2002 KBB Doors National Forestry Championship

Posted: January 3, 2002 12:40 PM

This year’s championship will also see changes in the class structure in keeping with the increase in entries, with the 1600 class divided into 8 valves and 16 valves. There will also be a separate class for the Peugeot 106 cars, which will have awards of its own.

There will also be changes in the Points System in the championship, with a 2-point gap between 1st and 2nd and 1-point gap for the remaining places. There will also be more crews eligible for overall points in each round.

This years Championship also boosts a full television package with coverage of a half an hour viewing after each round.

The interest in this years Championship is very high with all the top crews declaring an interest Reigning champions Niall Driver/Francis Corrigan will be back in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo to defend their title. Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan set a blistering pace in Lismore last September in their Escort WRC, a M-Sport former Eamonn Boland car. Also in a new car will be Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle in the former Andrew Nesbitt Celica 185. Eamonn Boland is going to do the first few rounds in his NVD Subaru Impreza WRC and see from there. So too is Nass man Hugh Dunne in his new Impreza WRC, winner last year in Birr. Former champions Kevin O Kane/Stephen Griffith from Omagh will be out again this year in his ex All Stars Impreza 555, as will Dermot Kelly in a new Escort WRC.Also in an Escort WRC will be Carrigtwohills John McCarthy, who showed he had the pace to finish up there as well. John Donnelly/Greg McCarthy will hope to go one better then their 2nd place in the Championship last year in their upgraded Escort Cosworth.

The Peugeot 106 class has shown great interest with a possible 10 contenders in the class. Sean Kelly, Peter McCullough (Jnr), Shane McCarthy are just some of the competitors in this class. Garry Jennings, runner up in the UK s Peugeot 106 Cup hopes to do some rounds as well

Regulations available from:
Cathy Brogan, Clonmore, Piltown, Co Kilkenny (Tel/SMS 086 6007384)

Championship Rounds

1. Jan 27 Tipperary Forestry Rally
2. Feb 24 Carrick-on-Suir Willie Loughman 
                      Forestry Stages Rally
3. Apr 14 MEC Circuit of Wicklow Forestry Rally 
4. May 19 Munster Forestry Stages Rally
5. Sept 8  Cork Forestry Stages Rally 
6. Sep 29 Birr Forestry Stages Rally 
7. Oct 20 Killarney Forestry Stages Rally