MAYO MOTORSPORT CLUB TO THE FORE

Posted: May 16, 2000 3:14 PM

John and Killian Duffy, competing in the Novice Class, finished third in the 1999/2000 McCarrick Garages West Coast Navigation Trial Championship. The Crossmolina father and son combination chalked up a number of high placings over the six rounds held during the winter, culminating in a Class win in Claremorris. The Duffys received their award at the ‘Night of Champions’ Dinner in Cawleys Hotel, Tubbercurry, County Sligo on May 6th. Club Vice-Chairman, Sean McHugh from Bekan, also received a prize for his excellent 2nd place in the Expert Class at the Sligo event, which was also a counting round of the EARS Motorsport Irish Championship.

Another Class win for James McGreal in the Carlow Stages Rally sees the Foxford garage proprietor further extend his lead in the Dunlop National Rally Championship. The West Coast Windscreens / Dempsey Car & Van Spares backed Nissan Sunny GTi-R driver has now scored three Class 14B wins on the trot and must surely be favourite to lift the National Class title next October. Co-driver John Rowland from Crossmolina leads the Navigation category, 10 points ahead of fellow clubman, John Duffy.

In the Carlow event, another leading Club competitor Francis Kenny successfully navigated Dubliner George Tracy to a Class 13 win in a Metro 6R4. In doing so Francis, from Ballyhaunis, strengthened his position at the top of the 4WD Class.

Meanwhile, on foreign shores, Lola Cars International, owned by Club President, Martin Birrane, recorded their first win since 1996 in the US FedEx CART Championship, (formerly known as IndyCar). In the hands of Michael Andretti, the Lola designed and built chassis (powered by Ford), was the centre of attraction as it took the chequered flag at Motegi, Japan, much to the delight of Ballina born Birrane. Since taking over the liquidated race car manufacturer in 1997, Martin Birrane has restructured the British based firm and his substantial investment in Lola has gone a long way to restore the once proud name in motorsport.