Robert Barrable winner of the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman award supported by the Irish Sports Council, in his Skoda Fabia S2000 with co-driver Damien Connolly finished an impressive second overall on Sundays Cavan Stages rally after a close battle with championship leader Tim McNulty. The result came on the back of disappointment earlier in the weekend for the Co. Dublin driver when the alternator in his Skoda failed during the opening stages of the Jim Clark rally the first all tarmac round of the BRC. The decision to take part in the Cavan stages rally came late on Friday evening when Robert and the Evolution Motorsport team headed straight from Kelso headquarters of the Jim Clark to an early morning ferry and on to Cavan to complete Reece in advance of the Cavan rally on Sunday. Robert started the rally strongly posting fastest stage time through the opening stage with his nearest challenger Tim McNulty in the more powerful Subaru Impreza S12B WRC machine posting fastest time through stage two with Robert returning to the top of the time sheets with a fastest time through stage three arriving at the first service halt just 4 seconds behind the leader.
This set the tone for the remaining six stages of the day with Robert and Tim swapping fastest stage times through the tight and twisty Cavan lanes, the gap at the second of the days service halts had Robert at just 9 seconds off the lead with the final loop of stages remaining. The leader feeling the pressure had to dig deep and set fastest time through stages seven and eight with Robert hoping that the continued pressure might force McNulty into a mistake it was not to be and Robert crossed the finish ramp in an excellent second overall just 24 seconds behind the winner McNulty, having set an impressive four fastest stage times on the event. “I am really happy with the result today and the car was excellent. I was disappointed on Friday night being forced to retire from the Jim Clark as I really felt I could have recorded a top three finish so to come to Cavan and challenge for the win and to finish so close in second is really satisfying, commented Robert at the end of the event.
Next up for Robert and Damien in the Skoda Fabia is the GEKO Ypres Rally in Belgium a round of the IRC at the end of June.
In Car
Posted: June 1, 2011 12:20 PM
Manus Kelly / Paul Sheridan - SS1
Trevor and Kenny Bustard - SS8
Richard Moffett/Martin Connolly - SS8
Video Clips
Posted: June 1, 2011 12:17 PM
Sligo Pallets Border Championship Drive of the Day award
Posted: June 1, 2011 12:04 PM
Photo: Brendan Flynn
The Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day award on the Cavan Stages Rally was
presented to Monaghan crew Justin Smyth and Gregory McQuillan. Driving
a Ford Escort they set the fastest time for a class 9 car on special
stage two of the event, ten seconds faster than their nearest
rivals. Their prize – a pair of Sligo Pallets rally jackets presented
to them at rally finish by championship sponsors Andrew Mullen and
Elaine Doherty of Sligo Pallets.
McNULTY WINS CAVAN RALLY - Report Courtesy of Dunlop Proud Sponsors of the Dunlop National Rally Championship 2011
Posted: June 1, 2011 11:55 AM
MEATH’s, Tim McNulty (Subaru WRC), co-driven by Paul Kiely, continued his dominance of the Dunlop National Rally Championship with victory in the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally, the fourth round of the series. They finished 24 seconds ahead of the Skoda Fabia S2000 of Robert Barrable/Damien Connolly with Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru WRC) a further 25 seconds behind in third.
The Group N category was won by Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly (Mitsubishi) and the two-wheel drive award was won by Damien Gallagher/Mac Walsh (Ford Escort).
Late entry, Barrable set the pace on the first stage albeit a second ahead of Dunlop series leader, McNulty with Maguire next best – six seconds further behind. McNulty punched in the best time for the second stage even though he made a slight mistake; Barrable was quickest through the final stage of the loop. At the Cavan service halt, McNulty, who held a five second lead, commented, “Everything is fine, the stages are tough, I made a small mistake on the second stage but nothing much to worry about. I have decided to go for a harder compound tyre for the second loop.”
Barrable was quite happy with his tyre choice and general performance. Maguire was a further 17 seconds behind in third and admitted there was little he could do about matching the pace of the top duo. Kevin Barrett (Subaru) was fourth as fifth placed Seamus Leonard (Subaru WRC) admitted he was a little rusty, he also stalled his car at the start line of the second stage. Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla WRC) was untroubled in sixth.
Meanwhile, Sam Moffett (Mitsubishi) had a number of niggling problems with the steering and anti-lag systems. Elsewhere, the top ten also featured Shane Maguire (Subaru) who was four seconds behind Moffett;
Washington James (Darrian), who led the two-wheel category – three seconds ahead of Damien Gallagher (Ford Escort).
Opening loop retirements included Manus Kelly, his Ford Escort stopped with alternator troubles, Declan Boyle (Ford Escort) while Adrian Hetherington put his Escort on its side on the opening stage.
McNulty stretched his lead through stages four and five but made a slight error on the sixth stage where Barrable reigned supreme. The net effect gave McNulty a nine second lead at the final service halt. Barrable reckoned his tyres were too hard for the fourth stage but were perfect for the remaining stages. Maguire continued to maintained third – some 15 seconds further adrift. Barrett was trouble free in fourth with Leonard fifth. Moffett had a strong run through the loop to move into sixth where he was followed by Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla WRC)
There was a change in the two-wheel drive category, Washington James (Darrian) who had moved 13 seconds ahead of Damien Gallagher (Escort) after S.S. 4, lost time with a broken steering arm. By Stage 6, Gallagher, who was eighth overall, was 12 seconds ahead of the Escort of Michael Conlon. James had dropped to 21 st . in general classification. Elsewhere, Trevor Bustard lost time when his Mitsubishi developed a misfire, he was eleventh overall followed by the Escorts of Sam Smyth and Frank Kelly.
McNulty pushed hard through stages seven and eight and duly stretched his lead to 26 seconds and was able to slacken his pace on the final stage where Barrable was quickest. Third placed Maguire had a major moment near the finish of the final stage but he survived to take 16 Dunlop points. Barrett, who was fourth, reckoned his performance improved on the final loop. Leonard was fortunate to finish due to a gearbox problem while a change of tyres saw McCarthy regain sixth.
Moffett, who had a slight moment at a crossroads on the final stage, won Group N and Gallagher took the two-wheel drive award. The top ten was completed by Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi) and Michael Conlon (Ford Escort).
The Dunlop “Drive of the Day” award was won by Frank Kelly (Ford Escort).
The third round of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship takes place this week-end on the Cavan Stages Rally, and with the fourth round in Newry following just six days later, the next week will have a major influence in determining this year’s champions.
The early season pace-setters will be hoping to build on their early successes with another strong result in Cavan, not least among them local man Damian O’Reilly. The Escort driver starts his home event not only leading class 9 but also sharing the overall championship lead on nineteen points, after scoring a first and second in class on the opening two rounds.
Meath’s James Cassidy and John Norris in another Escort are the other joint series leaders with identical results so far, albeit in class twelve. They have also claimed a Drive of the Day Award this year on the Mayo Stages Rally.
Just one point behind are two further crews, the class 2 Honda Civic pairing of Adrian Cannon and Derek Heena from Donegal, and perennial challenger and former winner Niall Maguire and his fellow Monaghan co-driver Enda Sherry in the class 8 Subaru WRC. Two points further behind, are the class 4 Donegal brothers Trevor and Kenny Bustard, while Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally in class 8 are also on sixteen points and still firmly in contention in their class 8 Subaru WRC.
Other competitors having made strong starts to the season include the class 14 Escort of Trevor Mulligan, the Civic of Pauric McGee and Fergal Loughney in class 2, and Paul and Patrick Gallagher’s Escort in class 11.
The Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day Award continues to be a very popular side-attraction for competitors. Following James Cassidy and John Norris’ win in Mayo, it was the turn of Daniel McKenna and Andrew Grennan in Monaghan for their winning time on stage four in class 14. The eligible class and stage for the Drive of the Day Award on the Cavan Stages Rally will be announced at driver’s briefing on Sunday morning.
An added incentive for Border registered competitors in 2011 is that Andrew Mullen of sponsors Sligo Pallets will present a special prize to the championship leaders after round four, the Mourne Rally. To be presented at the Sligo Stages Rally, it will ensure there will be no let-up from the leading competitors this week-end as they strive for championship glory.
Barrable Retires from the Jim Clark Rally and heads for Cavan
Posted: May 28, 2011 8:32 AM
Motorsport Ireland and Irish Sports Council Billy Coleman award winner Robert Barrable retired from the Jim Clark Rally the fourth round of the BRC following an alternator failure on special stage 3. Robert started the rally with a blistering fastest stage time on the opening special stage of the rally, just over two and a half seconds quicker than nearest rival and championship leader David Bogie. Through the second stage the gremlins struck and by midway through the third stage Roberts rally was over with the alternator in the Skoda Fabia S2000 ending the Co. Dublin drivers hopes of a podium finish on the fourth round of the BRC. With no replacement alternator available Robert was forced to retire from the rally and being unable to rectify the problem in time opted out of day two Super rally and headed for the boat home to Ireland.
On the back of his early retirement from the Jim Clark rally, Robert will now turn his attention to this weekends's Cavan Stages rally a counting round of the Dunlop Irish National rally championship, where Robert hopes to build on his impressive performance on the last round of the championship the Carlow Stages rally where he finished a credible second overall.
ROYAL CAVAN CALL FOR DUNLOP CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER McNULTY - Preview Courtesy of Dunlop Proud Sponsors of the Dunlop National Rally Championship 2011
Posted: May 27, 2011 3:29 PM
The Dunlop National Rally Championship has its own special taste of royalty as Tim McNulty (Subaru WRC) is the top seed for Sunday’s Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally, round four of the Dunlop National Rally Championship. The Meath ace, who won this event last year, bids to continue his unbeaten sequence in the current Dunlop campaign that has already yielded wins in Abbeyleix, Monaghan and Tullow.
With just 19 points out of a possible 60, former triple national champion, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) knows that he has a difficult task in cutting the deficit to McNulty as a record fourth title seems almost out of reach even at this early stage of the series. Retirement on the last round in County Carlow and a poor finish in Abbeyleix has pushed him down the order, currently, he is seventh overall.
Another driver in need of a big result in Cavan is Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC), although fourth in the series, he is 32 points behind McNulty.
Omagh’s, Seamus Leonard (Subaru WRC) is seeded at number four ahead of top Group N driver, Colm Murphy (Subaru). Having finished an impressive third in the opening round in Abbeyleix, a non-finish in Monaghan was followed by a troubled outing in Tullow where he annexed just eight points. The Limerick driver is well capable of mixing it with the WRC brigade and will be hoping to return to his opening round form.
Monaghan’s, Sam Moffett (Mitsubishi) occupies the number six berth as he bids to put his national bid back on track after differential woes thwarted his efforts in Carlow. In terms of the Motorsport Safety Team
Group N award (that is awarded to the highest placed Group N driver in the overall standings) Robert Barrable, who netted major points in Monaghan and Carlow, is on 34 points – with Murphy and Moffett both on 24 points.
Cork driver, Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla WRC), who is second overall in the series (35 points), took his best result in Carlow where he netted fourteen championship points.
Reigning rally.ie two wheel drive champion, Declan Boyle (Ford Escort) is another driver hoping to rediscover the pace he showed last season.
Opposition in the category includes fellow Donegal driver, Manus Kelly (Ford Escort), Michael Conlon, Damien Gallagher – both in Ford Escorts and the nimble Darrian of British driver, Washington James.
Donegal’s, Stuart Darcy (Mitsubishi) lines up behind Kelly and completes the top ten. Monaghan’s, Shane Maguire (Subaru) who missed the last round due to college examinations is set to rejoin the fray in Cavan. Elsewhere, the entry features Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi), local aces Mervyn Wedlock, Russell Woods, Sam Smith and Alan Sheridan, all in Ford Escorts.
Entries Still Open
Posted: May 24, 2011 11:02 AM
Entries are still available:
Contact event secretary
087-770 3706 / +353 87-770 3706
Photograph taken from the Cavan Stages Rally Launch on Sunday 15th May
Left to Right : Paul Henry, Manager Hotel Kilmore, main sponsor, Willie Mc Cormick President Cavan Motor Club, Stephen Kellett
Dep COC, Alan Cullinan COC, Sean Sharkey Chairman Cavan Motor Club, Ben Kellett, John Agnew Cavan Motor Club, and Cathal O'Reilly, sponsor.
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