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Rally of the Lakes - 30 Apr-1 May 05

Posted: May 18, 2005 4:58 PM - 44138 Hits

Round 3 - 2005 Tarmac Championship
Round 2 - 2005 Southern 4 Championship

  • Shanera ends John Paul Ruth and Pierce Doheny Rally
  • MRallying Reign in the Kingdom
  • Matt Shinnors Junior Lakes Report
  • Brian O’Mahony Report
  • Wilson impresses in the Kingdom
  • Video Clips.
  • More Photos
  • KEENAN / SHERRY 2nd Overall in Killarney National
  • Highs and Lows For McElvaney In Killarney
  • NESBITT'S COMMAND PERFORMANCE
  • Photos

Photo: Anthony Hunter

Posted: May 18, 2005 4:58 PM

Shanera ends John Paul Ruth and Pierce Doheny Rally
Over the weekend of April 30th - May 1st the Ruth Motorsport Team tackled the Killarney Rally of the Lakes for the first time. This event was the third round of the 2005 Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. The lads entered this event jointly leading Class 7 in the championship and were hoping for a good result to help their championship cause. However, luck was not on the Kilkenny crew's side in the Kerry Mountains!!
Full Report on:
MRallying Reign in the Kingdom
Despite the mixed weather, changed format and presence of a rallying legend, the 2005 Killarney Rally of the Lakes served up a real treat to competitors and spectators alike. In particular, the Limerick pairing of Colm Murphy and Ger Loughrey can be happy with their weekends work, recording their second Group N victory of the year to retake the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship Group N category lead.

Recce completed, their Pirelli shod, Shell sponsored Subaru set out its stall on the Saturday morning, drawing first blood, setting fastest GpN time up the gap by 4 seconds. The crew returned to the mid-day service second in class but with no intention of remaining there for much longer. A second run over Molls Gap saw the Limerick crew take 11 seconds back out of leader Jennings who succumbed to the pressure on stage 6, putting his Lancer off the road on an quiet 5 right. With fellow rival Seamus Leonard retiring on the Gap too, Colm and Ger sat on a healthy overnight lead from the days surprise package, Terry McGonigle.

Fully bedecked in Murray Motorsports Lycos gear, Colm and Ger faced into the tricky task that had faced them in Galway on the Sunday morning – driving the Trackcare Engineering car to maintain a lead and preserve the car with some tough competition snapping at their heals. But preserve their lead they did – in tricky conditions, consistently fast times saw the Thermia Heat Link sponsored car return to each service with the lead fully intact.

Sunday morning saw local man Alan Ring step up the pace but his advances were undoubtedly answered by the Transplant Trailers car completing Shanera nearly 10 seconds quicker than any of its GpN rivals. Point proven, the Advance Surveys Impreza continued into the last four stages trading times with other GpN crews before arriving back into Killarney almost one minute to the good of their nearest competitor.

8th overall and 1st in class proved deserved reward for a job well done, the Vanity Case beauticians, Gables Bar Athea Subaru taking deserved applause outside the Gleneagles. “It was a great rally, a fine event fair as always fair play to the club” Dougie managed to extract from a jubilant Colm on the finish ramp.

The crew would like to thank all their sponsors for their help and backing throughout the season so far - Pirelli tyres, Shell Racing Fuel, Thermia Heat Link, Transplant Trailers Sales, Trackcare Engineering, Eddie Garry car sales, Advance Surveys, the Gables Bar, Vanity Case beauticians and the Connemara Gateway hotel. Without their participation, none of the team’s efforts would be possible and it is immensely appreciated.
For more information about the team, please log onto the site at
Matt Shinnors Junior Lakes Report
Matt Shinnors made his first return to Tarmac since last year's Junior Rally of the Lakes, aiming to bring his forestry style to the classic Kerry Stages.

After finishing 4th on last years event Matt and new co-driver Sean Duggan set out with the aim of enjoying themselves and hoping for a good overall finish among the 40 entries.

On the opening 2 stages, Molls Gap and Ballaghbeama Matt found it hard to judge the level of grip from the tarmac competition tyres in the damp conditions, but arrived into service 8th overall after a trouble free run in his self-prepared car.

Caragh Lake was the next stage to be tackled. Any chance of a top 10 finish were dashed only a mile into the stage the red Mk II clipped a rock pulled out by another competitor. Being so early in the stage, Matt and Sean had no choice but to stop and change the wheel. After that it was a case of having a cut and enjoying the remaining stages.

The Junior Rally was won by Raymond Conlon from Monaghan in a Toyota Corolla from Wexford’s James Stafford in a Ford Puma Super 1600.
Brian O’Mahony Report
The 2005 Killarney Rally of the Lakes saw Cork’s Brian O’Mahony contest the 3rd round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship in his customary S1600 Ford Puma. The OM Concrete Products team suffered a difficult event from the outset however, as a down on power engine saw them drop time to local pacesetter Ken O’Neill on the opening loop of stages. The Chris Birkbeck Rallysport Team carried out some repairs during the subsequent services and by the end of leg 1 O’Mahony and co-driver John Higgins had gained a slender 7 second lead, with 3 rd in F2.

Engine woes returned on Sunday morning as the engine began to over heat at the end of the first test and then continued to do so for all of the final day. This slowed the team’s progress during the 2nd day of competition but they remained in the thick of the class battle. A puncture on SS 12 and a subsequent 15 second penalty incurred while changing the damaged tyre on the next road section put an end to all hopes of a class win for the OM Concrete Team.

After the puncture they both decided it was best to drive with points in mind for the remainder of the event and finished 2nd in class, 22nd overall and 3rd in F2.

Speaking after the event O’Mahony commented “It was really disappointing after we got the puncture but unfortunately that is the nature of the sport. We are still very happy with the result and cant wait for our next event”.
Wilson impresses in the Kingdom
Meath driver Peter Wilson travelled to Kerry for the May bank holiday weekend for his first attempt at the illustrious Killarney Rally of the Lakes.

Peter who is tackling this year’s Irish Tarmac Championship in his group N Honda Civic was runner up in the 2005 Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young driver of the year award.

Peter started the event with another new co driver, this time J.P Kilmurray. However the pair gelled quickly and set a top 40 time up Molls Gap on their first ever attempt at this famous stage, behind 19 WRC/Grp A cars.

However the crew were badly hampered by a low seeding which saw Peter catch 3 cars on Molls Gap alone and then an average of 2 cars per stage as the day wore on. Deciding that championship points and a healthy class lead were the better part of valour, Peter and J.P backed off the pace to a more conservative level. Particularly as Peter had one very close call when passing a slower car on a narrow section of the Gortnagane stage. The pair still finished leg 1 in 35th o/a and a fairly assured class lead of ten and a half minutes over his two main championship rivals who were in 2nd and 3rd in the class overnight standings.

Leg 2 dawned wetter than ever, which meant a bit of running and racing for Peters service crew as they played musical chairs, but with Rims and Tyres!

Peter maintained his safe and conservative pace, ever mindful of a need to finish with maximum points as a dwindling budget may mean missed rounds later in the season. Yet this conservative pace he was employing was still a considerable enough speed. By first service Peter and J.P had climbed a further 3 places overall and a class lead increased by a further two and a half minutes.

Secure in his lead Peter elected to push a bit on the final Molls Gap stage to see how much he could improve on his time with the knowledge of 3 previous runs over the classic stage and now no slower competitors to pass. Unfortunately a quicker time was not to be, while flat in 4th gear Peter came over a crest and clipped a small rock, a puncture was the result. This required a change and Peter drove out of the Gap not a bit subdued by his “small moment”.

Peter Wilson and J.P Kilmurray finished the remainder of the final loop without incident to take their Group N Civic to 29th overall and just shy of an 11 minute class lead. On the ramp Peter commented

“ I’m happy enough, we won the class and scored maximum points and fifth 2-wheel drive home but if it wasn’t for the puncture and the time loss which was over 5 minutes we could have been up nearer the Super 1600s “

Peter has a 21 point advantage in the championship so he now turns his attention to preparing budget and car for Donegal international which is the next round of the championship.

Peter was supported on the Rally of the Lakes by Navan Hire, Keenan Bauer Mitsubishi dealers, James Cassidy Motors, Gerard Wilson Construction & XLR8Motorsport PR


Junior Competitors @ Drivers Briefing
Photo: Ray Gavin View full Size Image
KEENAN / SHERRY 2nd Overall in Killarney
This year’s most popular Irish Tarmac event – ‘The Killarney International Rally of The Lakes’ took place from the 29th of April to the 1st of May. The town of Killarney filled to capacity with competitors and rally enthusiasts from all over Ireland and the UK made for an exciting weekend of Motorsport. Irelands top rally drivers taking part in the breath-taking Killarney scenery had their stages opened by non-other than World Rally Champion Colin McRae.

Dessie Keenan and navigator Enda Sherry from Monaghan returned to take part in their favourite event driving ‘The Squealing Pig’ 2.4 Litre Mark II Escort running in the National section of the two-day event.

Keeping with tradition, Saturday’s first stage was over the famous mountainous area of Molls Gap. Weather conditions were wet leaving unfavourable patchy damp and dry road surfaces. With a confident recce completed, Dessie and Enda had a clean run through the very technical stage of Molls gap, with constant corners, crests, jumps and bumps leaving little room for error - the fastest race line was vitally important. First service of the rally meant a change of brake pads as these had been locking up on the rear of the car due to the damp conditions. Lying third overall after the opening stages and with the brake problem sorted, Dessie and Enda began their attack on the leaders – Phill Collins from Wales who has taken part in this event on numerous occasions over the years driving a MK II Ford Escort and Willie Power a local driver from Kerry driving a Darrian T90. Their efforts paid off and they arrived into Saturday nights service after eight stages 2nd overall, 24 seconds clear of 3rd placed driver Willie Power

Killarney awoke to yet again damp, drizzling, wet conditions on Sunday morning. To maintain their 2nd overall position Dessie and Enda needed to produce fast times on the opening two stages – Molls Gap and Beallaghbeama. With tyre choice critical as the Beallaghbeama stage has a notorious abrasive surface – tyres needed to not only work well but also last until the first Service! With the right choices made, Keenan and Sherry set blistering fast times over these stages – beating both Phill Collins and Colin McRae’s times! With no major problems all day, Dessie and Enda pushed the Black Escort to its absolute limits, matching and even beating times with Phill Collins, especially on tight – twisty stages.
However with Collins car having a higher top-end-speed, it was impossible for Dessie and Enda to take time off him on fast flowing sections.

Weather conditions dried out throughout the day and the duo from Monaghan arrived across the finish ramp of the Glen-Eagle Hotel a fantastic 2nd overall in the National and 12th overall in the International Event. “ We are delighted with the result – a fantastic event and we’re looking forward to the historic rally already”

Highs and Lows For McElvaney In Killarney
Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award Winner, Eamon McElvaney, made his debut in the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship at the Killarney Rally of the Lakes last weekend. The event was the Monaghan driver?s first international and first two-day rally.

The event began on Saturday morning with the famous Molls Gap stage and Eamon, with co-driver Alan Keena, were very happy with their opening run. They settled into a consistent pace on SS2 and were well position in the class A6 battle. However on the road section between stage 2 and 3 the clutch in the Peugeot 106 began giving trouble and following the first service of the day the team decided to withdraw from the rally to prevent further damage to the gearbox.

Despite the retirement from the overall rally there were some successes to come. Eamon and the team fixed the car on Saturday evening and entered the Sunday Run, which consisted of the first four stages on day two. Eamon was instantly on the pace and over the four stages was overall a minute faster than his closest rival taking overall victory in the Sunday Run.

"The weekend certainly had some highs and lows. I am really disappointed that we did not finish the Intentional event but winning the Sunday Run certainly raised the teams spirits," commented Eamon.


Photo: Ger Leahy
NESBITT'S COMMAND PERFORMANCE
Andrew Nesbitt and James O'Brien have taken an assured victory on the 2005 Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes. They finished the Killarney event fifty seconds ahead of Eugene Donnelly and Paul Kiely, who in turn had a margin of 32 seconds over the third place finishers, Derek McGarrity and Dermot O'Gorman. McGarrity's result sees him extend his lead in the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, of which the Rally of the Lakes was the third round.

Nesbitt had held the overnight lead in his Subaru Impreza WRC, but when Donnelly closed to within 29 seconds during the morning, Nesbitt hit back, completing the four subsequent stages quicker than his nearest rival. Donnelly was not aided by a back injury he picked up when his Corolla WRC landed heavily off a crest.

McGarrity's fortunes varied as the weather changed from wet to dry and back again. In the wet, his Subaru Impreza had difficulty in converting the power of the engine to traction at the wheels, but on the drier stages his pace was almost equal to that of the leaders. As the rain abated, his times improved, and he was promoted to third place when Kevin Lynch and Gordon Noble struck a wall and damaged their engine on the penultimate stage.

Eamonn Boland and Francis Regan finished fourth, followed by Austin McHale/Brian Murphy and Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell, who set the fastest time on the final stage. Bantry's Denis Cronin and Helen O'Sullivan were the top Killarney & District Motor Club members to finish, taking seventh despite picking up a puncture over the closing miles.

McGarrity now has 35 points at the head of Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship standings, Donnelly and Nesbitt are equal second with 27 points, and McHale and Boland are fourth and fifth with 26 and 25 points respectively.


Photo: Roy Dempster
Colm Murphy and Ger Loughrey won the Group N category on the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes, from Alan Ring and Paul Nagle, who were the top Kerry crew in the overall results. Terry McGonigle and Sean Harris had snatched the Group N lead earlier, but they then crashed on the very next stage and lost five minutes. Kevin and Martin Kelleher finished third in Group N and rounded out the overall top ten.


Photo: www.crpsics


The National Rally of the Lakes (for non-homologated or Modified cars) was won by Welshman Phil Collins in his Ford Escort RS, navigated by Killarney's Diarmuid Falvey. They finished one minute and eighteen seconds ahead of Dessie Keenan and Enda Sherry, from Monaghan, in another Escort.

Raymond Conlon won the Junior Rally of the Lakes for competitors under 27 years of age, navigated by Cathal McAree. Their margin of victory was just seven seconds, from Jason O'Mahoney and Aoife McCarthy. 



1 Andrew Nesbitt/James OBrien (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 19m 46s 
2 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 2h 20m 36s 
3 Derek McGarrity/Dermot OGorman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 21m 45s 
4 Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 22m 09s 
5 Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 23m 21s 
6 Tim McNulty/Eugene ODonnell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 23m 34s 
7 Denis Cronin/Helen OSullivan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 28m 44s 
8 Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Subaru Impreza N10) Gp N 2h 31m 32s 
9 Alan Ring/Paul Nagle (Subaru Impreza N11) Gp N 2h 32m 27s 
10 Kevin & Martin Kelleher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5) Gp N 2h 32m 50s 
 
Class winners: 
Peter Wilson/John Kilmurray (Honda Civic) 
Brendan Cumiskey/David Roe (Honda Civic) 
Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey 
Andrew Stewart/Tony Gallagher (Suzuki Swift) 
Ken ONeill/Conor ONeill (Ford Puma) 
Guy Woodcock/Tim Hobbs (Ford Escort Maxi) 
Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan. 
 
NATIONAL RALLY: 
1 Phil Collins/Diarmuid Falvey (Ford Escort) 2h 32m 08s 
2 Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Ford Escort) 2h 33m 16s 
3 Kieran ONeill/Andrew ODonoghue (Opel Kadett) 2h 38m 02s. 

Class winners:  
Kevin OSullivan/Martin ORiordan (Opel Corsa) 
Greg McCarthy/Liam Brennan (Vauxhall Nova) 
Robert Moran/Mike Cleary (Ford Escort) 
Walter Dick/Paul Fitzgerald (Ford Escort) 
Charlie Hickey/Johnny Hickey (Ford Escort) 
Peter Kelly/Con Lucey (Ford Escort) 
Conor Cavanagh/James Jordan (Ford Escort RS Cosworth) 
Kevin McCarthy/Ron Guha (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) 
 
HISTORIC RALLY: 
1 Mervyn Johnston/Richard Hyland (Mini Cooper S) 2h 08m 35s 
2 Connie Ward/Niall OConnell (Mini Cooper S) 2h 11m 30s 
3 Niall Creighton/Greg Roberts (Lotus Cortina) 2h 11m 48s

Class winners:  
Eddie Cronin/Jimmy Devane (Mini Cooper S) 
Chris Jennings/Wiz Corns (Volvo Amazon)
 
POST-HISTORIC RALLY: 
1 Todd Falvey/Dan Barry (Porsche 911) 2h 05m 09s 
2 Sean Treacy/Billy Regan (BMW 2002) 2h 05m 30s 
3 Denis Moynihan/Dan Moynihan (Ford Escort) 2h 08m 20s. 

JUNIOR RALLY: 
1 Raymond Conlon/Cathal McAree (Corolla) 29m 25s  
2 James Stafford/Niall Whitty (Puma) 29m 44s
3 Barry Meade/Colin Fitzgerald (Escort) 30m08s 

Class winners: 
Ross Forde/Christopher Keane (Mini)  
Martin Cunningham/Jonathan Cunningham (Civic). 

Leaders
SS1-SS16 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Stage Winners
SS1 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS2 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS3 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS4 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS5 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC)
& Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS6 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS7 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS8 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS9 Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS10 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS11 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS12 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS13 Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS14 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS15 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC)
& Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS16 Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza WRC)
PRE-EVENT NEWS
    SMS service for the Irish Tarmac Championship
    For Irish Mobile text RALLY ITC to 53503,
    or for UK mobiles text RALLY ITC to 60066.
    30 cents per message for Irish, and 25p for UK
    More Info: www.stagetimes.com
  • Details on McRaes Mk II
  • MRallying Killarney Assault
  • Billy Coleman Award Winner Prepares For First International Rally
  • Derek McGarrity, Eugene Donnelly and Tony Davies are just some of the drivers who will have new or different cars this weekend.
  • SUPER SPECIAL TO OPEN ACTION PACKED RALLY WEEKEND
  • Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble to run @ No 9
  • Updated / Revised Seeding.
  • Gareth MacHale withdraws
  • Provisional Historic & Junior Entry Lists
  • Provisional Entry List
  • COLIN McRAE TO DRIVE COURSE CAR ON 2005 RALLY OF THE LAKES
  • TOP 10 ENTRIES
  • SUPER SPECIAL
  • ROUTE DETAILS
  • Regulations available
  • KILLARNEY GEARS UP FOR 2005 RALLY OF THE LAKES
  • Preliminary Details
28/04/05
Details on McRae's car are on the McRae Motorsport Website:
28/04/05
MRallying Killarney Assault
With the recent news that Colin McRae is to drive at this year’s event, expectations couldn’t be higher for most fans favourite rally of the season, the Killarney Rally of the Lakes!

Killarney, the third round of the Pirell Irish International Tarmac Championship, is also the MRallying team’s home international event and one driver Colm has always enjoyed competing on. “I won my class in Killarney in 2003 in the Focus, taking 14th overall and last year, with the N8, we set the Group N pace on the Saturday afternoon. It’s a fantastic event, excellent to compete on and I hope we’ll doing well again this year!”

After a trying and ultimately curtailed outing on the Circuit of Ireland, the team has now learned some harsh lessons and is completely focussed on getting things right for the home round – “after the elation of Galway, the Circuit brought us right back down to the ground. We competed well with the local lads until our retirement. It’s opened up the championship but our intention is to take control again on the May weekend”.

Colm and Ger are also delighted to announce Eddie Garry car sales as sponsors to the team. Well-known garage owner and fellow competitor Eddie will make a welcome addition to the MRallying team.

The Pirelli shod, Shell fuel backed car will be in fine fettle for the May weekend and the crew are considering using an event before then to shake the car down to find any possible weaknesses in the Impreza’s armoury.

Looking forward to getting back into their Murray Motorsport race suits, Colm and co-driver Ger can look forward to a testing weekend in the Kingdom - the Transplant Trailers sponsored car will have completed 16 special stages before returning to the Gleneagles hotel on the Sunday evening.

The Thermia geothermal heat pumps and Trackcare Engineering backed car will visit both Cork and Kerry counties on the Saturday – a format of 4 loops of two stages will see services in the Millstreet Arena and on the main Cork/Killarney road. Sunday stages will see the Gables Bar, Advance Surveys Impreza tackling classic Rally of the Lakes stages such as Beallaghbeama, Caragh Lake and Shanera as well as the legendary Molls Gap.

Colm and Ger would like to thank all their sponsors for making this years assault on the Tarmac Championship possible; Pirelli tyres, Shell Racing Fuel, Thermia Heat Link, Transplant Trailers Sales, Trackcare Engineering, Eddie Garry car sales, Advance Surveys, the Gables Bar, Vanity Case beauticians and the Connemara Gateway hotel. Without their participation, none of the teams efforts would be possible and it is immensely appreciated.

27/04/05
Billy Coleman Award Winner Prepares For First International Rally The Killarney Rally of the Lakes (April 29th – May 1st) is the next event of the calendar for Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award Winner Eamon McElvaney.

The 20 year old is fresh from his finish on the Monaghan Stages Rally last weekend where battled through severe engine troubles to claim 4th in class A6.

The Rally of the Lakes will be Monaghan driver’s first international event and his first ever two day rally. Eamon, and co-driver Alan Keena, will compete in the highly competitive class A6 in the Peugeot 106. The event consists of sixteen stages including the famous Molls Gap and Caragh Lake stages.

“I can’t wait to get started,” commented Eamon. “It’s my first chance to compete in such a high profile event and I’m am relishing the challenge.”

27/04/05
  • McGarrity will have one of the last S10s build by Prodrive for his Rally of the Lakes defence, the car which Petter Solberg won Sweden with,this year. (WT53 SRT).
    The car has been completely rebuilt and repainted in Red as per S9's used by McGarrity on the Circuit and Lakes last year.
  • Eugene Donnelly will use the Corolla WRC recently acquiured by Donnelly Motorsport.
  • Tony Davies is the new owner of Derek McGarrity's Circuit of Ireland winning car (S600 WRT), which has been converted to right hand drive.
  • George Cullen is expected in McGarrity's "Galway" Skoda.
  • Eddie Garry will have his newly acquired Subaru Impreza WRC99
22/05/05
SUPER SPECIAL TO OPEN ACTION PACKED RALLY WEEKEND
The Remax (Killarney & Kenmare) Super Special Stage at Killarney Racecourse this Friday evening will set the scene for the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005. Starting at 5.30pm, the Super Special will provide visitors with opportunities to meet the competitors and to see the rally cars in action, as the crews shake them down before the rally gets underway on Saturday morning. Former World Rally Champion, Colin McRae, who is driving a Course Car on the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005, will demonstrate his Ford Escort RS at the Super Special.

In addition to the cars which will be competing on the Rally of the Lakes, the Super Special will also feature a selection of Group B machines from the 1980s and earlier, including Audi Quattros, MG Metro 6R4s. The Group Bs were the mainstay of the World Rally Championship during that era, before the sport's governors outlawed them for being too powerful.

Visitors to the Super Special will be in with a chance of being driven around the course in one of the Group B cars, simply by entering a free competition at the Racecourse on Friday evening.

Aside from the on track action, the will be numerous other attractions at the Super Special, to cater for all the family, including a Rally Simulator, a Classic Car Exhibition, and merchandise stands, while for children there will a Bouncy Castle, Kiddies Go-Karting and Face Painting. Catering and bar facilities will also be available.

Admission to the Super Special is 10 euros, accompanied children under fourteen are free. Part of the proceeds from the Super Special will be donated to the Kerry Mountain Rescue Service.

The Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes gets underway at 8.47am on Saturday moring from the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney. There will be fierce competition among the top seeds over two tough days of rallying to decide the outcome of this most prestigous of motorsport events.

* In a change to the Top Ten seeding previously issued, reigning National Forest Rally Champion and Northern Ireland Champion, Kevin Lynch, comes in from the reserves to start at No. 9, in place of Gareth McHale, who has opted out of the event.
21/04/05
    Most of the changes are:
  • (As per previous News Gareth MacHale withdrawn)
  • No 15 Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally withdrawn
  • Denis Biggerstaff is now to run @ No 15 with Sean Moriarty co-driving
  • Dominick Downey to co-drive George Cullen in a Skoda Fabia WRC (No 17)
  • Paul Nagle confirmed as co-driver for Alan Ring (No 25)
  • Stephen McAuley is now co driving for Roy White (No 30)
  • Dessie Keenan to run @ No 39
  • Brendan Brosnan to run @ No 56
  • Keith Naughton to run @ No 74
  • No 83 Michael McColgan/Kevin Flanagan withdrawn
  • No 331 Conor Convey/Mark Convoy withdrawn
17/04/05
Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle have Withdrawn from the Rally of the Lakes.
Paul Nagle is now expected to co-drive for Alan Ring



Former World Champion, Colin McRae, acting as Course Car on an event in Scotland.
Photo: Roy Dempster www.roydempster.com 

Provisional Entry List
1 Andrew  Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
2 Derek McGarrity/Dermot  O'Gorman (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
3 Eugene  Donnelly/Paul  Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) [A8]
4 Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
5 Peadar Hurson/Glenn Patterson (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
6 Eamon  Boland/Francis O'Regan (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
7 Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
8 Denis Cronin/Helen Sullivan (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
9 Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
10 J.J. Fleming/Robbie Ward (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
11 Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Toyota Corolla WRC) [A8]
12 Cathal Arthurs/Graham Moore (Hyundai Accent WRC) [A8]
14 Tony Davies/Jakes Kelly (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
15 Denis Biggerstaff/Sean Moriarty (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
16 Nigel Hicklin/TBA  (Skoda Octavia WRC) [A8]
17 George  Cullen/Dominick Downey (Skoda Fabia WRC) [A8]
18 George  Treacy/TBA  (Peugeot 206 WRC) [A8]
19 John Cope/Tony Cope (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
20 Paddy White/Aidan Moran (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
21 Tommy  Graham/Anthony  Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
22 Johnny O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman (Ford Escort WRC) [A8]
23 Phil Collins/Diarmuid  Falvey (Ford Escort) [M14]
24 John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian T90 GTR) [M14]
25 Alan Ring/Paul Nagle (Subaru Impreza N11) [N4]
26 Gary Jennings/TBA  (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [N4]
27 Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5) [N4]
28 Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Subaru Impreza N10) [N4]
29 Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Subaru Impreza N9) [N4]
30 Roy White/Stephen McAuley (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5) [N4]
31 Aaron McHale/Gerard McMonagle (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5) [N4]
32 James  Foley/Fulton  Grant (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 ) [N4]
33 James O'Sullivan/Brian Duggan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [N4]
34 Alan Nesbitt/Paddy  Robinson (Subaru Impreza N11) [N4]
35 Tom Randles/Diarmuid Lynch (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD) [A8]
36 Mark Courtney/Donal Crossan (Toyota Celica GT-Four) [A8]
37 Gabriel Martin/Mark Kane (Subaru Impreza N11) [N4]
38 Tom Holton/Bruno Brissart (Toyota Celica GT-Four) [A8]
39 Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Escort) [M14]
40 Frank O'Mahony/TBA  (MG Metro 6R4) [M15]
41 John  Folan/Victor  Farrell (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
42 Trevor Harding/Charlie Boland (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
43 Jer O'Donovan/Stephen O'Donovan (Escort RS Cosworth) [A8]
44 Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [N4]
45 Kevin Kelliher/Martin Kelliher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5) [N4]
46 Tadgh Linehan/John Kearney (Subaru Impreza N9) [N4]
47 Eoin Doyle/Paul Walsh (Subaru Impreza N9) [N4]
48 John Hickey/TBA  (Subaru Impreza N8) [N4]
49 Doni Keating/John Carroll (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [N4]
50 Mike Bird/Kenneth Flanagan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [N4]
51 Brendan Murphy/Andrew Lehane (Subaru Impreza WRX) [N4]
52 Willie Power/Adrian Deasy (Darrian T90) [M14]
53 Paul Dempsey/Mark Keane (Subaru Impreza N9) [N4]
54 Kieran O'Neill/Andrew O'Donoghue (Opel Kadett GT/E) [M13]
56 Brendan Brosnan/Denis O'Connell (Peugeot 205) [M14]
57 Dave Slattery/Ger Somers (Ford Escort) [M13]
58 Adrian Randles/Aileen Randles (Ford Escort) [M13]
59 Jack Sleator/Timmy England (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]
60 Eugene Ferry/Neil Doherty (Mitsubishi Evo 6) [N4]
61 P.J. McGrath/Damien Morrisey (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]
62 Mark Nangle/Nollaig Breen (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]
63 Ray Hilliard/Ed Walsh (Mitsubishi Evo 7) [N4]
64 Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Ford Puma S 1600) [A6]
65 Ken O'Neill/Conor O'Neill (Ford Puma S 1600) [A6]
66 Gwyn Thomas/Phil Harrison (Ford Puma) [M15]
67 Eddie Blackwell/John Quill (Subaru Impreza) [M16]
68 Fergal Allen/Martin Brady (BMW M3) [M14]
69 Guy Woodcock/Tim Hobbs (Ford Escort Maxi) [A7]
70 Keith Power/Fergal Talbot (Ford Puma S 1600) [A6]
71 Edward Power/Aidan Burke (Renault Clio) [A6]
72 Eddie Garry/Andrew Purcell (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]
73 Peter Kelly/Con Lucey (Ford Escort) [M14]
74 Keith Naughton/Derek Flynn (Ford Escort) [M13]
75 Charlie Hickey/Johnny Hickey (Ford Escort RS) [M13]
76 Kieran McCarthy/Ron Guha (Mitsubishi Evo 8) [N4]
77 David Randles/Con Duggan (Nissan Almera Kit) [A7]
78 Cathal Greaney/Maurice Greaney (Mitsubishi Evo 6) [M16]
79 Aidan Dunlea/Stephen Ferriter (Ford Escort F2) [A7]
80 Paul Cloke/Liam O'Leary (Opel Astra) [A7]
81 John Buttimer/Declan Buttimer (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]
82 Walter Walshe/Colm Doherty (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]

84 Ian Chadwick/Patrick O'Dowd (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]
85 Seamus Devine/Cathal Lagan (Mitsubishi Evo 8 ) [N4]
86 Willie John Dolan/Niall O'Sullivan (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]
87 Kathy Rumney/Dylan Thomas (Mitsubishi Evo 4) [N4]
88 Frank Barnett/Daniel Barnett (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]
89 Terry McGonigle/Sean Harris (Mitsubishi Evo 8) [N4]
90 James White/John O'Mahony (Ford Focus) [A7]
91 Tony Murphy/Brid Murphy (Toyota Corolla) [M11]
92 Emily O'Mahony/Donal Lennon (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]
93 Pat Croke/Peter Brennan (Subaru Impreza N) [N4]
94 JohnPaul Ruth/Pierce Doheny (Peugeot 306 Gti) [A7]
95 Lloyd Hutchinson/Kevin Flanagan (Austin Cooper S) [M9]
96 Mike Moloney/Marie Casey (Ford Escort) [M13]
97 Robert Moran/Michael Cleary (Ford Escort) [M11]
98 John  Tully/Brian Doherty (Ford Escort) [M11]
99 Gordan Coleman/Paul Kelly (Nissan Almera) [N3]
100 Gus Kearney/Robert Hughes (Peugeot 206) [A6]
101 Shane McCarthy/Jon Waterman (Peugeot 206) [A6]
102 Dominic  Naughton/TBA  (Peugeot 106) [A6]
103 John Fleming/David Fleming (Honda Civic) [A6]
104 Micky Cummins/Reg Fitzpatrick (Citroen Saxo) [A6]
105 Eamon McElvaney/Alan Keena (Peugeot) [A6]
106 Cyril Wharton/Paul O'Shea (Ford Escort) [M10]
107 Brendan Dennehy/Willie Buchanan (Talbot Sunbeam) [M13]
108 Ger O'Connell/Gerard Seaman (Ford Escort) [M12]
109 Kevin O'Sullivan/Martin O'Riordan (Opel Corsa) [M9]
110 Noel O'Sullivan/Nicholas Burke (Ford Escort) [M9]
111 Jason McSweeney/Michael O'Farrell (Honda Civic) [A6]
112 Kieran Marshall/Philomena Marshall (Honda Civic) [A6]
113 Paul Ahern/Kieran Murphy (Honda Civic) [A6]
114 D.D. Murphy/John Murphy (Ford Escort) [M12]
115 Brian Connolly/TBA  (Citroen Saxo) [A6]
116 Pat Looney/Ronald Riordan (Ford Fiesta) [M11]
117 John O'Riordan/Donal O'Connor (Ford Escort) [M13]
118 Brendan Cumiskey/David Roe (Honda Civic R) [N3]
119 Billy Hayes/John Rafter (Peugeot 306 GTI) [N3]
120 Pat Callanan/Kenneth Shiel (Honda Civic Type R) [N3]
121 Patrick O'Sullivan/John O'Shea (Honda Integra) [N3]
122 Joe Sullivan/TBA  (Opel Manta) [M13]
123 Brendan O'Shea/Anthony Kelliher (Peugeot 106) [M16]
124 Raymond Gilleece/Alan Leonard (Honda Civic Type R) [N3]
125 Fergus O'Meara/Dermot Brennan (Ford Escort) [M13]
126 Greg McCarthy/Liam Brennan (Vauxhall Nova) [M10]
127 Paudie O'Callaghan/Padraig Dineen (Toyota Starlet) [M9]
128 Paddy O'Connor/Diarmuid O'Mahony (Ford Fiesta) [M9]
129 Ger Neeson/Cormac Casey (Ford Escort) [M9]
130 David Leslie/Melissa Leslie (Toyota Corolla) [M11]
131 Tadgh O'Connell/Mossie O'Connell (Peugeot 205) [M10]
132 Enda Hallinan/Ollie Ward (Honda Civic) [N2]
133 Mick Quinn/Chris Kelly (Honda Civic) [N2]
134 Peter Kelly/Brian Kelly (Honda Civic) [N2]
135 David Murphy/John Doody (Ford Escort) [M13]
136 Aidan  Friel/Joe Hunter (Honda Civic) [N2]
137 Peter Wilson/Alan Kenna (Honda Civic Type R) [N3]
138 Andrew Stewart/Tony Gallagher (Suzuki  Swift) [A5]
139 Conor Magennis/Robert Woodcock (Suzuki Swift GTE) [A5]
140 James Ryan/Liam O'Shea (Honda Civic) [N2]
141 Colm Forde/Dan Keane (Ford Ka) [A5]
142 Ian Hynes/TBA  (Honda Civic) [N2]
143 John Riordan/Eddie Murphy (Ford Escort) [M10]
144 Aidan Ryan/Dan Cronin (Peugeot 205 GTI) [M10]
145 Michael O'Shaughnessy/John Falvey (Ford Escort) [M10]
146 Daragh Raftery/TBA  (Honda Civic) [N2]
147 Aidan Kennedy/Tara Duggan (Nissan Sunny) [M11]
148 Colm Cronin/Trevor Payne (Peugeot 106) [M11]
149 Michael Herbert/Karen McCormack (Nissan Micra) [A5]
150 Stephen Murphy/Peter Walsh (Honda Civic) [M10]
151 Declan Grogan/Paddy King (Honda Civic) [M11]
152 Ceiros James/Patrick Kiely (Opel Manta) [M13]
153 Sean  Ryan/Michael Maher (Peugeot 205 RWD) [M13]

Historic
201 Joe Connolly/Gareth Connolly (Ford Escort BDA) [C2]
202 Mervyn Johnston/Albert Hyland (Morris Mini Cooper) [B2]
203 Todd Falvey/Dan Barry (Porsche 911) [C2]
204 Sean Treacy/  (BMW 2002 Alpina) [C2]
205 Don Moynihan/Tim Moynihan (Ford Escort) [C2]
206 Niall Creighton/Gregory Roberts (Ford Lotus Cortina) [B3]
207 Mike Doody/Richard O'Mahony (Morris Mini) [C1]
208 Frank Cunningham/William Connolly (Mini Cooper S) [B2]
209 Liam Sheehan/Alan Harrington (Ford Escort) [C1]
210 Con Ward/Niall O'Connell (Austin Cooper S) [B2]
211 Martin Sheahan/Ger Clancy (Ford Escort) [C2]
212 Gerard McCarthy/Paul Horan (Triumph TR7) [D4]
213 Eddie Cronin/Jimmy Devane (Morris Mini Cooper) [B1]
214 Donal O'Connor/  (Ford Escort) [C1]
215 Chris Jennings/Wiz Corns (Volvo Amazon) [B3]
216 John Curran/Anthon Jaego (Ford Escort) [C1]
217 Liam Mulcaire/Shane Meade (Ford Escort) [C1]
218 John O'Toole/  (Ford Escort) [C2]
219 Philip McDowel/Gordan Buckley (Ford Escort) [C1]
220 Edward Hallahan/Fergus Dempsey (Ford Escort) [C1]
221 Martin Kehoe/Barty Daye (Mini Cooper S) [C1]
222 Denis Moynihan/Dan Moynihan (Ford Escort) [C1]
223 Gerry Freeman/Dermot Quigley (Ford Anglia) [B3]

Junior
301 James Stafford/Niall Whitty (Ford Puma S 1600) [J2]
302 Owen Murphy/  (Rover Mini) [J1]
303 Matt Shinnors/Sean Duggan (Ford Escort) [J2]
304 Ross Forde/Aaron Forde () [J1]
305 Jason O'Mahony/Aoife McCarthy (Honda Civic) [J2]
306 Francis Kelly/Charlotte Egan (Opel Corsa Gsi) [J2]
307 Padraig O'Donovan/Frank Ryan (Ford Escort) [J2]
308 Barry Murphy/TBA  (Vauxhall Nova) [J1]
309 John Murphy/Liam Moynihan (Ford Puma) [J1]
310 Paddy O'Dwyer/Pat Doyle (Vauxhall Nova) [J1]
311 John Delaney/Mark Bowes (Ford Escort) [J2]
312 Thomas O'Keeffe/Donal Keane (Ford Escort) [J2]
313 Barry Meade/Colin Fitzgerald (Ford Escort) [J1]
314 Michael Dennehy/Travis Slattery (Ford Sierra) [J2]
315 Martin Cunningham/Jonathan Cunningham (Honda Civic) [J2]
316 Philip Giles/Aoife Buttimer (Toyota Corolla) [J2]
317 Liam Howlett/Jenny Kelly (Toyota Corolla) [J2]
318 Alan O'Meara/Dave Fenwick (Peugeot 309) [J2]
319 Olan Hodnett/Alan White (Suzuki Swift) [J1]
320 Keith Cronin/TBA  (Peugeot 106) [J2]
321 Billy O'Keeffe/Derrick O'Neill (Vauxhall Corsa) [J1]
322 David Laddin/Denis Lenihan (Mazda 323) [J1]
323 Kevin Moran/Daniel O'Donoghue (Talbot Sunbeam) [J2]
324 Coleman Hurley/John Spillane (Vauxhall Astra) [J2]
325 Paul Doody/Chris Doody (Ford Escort) [J2]
326 Raymond Conlon/Cathal McAree (Toyota Corolla) [J2]
327 Sarah Moynihan/Amy Moynihan (Nissan Micra) [J1]
328 Brian O'Mahony/Lisa Galway (Peugeot 106) [J1]
329 Brian Cullen/TBA  (Honda Civic) [J2]
330 Sean Moran/TBA  (Toyota Corolla) [J2]

332 Seamus O'Grady/Adrian Kent (Protan Sattra) [J1]
333 Tony Gibbons/Michael Carley (Honda Civic VTI) [J2]
334 Kieran Crowley/Niall O'Rahilly Drew (Toyota Corolla) [J2]
335 Simon Kehoe/Veronica Culleton (Peugeot 106) [J2]
336 Sean Moylan/TBA  (Peugeot 205 GTI) [J2]
337 John Stafford/David Murphy (Vauxhall Corsa) [J1]
338 Brian Grealish/Derrick Feeney (Vauxhall Nova) [J2]
339 Patrick Cunningham/Shane O'Brien (Vauxhall Nova) [J2]
340 Maurice Meskell/Podge Doody (Toyota Corolla) [J2]
341 Colin Flanagan/Nigel Nicholson (Ford Puma) [J1]
342 Colin O'Toole/John McGrath (Opel Corsa) [J1]
343 Gary Murphy/Robert O'Sullivan (Suzuki Swift) [J1]
344 Jarleth Connolly/Jason Ollerenshaw (Peugeot 205) [J2]
345 George Wiley/Brian McLoughlin (Peugeot 205) [J2]
346 Mike Deane/Kenneth Deane (Ford Escort) [J2]
347 Tim Radford/TBA  (Peugeot 106) [J2]
11/04/05
COLIN McRAE TO DRIVE COURSE CAR ON 2005 RALLY OF THE LAKES
Former World Rally Champion, Colin McRae, is to drive a Course Car on the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005, which will take place over the May Bank Holiday Weekend. The Scot, who claimed the World title in 1995, will use his own Mark 2 Ford Escort RS for the task, and his presence is certain to attract huge crowds to the Killarney-based event. His co-driver in the Escort will be Roger Herron. The news of McRae's role in the event was announced by the Clerk of the Course, Gary McCormick, at the Rally Launch held this evening at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney.

The Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005 has as its top three seeds the drivers who have won the past three events. 2002 winner, Andrew Nesbitt, will be seeded at No.1, and he will be followed over the Start Ramp by last year's victor, Derek McGarrity and 2003 winner, Eugene Donnelly. Austin McHale, seeded at No.4, has also won the rally on three previous occasions. These four drivers have also amassed ten Irish Tarmac Rally Championship titles between them.

The top ten seeds also includes Peadar Hurson, Eamonn Boland, Tim McNulty, Gareth McHale, JJ Fleming and Denis Cronin, the highest seeded Killarney & District Motor Club member, who won the recent West Cork Rally.

Other local drivers included amongst the entry include Johnny O'Sullivan and Tom Randles, while Alan Ring and Kevin O'Donoghue will be in contention for honours in the Group N Production category - Ring was the Group N winner in 2004. The strong Group N line-up also includes Seamus Leonard, Colm Murphy, Willie Fannin, Aaron McHale, Roy White, Garry Jennings, James O'Sullivan, James Foley and Gabriel Martin.

The Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005 will be the third round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, and the second round of both the West Euro Cup and the 023 Tiles Southern Four Rally Championship. Significantly, it is the first Irish rally to feature over one hundred homologated cars on its entry list, including over thirty versions of the Subaru Impreza alone.

In the National Rally of the Lakes (for crews competing in non-homologated cars), a battle royale is in store between drivers such as Phil Collins (Ford Escort RS); Frank O'Mahony (MG Metro 6R4); John Dalton (Darrian T90 GTR); Dessie Keenan (Ford Escort RS); Brendan Brosnan (Peugeot 205RWD); Dave Slattery (Ford Escort RS); Mike Moloney (Ford Escort RS) and Denis Biggerstaff, who has entered his Subaru Impreza WRC in the Modified classes.

The Junior Rally of the Lakes, for drivers under the age of 27 years, was inaugurated last year, and the 2005 event has attracted over fifty entries. Unfortunately, only twenty Juniors can be permitted to actually start the rally, and the selection will be decided by ballot. They will complete the final four stages on Sunday afternoon.

Killarney & District Motor Club is delighted to announce that Failte Ireland will sponsor the television coverage of the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005. Highlights of the Rally of the Lakes will be included on the popular RPM Motorsport programme, broadcast on UTV. This footage will also be broadcast on RTE 2, Sky Sports and as part of the Rally Action series on a selection of foreign channels: AB Moteurs (France); TVE Teledeportes (Spain); RAI Sport (Italy); Kanaal 2 (Belgium); RTL5 (The Netherlands); Viasat Sport (Scandinavia); Start TV (Turkey); BalkanTV (Bulgaria) and Dubai Sports Channel (United Arab Emirates).

The Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes kicks off on Friday, April 29th with a Super Special stage at Killarney Racecourse between 5.30pm and 9pm. This proved very popular with families and die-hard rally fans alike last year, and the fact that competing cars will run against the clock on this occasion will add an extra dimension to the 2005 Super Special.

Visitors to the Super Special can enter a competition to win a place in the co-driver's seat of one of the spectacular Group B cars, which will again be demonstrated at Killarney Racecourse and throughout the 2005 Rally of the Lakes. Among the Group Bs which will be seen in action over the weekend is the very first Audi Quattro rally car, which has been completely restored to its original specification by its current owner, John Hanlon.

Part of the proceeds from the Super Special will go to the Kerry Mountain Rescue Service.

On Saturday, April 30th, the rally will get underway in earnest, when the No. 1 seeds, Andrew Nesbitt and James O'Brien, cross the Start Ramp at the Gleneagle Hotel at 8.47am. As is traditional, the famous Molls Gap stage will open the rally, and this test will be used four times in all over the weekend. The Gortnagane stage follows Molls Gap on Saturday morning, after which there will be a Service at the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet.

The next stage in the Cullen area is the first brand new stage to be introduced to the Rally of the Lakes in many years. The fourth stage of the loop is Quarry Cross, located near Gneevguilla village. A Service on the Killarney-Cork road follows, before the entire loop is repeated to complete the Saturday route.

Molls Gap again greets the crews on the morning of Sunday, May 1st, with the overnight leaders due to start the stage at 10.03am. The day's action follows the familiar loop of the Beallaghbeama, Caragh Lake and Shanera stages, with Services on the Killorglin to Glenbeigh Road after Beallaghbeama, and the Killarney to Cork Road after Shanera. Again, the loop is repeated, bringing to sixteen the total number of stages comprising the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005.

The winning crew is due to arrive back at Rally headquarters, the Gleneagle Hotel, at 5.43pm that evening.

Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005 - Top Ten Seeds
1. Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien Armagh Subaru Impreza WRC
2. Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman Glengormley Subaru Impreza WRC
3. Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely Maghera Toyota Corolla WRC
4. Austin McHale/Brian Murphy Dublin Ford Focus WRC
5. Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter Warrenpoint Subaru Impreza WRC
6. Eamonn Boland/Francis O'Regan Wexford Subaru Impreza WRC
7. Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell Meath Subaru Impreza WRC
8. Gareth McHale/Paul Nagle Dublin Toyota Corolla WRC
9. Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan Bantry Subaru Impreza WRC
10. JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward Galway Ford Focus WRC


Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005 - Route
Friday April 29th
Super Special Killarney Racecourse

Saturday April 30th
Start Ramp Gleneagle Hotel
Stage 1 Molls Gap
Stage 2 Gortnagane
Service Green Glens Arena, Millstreet
Stage 3 Cullen
Stage 4 Quarry Cross
Service Killarney-Cork Road
Stage 5 Molls Gap
Stage 6 Gortnagane
Service Green Glens Arena, Millstreet
Stage 7 Cullen
Stage 8 Quarry Cross
Overnight Parc Ferme Killarney Racecourse


Sunday May 1st
Stage 9 Molls Gap
Stage 10 Beallaghbeama
Service Killorglin - Glenbeigh Road
Stage 11 Caragh Lake
Stage 12 Shanera
Service Killarney-Cork Road
Stage 13 Molls Gap
Stage 14 Beallaghbeama
Service Killorglin - Glenbeigh Road
Stage 15 Caragh Lake
Stage 16 Shanera
Finish Ramp Gleneagle Hotel

21/03/05



Regulations and Entry Form available to download from the rally website:
18/03/05
One of Ireland's most spectacular sporting occasions, the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005, will take place around one of Ireland's most spectacular locations, Killarney, over the weekend of April 29th - May 1st. The elite of this country's drivers will be joined by a number of strong contenders from abroad to decide the outcome of this prestigious event.

Famous Irish rallying names such as Eugene Donnelly, Austin McHale, Eamonn Boland and last year's Rally of the Lakes winner, Derek McGarrity, are expected to be among the starting line-up. Among the foreign drivers who have signalled their intention to compete is Belgium's Pieter Tsjoen, three times a champion in his home country.

Gary McCormick has been appointed by the members of Killarney & District Motor Club as the Clerk of the Course for the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005. An Engineering Officer with the Electricity Supply Board, Gary was for many years the Stage Commander on the best known and most popular stage in Irish rallying, Molls Gap. That position is now occupied by his daughter, Tanya. Gary also served as the Clerk of the Course for the Killarney Historic Stages Rally in 1999 and 2000.

Speaking of his plans for this year's Rally of the Lakes, Mr. McCormick revealed some details about the route. "The rally will consist of sixteen special stages, eight on Saturday and eight on Sunday. We will use the same format on both days, with a loop of four stages being repeated twice. Most will be traditional Rally of the Lakes stages, but there will be one new stage which has never been rallied before. The overall route is quite compact, and the entire rally will take place within a thirty mile radius of Killarney town."

He also confirmed that the Friday evening Super Special stage at Killarney Racecourse, which proved so popular last year, will open the Rally of the Lakes weekend again in 2005. "Whereas previously the Super Special was only a demonstration run by the drivers taking part in the Rally of the Lakes, it will be timed this year to one hundredth of a second. It will provide a useful barometer for crews to compare their pace against that of their competitors before the rally proper gets underway".

Liam Cronin will be the Deputy Clerk of the Course for the 2005 Rally of the Lakes, while Conor Falvey, Dermot Healy and Mike Marshall will serve as Assistant Clerks of the Course. The 2004 COC, Noreen Marshall, returns to the role of Rally Secretary.

The Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005 will be a counting round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, the West Euro Cup and the 023 Tiles Southern Four Rally Championship.

Following his victory on the Galway International Rally during February, Eugene Donnelly leads the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in his Toyota Corolla WRC. Austin McHale (Ford Focus WRC03) and Derek McGarrity (Skoda Fabia WRC04) are Donnelly's closest rivals in the championship going into the Circuit of Ireland at Easter, the second round of the series. Depending on the outcome of that event, the leaderboard may have a completely different complexion by the time the Tarmac chase arrives in Killarney.

Sweden's Kent Persson leads the West Euro Cup after the opening round in Norway last month, the Peugeot 206 XS driver heading the standings with 121 points, while Denmark's Henrik Munk Hansen (Peugeot 106 S16) holds second place with 105 points.

The 023 Tiles Southern Four Championship kicks off this weekend with the West Cork Rally.

The Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005 will again feature a Junior Rally for drivers under the age of 27 years. They will join the other competitors for the final four stages of the event. Killarney & District Motor Club was first in Ireland to introduce the concept of a Junior Rally, and the idea has since been widely adopted by many other clubs throughout the country. The 2004 Junior Rally of the Lakes was won by James Stafford, driving a Vauxhall Nova.

Further details of the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005 can be obtained from the event's website, www.rallyofthelakes.com

Regulations and entry forms for the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005 will be available to download from the website in the next few days or alternatively, they may be obtained from:
The Secretary,
International Rally of the Lakes,
14, Muckross Grove,
Killarney,
Co. Kerry,
Republic of Ireland.
Tel. 064 32026 / +353 64 32026;
Fax. 064 35963 / +353 64 35963;
E-mail: competitors@rallyofthelakes.com
Preliminary Details
07/03/05
The 2005 Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes in association with the Gleneagle Hotel will take place on the weekend of Apr 30-May 1

The event will be the 3rd round of the Tarmac Championship and the 2nd round of the Southern 4 Championship.
Gary McCormick is the COC for 2005 Rally. Gary is a former COC for the Killarney Historic Rally and has always been involved in the Organising team for the Rally of the Lakes.

The 2005 Rally will stay closer to Killarney using a 4x2 stage format each day.
The Saturday will also feature some new stages to the Rally of the Lakes.

As well as the International and National Section, there will also be the Historic and Junior Sections

The Friday evening Spectator/Test stage at the Killarney Race Course which proved so popular last year will also be taking place.

Regulations and further details will be available shortly

Topics: Rally of the Lakes (Killarney) 

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