Breen wins Carrick rally, Jennings extends Valvoline lead
Posted: March 12, 2012 11:30 AM
Round two of the Valvoline Forest Championship witnessed a professional and dominant drive by Craig Breen on the Wm Loughman rally, hosted by the Carrick-on-Suir MC.on Saturday March 3rd
Based in Carrick-on-Suir, the Loughman rally consisted of two loops of three stages, the first loop on the afternoon with the repeat visits under the cover of darkness in the evening. Stage one (and four) was a mammoth 25 km test in Gurteen near Kilsheelan.
Breen the current WRC Academy winner and leader of this years WRC S2000 Champioship took time out of his international commitments to compete on his home rally. The Waterford man was at the wheel of his Fiesta S2000 and was partnered as usual by Gareth Roberts. The crew led from start to finish and they recorded fastest time on every stage.
Garry Jennings was runner up in his GpA Impreza which was no match for the latest technology of Breen’s Fiesta, but the Fermanagh driver takes consolation by claiming maximum Valvoline Championship points and extending his series lead.Jennings was second fastest on four stages and fifth on two, definitely best of the rest.
Third overall was claimed by Vincent Mc Aree who was fortunate to survive a spin on the first stage and oil pressure issues on the fourth, and the Monaghan driver was once again very quick in the dark.
Colin Britton was very competitive on round one in Donegal and he continued in that vein of form last weekend.The Strabane driver would have finished third in Carrick but for incurring a 2 minute penalty whilst servicing a stricken clutch. Britton is now second in the Valvoline series.
Fifth overall and best 2WD was claimed by Kilkenny man Shay Power. The winner of the last years South East Stages Championship, he started off 2012 in great style with some very competitive stage times. Power had a trouble free event in his Escort Mk2.
Niall Henry was next up, just ahead of Stephen Wright who lost over 4 minutes on stage one but did recover to record some respectable stage times. The Newbliss driver slips to third in the Valvoline, albeit two points behind Britton.
Eighth was claimed by Ian Chadwick, and he was followed by Adrian Mc Elhinney who also won class three in the 206. The Donegal driver now leads the 2WD and class three section of the Valvoline.
Ian Downey had a great run in the Corsa to win class nine, the junior section. The Dubliner had an intense scrap with the Civic of Dean Raftery (for three stages) and he went on to finish tenth overall and now he leads class 9 in the championship and second in the 2WD section.
With 54 starters and 26 finishers Carrick was an attritional event. Early casualties included Ian Cochrane Enda Mc Nulty and Ger Lucey Shane Mc Girr and Mark Murphy. The current Valvoline champion Owen Murphy suffered a puncture on stage 1 (losing a minute to Jennings) and the Corkman rallied back to fifth place only for the wheel nuts on his Evo9 to sheer on the last stage. The 2010 champ was no luckier, Pat O Connell was third on Stages one and two and a drive shaft issue delayed him on three. However on stage 4 the Tipp man lost his sump guard on his Evo9 which forced him onto the retirement list as well. Other drivers to succumb on stage 4 included the Escorts of Adrian Hethrington, Seamus O’ Connell, Paul Fitzgerald and Mick Nevin.
Desi Henry finished the rally despite losing a mammoth 15 minutes in the Citroen DS3 due to spark plug problems. The Portglenone man was giving Citroen’s rally car its inaugural race in Irish forestry and if the Co.Antrim driver was not been delayed on stage one he could have finished as high as fourth and first 2WD.Henry is in second place in the BRC as a result of his excellent second overall in the recent Sunseeker rally.
Audio: Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell on the Pat Kenny Show post Carrick-on-Suir Forestry
ermanagh’s Garry Jennings has stamped his authority on the Irish Forest Championship after taking maximum points on last weekend’s Carrick On Suir based event. This victory gives Garry top points hauls from both starts in the Irish gravel series.
The Willie Loughman Memorial event run over six stages was a demanding challenge as the first car did not start till 3pm. The initial stage was to be the longest faced on the gravel surface for a number of years covering 16 miles (25km). Garry in the Kumho Tyres equipped Subaru Impreza set the pace, completing the opening test 19 seconds faster than 2010 series champion Pat O’ Connell. The following two stages of the opening loop were much shorter but Garry increased his lead to hold a 47 second advantage over Colin Britton as the crews made their way to the evening service halt. This service not only allowed the crews time to adjust their cars or repair the damages caused over the opening loop but also to fit the extra lights for the repeat loop run under the cover of darkness.
Unfortunately for Garry, his 18 year old McKinstry Motorsport prepared Subaru did not have the modern luxuries of gas discharge lights. The difference between the standard halogen units and the high intensity discharge versions really was the difference of ‘night and day’. “The lights were simply no match for the HID versions, we knew going to the event this was going to be an issue, but with a cost of £2000 the difference, our plan was clear cut - try and open a lead over the initial three stages and simply do our best to hold back the more modern Mitsubishi Evo’s and their better lights through the night stages”
Garry, partnered on this occasion by David Moynihan’s task was made somewhat easier when closest rival Colin Britton was forced to complete a clutch change in the evening service and in doing so picked up a two minute time penalty for being late leaving the service.
The Donegal Bay Fuels, crew headed into the lengthy ‘Gorteen’ stage for the first of the repeat loop. Garry & David were prepared to take things cautiously and were happy to limit the time loss to 22 seconds over 2011 Champion and new 2nd placed point’s contender Owen Murphy. With 47 seconds to spare Gary drove the final two short stages carefully and ended up 57 seconds to the good with Monaghan’s Vincent McAree inheriting 2nd placed points after Murphy’s untimely accident on the final stage. “Maximum points and 2nd Overall was a great result and exactly what I was hoping for said Garry, I knew that trying to take on SWRC contender Craig Breen on his local event in a 2012 specification car worth approximately six times the value of my Subaru was impossible and never my intention. I have watched Craig progress into a fine driver over the last few years and he is extremely lucky to be in a position to have the sponsors and family backing to compete at such a level. For me this is a hobby and a sport I love. I really enjoy driving this old Subaru, it’s a breed like nothing else and a true testament to the Banbury based Prodrive operation who developed the car in the early ‘90’s. It’s been a hectic but incredibly enjoyable start to 2012 for me and my next planned event will be the Circuit Of Ireland in my Evo 9. This year the Circuit is a counting round to the IRC and we look forward to taking on the international GPN competitors who make the trip
over the Easter weekend. Finally, my thanks to Nigel, the mechanics and to all my sponsors without whom none of this would be possible.
Craig Breen, the reigning World Rally Academy Champion is top seed in Saturday’s Wm Loughman Rally, round 2 of the Valvoline Forest Rally Championship. The Waterford star- who is a member of the Carrick-on Suir M.C- is at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta S2000 and he heads a mouth watering list of forestry racers. Included are Owen Murphy current Forest Champion (Evo9), Pat O’ Connell the 2010 Forest champion (Evo9) and Garry Jennings (GpA Impreza), winner of the first round of the 2012 Valvoline Forest Championship in Donegal last month. This quartet will set an electrifying pace in the woods around Carrick, and the winner maybe the driver who is bravest in the dark.
A plethora of other drivers will be in the frame if the any of the big names slip up. Take your pick from Stephen Wright (2nd in Donegal), Colin Britton (3rd in Donegal), Vincent Mc Aree (2nd in Carrick last year). Ian Cochrane, Mark Donnelly and Enda Mc Nulty are also capable of an upset. While Ger Lucey won the free entry for the rally, the Corkman will pray his good fortune survives the weekend.
Fans of 2WD will be keen to evaluate the Citroen DS3 of Desi Henry, making its competition debut in Irish Forestry. If tail sliding is your thing, look no farther than the RWD cars of Adrian Hetherington, Shane Mc Girr, Shay Power, Seamus O’Connell, James Coleman and 2011 2WD Champion Paul Fitzgerald. At least 54 cars will make the start line, including five juniors.
Last year Carrick M.C. introduced all-inclusive one day rally, with the day neatly divided into three segments. The morning was devoted to scrutiny for the competing cars. The competitive racing started in the afternoon for three daylight stages. These stages were repeated in the darkness of the evening and it proved a very exciting and popular formula. The club continues with this successful format for the 2012 event, but the stages are located in Gurteen –a mammoth 25km test followed by a rare visit to the Portlaw area for the Towerhill and Bealough stages.
Clerk of the course, Barry Duggan and his team have centralised the event in Carrick on Suir as the rally continues its successful partnership with co-sponsors the Carraig Hotel and Suirway Forklifts. The main hub of the event will be in the Mill River Business Park which contains mechanical scrutiny and the service area. The first stage is scheduled for 15.00hrs and the podium celebrations will commence at 2100.
Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts headline Class Field on Carrick Forest Rally
Posted: February 28, 2012 9:28 AM
Reigning National Forestry Rally Champion Owen Murphy, 2nd Overall in 2011 Vincent McAree and winner of the opening round of the 2012 series Garry Jennings will be among the main attractions for next Saturday’s Carrick on Suir, Wm. Loughman Memorial Forest Rally but all eyes will be on recently announced ‘Waterford Person of the Year 2011’ Craig Breen as the Carrick on Suir Motor Club welcomes round two of the 2012 Valvoline National Forestry Rally Championship.
Innovation was the outstanding feature of last year’s Willie Loughman Memorial Forest Rally as the Carrick on Suir Motor Club introduced an all-inclusive one day event which included both scrutiny for the competing cars and was followed by afternoon and night stages. The club continues this successful format for 2012 which takes place next Saturday the 3rd of March. The highlight for both competitors and spectators comes by way of a mouth-watering 25 Km stage, the longest in the forest championship this season in the Gurteen Forest Complex near Kilsheelan and for the passionate rallyfans in the South East the event moves to pastures new as the rally revisits the Village of Portlaw as the famous stages of Towerhill and Bealough make a welcome return after a long absence.
The rally is again centralised in Carrick on Suir as the Carrick Motor Club continues its successful partnership with co-sponsors the Carraig Hotel and Suirway Forklifts/Farm Machinery. Rally HQ is based in the Carraig Hotel but the main hub of the event will be in the Mill River Business Park which contains mechanical scrutiny and the service area.
The one day event format will see competitors arrive in the morning to get their respective rallycars scrutinised, then the main event is set to begin with the first stage scheduled for 15.21 hrs in Gurteen.
Forming an integral part of the Valvoline National Forestry Championship, the Carrick based event fits in this year as the second round. The opening round was held on January 28th in Donegal was dominated by Fermanagh’s Garry Jennings driving a Gp A Subaru Impreza. Jennings, the current Group N Irish Tarmac champion romped to victory, leading the rally from start to finish. Second place on the day was Monaghan’s Stephen Wright in a Mitsubishi EVO VI and the top three overall was completed by Colin Britton in a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX Gp N.
The excitement was no less intense in the 2WD class, where Frank Kelly (Ford Escort Mk II) was on the top rung finishing 6th O/A with a margin of eighteen seconds over Adrian Hetherington (8th O/A) in the V6 Rover powered Mk II. Third in the class was claimed by Shane McGirr (9th O/A) in the Toyota Starlet RWD.
As we head to round two of the series next Saturday all of the above are making the trip to Carrick and the big names are not curtailed to the pace setters in Donegal. Reigning National Forestry Rally Champion Owen Murphy missed round one when he hurt his back prior to the event but now after some recuperation the Co. Corkman is itching to get back on the stages and after winning last year’s Carrick event and the subsequent championship I’m sure Owen will be eager to get his 2012 season back on track. After taking a year out Pat O’Connell, the National Champion in 2010 is back again in Carrick next weekend and with Mark Wiley calling the pacenotes the Cashel duo in their EVO IX will be fighting for top honours. The Lucey Brother in their EVO VIII Lancer, are another Cork crew who’ll be ones to watch and after finishing 7th in Donegal, I’m sure they’ll be looking for a higher finish as the championship moves down south.
The rally also signifies the opening of the TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship. This regional rally championship organised and promoted by THE CARLOW; CARRICK-ON-SUIR; MUNSTER; TIPPERARY AND WEXFORD MOTOR CLUBS is a clubman affair and in 2011 all top three overall honours went to Carrick Club member. Shay Power/John Rafter, Ford Escort MKII took the title in Wexford on the final round, narrowly pepping follow club mates, Father and Son team of Alan and James Commins. The top three in the series was rounded off by James Coleman and Michael Haley also Carrick Club members. All three crews are back again this year and will make the Two Wheel drive section of the rally very interesting.
The rally has attracted a host of other club members including Pierce Doheny who’s back to his Opel Corsa this year, Gemma Kerley will be partnered by Lynn Martin as the all lady crew will be out in their Subaru Impreza. This is Gemma’s first rally in a 4WD car but she will be hoping for a good result after building up experience over the last few years at the wheel of a Toyota Corolla. John Murphy (Boo) with co-driver Niall Fitzgerald are out in their trusty MKII and are followed by Paschal O’Shea and Robbie Hennessy in yet another Mk II Escort with both crews forming part of the Buckstown Motorsport dynasty, the king of the Buckstown stable Seamus Anderson is however not taking part as on this occasion he is working on the event and is the stage commander for the Towerhill test.
Looking through the field the scene is set for an excellent day of forestry entertainment but icing on the cake comes in the form of FIA WRC Academy World Rally Champion Craig Breen, who’s also taking on his local event as he builds towards round three in the Super 2000 World Rally Championship (SWRC) in Portugal at the end of March.
On entering the rally the Waterford driver said, “I’ve had a few weeks off since SWRC Sweden, we have had a hectic beginning to the year but it’s all been good. Winning in Monte Carlo was a perfect start and backing up that result with second in Sweden was great. I’ll be looking to continue that form in Portugal and taking part in next weekend’s Willie Loughman will be the ideal test session for me. It will be my first gravel rally of the year and I’ll be perfecting my car setup for our trip to Portugal.” Breen who is also a member of the Carrick Motor Club also went on to say, “Entering my local event is always an honour, I get a huge amount of support from the club and I delighted that the rally fits into my schedule.”
Stage Schedule: The action starts on Saturday afternoon at 15.21hrs with stage one in the Gurteen Forest near Kilsheelan and it’s a monster with the full Gurteen complex run as a complete test taking in 25 kms. We then move to Portlaw for stage 2, Tower Hill beginning at 16.28hrs and the final stage in the loop, Bealough is scheduled to get underway at 16.48hrs. Service back in Carrick is 17.30hrs and the second loop begins as darkness falls at 19.00hrs.
• Full Entry Refund: Gerard Lucey/James Lucey
• €225 Refund of Entry Fee: John Murphy/Niall Fitzpatrick
• B+B for two People in the Carraig Hotel, Rally HQ on Friday Night the 2nd of March or Saturday Night the 3rd of March. Pat Price/Stephen Price
Early Entry Incentive Package
Posted: February 15, 2012 4:13 PM
Carrick on Suit Motor Club are now delighted to announce their 'Early Entry Incentive Package' for this year's Wm.Loughman Forestry Rally.
Early Entry Incentive Package Draw: This Year's Early Entry Incentive Package Include
• B+B for two People in the Carraig Hotel, Rally HQ on Friday Night the 2nd of March or Saturday Night the 3rd of March.
• Full Entry Refund
• €225 Refund of Entry Fee
Competitors who want to be in the draw MUST be FULLY PAID by the Entries Closing Date: Friday 24th of Feb and Winners will have to start the rally to avail of prizes.
Pastures New for 2012 Willie Loughman Memorial Forest Rally
Posted: January 23, 2012 2:35 PM
Innovation was the outstanding feature last years Willie Loughman Memorial Forest Rally as the Carrick on Suir Motor Club introduced an all-inclusive one day rally which included both scrutiny for the competing cars and was followed then by evening and night stages. The club continues with this successful format for the 2012 event which will take place on Saturday the 3rd of March. The highlight for both competitors and spectators on this year’s event comes by way of a mouth-watering 25 Km stage, the longest in the National Forestry Championship this season for the competitors in the Gurteen Forest Complex and for the passionate rallyfans in the South East the event moves to pastures new as the rally revisits the Village of Portlaw as the famous stages of Towerhill and Bealough make a welcome return after a long absence.
The rally is again centralised in Carrick on Suir as the Carrick Motor Club continues its successful partnership with co-sponsors the Carraig Hotel and Suirway Forklifts. As the one-day format from last is continued the Carraig will act as rally HQ for paper scrutiny/documentation and prizegiving but the main hub of the event will be in the Mill River Business Park which contains mechanical scrutiny and the service area. The one day all inclusive rally format will see competitors arrive in the morning to get their respective cars checked, then the main event is set to begin with the first stage scheduled for 15.00hrs.
That initial special stage is very ‘special’ indeed as the rally gets underway in the Gurteen Forest Complex near Kilsheelan and it’s a monster this year as the full Gurteen Complex will be run as a complete test on the opening loop in daylight and will then be tackled again as the second loop starts at 19.00 hrs. Clerk of the course, Barry Duggan expands on his plans and stage selection for 2012, “This year’s event will be effectively broken into two locations, with stage one and four being based in Gurteen and special stages two and three on the first loop and then stages five and six on the second loop in Portlaw. First Gurteen, The huge complex has formed the backbone of our event for main years and being so large we always decided to split the forest into two separate stages. This year I wanted to try something different and after toying with the idea, I’m now delighted to announce that this year ‘Gurteen’ will be run as a complete 25 km stage, making it the longest in the National Forestry Championship. It will give the crews a baptism of fire as the rally opener and then the rerun in darkness will pose an even sterner test.”
Barry also explains his decision to move to new pastures for this year’s rally, “From both the organisers and competitor’s perspective going back repeatedly to the same areas can get very mundane. In the interest of giving the rally a fresh look we decided to move to new ground, together with the land owner, the local Forester and Coillte, the Motor Club has come to an agreement on using the region and I'm delighted to be back in Portlaw for the famous Towerhill and Bealough stages. It's always good to source new terrain and I'm sure the change will be welcomed by the crews and fans alike.”
Taking place on the first Saturday in March the Willie Loughman again forms an integral part of the Valvoline National Forestry Championship and fits in this year as the second round. The rally also forms round two of the competitive Triton Showers South East Stages Rally Championship regional series. Carrick Motor Club members took a clean sweep in 2011 with Shay Power and John Rafter crowned champions, Shay’s Brother-in-law, Alan Commins with his son James calling the notes took second place. James Coleman, partnered by Michael Haley picking up third place on the podium with the championship going all the way to the wire on the final round in Wexford. Both championships play a vital role in attracting crews to the event.
News Stories
Classifieds
Shop
TV Guide
Links
Upcoming 
Most