river Slaney.

The series so far has been action packed, with former national champion Ray Breen holding the upper hand after 3 straight wins on the last three events. John Reid has been the surprise package of the series, the former Escort pilot getting more and more used to his new Corolla WRC, the car that took Gareth MacHale to the forestry title in 2005.

Tied for third are the Subaru’s of Andrew Purcell and Denis Cronin. Andrew started the season superbly, with a win on the opening round and then a second placed finish in Carrick. However, a non-finish in Limerick dented his hopes and then a salvage mission was the aim on the Moonraker which saw him take to the start in a hired Derek Jobb Evo 6, after his own car suffered mechanical problems at the 11th hour. He will be keen to get his championship challenge back on course in Wexford, a win being the definite aim.

Denis Cronin is another man to make the switch to gravel for 2008 and as stated, lies joint third in the championship at the half-way mark. Quite often it’s sons following in the footsteps of great family names from the past but for Denis, well he’s trying to emulate the achievement of nephew Keith, who had some outstanding results in the 2007 championship. Quicker round by round, could Wexford see Denis step up to the challenge for overall honours?

With more championship regulars like GpN leader Colin Britton, Brian “Stonemad” Lawlor, Sean Heaney and Jason Roche all expected to make the start, the event promises to be a cracker!

Regulations for the event will be available shortly

Posted: January 28, 2008 10:41 PM

Wexford Motor Club

• 2008 Forestry Championship