2004 Ford Ka Championship

Posted: October 5, 2004 3:32 PM

Round 6 took place on Saturday the 2nd of October and all the stages were based around Macroom. Utilising some of the old Cork 20 classic tests the stages proved to be extremely challenging. However despite the threatened rain the stages were bone dry and as a result the pace was electrifying. Daniel Barry was delayed on stage one after catching a slower car as Brian OMahony set the pace. However after stage two OMahony and OConnell tied for joint position with Barry in third. The cars were refettled in service and the battle begun in earnest, indeed the slower car that had delayed Barry on stage one was now delaying OMahony and OConnell, this resulting delay allowed Barry to take the lead he was never to relinquish, despite the best efforts of the chasing pack. Barry scored maximum points with Brian OMahony in second and OConnell third.

Round 7 took place on day 2 of the Cork 20 and the action moved to North Cork around Mallow. The championship was going to be decided on Round 7 between OConnell and Barry; whichever of the two finished in front would win the series.

The threatened rain materialised with huge downpours that turned the stages into skating rinks. O Connell once again proved that he is the Ka rain master setting the pace taking victories on stages one and two to take an eight second lead from Barry in second and OMahony in third. However disaster struck on stage three when OConnell was delayed by another competing car that had crashed. The resulting delay dropped him to third and it seemed that Barry was cruising to the championship crown. However on stages four Barrys gearbox let go and he coasted to a halt. Pat OConnell not believing his luck settled for second position and with it Championship glory. Brian OMahony took a well-deserved win on his home event after a difficult season.

I cannot believe it stage six was cancelled and I was delighted, I kept thinking there was something wrong with my KA ever rattle and shake worried me. However I feel sorry for Daniel Barry he pushed us hard all year it was a terrific battle right down to the wire. The Ka Championship was fantastic this year and I am over the moon, said Pat.

This is what the KA Championship is all about, the championship being decided on the final stage of the final round it cannot get much closer. Ten young crews all were battling it out for the title. It was a brilliant year and we are all looking forward to 2005 said Tom Collins, Championship Director.

Final Points

1 Pat O'Connell 139
2 Daniel Barry 135
3 Brian O'Mahony 129
4 Thomas O'Brien 70
5 Kieran Daly 68
6 John Doolan 38
7 Gordon Coleman 23
8 Kevin Murray	17
9 Trevor Hutton 0
10 Keith Lyons	0
11 Mark Buckley 0
12 Gary Reidy	0

• Final Double header: Cork 20 5 Oct 04
  

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16/09/04
KA CHAMPIONSHIPS ROLLS BACK ONTO ASPHALT
The fifth round of the 2004 Ford Ka Rally Championship returns to the tarmac stages, with the Pirelli shod Ford KA's taking part in the ALMC Stages Rally based in Virginia, Co. Cavan on the 22nd of August next.

Daniel Barry (Enniskerry) in the Radford Ford KA currently leads the championship from Thomas O'Brien (Tipperary), with only twelve points separate these fierce rivals after the opening four rounds. The competition is particularly intense as both crews have one non-finish each. Third placed Kieran Daly (Charleville) claims to be happier driving on tarmac despite winning the last round of the series on the loose surface, Cork Forestry Rally. Fourth placed Pat O'Connell has been one of the pacesetters all year and this is highlighted by his championship placing despite two non-finishes out of the first four rounds.

With three different winners from the first four rounds the competition could not be any closer and with 30 points on offer to the victor of each round and each competitor allowed to drip his or her two worst scores, a close finish to this exciting championship is guaranteed. The ALMC Stages Rally will see the crews compete in the northern half of the country for the first time this year and will bring with it the challenges of new a new event and terrain for all the crews.

"Once again the KA Rally Championship is proving its mettle. Three different winners on the first four rounds, it really could not be any closer. We are all looking forward to another nail biting event. Another sting in the tail will be that the final event of the year the Cork 20 International Rally will be a double header with championship points on offer for each day", said Tom Collins, Championship Director.

• ALMC Multi Stages Rally - 22 Aug 04

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26/07/04
Round 4 - Ford Ka Championship - Cork Forestry
LOCAL HERO TAKES COUNTY HONOURS
Kieran Daly from Charleville, Co. Cork has won the fourth round of the 2004 Ford Rallyesport KA Championship and class nine overall at the Cork Forestry Rally based in Mallow, Co. Cork. Kieran in the Senator Engineering/Cavanaghs of Charleville Ford KA started this two day event in a positive frame of mind setting the fastest stage time on the opening test. However his success was short-lived, as disaster struck on stage two when Kieran got a puncture, dropping him to fourth position. Kieran knuckled down to the challenge and produced a mature drive as some of his fellow competitors succumbed to the rough terrain and retired with mechanical problems. Kieran kept his head and proceeded to set fastest stage times on stages three and six to move back in the lead at the end of day one.

Day two consisted of six more challenging stages around Kieran's hometown of Charleville. On the opening stage of day two, third placed Thomas O'Brien slipped off the road and into retirement. Despite having a lead of over a minute from second placed Daniel Barry (Wicklow), Kieran once again drove with maturity beyond his years, setting two more fastest stage times and to win the event by a massive margin of one minute and twenty two seconds.

'It was an extremely difficult event you had to drive fast but yet not break the car. We had our problems but in the end we succeeded. My first win has been along time coming but I am delighted and especially to win in front of my home crowd makes it all the better. We now move up the leaderboard to third position in the championship so my victory will keep my championship hopes alive' said Kieran.

'The Cork Forestry Rally proved to be and extremely tough event both on the competitors and the cars. It is wonderful to see and new winner on the podium and it will make the second half of the season all the more exciting' said Tom Collins, Championship Director.

Results
POS. NAME TIME
1 Kieran Daly 0.00.00
2 Daniel Barry 0.01.22
3 Gordon Coleman DNF
4 John Doolan DNF
5 Pat O'Connell DNF
6 Brian O'Mahony DNF
7 Thomas O'Brien DNF
8 Trevor Hutton DNS
9 Keith Lyons DNS
10 Kevin Murray DNS
11 Mark Buckley DNS
12 Gary Reidy DNS

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AFTER ROUND 4

POS. NAME POINTS
1 Daniel Barry 82
2 Thomas O'Brien 70
3 Kieran Daly 68
4 Pat O'Connell 60
5 Brian O'Mahony 47
6 John Doolan 38
7 Gordon Coleman 23
8 Kevin Murray 17
9 Trevor Hutton 0
10 Keith Lyons 0
11 Mark Buckley 0
12 Gary Reidy 0

• Cork Forestry 25 Jul 04
  
• Nex Round - ALMC 22 Aug 04
  

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17/05/04
O'CONNELL KING OF THE WOODS.
Round 3 - 2004 KA Rally Championship - Munster MC Moonraker Forestry

Pat O'Connell from Cashel, Co. Tipperary has won the third round of the 2004 Ford Rallyesport KA Championship at the Moonraker Forestry Rally based in Midleton, Co. Cork.

Pat the victor of the opening round of the series proved that he is the KA master in the woods after scoring a devastating victory in the Cashel Auto Parts KA. Pat over came his gearbox woes to set the pace from the outset, to take a narrow one second lead from Daniel Barry. Barry fought back and the pair tied for the lead after stage two. The duelling pair threw down the gauntlet with Barry coming out the worst after he crashed out on stage four handing Pat a comfortable lead. However just as Pat got into his stride he was blocked on stage six by another competing car that had crashed on the stage. The resulting time loss allowed the hard charging Brian O'Mahony to close in on the lead. Pat was not in a mood to take second best after the disappointment of Carlow and set a string of fastest stage times. With O'Mahony retiring on stage seven Pat cruised home to record his second KA victory. Thomas O'Brien kept out of trouble to secure second position with Gordon Coleman in third taking his first points of the season.

'It was a great battle today, it was a pity Daniel Barry went off as we were having great battle. I now have experienced the highs of victory and the lows of not finishing. However it is a long season and it has been wonderful so far, really close comptition with each of us only separated by a handful of seconds on each stage. It is so close that you cannot afford to relax even for a second. These Forestry events seem to suit me so I cannot wait for the next round at the Cork Forestry Rally,' said Pat.

'What a day and an event. At the first service today we had crews tying for both first and fourth positions and each of the crews only separated by a handful of seconds on each stage. This is what the KA Championship is all about, real tight close action and today was no exception,' said Tom Collins, Championship Director.

POS. NAME TIME
1 Pat O'Connell 0.00.00
2 Thomas O'Brien 0.02.39
3 Gordon Coleman 0.00.33
4 John Doolan DNF
5 Daniel Barry DNF
6 Brian O'Mahony DNF
7 Kieran Daly DNF
8 Trevor Hutton DNS
9 Keith Lyons DNS
10 Kevin Murray DNS
11 Mark Buckley DNS
12 Gary Reidy DNS


POS. NAME POINTS
1 Thomas O'Brien 70
2 Pat O'Connell 60
3 Daniel Barry 56
4 Brian O'Mahony 47
5 Kieran Daly 38
6 John Doolan 38
7 Gordon Coleman 23
8 Kevin Murray 17
9 Trevor Hutton 0
10 Keith Lyons 0
11 Mark Buckley 0
12 Gary Reidy 0

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Round 2 - Tipperary Forestry
BARRY IN THE DRIVING SEAT.
Daniel Barry from Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow has won the second round of the 2004 Ford Rallyesport KA Championship at the Carlow Stages Rally.

Newcomer to the series Daniel in the Radford Ford KA has been one of the pace setters so far this season, having scored an impressive second place overall on the opening round of the series in addition to a series of class wins earlier in the year on non-championship events. Daniel lead from the start catching all the other crews napping to win the opening stage by a huge twenty second margin from his nearest competitor. The chasing bunch got into their stride by stage two with Thomas O'Brien winning the stage. Stage three saw the emergence of Brian O'Mahony and Kieran Daly as both competitors set a joint fastest time on stage four, O'Mahony closing within 15 seconds of Barry. However on the next loop of stages Barry once again reasserted his control of the event to set two more fastest stage times to win his first event of the season. A late charge from Brian O'Mahony was thwarted as he kept catching slower cars; the resulting time loss ruined any chance of mounting a serious challenge for victory. Kieran Daly backed off on the last two stages as he reported low oil pressure.

'I am over the moon today, this is a dream come true. We worked really hard before this event, both on the cars and ourselves. The stages were excellent and they really suited my driving style. I cannot wait for the next weekend and hopefully we can keep on our winning ways,' said Daniel.

'I am delighted by the spirited rivalry between all the crews today. It was a thrilling battle between the top three all day, the next round sees the KA's head back into the forests in Cork and we are looking forward to another great battle' said Tom Collins, Championship Director.

POS. NAME TIME
1 Daniel Barry 0.00.00
2 Brian O'Mahony 0.00.35
3 Kieran Daly 0.00.39
4 Thomas O'Brien 0.00.40
5 John Doolan 0.01.44
6 Kevin Murray DNF
7 Pat O'Connell DNF
8 Trevor Hutton DNS
9 Keith Lyons DNS
10 Gordon Coleman DNF
11 Mark Buckley DNS
12 Gary Reidy DNS

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29/03/04
O'CONNELL TRIUMPHS ON FIRST ATTEMPT
Round 1- Tipperary Forestry
Pat O'Connell from Cashel, Co. Tipperary has won the opening round of the 2004 Ford Rallyesport KA Championship at the Tipperary Forestry Rally based in Mitchelstown.

New comer to the series, Pat in the Cashel Motor Factors Ford KA really threw down the gauntlet to the other registered competitors setting fastest time on all stages completed to take a decisive victory by over a minute from nearest challenger Daniel Barry. Barry in the RAFORD Ford KA is a newcomer to rallying an acquitted himself wonderfully to take a hard fought and well-deserved second place. Third placed Thomas O'Brien overcame a series of problems to finish his first KA event in a solid third place. Fourth placed Brian O'Mahony in the OM Concrete Products Ford KA overcame a loose sump and numerous punctures to score his first KA Championship points after an extremely difficult day.

"I am delighted to have won the opening round. The lads pushed me very hard here today I never had the opportunity to relax. We have a few heart stopping moments but that is all part of the challenge. I cannot wait for the next round in Carlow where I aim to continue on my winning ways", said Pat O'Connell.

Now entering its sixth consecutive season the Ka Rally Championship has lost none of its glamour with all of the registered crews in their twenties, this along with such spirited enthusiasm and close competitors will guarantee a very exciting championship.

1 Pat O'Connell 0.00.00
2 Daniel Barry 0.01.47
3 Thomas O'Brien 0.00.11
4 Brian O'Mahony 0.00.06
5 John Doolan 0.00.18
6 Kevin Murray 0.01.59
7 Kieran Daly 0.03.24
8 Trevor Hutton DNF
9 Keith Lyons DNF
10 Gordon Coleman DNS
11 Mark Buckley DNS
12 Gary Reidy DNS

Ford Rallyesport and Pirelli Tyres support the 2004 Ford KA Rally Championship.

1. Sean Conlon Memorial (Mitchelstown) Forest Rally - 28 Mar 04
2 Carlow Stages 9 May 04
3 Munster Forestry 16 May 04
4 Cork Forestry 25 Jul 04
5 ALMC 22 Aug 04
6 Cork 20 4 Oct 04
7 Cork 20 5 Oct 04