Craig Breen with John Boden on the start list:
Posted: August 13, 2022 4:57 PM
Excitement Build towards 2022 Cork Forest Rally
Posted: August 11, 2022 5:19 AM
The excitement is reaching fever pitch in the Boggeragh Mountains as a bumper field of some of the country’s finest rally machines and drivers are set to take on six high speed gravel stages in this years Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally.
Organised by Cork Motor Club, the 2022 event is a welcome return to action following a three-year enforced absence, although a hugely successful Boggeragh Sprint last December by the club really whetted the appetite of competitors who are travelling from all over Ireland to compete.
Once again, the event is title-sponsored by the Crafted Fitted Furniture & Kitchen Group, the Mallow based firm are one of Munster’s leading suppliers of bespoke fitted pieces for the home with a stellar reputation for quality and skill. Owner Paul O’Connor is an avid Rally competitor, and has shown over the past number of years his continued support to this North Cork based event.
A field of seventy-one cars will take to the first of six high-speed loose-surface stages at 10.58am on Sunday, knowing a full day and an exhilarating 59km competitive route lies ahead that has been hand-picked and organised to the highest level by COC Ger Hayes and his massive team of helpers. The first car to enter the stages will be in a Junior 1000 class car.
Based on a standard 1L road car and bolstered by a huge amount of safety equipment and an experienced navigator, the competitors in the J1000 class range from 14-18 years of age, and the series has given the future superstars of the Irish Rallying a first foray into special-stage competition.
While the action kicks off on the stages on Sunday, the previous afternoon and evening will see the town of Donoughmore come alive, with plenty of excitement as the rally machines and crews descend. DJD Transport have come on board to support the event, and their premises will host the pre-event scrutineering on Saturday.
With the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally being the 4th round of the 2022 Motorsport Ireland Forest Rally Championship, the stars of this year’s campaign are all ready to lead the field away. Carrying number one on their door are Patrick O’Brien & Stephen O’Brien in a Skoda Fabia R5, the pair having already tasted victory this year in Carrick-on-Suir.
At number 2 is Cathan McCourt & Liam Moynihan in a Hyundai i20 R5, while current Championship leaders Jordan Hone & Paul Hone start next in their Ford Fiesta R5. In the 2WD section, Newry’s John Gordon & Ben Taggert start in a Ford Escort MK2, ahead of Shane McGirr & Denver Rafferty as well as Moonraker 2WD winners Mickey Conlon & Paul McPhillips.
While the action will be frantic out on the stages, the whole rallying world can tune in live to the latest breaking news as OnThePacenote are bringing their hugely popular Stage End Interviews to a gravel rally for the first time, and their live reports on Facebook gain hundreds of thousands of views over the course of a rally!
When all is said and done, the final job will be to crown a winner on Sunday evening, and the community of Donoughmore are excited for the big event. Taking place outside the Donoughmore Community Centre from 4.15pm onwards, the podium celebrations and spraying of Champagne (or Rose Water for the Junior competitors) will definitely be something special to see.
Seeded Entry List
Posted: August 10, 2022 2:20 PM
1 Patrick O'Brien/Stephen O'Brien (Skoda Fabia R5) [5]
2 Cathan McCourt/Liam Moynihan (Hyundai i20 R5) [5]
3 Jordan Hone/Paul Hone (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
4 Niall McCullagh/Martin Brady (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [4]
5 Conor McCourt/Caolan McKenna (Skoda Fabia R5) [5]
6 Derek Mackarel/Eamonn Creedon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
7 Gareth Mimnagh/J Barry McCarney (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
8 Gerard Lucey/Donagh Crowley (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
9 Pj O'Connor/Denny Greaney (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
10 Martin Cairns/Peter Ward (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
11 Joe Hegarty/David Turkington (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
12 Pete McCullagh/TBA TBA (Ford Fiesta) [20]
14 Kevin O' Connor/Michael Breen (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [20]
15 Brendan Stone/Michael Coady (Subaru Impreza) [20]
16 Lukasz Czapnik/Piotr Szadkowski (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
17 Mark Murphy/Anthony O'Sullivan (Subaru Impreza) [15]
18 Paul McCann/Liam McIntyre (Skoda Fabia S2000) [5]
19 John Reid/Enda Sheils (Toyota Corrolla) [15]
20 Barry Murphy/Conal Doherty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
21 Patrick Keenan/John McCay (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
22 Jenna McCann/John McCabe (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
23 Pauric Sheridan/Willie Fitzpatrick (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
24 Patricia Denning/Joe Downey (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
201 John Gordon/Ben Taggart (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
202 Shane McGirr/Denver Rafferty (Toyota Starlet) [13]
203 Mickey Conlon/Paul Mc Phillips (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
204 David Condell/Paul Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
205 Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
206 Steven Corey/Conor Mc Gurren (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
207 Owen McMackin/Declan Casey (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [13]
208 Ryan Caldwell/Mark McGeehan (Ford Fiesta R2T) [2]
209 Kyle McBride/Darren Curran (Ford Fiesta R2T) [2]
210 Mike Jnr O'Connor/Barry Attridge (Opel Manta) [13]
211 Anthony Cullinane/Liam Dennehy (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
212 Allen Treacy/Brian O'Keeffe (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
213 Michael Fitzgibbon/Carrie Moroney (Honda Civic) [11F]
214 Ciaran Mc Cullagh/Michael White (Honda Civic) [11F]
215 Raymond Benskin Jnr/Nicky Hegarty (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
216 James Dunphy/Steven Mackey (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
217 Owen-Roe Skelly/Denny O Riordan (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
218 Mike Feeney/Ger Clancy (Honda Civic) [11F]
219 Ian Mccarthy/Sara McFadden (Honda Civic) [11F]
220 Christy Butler/Ray Fitzpatrick (Honda Civic) [11F]
221 Danny McEvoy/Angiee Michniewicz (Honda Civic) [11F]
222 Paul O'Connor/Victoria O'Connor (Honda Civic) [11f]
223 Mike Garahy/Iarla Mc Carthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [10]
224 Sean William Benskin/Anthony Cronin (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
225 Aoife Raftery/Geraldine McBride (Ford Fiesta R2) [2]
226 Brian Little/David McSorley (Ford Escort G3) [12]
227 Hal Lewis/Tommy Commane (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
228 Barry Mahon/Ultan McGowan (Honda Civic) [11F]
229 Dean Murphy/Paul Kiely (Peugeot 208 R2) [2]
230 Muldoon/Mark Byrne (Suzuki Swift Sport) [11F]
231 Tempesta/Conal O'Sullivan (Honda Civic) [11F]
232 McCarthy/Jack Moran (Peugeot 206) [11F]
233 Murphy/Mikey Walsh (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
234 Brunton/Darragh Kelly (Toyota Starlet) [11R]
235 Long/Aaron Browne (Honda Civic) [1]
236 Caldwell/Andrew Browne (Ford Fiesta R2) [2]
237 Heaney/Patrick Heaney (Honda Civic) [11F]
238 McHugh/Eoin Collins (Suzuki Swift) [9]
239 McCormack/Josh McCormack (Ford Ka) [9]
301 Brennan/John McGrath (Skoda Citigo) [21]
302 Harris/Aaron Regan (VW UP) [21]
303 Costello/Tom Murphy (Peugeot 107) [21]
304 Ryan/Peter Keohane (Citreon C1) [21]
305 Brady/Gary Kiernan (Peugeot 107) [21]
306 Moffett/Gary McCrudden (Toyota Aygo) [21]
307 Cronin/Karl Egan (Toyota Aygo) [21]
308 Kennedy/Mark Kennedy (Nissan Micra) [21]
309 Browne/Daniel Hanratty (Toyota Aygo) [21]
310 Crozier/Aine Phelan (Nissan Micra) [21]
Regulations / On Line Entry / Details
Posted: August 2, 2022 2:45 PM