KELLY/FLANAGAN HEAD RAVEN'S ROCK RALLY
Posted: June 26, 2015 7:35 AM
Triton Showers National Rally Championship leader Donagh Kelly (Ford Focus WRC) heads a capacity entry for Sunday's fifth round of the series, the Waterford based Dooley's Hotel Raven's Rock Rally. Having taken all but three of the maximum points from the rounds to date the Donegal driver is edging closer to lifting the Vard Memorial Trophy, one of the most impressive pieces of silverware in Irish rallying.
Triple national champion Niall Maguire will make his debut in the ex-Declan Boyle championship winning S12B Subaru WRC, the Monaghan man expects that it will be Friday before he will be able to test the car and it will be interesting to see how he performs in the nine-stage event in Waterford.
The S12B Subaru is possibly the most successful car in Irish rallying ' Tim McNulty won the National and Tarmac series in 2011 before Boyle subsequently acquired the car from the Derek McGarrity stable and then went on to win his first national title in 2013. Then, last year the Donegal man won both crowns.
Maguire lies second in the Triton series ' 37 points adrift of series leader, Donagh Kelly (Ford Focus WRC) and certainly needs to out score his rival to help his title bid.
Castleisland's Alan Ring (Subaru WRC) occupies the number three slot, he's currently third in the Triton Showers series and having taken a season best second overall on the Circuit of Munster will be aiming for a podium spot again.
Former national champion Peadar Hurson (Subaru WRC), a recent winner of the Cavan Rally, will be keen to show similar form in a round of the Triton series.
Meanwhile, Welsh ace and former Dunlop champion Melvyn Evans (Subaru WRC) makes rare appearance on a round of the series and should be very competitive.
Also amongst the top ten is title sponsor Kevin Barrett in the Triton Showers liveried Subaru WRC, he was fifth last time out and occupies the same position the series.
Last season's national series runner-up Roy White (MG ZR) made a welcome return to the podium in the last round and secured much needed points to get back into the top three title race.
The top ten for 'The Rock' is completed by James Belton (Ford Fiesta R5), former Irish Forest Rally champion Michael O'Brien (Ford Focus WRC) and Wexford's Graham Scallan (Mitsubishi EvoIX), who had his best result (eighth) of the Triton series on the last round.
The entry also features the Mitsubishi EvoX of Triton Showers Group N leader Aidan Wray; Cahir's Don Keating (Subaru) and the Mk. 2 Escorts driven by Craig Breen and Chris Armstrong. Breen plans to fly back from his involvement in the European Rally Championship in Ypres to drive a James Coleman owned Escort.
Donegal's Declan Gallagher was due to drive the Toyota Gt86, however, the car was damaged in a pre-event test for the Donegal International and will not be ready in time, Gallagher, who retired whilst leading the National category in the Donegal International Rally may compete in his own Toyota Starlet. Jonathan Pringle and Enda O'Brien both in Escorts complete the top twenty. Other entries are the Ford Escort quartet of James Coleman, Michael Conlon, Liam Howlett and David Condell.
Opposition for Wray in Group N will come from Shane Maguire (Mitsubishi) Paul Barrett (Subaru), David Guest (Mitsubishi) and Neill Tohill (Mitsubishi).
Elsewhere, there are places for the Escort pair of Jack Newman and Andrew Browne and the Toyota Starlet duo of George Condell and David Moffett (Toyota Starlet)
Aside from Craig Breen, the local contingent features Eddie Power (Toyota Corolla WRC), Richard Harney (Escort), Keith Power (Renault Clio S1600) and Bill Fitzgerald (Peugeot 306)
Cork driver Jason Ryan (Toyota Starlet) heads a very competitive Class11F that features fellow Cork drivers Vincent McSweeney and Cal McCarthy, both in Honda Civics and the Vauxhall Nova of Kilkenny's Mark Geraghty.
Southern 4 Competitors heading for the Rock.
Posted: June 25, 2015 5:39 AM
The Plasticbags.ie Southern 4 Rally Championship heads for the next round of the Championship the Ravens Rock Rally based in the historic city of Waterford . Run by the Carrick On Suir Motor Club this is one of the best one day rally's in the country. The experienced Billy Collins is Clerk of the Course for the event and with the event also being a round of the National Rally Championship the pace should be serious around the Sunny South East.
While there are many crews from the Southern 4 Rally Championship doing the Ravens Rock Rally the talking point this year is of the pace of one driver in particular Vincent McSweeney the man showed exceptional pace in both the West Cork and Rally of the Lakes with finishes that showed up many more power full cars he lies second in the championship at present and would like to take home top points from this event some going in a Civic. However this time Vincent wont have it all his own way fresh from a class win on the Circuit of Munster is Jason Ryan , the Youghal man always goes hard and was up to 4th overall after the first stage last year he eventually finished in the top 10.Also in hot pursuit in the Class 11 battle will be Cal McCarthy and Jonathan O'Callaghan one in the screaming Honda the other in a Peugeot.
David Guest in the Mitsubishi should be well on the pace if he can stay away from mechanical problems a trouble free run will give David a good haul of points in Waterford, Mark Dolphin is out in the Immaculate Red Escort as is Championship Sponsor Sean o Carroll in another Red MK2.
Class 10 leader Victor Beamish will no doubt be going flat out in the Corsa to keep his lead in the class. While Donal McGrath improves his pace every day out in the twin cam in class 11R
In the JNRs the battle will be between championship leader John o Sullivan who leads Christy McCarthy by a mere 3 points continues.
The event is based at Dooley's Hotel on the Quay Waterford City. Action kicks off on Sunday morning the competing cars will travel to the 1st of three loops of stages in the Dunmore area of County Waterford. There will be nine stages run over the course of the day in total. These stages will comprise of the previous circuit of Ireland stages which have run in this area over thirty years ago. After each loop of three stages the competing cars will return for a service to the service park which is located at the Waterford Airport Business Park. The service park can be accessed on Sunday by the public to view.
Keep up with what's happening www.southern4rallychampionship.com or follow us on Facebook .
Seeded Entry List
Posted: June 19, 2015 9:41 AM
On Line Entry / Regulations
Posted: May 22, 2015 5:11 AM
On Line Entry:
Regulations available at:
Press Release 1 - Back to Waterford
Posted: April 29, 2015 2:53 PM
Due to the huge success over the last two years the Ravens Rock Rally will return to Waterford City
and County for the third year in a row on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th of June 2015, Head Quarters is located at Dooley's Hotel on the Quay who has also been one of our loyal sponsors for the event since it has returned back to Waterford city. The Rally is round 5 of the Triton Showers National Championship, Round 4 Suirway Group South East Stages and round 3 of the Plastic Bags .ie Southern 4 Rally Championships.
Saturday 27th
The rally will start with a ceremonial start in John Roberts square in the city centre at 7.30pm on Saturday evening as the competing cars cross over the official start ramp. It is also a great chance to see the high performance Rally cars up close and meet with the drivers in person. Event organizer Billy Collins stated that it is a great achievement in conjunction with Waterford City Council to have the ceremonial start in the heart of Waterford City again this year. He also stated that large crowd's are expected as it is very suitable for all members of the family to enjoy. After the ceremonial start the competing cars will then continue to Parc Ferme which is located on the Quay opposite Dooley's Hotel where they will be held overnight.
Sunday 28th
On Sunday morning the competing cars will travel to the 1st of three loops of stages in the Dunmore area of County Waterford. There will be nine stages run over the course of the day in total. These stages will comprise of the previous circuit of Ireland stages which have run in this area over thirty years ago. After each loop of three stages the competing cars will return for a service to the service park which is located at the Waterford Airport Business Park. The service park can be accessed on Sunday by the public to view.
Bringing the event to Waterford again this year is Carrick on Suir Motor Club member Billy Collins (Clerk of the Course).The Club has received the assistance and support of Waterford City Council, Port of Waterford as well as the support of Waterford County Council and the assistance of our sponsors. The Rally is fortunate to have the loyal support of several main sponsors who are supporting the Rallies move to Waterford which are Eddie Power JCB Hire, Tom Geraghty Tyres, Suirside Construction, Dooley's Hotel, Suirway Farm Machinery and Walsh's Car Sales
What does the Rally mean for Waterford? -
The Rally brings over ?1.5m to the local economy. It brings
hundreds of Competitors and team personnel and thousands of spectators to stay in the City and
County for the weekend. It gives residents of the City and County free access to a major sportingevent. It also brings extensive Global Television coverage with the rally being shown in over 80 Countries worldwide.
Event organizer Billy Collins said;
'We are delighted with the welcome the Rally has received and the support that has been given by the local authorities and all our event sponsors. In particular I would also like to thank all the residents of all the stages who have made us feel very welcome.'
Follow the on Facebook: Ravens Rock Rally or club website:
Club Website
Posted: April 29, 2015 2:52 PM
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