John O'Connor/Gerard Conway (Peugeot 205 RWD) - SS1
Aidan Walsh/Jim Casey (Ford Escort Mk II) - SS4
Sean Liston/Katrina Walsh (Corsa) - SS3
Munster Misery for Shrimpton
Posted: June 7, 2011 3:11 PM
Saturday Evening and Joe Shrimpton and Ciaran Geaney finished the recce for the Circuit of Munster and pronounced themselves happy with the stages for Sunday in and around the Newcastle West area of South West Ireland.
This year the Circuit of Munster is not a round of the National Rally Championship, but the Munster Motor Club still managed to assemble a top class field of over 126 cars. There had been good news during the week with the announcement that the team had managed to attract one of the oldest names in Irish Motorsport on board the, DJ Rally HIre / MB / GGH Hire / Millers Oils / JTS Cushions / BBAG Extreme Lounging Citroen C2R2 and it was in the name of TEAM PR REILLY.
Team PR Reilly evoke memories of past drivers such as Brendan Fagan and Austin Machale. Joe was naturally delighted and told us "We are delighted to have Team PR Reilly on board, and we are all aware of their excellent history in Irish Motorsport over the many years they have been involved. I am well aware of the calibre of drivers they have supported and been with with and its great to have them with us, and nicely in time for Donegal in a few weeks as well."
Sunday dawned damp and overcast, and although the rally was not a round of the Championship, as stated, there was a lot of the regulars taking this event in, for some practice for the forthcoming Topaz Donegal International Rally in two weeks time, and tyre choice for the opening loop of stages was tricky and difficult.
The crew made their way to Stage 1 at Knockamade from service at Abbeyfeale, but about 10km into the stage the car stepped on out Joe while flat in fifth gear, on braking for a 2Left and although he managed to keep it in the road, the car slid some meters before the back of the car caught the bank an high speed and spun it round to a sudden halt. The impact had broken a hub, and their event was over.
On Sunday evening Joe was philosophical about it and said "It was a very fast one this morning that we had, and to be honest my back is sore form where the car spun round suddenly but it was one of those things that happen to you in motorsport. The car just stepped out at high speed and away we went, with me fighting it to make make sure we stayed in the road and not up a bank" He went on to add "We will look at the in car camera tonight, and see what it shows, and what we can learn, but for now I will look forward to competing at Mondello Park next week in the RX150 Championship which goes there for the first time, and of course the following weekend we are in Donegal for the International event and we are looking forward to both events in a big way."
Team Manager Willie Woods was over his disappointment of an early retirement for the team and said "It is a bit of a downer all right for us all to retire so early, but Joe did a good job of keeping the car on the road and slowing it down as best he could to control it, and in all honesty if he had not broken the hub, himself and Ciaran could have driven the car out of the stage with no issue, but hey thats rallying."
Back in Abbeyfeale Ciaran added "Joe did a good job in the car, and fought the spin all the way, and its just one of those things that happen to ye in rallying now and again, but we have the Donegal International now in two weeks, and boy are we all looking forward to that." He added " I do want to thank Vicky and Mona at PR Reilly however for all their help this week as well"
The DJ Rally HIre / MB / GGH Hire / Millers Oils / JTS Cushions / BBAG Extreme Lounging / Team PR Reilly Citroen C2R2 head to Letterkenny in two weeks time for the Topaz Donegal International Rally and the next round of the Citroen Racing Trophy Ireland Championship which they are currently leading.
Round 3 of Ireland's premier regional rally championship the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship moves to Limerick this June bank holiday weekend for the Woodlands House Hotel Circuit of Munster Rally organised by Limerick Motor Club. 9 special stages await the championship crews with the organisers running a 3 X 3 stage format with centralised service are in the Abbeyfeale Mart complex after stages 3 and 6. Saturday 4th June will see the competing crews sign on for recce which will take place at Rally HQ the Woodlands House Hotel Adare between 8.30am & 11.30am with mechanical scrutiny taken place at the NCT Centre, Ballysimon Limerick City between 2pm and 7pm. Sunday 5th of June will start with a compulsory safety briefing for all crews before the 1st car leaves the start ramp at 8.30am for the first loop of 3 stages in the Broadford/Tournafulla areas. First car due for the 1st service halt of the day will be 11.33am with competing crews than repeating the opening loop of stages with the 1st competing car due back to the final service halt of the rally at 14.13. A repeat loop of 3 stages will finish of the rally with the winning crew due back to the finish ramp at Rally HQ at 17.22.
Only 14 points separate the top 5 in the 2011 Top Part West Coast Championship driver standings and with championship leader Niall Maguire not entered the battle to top the championship points table at the half way point of the championship looks to be between Mike Quinn (38 pts), Richard Burke (35 pts), Andrew Slattery (31 pts) and David Percy (25 pts). Kerry’s Mike Quinn will be switching to David’s Murphy’s millington powered Ford Escort MK11 as his similar engine is been rebuilt and wont be ready in time. Galway’s Richard Burke (Subaru Impreza) finished 8th overall on round 2 the Carlton hotel Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally and will be hoping for a similar performance as he aims to clinch the 2011 title having finished 3rd overall in the 2010 championship standings. Tipperary’s Andrew Slattery (Subaru N11) currently leads the overall Group N category as well as been 4th overall in the championship. Slattery is well capable of a top 10 finish which could see the Tipperary man move into contention for the championship title. Lying 5th overall and second in the 2 wheel drive category is Tipperary’s David Percy (Ford Escort F2) and a good haul of points in Limerick could well move him up the overall leader board. Last years champion Shane Maguire (Subaru N11) is in joint 6th place after a non finish on round 2 but when dropped scores are taken into account the Monaghan man is well in the hunt of defending his title. Tied with Shane Maguire is Kevin Barrett (Subaru S11 WRC). Barrett had a non finish on round 1 but put his championship title hopes back on track on round 2 taking maximum championship points but will be taking a dropped score in Limerick as he is unable to start due to work commitments. In joint 7th place on 21 points are Limerick’s Anthony Collins (Honda Civic) and Galway’s Eamon Derven (Ford Escort MK 11). Having missed the first round Limerick’s Edward O’Callaghan (Ford Escort MK 11) is in 8th place on 19 points. Rounding off the top 10 in the overall drivers standings are Galway’s Pat Kelly (Subaru Impreza) 18 points and Paul Curly (Honda Civic) 17 points.
In the co driver standings Clare’s Grainne McEnery (Mike Quinn) and Galway’s John Burke (Richard Burke) are tied for the overall lead after round 2 on a total of 38 points. Tipperary’s Shaun Forde (Andrew Slattery) is in 2nd position just 6 points off the leaders. Galway’s Keith Gardiner (Eamon Dervan) is 3rd place on 24 points just 1 point ahead of Kerry’s Donal Falvey (Anthony Collins). Clare’s Charlie McEnery (Shane Maguire) currently lies in 5th after a non finish in Kerry. In Joint 6th in the standings on 21 points are Monaghan’s Enda Sherry (Niall Maguire) and Limerick’s Sean Mullally (Kevin Barrett) but both co drivers will be non starters in Limerick. Rounding off the top 10 are Galway’s Jason Ollerenshaw (Paul Curly) 20 points, John Connelly (Pat Kelly) 19 points, Donegal’s Raymond Scott (Edward O’Callaghan) 19 points, Offaly’s Mark Kane (Mark Sheehan) 17 points and Galway’s Enda O’Leary (Neil Pierce) 16 points.
The rally will also be counting rounds of the Junior and Historic Top Part West Coast Rally Championship. Tralee’s Darren Young and co driver Kenneth Quirke (Honda Civic) currently lead the Junior category on 40 points. Limerick’s Sean Liston and co driver Katrina Walsh (Vauxhall Nova) missed the 1st round but took maximum point on round 2 to take 2nd place in the standings. Clare’s Martin Casey and Kerry co driver Katie Quinn (Honda Civic) are just 1 point behind Liston & Walsh in 3rd place. Limerick’s David Carmody currently lies in 4th having to retire on the opening 2 rounds with mechanical trouble. 2010 Junior champions West Cork’s Cal McCarty/Eamon Dullea (Honda Civic) round off the top 5 after a non start and non finish on the opening 2 rounds and a good finish in Limerick will put them back on track to defend their championship title.
Leading the Historic category are Limerick’s David & Rita Dee (Mini Cooper) with a total of 41 points. 2010 Historic champions Kerry’s Gerard McCarty and co driver Tommy Commane (Triumph TR7) are in 2nd place on 22 points. McCarty will miss round 3 as he rebuilds his Triumph but co driver Commane will be co driving for Abbeyfeale’s Denis Collins (Ford Escort) as he aims for back to back titles. Longford’s Philip & Andrew McKibbin are in 3rd place their pristine Ford Cortina as Kerry’s Sean Kelleher & Michael Dowling are in 4th just 2 points behind McKibbin.
Championship Leaders – Niall Maguire/Grainne McEnery
Junior Championship Leaders – Darren Young/Kenneth Quirke
Historic Championship Leaders – David Dee/Rita Dee
Two Wheel Drive Leaders – Mike Quinn/Grainne McEnery
Group N Leaders – Andrew Slattery/Shaun Forde
Stage 1
Meeting point:
Devon Inn Hotel Templeglatine @ 7.10am
Stage commander Ger. Hayes
N 52.39687
W 009.17501
Stage 2
Meeting point:
Church car park Toornafulla @ 7.45am
Stage commander Niall Liston
N52.36376
W009.15745
Stage 3
Meeting point:
Topaz west end service station Newcastlewest @ 8.00am
Stage commander Breeda Ryan
N52.44453
W009.07364
Stage Details
Posted: May 13, 2011 9:28 AM
Sunday the 5th of June will see another wonderful Woodlands House
Hotel Circuit of Munster rally, Round 3 of the Top Coast West Coast Rally Championship.
08:30 the first of 130 cars will leave the Woodlands House Hotel to
head west of the county to Tournafulla
to run 3 classic stages. The 1st challenge competitors will face is
Knockanade the 20km gripy flowing stage
before heading or the rallies shortest stage of 18km's which includes
6 hairpins and the scenic view of
Ashford and Broadford. Stage 3 finishes the first loop with18.5km
running under the shadow of Glenquin castle
before heading to Abbeyfeale for centralised service. This will be
repeated twice more before all remaining cars
return to the Woodlands House Hotel for the final control.
Limerick Motor Club would like to thank the Woodlands House Hotel for
their continued support.
2011 launch will take place at the Woodlands House Hotel on the 4th of May at 8 O'Clock, all are welcome to attend. Anyone that would like to have their rallycar at the launch night contact 087 2722623 / +353 87 2722623
Photo: Ita West
Easy Pay System
Posted: March 1, 2011 10:13 AM
Circuit of Munster 2011 the 3rd Round of the West Coast Rally Championship.
At this point the club would like to start an EASY PAY scheme as in the times were in its hard to have all the entry at one time. To find out how to start your EASY PAY scheme simply ring or text 087 7943182 / +353 87 7943182
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