GSMC Mini Stages Rally - 14 Oct 12

In Car

Posted: February 28, 2014 1:54 PM

Frank Kelly & Martin Brady (Ford Escort MkII) SS1


Trevor Culbert & Ray Fitzpatrick (Ford Escort MkII) SS1 Off


Stephen McCann & Lisa O'Dowd (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) SS3

Video Clips

Posted: February 28, 2014 12:12 PM

KELLY/BRADY TAKE CONTROLLED BALTINGLASS RALLY VICTORY

Posted: February 28, 2014 12:10 PM

In a commanding performance, Frank Kelly and Martin Brady secured victory in the 2012 Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally in their Ford Escort, having led the Garda Síochána Motor Club organised event throughout and recorded fastest or joint fastest time on five of the six stages. For Kelly, the outcome capped a remarkable weekend, the Tyrone driver also having secured the Two-Wheel Drive category of the National Rally Championship at the Donegal Harvest Rally on Saturday. Meanwhile, the result marks Brady's third victory on his own club's event, each win having being secured with a different driver.

The rally was run in very wet conditions, and despite not having the benefit of four wheel drive, Kelly overcame the opposition to win comfortably.
"It was a great day, the stages were mighty," said Kelly, after emerging from the final test. He had praise for his new co-driver, on what was their first outing together, and the tyres under his Ford Escort RS: "I really enjoyed it, the Kumho tyres made the car work like a speedboat in the floods. Martin worked so easy with me on the notes. I'm delighted with the win."

The winners had only decided to team up for the Garda rally in the days leading up to the event, but the victory might not have happened at all if a brush between Kelly's Escort and Donegal scenery on Saturday had been heavier. As it happened, an overnight trip to a bodyshop saw the damage rubbed out and the car was in fine fettle for Baltinglass on Sunday morning.

Monaghan's Eugene Meegan, guided by Brian Sharkey, secured second place in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10, finishing 53 seconds behind the winners. After a slow start, last year's winners, Daniel Barry and Gordon Noble, also in an Evo 10, climbed to third over the final loop of stages. They were joint fastest on the final test with Alan Ring and Adrian Deasy, who recovered to fourth following an earlier puncture in their Evo 9.

Stephen McCann and Lisa O'Dowd, who had been in third spot with two stages to go in their Evo 7 Lancer, dropped a couple places over the final loop. Likewise, Lloyd Hutchinson and Willie Fitzpatrick, who had held fourth place after the second loop, fell back the leaderboard to sixth in the closing stages of the event. Welsh visitor, Wayne Evans, finished eighth in his Escort. The No. 2 seed for the event, James Stafford, was a non-starter, after his Darrian's clutch failed on the Donegal Rally.

Photos

Posted: February 28, 2014 12:06 PM

James Burke Motorsport Photography

Results

Posted: February 28, 2014 11:39 AM

1 Frank Kelly/Martin Brady (Ford Escort MkII) 59m 50s,
2 Eugene Meegan/Brian Sharkey (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 GpN) 60m 43s,
3 Daniel Barry/Gordon Noble (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 Gp N) 61m 10s,
4 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 GpN) 61m 17s,
5 Stephen McCann/Lisa O'Dowd (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 61m 35s,
6 Lloyd Hutchinson/Willie Fitzpatrick (Mini Cooper S) 61m 46s,

Leaders After:
SS1-6 Frank Kelly/Martin Brady (Ford Escort MkII)

Stage Winners:
SS1 Frank Kelly/Martin Brady (Ford Escort MkII)
SS2 Frank Kelly/Martin Brady (Ford Escort MkII)
& Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 GpN)
& Stephen McCann/Lisa O'Dowd (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
SS3 Frank Kelly/Martin Brady (Ford Escort MkII)
SS4 Frank Kelly/Martin Brady (Ford Escort MkII)
SS5 Frank Kelly/Martin Brady (Ford Escort MkII)
SS6 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 GpN)
& Daniel Barry/Gordon Noble (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 Gp N)

Full Results: results.shannonsportsit.ie (Angus Sealy)

Final Instructions No 1

Posted: October 11, 2012 2:16 PM

GSMC Mini Stages Rally - 14 Oct 12 - Final Instructions No 1

WICKLOW HILLS COME ALIVE FOR BALTINGLASS RALLY / Late Entry for Frank Kelly & Martin Brady

Posted: October 11, 2012 9:32 AM

The Garda Siochana Motor Club's 2012 Mini Stages Rally, based in Baltinglass and supported by Germaines Hotel, takes place this Sunday, October 14th, and the scene is set for a exciting contest, with a strong field of frontrunners striving to claim the victory laurels. Enniskerry's Daniel Barry, winner of the past two Baltinglass rallies, is the No. 1 seed in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10, for what is effectively his home rally. His co-driver will be Gordon Noble from Armagh, who was also on board for last year's victory. No. 2 seed, James Stafford, is also a past winner of the event, and the Wexford man will be out to reclaim the Baltinglass crown, having been ruled out by mechanical failure last year. His mount will be the low-slung Darrian T90 GTR, and he will be navigated by his cousin and namesake.

Former Irish Tarmac and Irish National Group N champion, Alan Ring, makes the long trip from Kerry with his Evo 9 Lancer, and is seeded at No. 3. He may be new to the Baltinglass event, but he is a consistent finisher and the top two cannot discount his challenge. Not shown in in top seeds, but confirmed as having lodged a late entry, is Frank Kelly, recent winner of the Cork '20' National Rally. The Escort driver will be guided by GSMC member, Martin Brady, who has won this event in the past. Both Kelly and Brady will be competing separately in the Donegal Harvest Rally on Saturday, and they will then face the long haul from the north west on Saturday evening before teaming up in Baltinglass on Sunday morning. It remains to be confirmed what competition number Kelly's Escort RS will display on the doors, but he is likely to run near the head of the field.

Further local interest in the top ten is provided by the likes of Trevor Culbert from Kiltegan, in a Ford Escort RS, and Ashford's Lloyd Hutchinson in his giant killing Austin Mini. Elsewhere, the entry also includes Adrian Cannon (Honda Civic), Thomas Lynch (Honda Civic) and Stephen O'Connor (Toyota Corolla), the three drivers still in contention to win the 2012 Loughran Signs Midlands East Rally Championship, of which the Germaines of Baltinglass GSMC Mini Stages Rally will be the fifth and final round.

The event gets underway at Scoil Chonglais in Baltinglass at 10:15am on Sunday morning, with the crews then permitted to make final preparations to their cars at the service area at Whitestown Quarry, before the first stage, Keadeen, commences just after 11am. The second stage to be tackled will be Three Bridges, before the crews return to Service. Two further loops of Keadeen and Three Bridges, interspersed with a further service at Whitestown, make up the remainder of the rally. The victorious crew and top finishers will arrive at the Finish at Rally Headquarters, Germaines Hotel, at 5pm.

Time & Distance Schedule

Posted: October 9, 2012 1:50 PM

GSMC Mini Stages Rally - 14 Oct 12 - TIME AND DISTANCE SCHEDULE

Seeded Entry List

Posted: October 9, 2012 12:04 PM

1 Daniel Barry/Gordon Noble Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
2 James Stafford/James Stafford Darrian T90 GTR 14
3 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 4
4 Trevor Culbert/Ray Fitzpatrick Ford Escort 13
5 Eugene Meegan/Brian Sharkey Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
6 Mike Quinn/Tony Healy Ford Escort 13
7 Chris Armstrong/Breen McNamee Ford Escort RS 13
8 Liam Howlett/Enda Kennedy Ford Escort Mk2 13
9 Liam Bowhan/Damien Connolly Toyota Starlet 13
10 Lloyd Hutchinson/Willie Fitzpatrick Austin Mini 9
11 Barry McKenna/TBA Ford Escort Mk2
12 Stephen McCann/Lisa O'Dowd Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 15
14 Neill Tohill/Gerad Tohill Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 4
15 David McLoughlin/Wayne McLoughlin Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
16 Trevor Hutton/Clint Hutton Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 15
17 Paddy O'Reilly/Jim Casey Ford Escort G5 13
18 Wayne Evans/John Smithwick Ford Escort Mk2 13
19 Adrian Cannon/Jordan Trainer Honda Civic
20 Simon Evans/Barry Faul Mini Cooper 9
21 Seamie Doyle/TBA Ford Escort MK2 13
22 Dean Raferty/Aileen Kelly Honda Civic 6
23 Paul O'Brien/John Kinnhan Honda Civic 11
24 Conor Moore/Stephen Quinn Honda Civic 11
25 Alan Barry/Peter Barry Ford Escort 11
26 J.T. Warnock/Andy Hayes Ford Escort Mk2 12
27 Shane Coogan/Noel Coogan Ford Escort G3
28 John Hade/Sharon Nolan Ford Escort MK2 13
29 Pat Leeson/David Brannigan Ford Escort Mk2
30 Francis Kelly/Charlotte Egan Opel Corsa GSI 12
31 Brendan Brosnan/Tommy Commane Peugeot 205 14
32 Ciaran Cloke/David Creane Peugeot 306 7
33 Ollie Kelly/Joe Lenehan Honda Civic 11
34 Joe McCarthy/Jenny Lyons Honda Civic 3
35 Shane Hade/Gary Hade Toyota Corolla 11
36 Ciaran McKay/Kevin Malone Ford Escort Mk2 12
37 Richard Moore/TBA Honda Civic 11
38 Leo Doyle/Gordon Manley Ford Escort 12
39 Thomas Lynch/Stephen Delaney Honda Civic EK4 6
40 John Masterson/TBA Honda Civic 3
41 Thomas Boylan/Anthony Hoey Honda Civic 11
42 Michael Dowling/TBA Ford Escort 12
43 Andrew Lang/TBA Ford Puma
44 John Lynch/Luke McRedmond Opel Kadett 12
45 Allen Buckley/TBA Subaru Impreza
46 Ken Treacy/Mick Comerford Peugeot 206 9
47 Raymond O'Brien/TBA TBA 9
48 Steven McCabe/Carrie Moroney Ford Fiesta 11
49 Patrick Connolly/Stefan McCann Subaru Impreza 4
50 Russell Dagge/TBA Ford Escort
51 Mark Kelly/Derek Lynch Honda Civic 11
52 Stephen O'Connor/Mark O'Connor Toyota Corolla 15
53 Stephen Healy/TBA TBA
54 Joe Moffit/Fint Byrne Honda Civic 2
55 John O'Donnell/Brendan Furlong TBA
56 Eoin Neville/William Neville Honda Civic 2
57 Philip Monaghan/Christy Bradley Honda Civic 11
58 Aaron Martly/Mark Conlon Toyota Corolla 11
59 David Dowling/Eamon Dowling Opel Corsa 10
60 Mark O'Connor/Darren Sayers Citroen Saxo 16
61 Mike Garahy/Sean Henehan Ford Escort Mk2 10
62 Sean Brady/Barry McLoughlin Peugeot 205
63 Aidan Cunniffe/TBA Peugeot 205
64 Leonard Tuite/Tommy Melia Peugeot 205
65 Ned Kelly/TBA Peugeot 106
66 John Kelly/Niall Kelly Toyota Corolla 10
67 Liam O'Neill/Declan O'Neill Ford Escort Mk1 10
68 John McDonald/James Mc Donald Ford Escort Mk2 10
69 Liam Graham/Sarah Kenny Honda Civic 11
70 Richard Dalton/TBA Honda Civic 2
71 Mark Martly/Cathal Martley Talbot Sunbeam 11
72 Eamon Hutton/Tristan Hutton Ford Ka 9
73 Patrick Delany/Andreas Riede Talbot Sunbeam
74 Michael P Kelleher/John Doody Ford Escort Mk2 10
75 David Mc Cormack/Aidan O' Connor Vauxhaul Nova
76 Billy Watchorn/James Clynch Peugeot 106 10
77 Michael McNamara/Graham Amond Ford Escort 11
78 Philip McDonald/Seamus Curran Honda Civic 2
79 Patrick Laylor/Christopher Faulkinbridge Honda Civic 16
80 William Tutty/Thomas Tutty Peugeot 205 GTI 10
81 Stephen Brennan/Paul McDonald Honda Civic 11
82 Mark Greene /TBA Peugeot 205
83 Sean Healy/Lee Connell Peugeot 205 10
84 Tom Relihan/Maurice McElligott Ford Escort Mk1 13
85 Tom Holton/Trevor Payne Peugeot 205 16
86 Dermot Hassett/Emily Hassett Chevrolet Kalos 1
87 Mark Ashton/Eoin Kenny Honda Civic
88 Stephen Crowe/TBA Honda Civic
89 Tim Enright/TBA Ford Escort Mk2
90 John Forde/Eamonn Creedan Peugeot 205 10
91 Joe McSweeney/TBA TBA

BARRY AND STAFFORD SET FOR BALTINGLASS RE-MATCH

Posted: September 25, 2012 11:46 AM

The Garda Siochana Motor Club's 2012 Mini Stages Rally is less than a month away and the stage is set for an intriguing contest among some of the strongest drivers from the Leinster counties and further afield. The two main protagonists from last year's rally, Daniel Barry and James Stafford, will return to the event's Baltinglass base on Sunday, October 14th, to renew their rivalry over the testing Wicklow stages which will once again provide the theatre of play. Barry and Stafford are among the steady stream of competitors who have already confirmed their participation in the Germaine's Hotel supported rally next month. As the 2011 event neared its end, Barry held a narrow lead, but Stafford was closing in when a mechanical failure forced him to retire. Barry went on to record his second Baltinglass victory in a row.

Stafford, from Wellingtonbridge, is currently on top form, having recorded victories on the Carrick-on-Suir Raven's Rock Rally in June and the two-day Wexford Rally earlier this month in his Darrian T90GTR. In contrast, Barry has not been in action since the Circuit of Ireland at Easter (aside from some demonstration runs at a motor show), and the Enniskerry man will have to overcome any ring-rustiness if he is to record a hat-trick of GSMC wins in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10.

Another local driver, Trevor Culbert, winner of the Laois Heartlands Rally earlier in the season and third on this event last year, has also entered in his Ford Escort RS. Similarly Escort-equipped will be Welsh visitor, Wayne Evans, who reports further interest in the event among his compatriots and the possibility of additional entries from the Principality.

As an incentive to encourage competitors to submit their entries early, the GSMC has decided to award one of the first fifty crews to enter and start the rally their entry fee back. The eligible crews will have their names included in a draw, will take place on the morning of the rally. Additionally, the early entry fee rate of €365 has been extended to Wednesday, September 26th. After that date, the fee will be at the standard rate of €399.

Regulations / Entry Form

Posted: September 7, 2012 10:23 PM

GSMC Mini Stages Rally - 14 Oct 12 - REGULATIONS
GSMC Mini Stages Rally - 14 Oct 12 - ENTRY FORM

BALTINGLASS TO HOST GARDA RALLY

Posted: September 6, 2012 9:43 AM

The Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally, promoted by the Garda Siochana Motor Club, will take place on Sunday, the 14th of October, 2012, and the organisers have welcomed the news that the winner of the event for the past two years, Danny Barry, intends to return to defend his title next month. The Enniskerry man won last year's event in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10, co-driven by Gordon Noble, having seen off a late challenge from the Darrian crew of James Stafford and Amy Ryan, who were unfortunate to retire on the last stage with a blown clutch.

The 2012 GSMC Mini Stages Rally will consist of six stages in the Baltinglass area, in the format of two stages run three times, with short road sections between the stages. Germaine's Hotel in Baltinglass will once again be the sponsor of the event and also provides the venue for the Rally Headquarters.

The Garda Siochana Motor Club is providing a financial incentive to crews to get their entries in early - those who submit their entries by September 15th will be charged a reduced Entry Fee of €365; thereafter the fee will be €399. Regulations and Entry Forms for the Germaines of Baltinglass GSMC Mini Stages Rally 2012 will be posted online in the next few days, on the GSMC website gardamotorclub.com, and also on motorsportireland.com and rally.ie.

The Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally 2012 will be the fifth and final round of the Loughran Signs Midlands East Rally Championship, which is currently being led by Adrian Cannon in his Class 2 Honda Civic, with a total of 58 points, followed by Thomas Lynch (Class 6 Civic) on 56 points and Stephen O'Connor (Class 15 Toyota Corolla) on 51.

Club Website

Posted: September 6, 2012 9:42 AM

Garda Siochana Motor Club