Moffett Masters Limerick Forests as Desi Takes Title Lead! - Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Championship Round Six
Posted: October 18, 2016 7:39 AM
The Limerick Forest Rally, the penultimate round of the 2016 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship was always going to be an important one as the title chase nears it’s end. Whilst Josh Moffett scored a fabulous victory in his Fiesta R5, more significant in the championship is that Desi Henry’s second place moves him into the lead. Not only that, but key challengers Ger Lucey who led on points going into this rally and Michael Carbin, did not finish the Limerick Motor Club’s event.
Indeed the dramas started early on the first of the six stages, as the crews battled the wet conditions. Championship leader Ger Lucey in his Evo 8 was one of the retirements with a broken gearbox half-way through the stage, whilst Mickey Conlan ended up with his MK2 Escort stuck in a bog, just a few hundred yards into the first stage. Also significant on the growing retirement list was Monaghan charger Michael Carbin in the Evo 4. He battled through punctures on stages two and three, a branch ripping a windscreen wiper off, only to retire at service from sixth place with a broken rear differential.
There was more drama as Desi Henry, celebrating his birthday, had a version of the birthday bumps on stage one as the Fabia bumped off the scenery collecting a puncture, a broken alternator belt and warning lights were then flashing on the dash! It meant that he was over a minute slower than stage winner Josh Moffett, and chances of an overall win were slim. His brother Niall Henry in the Evo 10 also had suffered a puncture on stage one, damaging a suspension arm, and then suffered a slipping clutch, retiring from eighth after three stages. Patrick O’Brien was also in trouble on the opener with a loss of power and a loss of brakes, as once again the Tyrone driver headed for another retirement from a Valvoline round.
However another Tyrone driver Darren McKelvey with Graham Henderson co-driving had a superb rally in their Evo 9, clocking up third place overall, despite punctures on stages one and four. Dermot Kelly returned to the forests in his similar machine and showed that he still has some speed, claiming fifth with the experienced Greg Shinnors alongside. John Byrnes in his Evo 8 claimed a solid seventh, whilst Ian Graham clocked up his best finish to date in ninth. Ed Muldoon took Group N honours in tenth place, ahead of Ashley Dickson who had two punctures on the stages and bent suspension repaired in service.
The Valvoline two-wheel battle started with John Gordon fastest on the first test, just 0.6 of a second ahead of Shane McGirr. However John punctured on stage two and McGirr took the Starlet into a lead it was never to lose. Behind them David Crossen had a good day to take third despite being another to suffer a puncture-his delay being on stage four. Damien McGauran in his BMW 320 had a small off on stage two, losing considerable time, but the day belonged to Shane McGirr and co-driver Aileen Kelly. “We had a good day today, and it wasn’t an easy day” said Shane “I’m very much looking forward to the Glens of Antrim next month, it should be a great event.” Fourth overall was a fine result for Shane in slippery conditions, and with John Gordan sixth and David Crossen eighth it meant three two-wheel drive cars made the top ten.
Just outside the top ten in eleventh was the winner of the rallytrader.ie/ Kumho tyres Junior category. Collecting two Kumho Tyres from Ears Motorsport Ireland was Derek Mackeral in his Vauxhall Nova, which had lasted the distance without dramas this time. “I am delighted with today. We needed that result for the championship and I’m very happy” said Derek at the finish. Second on this occasion was Shane Kenneally in the MK2 Escort in sixteenth, but almost a minute and a half behind the flying Nova. Third was Stephen Dickson in the R2 Fiesta, after a few niggles along the way, and the finishing order is also the current championship order as they enter the final round.
At the front of the field Josh Moffett and Emmet Sherry powered to a fine victory by over a minute. “We are extremely happy with today’s rally, and hopefully it can be more of the same on the Glens of Antrim!” said Josh. Desi Henry’s birthday turned out a good one as he charged back into second place, with it taking the title lead, as once again the final round will decide the destiny of the coveted title.
Results
Posted: October 18, 2016 7:31 AM
1 Josh Moffett/Emmet Sherry (Ford Fiesta R5) 45m 20s,
2 Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Skoda Fabia R5) 46m 23s,
3 Darren McKelvey/Graham Henderson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 48m 26s,
4 Shane McGirr/Aileen Kelly (Toyota Starlet) 48m 31s,
5 Dermot Kelly/Greg Shinnors (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 49m 07s,
6 John Gordon/Thomas Wedlock (Ford Escort MkII) 49m 11s,
7 John Byrnes/Brian Grant (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) 50m 16s,
8 David Crossen/Chris McSherry (Ford Escort MkII) 50m 32s,
9 Ian Graham/Liam McIntyre (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 51m 16s,
10 Ed Muldoon/Mark Byrne (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 51m 31s.
Junior Class: 1 Derek Mackarel/Daire Hayes (Vauxhall Nova) 52m 21s,
2 Shane Kenneally/Jer Connors (Ford Escort MkII) 53m 49s,
3 Stephen Dickson/Tommy Hayes (Ford Fiesta R2) 54m 10s.
Valvoline Title Chase Reaching Crucial Phase in Limerick!
Posted: October 13, 2016 11:49 AM
The destiny of the 2016 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship is reaching a crucial phase as the crews head for the Limerick Forest Rally on Sunday, the penultimate round of the series. Ger Lucey from Ballyvourney, Co.Cork leads the points race in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8, and he is looking forward to Sunday’s challenge. “We haven’t really looked the the championship race in too much detail” explained Ger. “I think if Desi Henry can clock up enough to give him five good scores, and Michael Carbin the same, we wont be in the championship hunt. We are enjoying the championship once again though, and I think Sunday could be interesting. There are some narrow sections so we aim to keep to what we have been doing, aim for a good clean run and see what happens around us.” Michael Carbin in his Evo 4 example, Desi Henry with his Skoda Fabia R5 at present are the other key contenders .
The Limerick Motor Club event is set to be a very new challenge, as it returns to the series for the first time since 2013. Clerk of the Course Cathal Mansell and has team has assembled some classic stages such as Glenstal, Mother Mountain and Keeper Hill, which haven’t been used since 2000, ensuring neutral territory for the crews. Indeed it could spring up a surprise winner, and with Josh Moffett in his R5 Fiesta leading the field away, and other contenders such as Patrick O’Brien (Evo 6) and former champion- Dermot Kelly (Evo 9) admist the top ten it’s promising to be an interesting event, as the crews take off from Murroe village on Sunday.
In the two wheel drive section, John Gordon leads the way and also in class 12, with his Pinto engined MK2. However top seed is an on form Shane McGirr, the Fermanagh driver with his trusty Toyota Starlet, and last year’s champion- Mickey Conlan, who seemed to find his form again on the Lakeland Stages will be challenging hard. David Crossen will be hoping for better luck this time in his MK2 Escort, whilst Damien McGuaran is sorting out his new BMW 320 as each event passes.
Leading the rallytrader.ie/ Kumho tyres Junior category standings is Stephen Dickson in his Fiesta R2, with Shane Kenneally in his MK2 Escort, and Derek Mackeral in his troublesome Vauxhall Nova also in with a shout of the title, and are entered this weekend. The race to be crowned Junior champion is an enthralling one, and with it a coveted Billy Coleman Award nomination is up for grabs.
The final Glens of Antrim round on November 5th will also have a fresh look once again, as it returns to it’s natural habitat in the forests around the Antrim Glens. Classic stages such as Slieveanorra are immersed in forest rallying folklore, and the Valvoline crews will find out why when they start the Mid- Antrim clubs event. To really finish off the season on a high note the championship awards night is being held at the Bridge House- Tullamore on 26th November with live music from “The Whistling Donkeys”, ticket information on www.irishforestrally.com
Seeded Entry List
Posted: October 12, 2016 5:57 PM
No Driver/Navigator (Car) [Class]
1 Josh Moffett/Emmet Sherry (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
2 Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Skoda Fabia R5) [5]
3 Patrick O' Brien/Aine McGuigan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [20]
4 Michael Carbin/Darragh Kelly (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4) [20]
5 Gerard Lucey/JJ Cremin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
6 Dermot Kelly/Greg Shinnors (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
7 Niall Henry/John Rowan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [20]
8 Ashley Dickson/Fabian McAleer (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
9 John Byrnes/Brian Grant (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
10 Darren McKelvey/Graham Henderson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
11 Ian Graham/Liam McIntrye (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
12 Mark Murphy/Aoife Murphy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
14 Patrick Keenan/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
15 Ed Muldoon/Mark Byrne (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
16 Stephen Cullen/Seamus O' Grady (Subaru Impreza N12B) [4]
17 Aidan Long/Anthony O' Sullivan (Subaru Impreza WRX) [15]
18 Brecan McBreen/Breen McNamee (Subaru Impreza WRX) [15]
19 Alan Shinnors/George Shinnors (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [20]
20 Paul McCann/Paddy Plunkett (Ford Escort RS Cosworth) [15]
21 Pauric Sheridan/Seán Brunton (Ford Escort RS Cosworth) [15]
22 Gemma Kerley/Lisa Knox (Subaru Impreza WRX) [20]
201 Shane McGirr/Aileen Kelly (Toyota Starlet) [13]
202 Mickey Conlan/Ciaran McPhilips (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
203 David Crossen/Chris McSherry (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
204 John Gordan/Thomas Wedlock (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
205 Damien McGauran/TBA (BMW 320) [13]
206 Derek Mackeral/Daire Hayes (Vauxhal Nova) [16]
207 Tom Murphy/John Lynch (Ford Escort Mk2) [10]
208 Mike Garahy/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [10]
209 Michael Fitzgibbon/Pa Baker (Honda Civic) [11F]
210 Ray Benskin/Peadar Walsh (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
211 Sean W Benskin/Nicky Hegarty (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
212 Tony McKenna/Johathon Dinsmore (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
214 David Fitzsimons/Liam Higgins (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
215 Barry McMahon/Ultan McGowan (Honda Civic) [11F]
216 Shane Kenneally/Jer Connors (Ford Escort Mk2) [16]
217 Stephen Dickson/Tommy Hayes (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
218 Walter Burke/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
219 Jason Dickson/TBA (Ford Fiesta ST) [3]
220 John Quill/Trish Hogan (Peugeot 206 ) [2]
221 Colm Kearns/Terence McCabe (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
222 Adrian Beattie/Declan Ryan (Honda Civic) [11F]
223 Seamus Anderson/TBA (Ford Escort G3) [12]
224 James Driver /Megan Conway (Ford Ka) [9]
225 Niall O' Sullivan/Sean Crowley (Citroen C2) [9]
226 Darren Barrett/Lorcan Moore (Honda Civic) [16]
227 Joe Stanley/Paul Dowling (Peugeot 205) [10]
228 Gerard Hyland/Niall McGaughran (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
229 Eoin Crowley/Shane Murphy (Peugeot 206 ) [16]
230 David Fleming/Mark Horgan (Austin Mini) [9]
231 Grainne Caplis/Paul Murphy (Opel Corsa) [9]
The Official Launch of the Lyons of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Limerick Forest Rally 2016 will take place this coming Tuesday 20th September at 7pm.
The launch will be held at the Lyons of Limerick showrooms, which are located on the Ballysimon Road, Limerick. The event is open to the public and welcomes enthusiasts who are interested in finding out more about the Forest Rally and seeing some of the competition Rally cars up close. There will also be complimentary demo runs available in the latest spec Jaguar & Land Rover cars from Lyons of Limerick.
Preliminary Details
Posted: August 11, 2016 7:05 AM
The Limerick Forest Rally will make a return to the 2016 National Forest Championship calendar on Oct 16th and will be the penultimate round of the series. It will replace the Mayo Mini Forest Rally.
The event will see a mix of new and old with a return to the classic stages format last used in 2000 and with a new event base in the village of Murroe, Co. Limerick the event will offer a competitor friendly and compact 3x2 stage route.
Cathal Mansell will act as Clerk of the Course and already he and the Limerick Motorclub team are currently hard at work in preparing the final details. More updates to follow soon
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