Ulster based rising rally star Philip Allen embarks on his biggest rallying challenge to date when he tackles next weekend’s Galway International Rally, the opening round of Ireland’s premier rally championship, the TROA Irish Tarmac Series.
It is a big step for the 26-year-old Tyrone driver and Galway will mark only his tenth rally start. Having competed in his first rally in 2017, Allen has made an impressive impact since his debut. Defining convention, he chose a high specification car to begin with, a GpN machine, in which he won the category on his very first event. By his third event, Philip took his first overall rally win.
For 2019, Philip has committed to a full Irish Championship campaign. Over the past few months, time has been spent planning and building a team designed for the job. A new co-driver in the form of Stephen McAuley has been secured, and the Co Down based co-driver brings his vast range of experience and knowledge to the team. A new state of the art Skoda Fabia R5 has been acquired, technically known as a Zero K car, which means it has been built with everything new. The car will be engineered and run by the multiple Tarmac Championship winning team, Derek McGeehan Motorsport.
The primary sponsor for the season is the Cookstown based Glenn Allen Accident Repair Centre where Philip is now the Managing Director. From his office Phillip said “I have worked hard to build a new team, and I know that I am possibly going about this a bit differently. Not picking a smaller car and learning the rallies, building up to a big championship”. Phillip continued “I think we proved on the Ulster Rally last year that the performance was good, as I am 26 now, I am going to give it a go now, lets see if we can achieve a top ten in Galway, then we can build on it from there”. The team will also receive assistance from Dickson & Co Insurance Brokers and Auto Assist.
In the week leading up to the Galway International Rally, the team will conduct a final test with the stunning looking Skoda Fabia. Philip and Stephen will do a one day reconnaissance of the special stages for the rally before the Start in Galway City on Sunday the 10th February. The crew will then face a challenging 120 Km route, comprising of nine competitive stages on closed public roads in the Athenry area of County Galway.
Seeded Entry List
Posted: February 1, 2019 2:32 PM
Will be published @ 19:45, (Fri) 1 Feb
No Driver/Co-Driver (Car) [Class]
1 Craig Breen/Paul Nagle (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
2 Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Subaru Impreza WRC S12B) [7]
3 Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
4 Sam Moffett/James Fulton (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
5 Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
6 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
7 Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley (Skoda Fabia R5) [RC2]
8 Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Skoda Fabia R5) [RC2]
9 Jon Armstrong/Noel O'Sullivan (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
10 Manus Kelly/Donall Barrett (Hyundai i20 R5) [RC2]
11 Joseph McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (BMW Mini WRC) [ 7]
12 Jonathan Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
14 Daniel Cronin/JJ Cremin (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
15 Meirion Evans/Jonathan Jackson (Hyundai i20 R5) [RC2]
16 Niall Maguire/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC S12B) [7]
17 Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
18 Stephen Wright/Arthur Kierans (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
19 Stephen McCann/Denver Rafferty (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
20 Philip Allen/Stephen McAuley (Skoda Fabia R5) [RC2]
21 Brendan Cumiskey/Ronan O'Kane (Skoda Fabia R5) [24]
22 Aaron MacHale/Enda Sherry (Hyundai i20 R5) [24]
23 David Guest/Johnathan McGrath (Skoda Fabia S2000) [RC2]
24 PJ McDermott/Niall Burns (Subaru Impreza WRC S12B) [ 7]
25 Damien Tourish/Domhnall McAlaney (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
26 Damian Toner/Mick Coady (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
27 David Condell/Paul Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
28 Stuart Darcy/Emmet Sherry (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
29 Ross Forde/Arron Forde (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
30 Paul Barrett/TBA (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
31 Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curran (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
32 Raymond Conlon/Damien Fleming (Toyota Corolla Twincam) [13]
33 Richard Whelan/James Whelan (BMW 1 Series) [14]
34 Tom Flaherty/Martin Flynn (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
35 Mark Alcorn/Kevin McCafferty (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
36 Jason McSweeney/Liam Brennan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
37 William Mavitty/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [RC2]
38 Pat Kelly/Jonathan Kelly (Subaru Impreza N11) [20]
39 Michael Boyle/Dermott McCafferty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [RC5]
40 William Niall Creighton/Liam Regan (Peugeot 208 R2) [RC4]
41 Dean Raftery/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [RC2]
42 Gary McNamee/Darren O'Brien (Honda Civic) [11F]
43 Brian Brady/Sean Collins (Honda Civic) [11F]
44 David Quigley/Des Sherlock (Honda Civic) [11F]
45 Kevin O'Donoghue/Colin O'Donoghue (BMW M3) [14]
46 Charlie Hickey/Johnny Hickey (Ford Escort RS) [14]
47 Mark Dolphin/Colin Fitzgerald (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
48 Richard Moore/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
49 Pat O'Connell/Mark Wiley (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [20]
50 Martyn England/Dawn England (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
51 Keith Lyons/TBA (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC5]
52 Niall Devine/Liam McIntyre (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [22]
53 Conor McCrossan/David Burns (Skoda Fabia S2000) [20]
54 Joe Connolly/Kevin Glynn (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
55 JR McDaid/Keith Curley (Ford Escort RS) [13]
56 Columba Heena/Michael McClafferty (Toyota Corolla) [13]
57 Geoffrey Dolan/Connor Murphy (Talbot Sunbeam) [13]
58 Jonathan Folan/Sarah Whelan (Subaru Impreza N12 B) [20]
59 Andy Davies/Michael Gilbey (Subaru Impreza N12B) [RC2]
60 Jer O'Donovan/Derek Tobin (Skoda Fabia S2000) [RC2]
61 Andrew Burke/Colin Keegan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [RC2]
62 Andrew Fanning/Andy Hayes (Proton Satria S2500 Millington) [20]
63 Simon Chapman/Peter Foy (Proton Satria S2500 Millington) [20]
64 Stephen Hernon/Jeff Case (Subaru Impreza N12B) [20]
65 Liam Egan/Patrick Brides (Ford Fiesta R5) [24]
66 Anthony O'Brien/Niall McDaid (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution I X) [20]
67 Conor Watters/Shane O'Donnell (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
68 Gerard McQuaid/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
69 Sean Moynihan/Cathal Quill (Ford Escort RS) [12]
70 Colin O'Rourke/Shane Gilhooly (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
71 Jason Tuthill/Ben Teggart (Ford Escort) [13]
72 Ray Breen/Podge Newe (MG Metro 6R4) [20]
73 Lee McLaughlin/ (Honda Civic) [11F]
74 Vincent Collins/Jane Collins (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
75 Hugh McQuaid/Declan Casey (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
76 James Cassidy/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
77 Adrian Cannon/Michael Odonnell (Honda Civic) [RC3]
78 Conor Murphy/Kieran O'Donoghue (Honda Civic) [16]
79 Mick Lonergan/Mikey Walsh (Honda Civic) [16A]
80 Michael Cahill/Paul Curran (Honda Civic) [16]
81 Cian Walsh/Eddie Doherty (Toyota Corolla RWD) [16A]
82 Dylan Donoghue/Cathal Mullins (Ford Escort RS Mk2) [13]
83 Paul Horan/Enda O'Leary (Ford Escort G4) [13]
84 John Warren/Ruthann O'Connor (Toyota Corolla Twincam) [13]
85 Andrew Lehane/Cliff Desmond (Honda Civic) [13]
86 Matthew Cathcart/Paddy McCrudden (Ford Escort) [13]
87 Ray Cunningham/Adrian Cusack (Morris Cooper S) [B2]
88 Adrian Kermode/Paula Swinscoe (Porsche 911) [ K]
89 David Goose/Brian Quinlan (Ford Escort RS1800) [B5]
90 Raymond Johnston/David Johnston (Ford Escort RS1800) [D5]
91 George Cullen/Charlie McEnery (Ford Escort RS1800) [D5]
92 Ronan Denning/Karl Egan (Peugeot 208 R2) [RC4]
93 Jonathan Mulholland/TBA (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
94 John O'Sullivan/John McCay (Ford Fiesta R200) [11F]
95 Des Lyons/Shay Laheen (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
96 Justin Comer/Adrian Comer (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5) [15]
97 Nick Barnett/Martin Brady (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [RC2]
98 Trevor Keane/Enda Lally (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
99 Sean McHugh/Kathleen Kennedy (Subaru Impreza N10) [15]
100 Patrick O'Connor/Brendan Dowling (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
101 John Coughlan/Sean Walsh (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
102 Craig Macwilliam/Trevor Hamilton (Ford Escort RS1600) [C5]
103 James Power/Declan Kelly (Ford Escort Mk1) [C3]
104 Fergal Kelly/Thomas Treanor (Ford Escort G4) [13]
105 Anthony Breen/Jill White (Subaru Impreza) [15]
106 Seamus O'Grady/Edward Roche (Peugeot 205 GTi) [12]
107 Richard Hickey/Andrew Macfarlane (Honda Civic) [11F]
108 Patrick Messer/Natalie Messer (Peugeot 205) [ 9]
109 Paul McHugh/Raymond Coppinger (Honda Integra Type R) [11F]
110 Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan (Ford Fiesta R2T) [RC4]
111 Derek Tohill/Sean Hassett (Ford Fiesta R2) [22]
112 Declan Callanan/Paraic Callanan (Honda EG6) [11F]
113 Cathal Nolan/Tomas Ryan (Honda Civic) [16]
114 Barry Archer/Eugene Cronin (Honda Civic EK4) [16]
115 Michael Cunniffe/Barry Talt (Peugeot 106 GTi) [16]
116 Shane Norris/Keane Cathal (Honda Civic EK4) [16]
117 Conor Mullen/Michael Breen (Ford Fiesta) [16A]
118 John Joe Williams/Meg Brady (Ford Escort Mk2) [16A]
119 James Boland/David Manley (Ford Fiesta R2) [22]
120 Aidan Doyle/Damian Doyle (Honda Civic EK4) [10]
121 Mattie Keane/Declan Sylver (Honda Civic EK4) [22]
122 Ian Hynes/TBA (Honda Civic Type R) [RC4]
123 Dave Walsh/Sean Mullins (Ford Escort) [13]
2019 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship - Encouraging signs for the championship ahead of the first round in Galway
Posted: January 29, 2019 3:30 PM
The 2019 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is shaping up to be very exciting indeed with strong interest being shown across the various categories ahead of the Galway International Rally which takes place on Sunday February 10th. The oldest International Rally in the Republic of Ireland is back after a twelve month absence and takes its place as the traditional championship opening round in 2019. The move to a one day international seems to be a popular one with competitors, with an increase in the number of those committing to the series compared to the same period over the past few years. Craig Breen & Paul Nagle will be a huge attraction in Galway and will surely be the benchmark for the championship contenders. Among those who have entered early are the Moffett brothers, Sam (2017 Tarmac Champion) and Josh who took the title last year. They will both be looking to get their campaign off to a strong start in the west.
Donagh Kelly makes his much anticipated return to the championship the 2015 champion having acquired a Skoda Fabia R5 which could be a formidable car on Irish tarmac while 2014 champion Declan Boyle has an R5 Fiesta at his disposal. Desi Henry had some very mixed fortunes last year, and will be hoping for better luck this time round in his Fabia. Daniel Cronin only appeared on some rounds last year, but his pace grew stronger with each passing event and he will be hoping to push on for the coming season, while Jonny Greer who was unlucky not to win in Cork last year also returns to the championship. Stephen Wright did very little rallying last year and will be looking to get off to a good start on an event where he has performed well in the past. Stephen McCann arrives back on Irish tarmac after a year out in the Forestry Championship and will be looking go well in his Ford Fiesta R5.
Philip Allen, Manus Kelly, Aaron MacHale & Merion Evans are others to enter and also looking at committing to a season on the championship trail. Jon Armstrong is one of the brightest young talents in Irish rallying and he will be one to watch in his Fiesta while others to move to R5 machinery include Ross Forde & Aaron McLaughlin. Cathan McCourt has also moved to an R5 after several years in a Mitsubishi Lancer on selected events, and with a plan to tackle the Tarmac Championship in 2019 it will be interesting to see how he develops. There are others who Other interesting entries include West Cork drivers David Guest and Jer O’Donovan who are both in Skoda Fabia S2000’s while Willie Mavitty should be back to defend his Group N title from 2017 & 2018. Michael Boyle, Dean Raftery, Andrew Burke, Nick Barnett and Andrew Davies are others to enter as the Group N category gets a welcome boost in numbers.
Numbers are very good to date for the National and Junior categories, with JR McDaid last years Modified Championship runner up entered in Galway along with Columba Heena, Tom Flaherty, Conor McCrossan & Mark Dolphin who have all registered. This number is sure to rise by the weekend of the rally with drivers such as Damian Toner and Damien Tourish also entered. The Historic Championship is of course heading into the second round and early entries have been received from David Goose, Ray Cunningham, Craig MacWilliam, Adrian Kermode and George Cullen. Junior competitors who have entered and registered to date include Cian Walsh, John Joe Williams and Barry Archer. With just under two weeks still to go, there is great anticipation in what could be one of the closest championship battles in recent times.
Preparations are well underway for the 2019 Galway International Rally which takes place on the weekend of 9th and 10th of February. This year’s event is on a “come-back year”, after taking a sabbatical in 2018. The Clerk of the Course, Gary Leonard is no stranger to rally organising, having acted in this capacity on three previous occasions and will bring his great experience to the running of the event.
Following lengthy consultations with competitors, championship organisers and others, it became clear that a one day, competitor friendly rally would be the ideal format to firmly re-establish the event on the MI and ITRC calendars. Therefore, for 2019 the stages will all take place on Sunday the 10th of February and focus on value for money for competitors, also offering a cost-effective start to the 2019 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. The club would like to acknowledge the assis-tance and advice provided by Motorsport Ireland and the TROA in our new running format.
Once again the rally headquarters will be the Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit, Galway City. The Clayton has been a huge supporter of the rally and we would like to remind competitors that limited numbers of rooms are still available. The rally route consists of 10 stages, offering some of the best available roads in the county. They also provide excellent viewing access for spectators and we are sure spectators will turn out in great numbers to the opening tarmac rally of the year.
The entry fee for the rally is set at €875 this is all inclusive with no additional levies. This coupled with a clubman friendly route, minimal road mileage and a centralised service area are sure to en-tice many competitors out for some fun and good competition on the Galway stages.
Event Details:
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