Josh Moffett & Stephen Thornton got their 2018 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Championship back on track with a hard fought victory on the second round of the series, the Treaty Plant Hire Limerick Forest Rally. Driving a Ford Fiesta R5 they took a while to settle and were lying third until Stage 6 when leaders Andrew Purcell & Mark Wiley picked up a puncture and damaged a wheel. Moffetts stage six time catapulted him into the lead ahead of Barry McKenna & Leon Jordan with Purcell dropping 40 seconds and into third place. That was the way it remained till the finish with Moffetts Fiesta coming out on top by 13.8 seconds from McKenna’s similar car with Purcell’s Fiesta R5 in third place another 14 seconds further back.
David Crossen & Aileen Kelly made up for the disappointment of a first stage retirement on the previous round and were an impressive 8th overall and top 2WD car in their Escort. They were pushed hard all the way by Shane McGirr & Eamon Hayes in a Toyota Starlet with less than fifteen seconds separating the pair by the end of the eight stages. Mickey Conlon who took top points on the opening round had to settle for third this time around.
The Junior Category was won by Marty Gallagher & Dean O’Sullivan in a Peugeot 208 R2 who were very impressive on their way to 12th overall. Derek Mackarel and & Daire Hayes pushed them hard all day in their Vauxhall Nova and were only twelve seconds behind their rivals with both crews recovering from a non-finish on the opening round. John O’Sullivan and Padraig O’Donovan were third in the category in a Ford Fiesta R2.
The M. O’Brien Plant Hire Junior 1000 category for 15-19 year olds saw Jason Murphy take his second maximum score of the season in his Peugeot 107. Peter Beaton from Scotland pushed Murphy very hard and brought his similar car home second just 18 seconds behind. Aoife Gahan (Chevrolet Spark) was a further minute back ahead of Rory Byrne (Citroen C1).
Video Clips
Posted: September 4, 2018 6:12 AM
In Car
Posted: September 4, 2018 5:50 AM
Andrew Purcell & Mark Wiley (Ford Fiesta R5) SS1
Derek Mackarel & Daire Hayes (Vauxhall Nova) SS6
Paul McMahon & Padraig Deasy (Honda Civic) SS8
Keelan Maguire & Chrissy Corry (Honda Civic) SS8
Results
Posted: September 3, 2018 11:09 AM
1 Josh Moffett/Stephen Thornton (Ford Fiesta R5) 40m 37s,
2 Barry McKenna/Leon Jordan (Ford Fiesta R5) 40m 51s,
3 Andrew Purcell/Mark Wiley (Ford Fiesta R5) 41m 06s,
4 Cathan McCourt/Brian Hoy (Citroen DS3 R5) 42m 19s,
5 Stephen McCann/Kaine Treanor (Ford Fiesta S2000) 42m 39s,
6 Gerard Lucey/J J Cremin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) 43m 45s,
7 Donall Sweeney/Stephen O’Hanlon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) 43m 49s,
8 David Crossen/Aileen Kelly (Ford Escort MkII) 43m 57s,
9 John Byrnes/James Lowry (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) 44m 11s,
10 Shane McGirr/Eamonn Hayes (Toyota Starlet) 44m 12s.
The Treaty Plant Hire Limerick Forest Rally takes place this Sunday 25th March, three weeks after its postponement due to ‘Storm Emma’. The Silvermines based rally is the second round of the Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship and has attracted a very impressive field of almost 90 cars to date. Clerk of the Course Kieran Ambrose has plotted a route of 8 stages (4 locations used twice) totalling close to 75kms.
The impressive list is headed by Josh Moffett & Stephen Thornton who will be hoping for better luck than in the last round at Carrick on Suir. Josh will be match fit as this will be his third weekend in a row behind the wheel following good results on tarmac in Mayo and West Cork. Andrew Purcell who leads the championship will once again provide Moffett with a stiff test in his Fiesta R5 while Barry McKenna was very impressive in Waterford and starts at number three here. Stephen McCann took an excellent third place in Carrick despite a relative lack of gravel experience and will provide a threat to the front three. Gerard Lucey, Conor McCourt & Michael Carbin are also capable of a good result while Enda McCormack & Cathan McCourt are also out in R5 machinery. John Coyne and Pauric Duffy are more known for tarmac exploits but are entered in a Subaru Impreza WRC & Fiesta R5 respectively.
The 2WD category is always competitive and this coming weekend will showcase more of the same with Mickey Conlon hoping to maintain his lead of the championship following an excellent tenth overall in Carrick. His rivals Shane McGirr & David Crossen failed to finish the first round so will be looking to claw back some of the deficit this weekend. John Gordon and Tommy O’Connell both finished the opening round but both suffered significant delays at either end of the event but they have points on the board and will be looking to improve on that this weekend.
The Junior Category was very competitive also in the opening round with James Wilson taking top points. He is the top seeded Junior for Limerick but has a string of very fast rivals behind him such as Jordan Hone, Derek Mackarel, John O’Sullivan, Johnnie Mulholland, Jody McManus and Marty Gallagher to name a few. The M. O’Brien Plant Hire Junior 1000 class sees 2017 champion and current leader Jason Murphy up against Peter Beaton and Aoife Gahan from the opening round as well as Rory Byrne who brings is Citroen C1 to the woods for the first time this year.
The action begins at 9:37am with the opening stage art Keeper Hill, followed by the Cournanine test. These stages are repeated before the afternoon loop which takes in two runs over Arra Mountain & Ballyhourigan. The first car is due back at Parc Ferme at around 4.20pm.
1 Josh Moffett/Stephen Thornton (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
2 Andrew Purcell/Mark Wiley (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
3 Barry McKenna/Leon Jordan (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
4 Stephen McCann/Kaine Treanor (Ford Fiesta S2000) [5]
5 Gerard Lucy/JJ Cremin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
6 Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4) [20]
7 Enda McCormack/Colin Fitzgerald (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
8 Cathan McCourt/Brian Hoy (Citreon DS3 R5) [5]
9 Conor McCourt/Caolan McKenna (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
10 John Coyne/Stephen Joyce (Subaru S14 WRC) [7]
11 Pauric Duffy/Andy Hayes (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
12 Austin Snow/John Henderson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 ) [4]
14 PJ O'Connor/Anthony Nestor (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
15 John Reid/Enda Shields (Toyota Corolla WRC) [15]
16 John Byrnes/James Lowry (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
17 Mark Murphy/Anthony O' Sullivan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
18 Eoighan Rogers/Paddy McCrudden (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 ) [4]
19 Paul Briton/George Tinsley (Subaru Impreza N12B) [4]
20 Stephen Dickson/Tommy Hayes (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
21 Patsy Keenan/Martin Brady (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 ) [4]
22 Ashley Dickson/Graham Henderson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 ) [20]
23 Lukasz Czapnik/Piotr Szadkowski (Subaru Impreza) [20]
24 Paul McCann/Paddy Plunkett (Skoda Fabia S2500) [20]
25 John Mulholland/Adrian O' Connor (Subaru Impreza) [7]
26 Donall Sweeney/Stephen O'Hanlon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [20]
27 Niall Turley/Andrew Wedlock (Subaru Impreza) [15]
28 Viorel Dobasu/Tom Woodburn (Subaru Impreza) [20]
29 Patrica Denning/Joe Downey (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
101 Mikey Conlon/Ciaran McPhilips (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
102 David Crossen/Aileen Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
103 Shane McGirr/Eamonn Hayes (Toyota Starlet) [13]
104 John Gordan/Thomas Wedlock (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
105 Thomas O' Connell/Emmet Sherry (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
106 David Condell/Michael Coady (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
107 James Wilson/Gavin Doherty (Peugeot 208 R2) [16]
108 Derek Mackarel/Daire Hayes (Vauxhall Nova ) [16]
109 John O'Sullivan/Padraig O' Donovan (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
110 Jordan Hone/Paul Hone (Opel Adam R2) [16]
111 Marty Gallagher/Dean O' Sullivan (Peugeot 208 R2) [16]
112 Jody McManus/Andrew Browne (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
113 Ruairi Maguire/Grace O' Brien (Vauxhall Corsa) [11F]
114 Johnie Mulholland/Jeff Case (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
115 Damien McGauran/Darran Curran (BMW 320) [13]
116 Stewart McClean/Jonny Holdsworth (Vauxhall Nova ) [11F]
117 Emmet Cronin/Seamus McTigue (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
118 Ruari McCaffrey/Lauren Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
119 Alan Cummins/James Cummins (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
120 Ray Benskin Jnr/Nicky Hegarty (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
121 Cal McCarthy/Gavin Sheehan (Citroen C2R2) [2]
122 Anthony Masterson/Tommy Clinton (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
123 Jason Dickson/Alister Wyllie (Ford Fiesta ) [16]
124 Mike Garahy/Eoghan McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [10]
125 Kieran Lynch/Adam Power (Honda Civic) [11F]
126 Paul McMahon/Padraig Deasy (Honda Civic) [11F]
127 Ian Dickson/Darragh Mullen (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
128 Sean Benskin/Keith McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
129 Brian Little/Paul Sexton (Ford Escort G3) [12]
130 Andrew Bustard/Aaron Johnston (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
131 Ray Benskin/Peadar Walsh (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
132 Hal Lewis/Joe Shinnors Snr (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
133 Michael Linehan/Trish Hogan (Ford Escort G3) [12]
134 Adrian Beattie/Declan Ryan (Civic) [11F]
135 Keelan Maguire/Chrissy Corry (Honda Civic) [11F]
136 Karl Fallis/Ben Fallis (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
137 Eoin Crowley/Brian O' Mahony (Peugeot 206) [11F]
138 James Dunphy/Shane Gazely (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
139 Barry Morris/Declan Campbell (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
140 Paul O' Connell/Brian Quinlan (Honda Civic) [11F]
141 Martin O' Brien/Brian McCarthy (Citroen C2R2 Max) [2]
142 Dean Humphrey/Nigel Brennan (Vauxhall Corsa) [9]
143 Lee Bracken/Francis Kelly (Honda Civic) [9]
144 Ciaran McCullagh/Edel McCarthy (Vauxhall Nova ) [9]
145 Christopher Snow/Seán Bruton (Peugeot 206) [11F]
146 Chris Snow/Jack Bruton (Honda Civic) [11F]
147 Killian O'Brien/Aaron McEvoy (Honda Civic) [11F]
148 Ruairi MacArtain/David Crilly (Honda Civic) [16]
149 Jenna McCann/Sean Crowley (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
150 Colin Nelligan/Mikey Walsh (Suzuki Swift ) [16]
151 Jonathan McAleer/Mark McAleer (Vauxhall Corsa) [9]
152 Pierce J Doheny/Eilish Dunne (Opel Corsa ) [10]
153 Anthony Roche/Alan Hourigan (Peugeot 106) [9]
154 Tommy Cuddihy/Conor Flynn (Honda Civic) [11F]
155 Jason Murphy/Mathew Murphy (Peugeot 107 ) [21]
156 Aoife Gahan/TBA (Chevrolet Spark) [21]
157 Peter Beaton/Dean Ross (Peugeot 107 ) [21]
158 Rory Byrne/John Burke (Citroen C1) [21]
Competitors Notice
Posted: March 13, 2018 5:29 AM
FAO All Competitors,
We are working hard on our re-scheduled Limerick Forest Rally now running on Sunday March 25th.
Thank you for your entry for our original date, we hope & look forward to seeing you at our re-scheduled event.
Competitors who entered the original event (March 4th) we kindly ask you to let us know whether or not you intend to compete on Sunday March 25th, Please ring, text or email myself as soon as possible as we will be compiling a new entry list for the event.
If you have entered the original event (March 4th) your entry form is valid, all we need you to do is sign a new indemnity form which can be done at documentation.
Again Thank you for your entry, we look forward to welcoming you all to Round 2 of the Valvoline National Forest Rally Championship the "Treaty Plant Hire" Limerick Forest Rally Sunday March 25th.
New entries are also welcome, details on entry forms & regulations below.
Please submit your entry ASAP as we hope to publish the new entry list Wednesday 21st March.
Statement from Limerick Motor Club Forest Rally COC - 25 Mar Confirmed
Posted: March 7, 2018 12:45 PM
"It is with a large smile on my face I write this brief note to announce the rescheduled date of the 25th of March has been approved for the Limerick Forestry.
So we'll start to ramp things back up again and try having a crack at it for the second time.
I would like to take this opportunity once again to thank the clubs that helped us to make this happen Westmeath and District, Monaghan and Munster Motor Clubs.
along with all the different committees and the Motorsport Ireland Commission.
I look forward to seeing you one and all join us for some fun and excitement in the woods on the 25th March."
Yours in Motorsport
Kieran Ambrose
Clerk of the Course
NEW DATE - 25 Mar 18
Posted: March 1, 2018 2:20 PM
"Hello everyone
It is with a very heavy heart I write this note.
As most of you who know me or know of me I don’t give up too easy.
But this time I have to concede to the beast from the east and her friend storm Emma. They have thrown everything at us in the past week but unfortunately they have taken this battle but they haven’t taken the war. Unfortunately the thoughts of an Irish version of rally Sweden just wasn’t to be.
But we will be back in the not so distant future.
With road conditions in a very bad way for competitors and marshal’s along with the services such as the ambulances and the rescue units and the doctor / Advance Paramedics trying to get to the event and home after I feel it would be selfish of me to ask anyone to travel in such conditions
At the end of the day we are all about running safe events. This means getting everyone to the event during the running of the event and getting home safely after so for this reason I am POSTPONED the limerick forestry which was to run on the 4th of March.
Once again I say thanks to each and every one for the support and help in the last number of weeks no matter how big or small it was I am for ever grateful.
To all the competitors that entered the event I sincerely thank you for supporting our event and hope you come back to the event when it runs again in the near future.
It is the planned to run the event on the 25th of March 2018 subject to approval by MI.
I would like to thank the Munster Car Club and also WestMeath & District Motor Club and Co. Monaghan Motor Club for their help and cooperation in being able to adjust to this date. I would ask where possible support and thank these clubs when they run there events in the future.
Once again thanks for everything Yours in motorsport"
Kieran Ambrose Clerk of the Course
Update from COC - 27 Feb 18
Posted: February 27, 2018 9:09 AM
"Just an update on how things are faring out on the lead in to the limerick forestry this Sunday.
We have 71 cars entered the rally at this point with a few more expected to arrive late. for those that have entered already thanks very much.
To update on stage 5:
There has been good work done last weekend and the few potholes have been repaired. Coillte are tidying up the end of the stage for us so all going to plan we will have the full stage to offer competitors.
So its full steam ahead form here to the weekend and who knows by the weekend we might even have an Irish version of Rally Sweden.
Final instructions and time and distance schedule to be published later.
Seeding nearly completed so anyone still interested in doing to contact the entry secretary. "
Josh Moffett/Stephen Thornton (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
John Coyne/Stephen Joyce (Subaru Impreza WRC S14) [7]
Andrew Purcell/Mark Wiley (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
Gerard Lucy/JJ Cremin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
Conor McCourt/Caolan McKenna (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
Pauric Duffy/TBA (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
Ashley Dickson/Graham Henderson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
Darren McKelvey/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
Ian Graham/Liam McIntrye (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
Mark Murphy/Anthony O' Sullivan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
Ed Muldoon/Mark Byrne (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
Stephen Cullen/Seamus o' Grady (Subaru Impreza N12B) [4]
Paul McCann/Paddy Plunkett (Ford Escort RS Cosworth) [15]
Stephen McCann/Kaine Treanor (Ford Fiesta S2000) [5]
Pauric Sheridan/Seán Brunton (Ford Fiesta Proto) [20]
John Mulholland/Adrian O' Connor (Subaru Impreza N12B) [7]
Enda McCormack/Colin Fitzgerald (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4) [20]
John Byrnes/James Lowry (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
David Crossen/Aileen Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
John Gordan/Thomas Wedlock (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
Mike Garahy/Iarla McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [10]
Ray Benskin Jnr/Nicky Hegarty (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
Stephen Dickson/Tommy Hayes (Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
Jason Dickson/Alister Wyllie (Ford Fiesta ) [16]
Ian Dickson/Darragh Mullen (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
Michael Linehan/Trish Hogan (Ford Escort G3) [12]
Keelan Maguire/Chrissy Corry (Honda Civic) [11F]
Jody McManus/Andrew Browne (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
Ciaran McCullagh/TBA (Vauxhall Nova ) [9]
Thomas O' Connell/Emmet Sherry (Ford Escort ) [13]
Tommy Cuddihy/Shane Corcoran (Honda Civic) [16]
Pierce J Doheny/Eilish Dunne (Opel Corsa ) [10]
Jason Murphy/Mathew Murphy (Peugeot 107 ) [J1000]
Barry Morris/Declan Campbell (Ford Escort MK2) [11R]
Paul O' Connell/Brian Quinlan (Honda Civic) [11F]
Ruairi Maguire/Grace O' Brien (Vauxhall Corsa) [11F]
James Wilson/Gavin Doherty (Peugeot 208 R2) [16]
Anthony Roche/Alan Hourigan (Peugeot 106) [9]
Marty Gallagher/Dean O' Sullivan (Peugeot 208 R2) [16]
Jenna McCann/Sean Crowley (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
Lee Bracken/Francis Kelly (Honda Civic) [9]
Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Ford Escort ) [13]
Johnnie Mulholland/Jeff Case (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
Karl Fallis/Ban Fellis (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
Niall Turley/Andrew Wedlock (Subaru Impreza) [15]
Colin Nelligan/Mikey Walsh (Suzuki Swift ) [16]
Hal Lewis/Joe Shinnors Snr (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
Ruari McCaffrey/Lauren Kelly (Ford Escort ) [12]
Derek Mackarel/Daire Hayes (Vauxhall Nova ) [16]
James Dunphy/Shane Gazely (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
Paul McMahon/Padraig Deasy (Honda Civic) [11F]
Jordan Hone/Paul Hone (Opel Adam R2) [16]
Kieran Lynch/Adam Power (Honda Civic) [11F]
Peter Beaton/Dean Ross (Peugeot 107 ) [J1000]
Barry McKenna/Leon Jordan (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
Shane McGirr/Eamonn Hayes (Toyota Starlet) [13]
Stewart McClean/Jonny Holdsworth (Vauxhall Nova ) [11F]
Austin Snow/John Henderson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
Dean Humphrey/Nigel Brennan (Vauxhall Corsa) [9]
Martin O' Brien/Brian McCarthy (Citroen C2R2 Max) [2]
John O'Sullivan/Padraig O' Donovan (Ford Fiesta R2) [16]
Donall Sweeney/Paddy McCrudden (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [20]
Anthony Masterson/Tommy Clinton (Ford Escort ) [14]
Emmet Cronin/Seamus McTigue (Ford Escort ) [12]
PJ O'Connor/Anthony Nestor (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
Ray Benskin/Peadar Walsh (Escort Mk2) [12]
Killian O'Brien/Aaron McEvoy (Honda Civic) [11F]
Lukasz Czapnik/Piotr Szadkowski (Subaru Impreza WRX) [20]
Damien McGauran/Darran Curran (BMW 320) [13]
Eoin Crowley/Brian O' Mahony (Peugeot 206) [11F]
Rory Byrne/John Burke (Citroen C1) [J1000]
Cathan McCourt/Brian Hoy (Citreon DS3 R5) [5]
Mikey Conlon/Ciaran McPhilips (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
Adrian Beattie/Declan Ryan (Honda Civic) [11F]
Brian Little/Karl Egan (Ford Escort G3) []
Statement re SS5+7
Posted: February 25, 2018 5:28 AM
"Good evening all.
Just dropping a quick email to make people aware that myself and members of the organising committee for the up coming limerick forestry rally are aware of alot of logging and haulage going on in stage 5 and 7 of the event.
It is going to be monitored very closely over the coming days along with working closely with coillte and the harvesting company to plan for the event next weekend.
We will make decisions based on the plan's in the coming week regarding the stage and will advise on how the progress is going.
We look forward to welcoming you all to the event next weekend.
Hope you are recovered after your Christmas and New Year break and are ready to face into another year of high speed and high action motorsport.
We are pleased to announce the wheels are in motion for the 2018 Limerick Motor Club forestry rally in association with Treaty Plant Hire limerick.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gary and all the team at treaty plant for their support.
This year we have decided to head to the Silvermines area. Which is only 13km form the M7 junction 25 or 16km form junction 27.
Some of these stage haven’t been rallied since 2007 / 2008.
Following on from the successful event ran in 2016 in Murroe we decided to rest some of the challenging stages like Glenstal and Mother Mountain to be able to keep the rally loop as small as possible while basing it around the Silvermines area.
This year the competitors will face 72 stage km’s in 4 stage locations the longest stage being an 11km and the shortest 7.5km
Regs and entry forms to be available in the next few weeks.
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