Shaun Gallagher Rallying - Rally Finnskog Report

Posted: February 22, 2003 9:04 PM

The 250km event was run over fourteen snow and ice stages deep in the forests of Finnskog, Norway. Leg 1 was run in the dark and the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award Winner was not satisfied with the handling of the car from the outset. Shaun was also suffering from his poor seeding position and caught cars on both stages 2 and 3. Despite this the Irish team were lying 2nd in class overnight.

The team changed the entire suspension and brakes during the 45-minute service at the end of leg 1 and were hoping that this would solve their handling problems for the second leg. Unfortunately it did not work and it was not until stage 6 that the car was finally handling to Shaun\'s liking.

He was now completely happy with the car and instantly upped his pace setting six fastest times in just eight stages. The crews only problem occurred on the final stage when they bent a steering arm after cutting a corner too much.

\"I am reasonably happy with the result but I had hoped to win this one\" commented Shaun. \"We had an incomplete recce and I suffered all weekend because of that. It also took us a long time to get the car to my liking, but all in all it was a good result\"

The Norwegian championship now takes a break until late June.

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21/02/03
Shaun Gallagher Rallying - Rally Finnskog - Leg 1
Irish Rally Team Lying 2nd Overnight

At the end of Leg 1 in the 2003 Rally Finnskog, round 3 of the Norwegian National Championship Shaun Gallagher and David Moynihan are currently lying 2nd in class to championship rival Eric Nordahl.

Shaun began the first 30km stage cautiously, adjusting to the dark and the snow. However suffering from his poor seeding position he caught cars on both stages 2 and 3. The stages are rougher than expected and the Irish driver is not entirely happy with the car setup. The team are hoping that they will solve this problem during tonights 45 minute service.

\"I am happy with my overnight position, there are 10 stages tomorrow, anything could happen!\" commented Shaun.

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19/02/03
IRISH TEAM HOPE TO EXTENT CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD Ireland\'s Shaun Gallagher will take part in the latest event of his Norwegian campaign when he competes in the Rally Finnskog this weekend. This is a classic winter rally run deep in the forests of Finnskog, Norway. There are fourteen stages, which are noted for being fast and technical, each over 30km in length.

Shaun will have to draw on his extensive night navigation experience over the two legs as almost half the stages will be run in darkness.

The Billy Coleman Award Winner and co-driver David Moynihan took the championship lead following the last round, when they finished 2nd in class A6 in the Snofreser\'n Rally three weeks ago. The Irish pair will be hoping to continue their excellent run of good form and extent their eight point advantage at the top of the table.

\"I am really excited about this event, we have a good weeks testing and I am completely happy with the car\" reported Shaun. \"This is our third event here this winter I am really beginning to settle into the conditions and driving style now. It should be a good event\"

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Podium Finish For Gallagher
02/02/03
Irish team of Shaun Gallagher and David Moynihan took part in their second rally of their eight week trip to Norway this weekend. They were competing in the Snofreser Rally, a six stage, seventy mile event.

The day began with a frustrating start when Shaun caught cars on each of the first three stages. This made visibility very difficult from the snow plumes and Shaun lost a lot of time.

It was not until stage 4 that Shaun got his first clean run of the day and he set the fastest time moving him up to 2nd in class. The Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award winner was now locked in a battle with Norwegian driver, Erik Nordahl. They swapped times over the next number of stages and starting the last stage Shaun was lying seven seconds behind. Despite setting fastest time on final stage Shaun finished 2nd by 0.9.

\"I am very happy with the result. We\'ve now had two good results here and I am learning more that I could have imagined.\", commented Shaun.

Shaun\'s next event is a round Norwegian round of the European Championship in three weeks time.
He would also like to thank Peter and Neville who stood in at the last minute to service.

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Gallagher Continues Norwegian Training Programme

Irish rally team of Shaun Gallagher from Donegal and Cork\'s David Moynihan are currently gearing up for their second event during their eight-week trip to Norway. They will compete in the Snofreser\'s Rally this weekend, which is a one day, six stage event. The rally is over 70 miles long run in the snow and ice of northern Norway.

On his last event two weeks ago, the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award winner, had a lot to adjust to, new car, new co-driver and new conditions but despite all this Shaun finished an excellent 2nd in class A6.

\"This has been a wonderful experience competing in such difficult and challenging events\", commented the 22-year old. \"The last event was such a steep learning curve, particularly driving left hand drive for the first time but we were really happy with the result\"

While preparing for the rally Shaun received yet another boost when he was voted Donegal\'s Motorsport Person of the Year at the Donegal Sport Stars Awards last Friday.

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Gallagher Perfect Start

Motorsport Ireland, Billy Coleman Award Winner, Shaun Gallagher, began his two-month trip to Norway with a prefect start on the Mountain Rally Norway this weekend, when he finished 2nd in class and 21st overall in his new left drive Peugeot 206.

The event began Friday evening with four stages in the dark and Shaun began cautiously, while he adjusted to the high drops and fast stages. He was unhappy with the gravel suspension on the snow and ice and so spent the next number of stages concentrating on car setup finishing the first day 2nd in class.

By the beginning of leg 2 Shaun was now settled in the car. He had adjusted perfectly to left-hand drive and was working well with new co-driver, David Moynihan. Day 2 was a day of learning for the young Donegal driver and he maintained his consistent pace throughout, easily holding 2nd in class all day.

Shaun will spend the next number of weeks working in John Hauglands Winter Rally School while preparing for his second event in two weeks time.

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Gallaghers Pre-Season Trip

With the beginning of the 2003 rally season fast approaching, the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award Winner, Shaun Gallagher, is about to set off on an eight-week pre season trip.

Shaun will spend the next two months in Norway where he will compete in numerous snow and ice events. When he is not competing Shaun will be spending his time at the famous John Haugland Winter Rally School.

With up to five rallies planned he will certainly be kept busy. \"I am really looking forward to the trip\", commented the 22-year old, \"it will be a huge learning experience for me and I will have the opportunity to drive every day and practice what I am learning when I am at the rally school\".

Shaun will be learning about car control and will also be adjusting to left hand drive in a newly acquired LHD Peugeot 206. Not only will he have to adjust to a new car in new conditions but Shaun will also have a new co-driver, David Moynihan from Cork.

This trip away will be the perfect start to the new season and Shaun will return home in March looking forward to the year ahead.