Carrick-on-Suir Wm Loughman Forestry Rally - 16 Feb 20

Round 1 Preview - 2020 Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship

Posted: February 14, 2020 3:11 AM

With only a number of days left to go, final preparations are being made right around the Island as anticipation builds to the opening round of the 2020 Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship, this weekend’s Carrick on Suir MC Willie Loughman Forest Rally. With a bumper field of Seventy crews registered so far, anticipation is really building for the fast and challenging stages that lie ahead on Sunday!

Based out of the centre of Carrick-on-Suir, the rally will see competitors tackle three stages, each repeated twice, in what is sure to be a high-speed beginning to the 2020 Loose Surface season. The opening 4.19KM Ahenny stage will be followed by the 7.76KM Anner test. This duo will be repeated again after lunch, before the cars are pointed towards the fearsome 18.09KM Gurteen. A regular stage on the Willie Loughman of old, 2020 see’s one of the longest forms it has ever taken, and is certain to be a distinct challenge no matter the conditions.

Leading the field is a slew of top-level Machinery and some of the finest driving talent in the country, with plenty of crews holding realistic ambitions of standing atop the podium come Sunday night. The most exciting name is that of James Wilson/Arthur Kierans, the 2018 Billy Coleman Award Winner committing to the Valvoline Irish Forestry Championship behind the wheel of a Motorsport Ireland Academy backed Hyundai i20 R5. Enda McCormack/Liam Moynihan will also be in a Hyundai, with the vastly experienced McCormack ready to make a good push at the 2020 crown.

A slew of Ford Fiesta R5’s will also be charging hard through the Kilkenny Forestry roads on Sunday, with Pauric Duffy/Jeff Case, Liam Ryan/Keith Moriarty and Andrew Purcell/Liam Brennan all behind the wheel of respective 4WD machines. Purcell in particular will be excited by the prospect of a first outing in his newest Fiesta, acquired from M-Sport only this week. Former Irish Tarmac Junior Champion Jenna McCann/John McCabe will take the start in their Mitsubishi Evo, amongst a busy field that counts 18 4WD crews.

The 2WD battle, ever the exciting spectacle, is sure to be an absolute dog fight between the big-powered RWD cars, and the incredibly nimble and quick FWD’s. Waving the flag for the rear-powered side, Mickey Conlon/Grace O’Brien are vastly experienced in the Woods and should be very quick, but the recent gravel converts Garry Kiernan/Daren O’Brien will be out to lay down a marker for the season. Keeping them on their toes will be the hard charging R2 powered youngsters, with both Jordan Hone/Paul Hone and Kyle White/Sean Topping among a strong bunch who could feature quite prominently on the leader board.

2020 has seen a massive overhaul of regulations in the area of the Junior 1000 series as part of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship, with the reduction in driver age being the most significant. The 2020 season kicks off with a bang for these youngsters, with ten crews taking on the Willie Loughman stages. 2019 Champions Kyle McBride/Kieran McBride will be the ones to catch, but with a lot of new drivers and new cars in 2020, the season may be one to watch as its sure to be a cracker.

As always, the Irish Forest Rally Championship social media channels will be alive with lots of interviews, photographs and updates throughout the rally, and each round of the season, so make sure to swing by on Sunday if you can’t make it to Carrick.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: February 14, 2020 3:08 AM

1 Andrew Purcell /Liam Brennan (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
2 James Wilson /Arthur Kierans (Hyundai i20 R5) [5]
3 Pauric Duffy /Jeff Case (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
4 Liam Ryan /Keith Moriarty (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
5 Michael Carbin /Conor Mohan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
6 Gerard Lucey /J. J. Cremin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
7 Marty McKenna/Martin Brady (Ford Fiesta) [7]
8 Enda McCormack/Liam Moynihan (Hyundai i20 R5) [5]
9 Ian Dickson /John McCafferty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
11 Keith Power/tba (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
12 Kevin O'Connor/Michael Breen (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [20]
14 Russell Woods/Alan Kieran (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
15 Mark Murphy /Anthony O'Sullivan (Subaru Impreza) [4]
16 Richard Harney /Brian Harney (Subaru Impreza) [15]
17 Paul McCann/tba (Ford Escort RS Cosworth ) [15]
18 Derrick Jobb/Barney Mitchell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [4]
19 Lukasz Czapnik/Piotr Szadkowski (Mitsubishi Lancer Lancer Evo 6) [4]
20 Jenna McCann/John McCabe (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]

201 Mikey Conlon /Grace O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk 2) [14]
202 Gary Kiernan /Daren O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk 2) [14]
203 Paul Barrett/TBA (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
204 Marty Gallagher /Dean O'Sullivan (Peugeot 208 R2) [2]
205 Jordan Hone/Paul Hone (Opel Adam R2) [2]
206 Shane Kenneally/Tommy Hayes (Ford Fiesta R2) [2]
207 Kyle White /tba (Peugeot 208 R2) [2]
208 Owen McMackin/Dylan Doonan (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
209 James Dunphy /Sean Dunphy (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
210 Brian Brady /Eamonn Creedon (Honda Civic) [16]
211 Conor Kelly/Kevin Casey (Opel Corsa) [11F]
212 Mike Garrahy /Irla McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk 2) [10]
213 Raymond Benskin Jnr/Nicky Hegarty (Ford Escort Mk 2) [12]
214 Ian McCarthy /Damien O'Donovan (Honda Civic) [11F]
215 Jason Walsh /Michael Walsh (Ford Escort Mk 2) [11R]
216 Mike Feeney /Ger Clancy (Honda Civic) [11F]
217 Sean Benskin /Eugene Cronin (Ford Escort Mk 2) [12]
218 Alan Commins/Joe O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
219 John Quill /Trisha Hogan (Peugeot 206) [11F]
220 Dario Tempesta/Conal O'Sullivan (Honda Civic) [11F]
221 Ciaran McCullagh /Domhnall Lennon (Honda Civic) [11F]
222 Graham Kelly /Dean Kelly (Citroen C2 R2) [2]
223 Adrian Beattie/Declan Ryan (Ford Fiesta R2) [2]
224 Anthony Roche/Alan Hourigan (VW Polo) [2]
225 Paschal O'Shea/Robert Hennessy (BMW 325) [14]
226 Christy Butler /Ann Hutchinson (Honda Civic) [11F]
227 Paul O'Connor/Heather Switzer (Honda Civic) [11F]
228 Ed Muldoon/Matthew Murphy (Suzuki Swift) [11F]
229 Patrick Brislane/Cian O'Keffee (Suzuki Swift) [9]
230 Eoin Neville/Brendan Quinn (Honda Civic) [3]
231 Ian Horgan /Derry Long (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
232 Lorcan Moore/tba (Honda Civic) [16]
233 Paul Dowling/Myles Redmond (Peugeot 106) [16]
234 Gary Kelleher/Chris Brady (Opel Corsa) [10]
235 Stephen Reynolds/Derek Mccarthy (Honda Civic) [16]
236 Michael Morahan /Anne Morahan (Honda Civic) [3]
237 Beau Roberts/Tadhg O'Sullivan (Chevrolet Kalos) [9]
238 Pierce Doheny /Eilish Dunne (Opel Corsa) [10]
239 Joe Cullen/Karen O'Dowd (Peugeot 206) [2]
240 David McCauley/Andrew Moore (Honda Civic) [1]
241 Richie O'Shea/Larry O'Shea (Ford Escort) [10]
301 Kyle McBride/Kieran McBride (Toyota Aygo ) [21(J1000)]
302 Reece Pollock/John Burke (Nissan Micra) [J1000]
303 Casey Jay Coleman /James Fogarty (Toyota Aygo ) [21 (J1000)]
304 Mossie Costello/Aine Phelan (Hyundai i10) [21 J(1000)]
305 Joseph Kelly /Shane Byrne (Toyota Aygo ) [J1000]
306 Michael Ryan /Mikie Maher (Peugeot 107) [J1000]
307 Letisha Conn/Jordan Murphy (Citroen C1) [J1000]
308 Niall Murphy /Noel Murphy (Peugeot 107) [J1000]
309 Jack Brennan /David Geraghty (Chevrolet Spark) [J1000]
310 Ella Conway /Darragh Mullen (Peugeot 107) [J1000]

Entries Received - 7 Feb 20

Posted: February 7, 2020 8:20 AM

David McCauley/Andrew Moore (Honda Civic) [1]
Joe Cullen/Karen O'Dowd (Peugeot 206) [2]
Adrian Beattie/Declan Ryan (Ford Fiesta R2) [2]
Marty Gallagher /Dean O'Sullivan (Peugeot 208) [2]
Anthony Roche/Alan Hourigan (VW Polo) [2]
Jordan Hone/Paul Hone (Opel Adam R2 ) [2]
Eoin Neville/Brendan Quinn (Honda Civic) [3]
Jenna McCann/John McCabe (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [4]
Lukasz Czapnik/Piotr Szadkowski (TBA) [4]
Enda McCormack/Liam Moynihan (Hyundai i20 R5) [5]
James Wilson /Arthur Kierans (Hyundai i20 R5) [5]
Francis Kelly /Charlotte Egan (Ford KA) [9]
Mike Garrahy /Irla McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk 2) [10]
Pierce Doheny /Eilish Dunne (Opel Corsa) [10]
Ian Horgan /Derry Long (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
Gary Kelleher/Chris Brady (Opel Corsa) [10]
Raymond Benskin Jnr/Nicky Hegarty (Ford Escort Mk 2) [12]
Paul Barrett/ (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
Owen McMackin/ (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
Mikey Conlon /Grace O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk 2) [14]
Paul McCann/ (Ford Escort RS Cosworth ) [15]
Stephen Reynolds/Derek Mccarthy (Honda Civic) [16]
Paul Dowling/Myles Redmond (Peugeot 106) [16]
Kyle White /TBA (Peugeot 208) [16]
Gerard Lucey /J. J. Cremin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
Kevin O'Connor/Michael Breen (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [20]
Michael Carbin /Conor Mohan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [20]
Keith Power/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
Mike Feeney /Ger Clancy (Honda Civic) [11F]
Dario Tempesta/Conal O'Sullivan (Honda Civic) [11F]
John Quill /Trisha Hogan (Peugeot 206) [11F]
Ian McCarthy /Damien O'Donovan (Honda Civic) [11F]
Paul O'Connor/Heather Switzer (Honda Civic) [11F]
Christy Butler /Ann Hutchinson (Honda Civic) [11F]
James Dunphy /Sean Dunphy (Toyota Corrolla) [11R]
Jason Walsh /Michael Walsh (Ford Escort Mk 2) [11R]
Casey Jay Coleman /James Fogarty (Toyota Aygo ) [21 (J1000)]
Kyle McBride/Kieran McBride (Toyota Aygo ) [21(J1000)]
Reece Pollock/John Burke (Nissan Micra) [J1000]
Joseph Kelly /Shane Byrne (Toyota Aygo ) [J1000]
Michael Ryan /Mikie Maher (Peugeot 107) [J1000]
Letisha Con/Jordan Murphy (Citroen C1 ) [J1000]
Niall Murphy /Noel Murphy (Peugeot 107) [J1000]
Mark Murphy /Anthony O'Sullivan (Subaru Impreza) []
Richie O'Shea/TBA (TBA) []
Liam Ryan /Keith Moriarty (Ford Fiesta R5) []
Ciaran McCullagh /TBA (Honda Civic) []
Andrew Purcell /Liam Brennan (Ford Fiesta R5) []
Alan Commins/Joe O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk 2) []

Entry Form (Rev 2)

Posted: February 7, 2020 6:23 AM

Carrick-on-Suir Wm Loughman Forestry Rally - 16 Feb 20 - ENTRY FORM (Rev 2)

Regulations / Entry Form

Posted: January 18, 2020 3:57 AM

Carrick-on-Suir Wm Loughman Forestry Rally - 16 Feb 20 - REGULATIONS / ENTRY FORM

Club Website

Posted: January 18, 2020 3:54 AM

Carrick on Suir Motor Club