GERRY TURNS THE KEY TO OPENING ROUND VICTORY.

Posted: May 7, 2002 5:32 PM

Gerry in the P. J Matthews/Lyons of Limerick Ford KA was the bookies favourite having finished last years KA Challenge in second position overall. Gerry didn’t disappoint to take his first KA Rally Championship victory along with dominating the general Class Five position on the event.

"This is my first KA victory, I am happy but it has been over-shadowed by the death of a fellow competitor. Our thoughts are with him and his family at this stage. Motorsport is dangerous and we all have to re double our efforts to ensure that something like this never happens again" said Gerry.

Newcomers to the 2002 Ford Ireland KA Rally Championship John Folan (Galway), David Lyons (Limerick), Mark Kane (Tullamore) set some very impressive times but each crew lost time visiting the Monaghan countryside to drop them down the leaderboard.

The 2002 Ford of Ireland Ford KA Rally Championship is the first, one make; manufacturer supported Championship in the history of Irish Rallying. Designed to promote young Irish rallying talent, the Championship is part of Ford's Ladder of Opportunity that sees the Ford Motor Company providing young drivers with the introductory Ford KA Rally Car, then onto the Ford Focus 2.0 litre Kit Car Rally Championship, 1600 Puma Junior World Rally Car and eventually the Focus World Rally Car.

      1
     Gerry Keyes
     Crecora, Co. Limerick
     0

      2
     Kenneth Mulvaney
     Coolaney, Co. Sligo
     0.56

      3
     James Eivers
     Blarney, Cork.
     1.10

      4
     Trevor Harding
     Cashel, Co. Tipperary
     1.18

      5
     Mark Kane
     Tullamore, Co. Offaly
     1.28

      6
     John Folan
     Galway
     1.50

      7
     Vivian Noone
     Cashel, Co. Tipperary
     2.05

      8
     David Lyons
     Limerick
     2.19

      9
     Trevor Hutton
     Carlow
     2.36

      10
     Martin Laverty
     Magherafelt, Co. Derry
     DNF

      11
     Allard Johnston
     Sandymount, Dublin 4.
     DNF

      12
     Emily O'Mahony
     Carrigaline, Cork
     DNS

      13
     Keith Colton
     Tullamore, Co. Offaly
     DNS

      14
     Niall O'Sullivan
     Hospital, Co. Limerick
     DNS

KA RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP


CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AFTER ROUND 1

      POS.
     NAME
     ADDRESS
     POINTS

      1
     Gerry Keyes
     Crecora, Co. Limerick
     30

      2
     Kenneth Mulvaney
     Coolaney, Co. Sligo
     26

      3
     James Eivers
     Blarney, Cork.
     23

      4
     Trevor Harding
     Cashel, Co. Tipperary
     21

      5
     Mark Kane
     Tullamore, Co. Offaly
     19

      6
     John Folan
     Galway
     17

      7
     Vivian Noone
     Cashel, Co. Tipperary
     15

      8
     David Lyons
     Limerick
     13

      9
     Trevor Hutton
     Carlow
     12

      10
     Martin Laverty
     Magherafelt, Co. Derry
     0

      11
     Allard Johnston
     Sandymount, Dublin 4.
     0

      12
     Emily O'Mahony
     Carrigaline, Cork
     0

      13
     Keith Colton
     Tullamore, Co. Offaly
     0

      14
     Niall O'Sullivan
     Hospital, Co. Limerick
     0