Posted: May 16, 2006 12:20 PM
Video Clip
Bad Luck comes in 3's as Turbo Trouble Torments Kelleher again.
Carlow stages were where Kevin and Martin Kelleher made the return to their challenge for the National Championship Group N title. The start of the season had been good to the Clonakilty crew with a second place on round one in Mayo being bettered by a win on round 2 in the kingdom of Kerry. However on the third round visit to the Drumlins of Monaghan the nature of rallying as a mechanically arduous sport was demonstrated to them as a blown Turbo saw them end their event very early in the day.
Kevin then tackled the Killarney Rally of the Lakes over the intervening weekend in a hired Foley Rallysport Mitsubishi Evo 8 with "substitute" co driver Martin Brady, however for the second weekend in succession a blown turbo was to put paid to that rally with half the rally left to run.
Kevin returned to his own AMF prepared Kumho supported Lancer Evo 9 with his brother Martin back on the notes and was cautiously confident of a good weekend having had his own car receive much work following the troubles of Monaghan. Carlow was scene of good fortune for the brothers in 2005 when they won the events prestigious MK 2 Challenge.
Stage 1 was an exceptionally fast stage and it saw the unusual outcome of 4 Group N Cars shattering the stage bogey time (the minimum time allowed to complete the stage based on allowed average speed) Kellehers were faster than the bogey time along with Alan Ring, Graham Quinn and also Ian Barrett, this meant each crew was credited with the time 6m.40s. Stage 2 was a similarly fast stage but with a tight narrow rough laneway section which had to be treated with care and caution in places. On this stage Kellehers took fastest time by 3 seconds to lead group N at the first service halt.
The re run of the first stage was stage 3 and again the top 4 Group N cars beat the stage minimum or Bogey time and were credited with 6m.40s this meant status quo at the front with Kevin still leading Group N by 3 seconds. The return to stage 2 for stage 4 saw Kevin and Martin make a rare error and uncharacteristically damage the Evo 9. A fast right corner that tightened just before the finish of SS4 caught Kevin out slightly and the car caught the grass bank and rolled over, surprisingly it was not a time consuming roll by normal standards, Kevin crossed the finish only 9 seconds down on Alan Ring who now moved into a 6 second Group N lead that he wasn't to relinquish.
Kellehers returned to service with the damaged car and with a great work effort from his A.M.F service team and some kind assistance from the Foley Rallysport mechanics the crew got the car re fettled tremendously within the short service time to allow Kevin return to the stages for a fight back at the group N lead. Cosmetically the car was not badly damaged, with the bulk of the damage from the small roll being caused to the rear suspension.
Kevin headed for stage 5 in a focused mood just 6 seconds behind Group N leader Alan Ring and Adrian Deasy and determined to keep the race for Group N honours alive. However this wasn't to be as for the third weekend in a row a turbo failure was to cruelly cut short yet another Kelleher rally.
It's said that bad luck comes in 3's so Kevin now turns his attention to the Cavan rally which is the next round of the National Championship and hopes this will mark a turn in fortune. Kevin Kelleher still holds second place in the group N standings behind Alan Ring.
Kevin Kelleher is supported by KUMHO TYRES, THE BIG FELLA Clonakilty, Rally Idol, Monterra Properties, Clona Dairies Clonakilty, SWS Property Services, Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award and www.XLR8Motorsport.com
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DONNELLY WINS CARLOW AS ELLIOTT RETAINS LEAD IN DUNLOP
SERIES
Report Courtsey of Dunlop
On a day of rising temperatures, a hotly contested
Seven Oaks Hotel Carlow Rally, the fourth round of the
Dunlop National Rally Championship, was won by Charlie
Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC). They
finished 28 seconds ahead of the Subaru WRC of Dunlop
Championship leader, Patrick Elliott and his
co-driver, Paul Goodman. Aaron MacHale/Eugene
O'Donnell (Ford Focus WRC) were third, eleven seconds
further behind.
Elliott retains his lead in the series - 12 points
ahead of Donnelly with Martin Doherty (Subaru) in
third spot - eight points further behind.
The Group N category was won by Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy
(Subaru).
Welsh driver, Gwyndaf Evans and co-driver, David Jones
won the Mk. 2 Ford Escort Challenge - they were also
the quickest two wheel drive exponents.
Pre-event Dunlop Championship leader, Patrick Elliott
showed his improved form in the best way possible as
he topped the time sheets after the opening stage
where he was a second quicker than defending Dunlop
champion, Ray Breen (Ford Focus WRC) with Charlie
Donnelly holding third spot despite stalling his
Toyota Corolla WRC at the very first junction. Aaron
MacHale in a Ford Focus was fourth - six seconds
adrift of Donnelly. It later appeared that the top
nine crews actually beat the bogey time on the opening
stage.
On the second stage, Breen set the pace and moved into
a three second lead over Elliott, who clipped a rock
on the stage, Donnelly was a further three seconds
adrift in third. Aaron MacHale maintained fourth spot
with the Subaru WRC's of Niall Maguire and Martin
Doherty completing the top six.
On the repeat loop of the stages, Breen and Donnelly
traded fastest stages times with the former stretching
his advantage over Elliott to four seconds after S.S.
3. A strong charge from Donnelly on S.S. 4 saw the
Derry driver displace Elliott in the chase for second.
Donnelly set a superb time and closed to within two
seconds of Breen even though he had a slight overshoot
on the stage. Elliott was some seven seconds further
behind.
MacHale was untroubled in fourth followed by the
Subaru WRC's of Niall Maguire and Martin Doherty, the
latter had a time consuming spin on S.S. 4. Noel
Redmond (Subaru), who had intercom difficulties on the
opening two stages, was seventh in a top ten that also
included Michael Barrable, Kevin Barrett and Group N
leader, Alan Ring. Barrable was at a loss to explain
his form.
In the chase for supremacy in Group N, the lead
changed when Kevin Kelleher upended his Mitsubishi on
the fourth stage. On the final corner of the stage,
his Mitsubishi slid up a bank and flipped over,
remarkably, the Clonakilty driver only lost nine
seconds to his Group N rival, Alan Ring - indeed, that
was the margin between them at the service halt. Ring
remarked that he had a major moment on S.S. 4.
Gabriel Martin in his new Mitsubishi Evo9, was third
in the category - 19 seconds further adrift.
Elsewhere, David James continued to slip down the
order, his Ford Focus had alternator and throttle
problems.
In the Ford Escort Mk. 2 challenge, Welsh driver,
Gwyndaf Evans led Alistair McRae by two seconds after
the first pair of stages, the latter hampered by a
gearbox problem. However, by the completion of S.S.
4, the Scottish ace was 15 seconds ahead of Evans. In
order to maintain fifth gear, McRae had to hold the
gear lever in position. Willie Whitty, who was third
for the opening three stages lost time with an
alternator problem.
The afternoon stages were also around Castlecomer in
County Kilkenny. On stages five and six, Breen held
the upperhand and arrived at the final service halt
with a seven second lead over Donnelly. Third placed
Elliott found it difficult to understand why he
couldn't match the leading pace as he dropped 17
seconds behind Donnelly.
A delighted Aaron MacHale in his Ford Focus reckoned
that his driving over the final few kilometres of S.S.
6 was his best to date in the Focus WRC. Maguire
reported an untroubled run in fifth with Noel Redmond
moving up one place to sixth.
The remaining places in the top ten were filled by the
Subaru trio of Martin Doherty, Kevin Barrett and Alan
Ring.
Ring's advantage in the showroom category was some 27
seconds as Gabriel Martin's Mitsubishi was his closest
rival. Kevin Kelleher lost some three minutes with a
blown turbo on S.S. 5. Another showroom driver, Ian
Barrett (Mitsubishi) reckoned his form dipped on some
stages and he was at a loss to explain how it
happened.
In the Mk. 2 Challenge, Alistair McRae retired close
to the end of S.S. 5 when an oil pipe came adrift.
Evans found himself with a 46 second advantage over
second placed, Whitty with Seamus O'Connell in third
hampered by a misfire.
On S.S. 7, Breen crashed out his Ford Focus WRC out of
the rally and Donnelly went on to secure his second
win in the series and close to within 12 points of
Patrick Elliott, who took the runner-up spot. MacHale
made his first podium appearance of the Dunlop series
when he finished third. The only major change to the
top ten saw a late charge from David James (Ford Focus
WRC) result in ninth place.
In the Group N category, Ring was able to back off
over the closing stages, he finished 53 seconds ahead
of Gabriel Martin (Mitsubishi) with James Stafford
(Mitsubishi) third.
Evans went on to win the Mk. 2 Challenge, such was his
domination, he also finished as the top two-wheel dive
exponent of the rally. At the end of the day's eight
stages, he was 43 seconds ahead of the Escort of
Willie Whitty. Glen Allen (Toyota Corolla WRC) was
the principal non-starter.
Group N Winners - Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy
Results
Overall
Pos Driver/Codriver Make Total
1 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 54:55:00
2 Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 55:23:00
3 Aaron MacHale/Eugene O'Donnell (Ford Focus WRC) 55:34:00
4 Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Subaru Impreza WRC) 55:39:00
5 Martin Doherty/Andrew Cullen (Subaru Impreza WRC) 56:08:00
6 Michael Barrable/Michael Joe Morrissey (Ford Focus WRC) 56:22:00
7 Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 57:27:00
8 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Subaru Impreza N12) 57:27:00
9 David James/Jim Crowe (Ford Focus WRC) 57:48:00
10 Gabriel Martin/Donal Lennon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 58:10:00
Mk II Challenge
Pos Driver/Codriver Make Total
1 Gwyndaf Evans/David Jones (Ford Escort Mk2) 00:59:09
2 Willie Whitty/John Whitty (Ford Escort Mk2) 00:59:50
3 Seamus O'Connell/Brian Duggan (Ford Escort Mk2) 01:00:30
4 Wayne Evans/Sion Jones (Ford Escort Mk2) 01:01:03
5 Mick McQuaid/Arthur Kierans (Ford Escort Mk2) 01:01:13
6 John Nolan/John Smithwick (Ford Escort Mk2) 01:01:38
7 David Condell/George Condell (Ford Escort Mk2) 01:01:42
8 Neil Williams/Eurig Davies (Ford Escort Mk2) 01:01:46
9 Enda O'Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort Mk2) 01:01:55
10 James Coleman/Eoin O'Neill (Ford Escort Mk2) 01:02:20
Leaders After
SS2-3 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS4-5 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS6 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS7-8 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC)
Stage Winners
SS1 Bogey Time Beaten
SS2 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS3 Bogey Time Beaten
SS4 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS5 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS6 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS7 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS8 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC)
After his successful outing last weekend in Killarney, Aaron MacHale will again use the Focus this weekend in Carlow.
05/05/06BREEN HEADS CARLOW ENTRY FOR LATEST DUNLOP ROUND
Preview courtesy of Dunlop
Defending Dunlop National Rally champion, Ray Breen
(Ford Focus WRC) heads the entry for Sunday's Seven
Oaks Hotel Carlow Rally, the fourth round of the
Dunlop National Rally Championship. It's the first
visit of the season to the Leinster province and also
marks the return to the championship arena for the
Carlow Club after an absence of a few years.
All of Breen's championship protagonists are included
amongst an impressive entry that will traverse a
duplicated route of four stages. Breen had to battle
his way back to score some valuable championship
points in Monaghan and the Kilkenny driver is
currently fifth overall in the series - 21 points
adrift of new Dunlop leader, Patrick Elliott.
Such is the competitive nature of the 2006 season,
there is little room for error and with one non-finish
and a seventh place finish on his scorecard, it is
vital he garners as many points as possible in Carlow
to ensure Elliott doesn't embellish his advantage.
Derry driver, Charlie Donnelly in his Toyota Corolla
WRC was a dramatic final stage retirement in Monaghan
and will make a determined bid to regain the series
lead as quickly as possible. Dunlop Championship
leader, Patrick Elliott is this season's most
consistent performer - taking 52 points from a
possible 60 points, the Cavan driver, a former Group N
National champion, is well capable of retaining the
position. He has the vastly experienced Rory Kennedy
as co-driver in his Subaru WRC, Elliott, who has come
close in several events, particularly in the past two
seasons, has yet to win a round of the series.
"I had a bad year in 2005, things didn't just work out
the way as planned, although I knew I had the pace.
Charlie (Donnelly) and Ray (Breen) are very tough
opponents, but I know I am there or thereabouts on a
good day. I haven't learnt the car fully yet but I'm
confident that there is more to come. It's all about
being neat and tidy" he said.
Delivering that elusive first victory in a round of
the national series doesn't bother Elliott, "I suppose
when it happens, it happens. We had bad luck in
Monaghan, but so too had Ray Breen and Charlie
Donnelly. We have a job to do in Carlow and let's see
how it goes." Last season, Elliott led the Dunlop
series prior to his home event in Cavan - that is the
next round of the Dunlop series after Carlow, "I'll
worry about Cavan the weekend of Cavan." he remarked.
Former champion, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) was
another late retirement in Monaghan and he will be
hoping for better fortune on this occasion.
Donegal's, Martin Doherty (Subaru WRC), who is third
in the series, will occupy the number five berth in
Carlow. Glen Allen, third in Monaghan and Aaron
MacHale, both driving Toyota Corolla WRC's, are next
in the starting order. Last weekend, MacHale drove
the Ford Focus WRC normally campaigned by his father,
Austin and finished eighth overall in the
International Rally of the Lakes in Killarney.
Noel Redmond, driving the Subaru WRC that former
national champion, Stephen Murphy finished sixth in
Killarney, is hoping to resurrect his championship
challenge in what could be termed his local event.
Meanwhile, Michael Barrable will be on his third
Dunlop outing on board his Ford Focus WRC - he took 14
championship points in Monaghan and given the strength
of the opposition, he has a difficult task in
repeating the feat. The top ten is completed by Kevin
Barrett (Subaru WRC). David James, who switched a
Ford Focus WRC earlier in the season lines up directly
behind Barrett.
The chase for Group N supremacy in Carlow involves all
the contenders for the Patterson's RallyNews Award.
Kerry driver, Alan Ring (Subaru) is the present
incumbent and is the highest seeded showroom category
driver in the Seven Oaks Hotel based event. He took
top points in Monaghan after a close battle with
inaugural champion, Willie Fannin in his new N12
Subaru. One time leader, Kevin Kelleher, who retired
his Mitsubishi with turbo problems in Monaghan returns
to Carlow where he won the Mk. 2 Ford Escort Challenge
last season. Other Group N aces in Carlow are Graham
Quinn and James M. Stafford in Mitsubishi's P.J.
McGrath, Gabriel Martin and Tadhg Linehan all in
Subaru's and Ian Barrett (Mitsubishi).
Former National Forestry champion, Eddie Kinirons in a
Toyota Celica ST205, local hero, Enda Nolan in a
Mitsubishi and Stephen Cullen (Subaru) are also on the
entry.
Scotland's, Alistair McRae heads the entry for the Mk.
2 Ford Escort challenge where Welshman, Gwyndaf Evans,
Derry's, Seamus O'Connell and Camillus Bradley are the
top quartet. The remainder of the top ten in the
category includes Pat Donegan, Willie Whitty, Trevor
Culbert, Liam Wall, John Nolan and James Coleman.
04/05/06
Final Instructions and Time & Distance Schedule available on
Main Field Top 20
Car Driver/Codriver (Make) [Class]
1 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) [8]
2 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) [8]
3 Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman (Subaru Impreza S10) [8]
4 Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Subaru Impreza S9) [8]
5 Martin Doherty/Andrew Cullen (Subaru Impreza S9) [8]
6 Glen Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC) [8]
7 Aaron MacHale/TBA TBA (Toyota Corolla WRC) [8]
8 Noel Redmond/TBA TBA (Subaru Impreza S11) [8]
9 Michael Barrable/Michael Joe Morrissey (Ford Focus WRC) [8]
10 Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Subaru Impreza S9) [8]
11 David James/Jim Crowe (Ford Focus WRC) [8]
12 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Subaru Impreza N12) [4]
14 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
15 Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Subaru Impreza N9) [4]
16 Graham Quinn/Martin Costello (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [4]
17 James M. Stafford/James F. Stafford (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [4]
18 PJ McGrath/Killian Duffy (Subaru Impreza N10) [4]
19 Gabriel Martin/Donal Lennon (Subaru Impreza N11) [4]
20 Tadhg Linehan/Mark Kane (Subaru Impreza N11) [4]
21 Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [4]
Mk II Challenge Top 20
Car Driver/Codriver (Make) [Class]
201 Alistair McRae/Gordon Noble (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
202 Gwyndaf Evans/David Jones (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
203 Seamus O'Connell/Brian Duggan (Ford Escort Mk2) [22]
204 Camillus Bradley/Danny O'Neill (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
205 Pat Donegan/Lisa Roe (Ford Escort Mk2) [22]
206 Willie Whitty/John Whitty (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
207 Trevor Culbert/Russell Dagge (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
208 Liam Wall/Dennis O'Mahony (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
209 John Nolan/John Smithwick (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
210 James Coleman/Eoin O'Neill (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
211 Seamus Murphy/Graham Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [19]
212 Enda O'Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort Mk2) [19]
213 Brian Brogan/Joe Firel (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
214 Huw James/Neil Spiers (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
215 Wayne Evans/Sion Jones (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
216 Mick McQuaid/Victor Fields (Ford Escort Mk2) [22]
217 David Condell/George Condell (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
218 Barry Meade/Colin Fitzgerald (Ford Escort Mk2) [17]
219 Pete Hughes/Chris Evans (Ford Escort Mk2) [20]
220 Wyn Hughes/David Davies (Ford Escort Mk2) [21]
Junior Top 10
Car Driver/Codriver (Make)
J1 Tim Radford/Peugeot 106 GTi TBA (Peugeot 106 GTi)
J2 John Stafford/Anne-marie Kennedy (Vauxhall)
J3 Jason Kinsella/Bobby Murphy (Honda Civic)
J4 Paddy O'Dwyer/Pat Doyle (Vauxhall Nova)
J5 Kenny O'Brien/David Byrne (Vauxhall Nova)
J6 Brian Kirwan/Elaine Delaney (Vauxhall Nova)
J7 John McQuaid/Ford Escort Mk2 TBA (Ford Escort Mk2)
J8 Gary Murphy/Richie Codd (Suzuki Swift)
J9 Paddy Carroll/Nicky Lacey (Peugeot 106 GTi)
J10 Jonathan McHale/Trevor Payne (Vauxhall Nova)
Full Entry list on:
19/04/06
Entries are closed. Over 230 entries received so no late entries.
Entry list to follow in the next week.
14/04/06
Alister McRae to drive in Carlow MkII Challenge
Announced at the Carlow rally launch in the seven oaks hotel was Alistair McRae is to compete in one of the most exciting rallies in Ireland in his own self built Ford escort mkII.
28/03/06
Regulations and Entry Form are now available on the event website below:
05/03/06