Killarney International Rally of The Lakes - 28-30 Apr 06

Posted: May 8, 2006 9:40 PM

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Southern 4 Championship after Killarney
The Killarney International Rally of The Lakes hosted Round 2 of the 023 Tiles Southern 4 Rally championship over the weekend of the 29th & 30th of May and last years winners, Denis Cronin made up for the disappointment of their retirement on Round 1,The West Cork Rally,by taking full points with an excellent 7th overall despite overheating problems on day 1.

Alan Ring,who missed round one took the opportunity to register in Killarney and earned himself 16 championship points for being third overall among the registered competitors,Alan,with Brian Duggan on the notes finished 12th overall on the “Lakes” and took a well earned second in Group N.

Melvyn Evans took the win in West Cork but did not enter the rally of the lakes and, as a consequence, drops to 4th overall in the championship having been the table topper after West Cork.

Nigel Hicklin also made amends for his West Cork DNF by taking the 18 points with a 9th place overall finish having switched back to Subaru in preference to the Corolla he used in West Cork.

Wesley Patterson takes over the championship lead having earned 12 points in Killarney to add to the eleven he accumulated in West Cork. Kevin O Donoghue is lying second in the drivers championship but also on 23 points.Denis Cronin is third with 21 points,Melvyn Evans fourth on 20 and Nigel Hicklin fifth on 19.

The next round of the championship will be hosted by the Circuit of Munster which takes place in Limerick on the 4th of June.

This is the last chance for crews to register for the championship and as the Historics will have their own rally in Killarney in December the Circuit of Munster will not be a counting round for the Historic section of the 023 Tiles Southern 4 Championship.

There are now 106 crews registered for 2006 with one round still to go where entrants can sign on.

Regulations for the Circuit of Munster will be posted to all registered competitors in the Southern 4.

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FROM EXCLUSION TO CONCLUSION- EUGENE SECOND IN KILLARNEY INTERNATIONAL
Second position on the Killarney Rally of the Lakes, round three of Irish Tarmac Rally Championship leaves Eugene Donnelly and Paul Kiely with a further strengthened lead in the championship, but it was a remarkable second place, achieved under difficult circumstances.

With nine tests to reconnoitre at low speeds to make the all important pace notes, the two days leading up to the rally on the official recce time would be all important in preparation for one of the fastest rallies ever held in the Irish Tarmac series history. With one day recceing successfully completed Eugene and Paul went back to sign on with the officials for the second day of recceing, only to face the news of their possible exclusion from the rally, relating to a newspaper article. “We went just after 8 am to sign on, and were asked to go into a private room to meet one of the officials. In that room, I was asked if I had made comments in a newspaper article and I said that I had talked to that particular journalist. Then I was handed a letter which stated that we would be not be permitted to start the event. We were quite shocked, and I must admit that second day’s recceing was practically wasted with this threat of exclusion hanging over our heads. Paul had to go into the process of appealing this decision, and then the meetings started that evening.” Indeed the night before the rally the meetings started at 11.20pm with stewards from the sports governing body, Motorsport Ireland and the Killarney and District Motor Club who run the event. At 12.30am the Motorsport Ireland officials made the decision to reinstate Eugene and Paul in the rally, and the pairing eventually got to their beds at around 1am. Starting one of the most daunting stages in Ireland, Molls Gap that morning it was a somewhat bewildered Donnelly Motorsport crew.
”I have to admit at one point I thought about pulling out of the event, and considered driving up to the first stage, Molls Gap, and handing in my time cards. Really when we started the Gap my motivation for the event wasn’t really there and I nearly felt that I could have reversed up it quicker! ” After two tests the Corolla was lying in fifth spot, albeit just eighteen seconds off the lead. The Esker Corolla moved up to fourth on the next stage at the expense of Derek McGarrity, and by being fastest on stage six at Rockchapel, the team was back into third place, but still there were some problems. “We had changed the gearing in the car before the event to give it more top speed and it really didn’t quite suit the stages as well as I had hoped, and I wasn’t entirely happy with it. Also I choose the wrong tyre for the final test of the day, and dropped about 12 seconds to Tim. Really my mind wasn’t all there, and it was my wrong decision.” However by stage nine, the days last, they were in second place, forty seconds down on overnight leader Tim McNulty in his Subaru S11

The rallies second leg and Derek McGarrity nipped back into second spot, by virtue of his fastest time up Molls Gap, and Eugene found the twisty Ballaghbema test difficult with the cars long gearing. The onset of rain however for the afternoon loop brought the Kumho shod car back into second place. “At one point I thought with the rain on, I would have a go even to win, but Tim was too far up the road. In fairness, Tim drove a very good rally.” After seventeen tough stages Eugene and Paul finished thirty three seconds behind Tim and with two first places and a second have an eleven point lead in the Irish Tarmac Championship over Wexford’s Eamon Boland, with Tim McNulty a further nine points back in third.

In relation to the newspaper article in question Eugene comments. “I did feel that there should have been at least three days of official recce for the rally, and I stated this in the article, and also the fact that having just two days may encourage illegal recceing which is a problem that threatens the sport. I have no objections to a competitor taking ten runs over a stage for example, if they need to, as long as it’s in the official controlled recce time, but recceing outside these times is something that is endangering our sport.

I want to be fit to rally ten or even twenty years down the line and it’s vitally important for the future of the sport that the residents along the routes are not upset by recceing outside the allotted days. I apologise if I had offended anyone with my comments, and in no way did I criticise Motorsport Ireland or the motor club, who did an excellent job of running an excellent rally.” The team are very much looking forward to round four of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship which is the Donegal Rally on the 16th-18th June, an event that they have won for the past two years.

McCLOSKEY JUMPS THREE PLACES
Connor McCloskey and Andrew Purcell placed their Mitsubishi Evo 9 in the top twenty on this weekend’s Rally of the Lakes and with it, moved up three places in their class in the Irish Tarmac Championship.  

The third round of the series was based in Killarney and boasted a capacity entry, so the twenty year old’s progress through the field with his stand-in co-driver was all the more impressive. “It was another event of firsts for me,” explained Connor, “the first time on the event and the first time with Andrew on the notes. We took it extremely cautiously through the first couple of stages so weren’t surprised to see our time just outside the top thirty. Once we had settled together though, we started to move up the order and ended the day in 21st place overall.”

  Sunday saw the pair continue their rise up the leaderboard assisted by class rivals Fannin and O’Sullivan retiring on stage twelve. Unfortunately for Connor and Andrew, they had hit trouble on the previous stage. They clouted a wall, bending a front wishbone and had to complete stage twelve before its repair in service. “It was really frustrating to limp past the other two knowing that we couldn’t take better advantage of the situation,” said Connor, “but I was relieved when we made it to service and got the suspension fixed.”

Having had their progress temporarily halted, the pair set about consolidating their position but were demoted a place on the penultimate stage. Luckily it was by the fast improving world rally car of Paddy White, so the team’s class points were not affected. “We could have been several places higher without the suspension damage,” said Connor, “but I was most disappointed that we didn’t go better through Moll’s Gap. It is one of the most famous stages in Europe and we had to do it in the rain so I just couldn’t find a rhythm.”

  Despite Connor’s misgivings about the result, it moves him to sixth in Group N in the Irish Tarmac series with another five rounds still remaining, plenty of time to improve further. The next event in Connor’s calendar will be the first round of the British Rally Championship, the Pirelli International Rally in less than two weeks time.  

Connor and the team would like to thank Egger (wood based panels), The Fisher Foundation, Euro Components, KBB Doors, Pirelli and Shell Racing Fuels for their support in 2006

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JENNINGS, OVER AND OUT
Garry Jennings and James O’Brien’s attempt on the Killarney Rally of the Lakes this weekend ended on stage three while lying thirds in class.

Garry’s defence of the Irish Tarmac Group N title had started well and double event winner James’ experience showed on the classic event. Nearly thirty cars started in the hotly contested production category and the first stage saw them just half a second per mile adrift of championship class leader Colm Murphy. They finished the classic Moll’s Gap stage in third position, repeating the effort on the next twelve mile test, to hold fourteenth overall at service.

The next stage, Rock Chapel was just 8.5 miles but at the end there was no sign of Garry and James’ black Mitsubishi. It became clear that the pair had stopped in the stage but the scale of the problem only became clear after reports from other competitors. The car had gone off the road and rolled at around half distance, but both crew members had emerged unscathed.

With too much damage to continue, they were sidelined as spectators to watch as their championship rivals passed by. The team is now considering whether to contest the first round of the British Rally Championship in less than two weeks time. The car can be repaired but the accident has put a dent in the team’s budget. “We had always planned to do the Pirelli Rally,” said Garry, “but now it will be a struggle for time and money.”

The Autocar Logistics team would like to thank its sponsors: Kumho Tyres, Walker Contracts, J&M Enterprises, Sligo Pallets Sydare Eggs, Euro Auto Salvage, OMP, Shell Racing Fuels and KG Motorsport for their continuing support.

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McNULTY AND NESTOR TAKE ALL-WEATHER WIN IN KILLARNEY
Having captured the lead on the third of the event's seventeen special stages, Tim McNulty and Anthony Nestor have won the 2006 Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes in their Subaru Impreza WRC S11. They claimed their first Killarney victory in fine style, setting the pace in the sunshine of Saturday and exerting caution amidst the heavy rain on Sunday. Their eventual winning margin was 42.4 seconds over the second placed finishers, Eugene Donnelly and Paul Kiely, who retain the lead of the 2006 Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship.

The Toyota Corolla WRC crew of Donnelly and Kiely, who have dominated the top level of Irish rallying so far this year, were off their usual pace during the early stages of the event, but later upped the ante, and battled hard with with third placed finishers, Derek McGarrity and Dermot O'Gorman (Subaru Impreza WRC S11). McGarrity's cause was not aided when he developed a stomach bug on Saturday evening, or when he picked dry weather tyres for the Caragh Lake stage on Sunday, just as the heavens opened.

The initial leaders of the event were Killarney man, Donie O'Sullivan, and his Limerick-based co-driver, Sean Mullally. They set the fastest time on the opening stage, Molls Gap, and remained ahead over the next test, Gortnagane. However, they then damaged the clutch of their McKinstry Motorsport Subaru at the start of stage three, Rockchapel, and later retired on stage four, Breenagh River, when the Impreza's engine blew.

Gareth Jones and finished fourth, 14.2 seconds down on McGarrity. The young Welshman had been as high as second on Saturday, but then lost time with a brief off-road excursion. Nevertheless, fourth place was a very impressive result from Jones and his Mallow-based co-driver, David Moynihan.

Wexford's Eamonn Boland (partnered by Cushendall's Francis Regan) was expected to mount a challenge for overall victory, but his efforts were stymied on the first two stages of the event on Saturday morning when his Ford Focus developed a gearbox problem, dropping him outside of the top twenty. With the problem sorted in service at Millstreet, he fought back up the order, and eventually grabbed fifth place on the very last stage of the rally, finishing just four tenths of a second ahead of Stephen Murphy and Michael Morrissey, who spun their S11 Subaru on that last test.

Denis Cronin and Helen O'Sullivan were the highest placed Killarney & District Motor Club crew. They had to contend with rising temperatures in the engine of their Subaru during the event, and later picked up a puncture on the road section to the Beallaghbeama stage on Sunday afternoon, but overcame the dramas to finish seventh overall, mirroring their result on this event last year.

One place behind, in eighth, were Aaron MacHale and Craig Parry. It was McHale's first event in the Ford Focus WRC03 normally driven by his father, Austin, and Aaron used the car to good effect to record his best international finish.


Group N Winners - Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty
Photo: John Bayly - rallyfile.com

Seamus Leonard and John McCafferty took first place in the Group N Production category, finishing ninth overall in their Mitsubishi Evo 9. Nigel Hicklin, who was co-driven by Killarney man Diarmuid Falvey, completed the top ten.

The highest placed Kerry crew were Alan Ring and Brian Duggan in a Subaru Impreza N12, who finished 12th overall and took second in Group N.

In the National Rally of the Lakes, the Hereford-Monaghan pairing of Phil Collins and Enda Sherry led from start to finish in their Ford Escort RS. Mark Courtney/Paul Kelly (Dublin) in their Toyota Celica ST205 finished second, 32 seconds ahead of Lisburn's Wesley Patterson and his Welsh co-driver, Llinos Jones-Edwards, in another Escort RS.


National Section Winners: Phil Collins/Enda Sherry

Ray Cunningham and Richard Hyland won the Historic section in a Mini, with Killarney & District Motor Club members, Todd Falvey and Dan Barry, taking the honours in the Post-Historics in a Porsche 911.

The Kanturk crew of Barry Meade and Colin Fitzgerald won the Junior Rally of the Lakes for competitors under 27 years of age.

The 2006 Ordnance Survey Rally of the Lakes was also the second round of both the 023 Tiles Southern Four Rally Championship and the West Euro Cup. The Southern Four series is now jointly led by Wesley Patterson and Killarney driver, Kevin O'Donoghue, who finished fourth in the Group N category on this event. Denis Cronin's seventh place finish promotes him to third position in the Southern Four standings.

Flintshire's Guy Woodcock (Ford Escort Maxi) finished seventeenth overall, which, combined with his result on the Zuiderzee Rally in the Netherlands last month, sees him take a clear lead in the 2006 West Euro Cup.

The International Rally of the Lakes is organised and promoted by Killarney & District Motor Club, and supported by Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Gleneagle Hotel.

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KEITH CRONIN/ANTHONY O CONAILL CLASS WINNERS AT "THE LAKES"
Ballylickeys Keith Cronin drove a faultless rally in his Hevac Pumps,Cork Builders providers, Tadgh O Conaill Plumbing sponsored Peugeot 206 to claim class 6 by over two and a half minutes and finish 21st overall in a star studded entry at the Killarney International Rally of The Lakes which took place over the weekend. The battle on day one was very much between Keith and Ken O Neills Puma with both crews swapping times over the dry hot stages.

This heat,although welcomed no doubt by the spectators,brought it's own problems with many an engine crying "enough" on the long high revving stretches that made up most of Saturdays loop. Keith judged the conditons to perfection and moved into the lead on stage seven,a lead he was to hold to the end of the rally.

Sunday brought a whole new set of challenges to the event.The cars set out on Sunday morning after service for the dry stages that were ahead of them but by the time they came in for service two the heavens had opened and tyre choice,cuts and grip became the main priority for everyone.

Keith headed back out after lengthy deliberations on tyre choice and found he had little or no grip.He reduced his tyre pressures a little to try and improve the situation but it was his own ability to judge the surface and the amount he needed to push that saw him maintain his lead until the end. A weekend where teamwork was the watchword brought the team a very well deserved win and a sound base on which to build for the rest of the year.

Well done to Keith and Anthony,and indeed to all the Healy Motorsport crew who worked so hard over the weekend to ensure a good result!!

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Turbo Troubles Strike again for Kelleher & Brady
Killarney Rally of the Lakes was the most recent event tackled by Kevin Kelleher the current Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award runner up. Kevin travelled the relatively short distance from West Cork into Kerry to compete in the classic stages and the sunny conditions.

While the stages were somewhat familiar to Kevin having competed on the Lakes on several occasions he had two last minute changes to adapt to. With his own car away being fettled by AMF Motorsport as they work to cure a turbo problem which stopped Kevin in the recent Monaghan rally the decision was taken to hire an Evo from James Foley Rallysport and not run the risk of compromising Kevin's own Evo 9 in the run up to Carlow which is the next round of the National championship. Kevin's regular co driver for many years is his brother Martin and he found himself in a busy period in his work so he was unable to compete in the rally so a last minute switch was made to Navan's Martin Brady to partner Kevin for the Lakes.

Kevin's first drive in the Foley Evo 8 was out the gates of Parc Fermé so Molls gap was always going to be a learning curve as Kevin settled in to both a new car and a new voice with Martin Brady beside him. Then that voice became intermittent at Galway's bridge when the intercom began to fail slowly, however the pair drove around the problem and headed to Gortnagane in a relaxed form having posted 10.22 on the gap which was a medium paced time despite the small intercom problem so confidence was growing for the day ahead.

Gortnagane is a very tricky stage which needs respect and on the long straight section the brakes were beginning to fade badly, a bale chicane rearranged a front wing slightly as a consequence of this brake fade and then a small overshoot into a drain further slowed the progress, the net result was a 50 second loss to fastest men Ring and Leonard so a change of brakes was the answer in the next service.

The next loop of stages was where the rally really began for Cork/Meath pairing the partnership began to gel as they set 3rd fastest Group N times in both Brenagh River and Knocknagree. They retuned to service in Millstreet 19th o/a and 7th Group N, the fightback had begun.

Again over the next 3 stages the Kelleher pedalled evo 8 was 3rd fastest even after a massive moment with drift which took a chunk from the bank through the crossroads on Rock Chapel flat in 5 th gear Kevin and Martin emerged just 2 seconds shy of the flying Leonard and one second down on local ace Alan Ring/Brian Duggan.

Kevin returned to Parc Fermé to end day one 5th Grp N and 15th o/a. Kevin reflected on his day saying "We had a rusty run up the Gap and then troubles in Gortnagane with brakes, I suppose I was bedding myself into a different car than my own, it's a good car though, it handles really well in the tight stuff but I am noticing the power difference in places. Also I spent the first 2 stages just getting used to Martin as we gained confidence in each other, its different having to trust a voice different to my brothers at first but from stage 3 on it just clicked into place and we had a great run all afternoon, tomorrow is a new day and we will push hard on the Gap to wake us up"

However the early morning wake up was not to last long as unfortunately the turbo was to cry enough on the Evo just before Galway's bridge and Kevin pulled the car in at Ladies view to avoid damaging the car un necessarily. It was a disappointment in one sense but the weekend had not been a bad run to that point. Martin reflected on the weekend in service later in the day "it was a great weekend up to that point, we had a start that while not what you would call slow, it certainly gave time away to the boys in front, and then other people had bad luck too like Colm Murphy with mechanical trouble and then Garry had an unlucky bang. However we stayed going and things improved once we got brakes on the car and put our heads down. We had planned for a good run up the Gap and it certainly was, at least till the turbo gave up! But that's just one of them things, Fishers Bridge has never appeared that tight to me from inside a rally car, we went through it carrying some speed! Kevin is a great driver and a pleasure to sit with, he makes great notes and is so calm and focused in the car, I'm very grateful to him for the run.

Kevin now turns his attention to Carlow next weekend where he and brother Martin Kelleher return to their AMF Evo 9 Lancer and his National Championship campaign, he will again resume battle with Alan Ring who has the points lead in the series.

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

Kevin and Martin Kelleher

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Results
1 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 13m 40s,
2 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 2h 14m 22s,
3 Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 15m 22s,
4 Gareth Jones/David Moynihan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 15m 36s,
5 Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 15m 54s,
6 Stephen Murphy/Mick Morrissey (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 15m 55s,
7 Denis Cronin/Helen O’Sullivan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 18m 12s,
8 Aaron McHale/Craig Parry (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 18m 23s,
9 Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Gp N) 2h 20m 32s,
10 Nigel Hicklin/Diarmuid Falvey (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 21m 36s.

Group N Production class:
1 Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty,
2 Alan Ring/Brian Duggan (Subaru Impreza) 2h 22m 04s,
3 James Foley/Dominic Markey (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) 2h 22m 40s.

Class winners:
Tommy Doyle/Andy Donoghue (Honda Civic),
Eugene Meegan/Paul McGee (Honda Civic),
Andrew Fanning/Alan McCormack (Ford Puma),
Keith Cronin/Anthony O’Conaill (Peugeot 206),
Guy Woodcock/Phil Harrison (Ford Escort Maxi),
Gareth Jones/David Moynihan.

NATIONAL EVENT:
1 Phil Collins/Enda Sherry (Ford Escort) 2h 25m 13s,
2 Mark Courtney/Paul Kelly (Toyota Celica) 2h 26m 00s,
3 Wesley Patterson/Llinos Jones Edwards (Ford Escort) 2h 26m 32s.
HISTORIC/POST-HISTORIC EVENT:
1 Todd Falvey/Dan Barry (Porsche 911) 1h 51m 25s,
2 Joe Connolly/Gareth Connolly (Ford Escort) 1h 51m 36s,
3 Denis Moynihan/Dan Moynihan (Ford Escort) 1h 53m 34s.

Overall Winner Historic Event:
Ray Cunningham/Richard Hyland (Mini Cooper S),

Niall Creighton/Greg Roberts (Lotus Cortina),
John Hackett/Michael Hackett (Mini),
Paul Mitchell/Donal Falvey (Mini),
David Cremin/Johnny O’Shea (Ford Escort).

JUNIOR RALLY:
1 Barry Meade/Colin Fitzgerald (Escort) 39m 25s,
2 Jason Ryan/Bernard McSweeney (Civic) 40m 04s,
3 Jason O’Mahony/Aoife McCarthy (Civic) 40m 15s.

Class winners:
Billy O’Keeffe/Derrick O’Neill (Corsa),
Noel Kelleher/Daniel Lucey (Corolla).

Full Results and Stagetimes
rally.connect.ie (Angus Sealy)

Rallynews (by Brian & Liz Patterson)

Photos:
crspics.com - Counihan Rallysport Pictures
Roy Dempster Photos
GER LEAHY PHOTOGRAPHY & PR
John Bayly (www.rallyfile.com)
RMS - www.reallymeansounds.com
Joe Lane - Action Photos.ie

Rally of Lakes (Killarney)

Killarney and District Motor Club

• 2006 Tarmac Championship
• 2006 Southern 4 Rally Championship

Top Kerry Crew - Alan Ring/Brian Duggan
Photo: Redline Creative Solutions

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Pre Event News

• Change of Car & Co-driver for Kevin Kelleher in Killarney.
• MRallying: Maximum Attack for April
• McCLOSKEY TAKES FRESH DIRECTION
• JENNINGS ENLISTS 2005 WINNING CO-DRIVER
• Cookstown's John McGlaughlin ready for Killarney!
• Aaron MacHale to drive Focus WRC
• Peader Hurson is expected to be ready.
• Entry lists on line:
  
• John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Speaking at the launch of the Rally of the Lakes at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney
• Donnelly Heads Huge Lakes Entry
  35 Entries in Class N4 alone!
  Donie O'Sullivan returns with McKinstry Subaru
• RALLY OF THE LAKES 2006 - Press Release 1
• Event Details & Provisional Route
• Regulations available

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26/04/06
Change of Car & Co-driver for Kevin Kelleher in Killarney.
Kevin Kelleher the current Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award runner up is this weekend taking a departure from his national championship campaign to tackle the classic stages of the famous Munster event Killarney Rally of the Lakes.  

The National championship has been the focus for Kevin in his Mitsubishi Lancer partnered by his brother Martin. They held a slender lead in the Group N Championship going into the most recent round the Monaghan stages. However rallying can sometimes be about good days and bad days, and unfortunately Monaghan was one of those days when the luck was left out of proceedings for the Kelleher brothers. A joint fastest Group N time on stage one was a false dawn as a puncture on stage two dropped over 2 minutes. Then a problem with an errant spark plug was to cost time on stage 3, before the final blow on stage 4 coming literally in the form of a blown turbo. This saw the Clonakilty pairing head home early from the event and see Alan Ring take victory on the Monaghan tarmac which brought with it the points haul to overtake Kevin at the head of the points table.   

With the Kelleher Evo 9 being examined to find the cause of the turbo problem in order to have it in its best fettle for the next national round which is in 2 weeks in Carlow this meant the car was unavailable for the upcoming Rally of the Lakes.   With Kevin reluctant to miss an event as enjoyable as the Lakes a last minute decision was taken to hire another Mitsubishi Evo from Navan based James Foley Rally sport.   

Pressures of work then meant that Kevin's brother Martin was unable to compete on the Lakes so Kevin decided to take look a bit further up the road in Navan and is replacing one Martin with another as Navan co Driver Martin Brady is to sit in for this event while Martin Kelleher is attending to work before his return for Carlow.   

Kevin commented "Our own car needs a bit of work now to ensure no problems in Carlow as that championship is our goal for the year, but it would be a shame to miss an event like Killarney so I decided to hire a car and James was good enough to supply us an Evo at short notice, then when my brother got caught up with work I found myself looking for a Co Driver at equally short notice and by coincidence I found one just down the road from Foleys! Martin Brady was available and he will sit in for the weekend for the run and we will see how we get on, he has plenty of experience he had done some testing with me in the past and the recce will tune me in to the voice of a different Martin"  

  Martin commented "Im really looking forward to the event with Kevin, he had some great times last year in the Lakes and then had a great result in the historic rally there in December so I have no doubt he will be quick again on Kerry roads this year, Im grateful to him for the call and to Martin for letting me sub while he is busy"   

The 2 day rally is a well known classic in the Munster area and the group N 

competition will be fierce as ever with drivers such as last years victor Colm Murphy, Alan Ring, Seamus Leonard, James Foley, the list goes on.  

Kevin and Martin Kelleher

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MRallying: Maximum Attack for April
After no action for two months, April has seen the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship get back up to speed. And getting up to speed has been the name of the game for the MRallying team of Colm Murphy and Ger Loughrey. With the new car arriving at TTEC Rally Prep on the Thursday morning before the Circuit, little time was left for preparation.

Without a chance to get a good test in, the Saturday of the Derry based event was spent addressing teething troubles – unpredictable power delivery at the top of the agenda but the new hydraulic handbrake was a welcome addition over that of the Impreza N10. Despite the torrid opening day, the Shell backed crew started the Sunday with renewed optimism having reconfigured the engine management system and changed onto a different compound of Pirelli tyre.

Improved times followed and the Thermia Heat Link liveried Subaru started a climb through the leader board, aided and abetted by winning an appeal over a disputed Saturday stage time, the demise of class leader Jennings and some excellent stage times. Finishing the day in second was a pleasing result, just 16 seconds separating the Eddie Garry Car Sales back car from the Mitsubishi Evo of Roy White.

Monday dawned with the Transplant Trailers crew in an intriguing position – tantalisingly close to a possible second class victory in a row but with a championship to think about as well. A spin on the first stage of the day disguised an excellent performance but a hotly disputed time penalty would ultimately rule the Trackcare Engineering car into second place in GroupN and seventh overall.

Back in Derry, Colm reflected on an ultimately frustrating weekend – “just making it up here with the car was touch and go and everyone involved did a mighty job – especially John and the lads at MSP who put together a beautiful car. We had a tough time on the first two days but we found pace today. It was frustrating to get within touching distance of Roy but no one can deny him a deserved win”.

The crews now move on to the Killarney Rally of the Lakes this May weekend. With just enough of a break to recce the combination of new and classic stages and get the car calibrated for the Shell racing fuels, the MRallying team have no team to rest on their laurels. Having recorded a class victory on their home international last year, the Limerick based pairing will be looking towards another good result this year to keep up their championship momentum.

Colm and Ger would like to thank all their sponsors and supporters, without whose backing, none of this would be possible - Pirelli tyres, Shell Fuels, Thermia Heat Link, Transplant Trailers Sales, Trackcare Engineering, Speedline Corse wheels, Eddie Garry car sales, The Connemara Gateway Hotel, Advance Surveys, REMAX Properties and Vanity Case beauticians.

Colm Murphy Rallying

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25/04/06
McCLOSKEY TAKES FRESH DIRECTION
20 year old Connor McCloskey will continue his attack on the Irish Tarmac Championship this weekend, taking directions from new co-driver Andrew Purcell on the Killarney International Rally of the Lakes.

  The 2005 Fisher Foundation Award winner’s new navigator has plenty of experience to bring to the team. Andrew is the current National Tarmac Rally champion co-driver and has guided several drivers in an array of exotic machinery. His regular seat alongside Ray Breen in a Focus world rally car is coupled with success in a Subaru and as both driver and co-driver in a Honda Civic.  

“It will be a shame to lose Crawford (Henderson) for this event as we have built a good relationship,” said Connor, “but he has prior commitments and I can’t think of a better stand-in than Andrew. He is used to sitting next to fast drivers in fast cars so I hope I won’t disappoint him.”  

The entry for the classic Irish event is full to bursting point, with over twenty world rally cars and over thirty in Connor’s class, Group N4, making a total of around 150 in the international section alone. The route comprises 172 miles of some of the most famous asphalt stages in Europe including the renowned Moll’s Gap, Beallaghbeama and Caragh Lake.  

The action starts on Saturday at 08.00 with a total of nine stages with an overnight halt in Killarney. The remaining eight stages run on Sunday from 08.30, finishing at around 18.00 back in the host town.

  Connor and the team would like to thank Egger (wood based panels), The Fisher Foundation, Euro Components, KBB Doors, Pirelli and Shell Racing Fuels for their support in 2006  

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JENNINGS ENLISTS 2005 WINNING CO-DRIVER
Reigning Irish Tarmac Championship Group N driver Garry Jennings will team up with double Killarney winning co-driver James O’Brien for the Rally of the Lakes this weekend.

  The pair has rallied successfully before as far back as 2001 when fast talking James sat alongside Garry in the Peugeot 106. “That seems such a long time ago,” said Garry, “I remember the last round in Banbury when even James’ enthusiastic note reading couldn’t help us clinch the Peugeot Super Cup. But James has been with me in a Mitsubishi too, we were ninth overall in the old Evo 6 on Galway last year.”

  The change from Rory Kennedy is purely for practical reasons as Garry explains, “Rory has commitments in the British rally series and since it shares three events with the Irish championship, I was always going to have to find an alternative for those events. James is perfect as he won the event with Andrew Nesbitt in 2002 and last year so if anyone can keep us on the right track it’s him.”  

Garry will have to dispel some demons as he retired in Killarney last year while leading the class but the team is confident. “We’ve proved that the car is capable and I know James is ready so I suppose it’s down to me.” concluded Garry  

The entry for the classic Irish event is full to bursting point, with over twenty world rally cars and over thirty Mitsubishis and Subarus in class N4, making a total of around 150 in the international section. The National, Historic and Junior sections swell the numbers to around 300. The route comprises 172 miles of some of the most famous asphalt stages in Europe including the renowned Moll’s Gap, Beallaghbeama and Caragh Lake.

  The action starts on Saturday at 08.00 with a total of nine stages before an overnight halt in the host town. The remaining eight stages start on Sunday at 08.30, with a podium finish at 18.00 back in Killarney.  

The Autocar Logistics team would like to thank its sponsors: Kumho Tyres, Walker Contracts, J&M Enterprises, Sligo Pallets Sydare Eggs, Euro Auto Salvage, OMP, Shell Racing Fuels and KG Motorsport for their continuing support.  

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Cookstown's John McGlaughlin ready for Killarney!
Fresh from finishing ninth overall and fourth in the production category at the Circuit of Ireland International Rally, John McGlaughlin is set for another 'no holds barred' attack at this weekend’s Killarney Rally of the Lakes!

  The event marks the third round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, an all-tarmac series which John is contesting for the first time this year. In fact, most of his competitive experience has been gained through loose surfaces, so his Circuit of Ireland result is all the more impressive!  

"I’m really happy to be so close to the pace!" John said. "The Circuit went really well for us and the car seems to be 100 percent sorted now. We’ve also got two new sponsors on board with Schism.ie and Sunoco Fuels. With their help, things can only get better!"  

In stark contrast to Rally Ireland, where John debuted his new Kumho tyre shod Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, the Circuit of Ireland Rally was much more successful for the Cookstown driver. He knew he needed to get some points on the board and a steady but cautious approach for the three-day event paid off.  

"Compared to our last event, we had a fairly trouble free weekend," John recalled. "I had a bit of a scare when a dog ran out in front of us on one of the stages. Then we caught another car and there was no room to pass. Towards the end of the second day, there was a bad vibration under braking so we changed the discs and pads. Afterwards, we were caught out on slick tyres in the rain and were up and down a few banks. Other than that, we had a good run!"

  It was a textbook drive and while others succumbed to the difficult stages, John found himself holding seventh overall and second in Group N at the end of day two. A wrong tyre choice during the closing stages resulted in an overshoot but John, who is also sponsored by Greenvale Hotel and Hilltop Fuels, held on to take an excellent ninth overall - not an easy feat on an International event!

  With the Circuit of Ireland behind him, John and navigator, David McElroy, are looking forward to attacking the ‘Kingdom of Kerry’. Kicking off this Saturday, the Killarney Rally of the Lakes provides another challenge for Ireland’s leading drivers, with famous stages such as Moll’s Gap and Ballaghbeama.

  "I’m really looking forward to it," John said, "but unfortunately a few cars will probably slow us down because we’re seeded 62nd! Saying that, it’s a very strong entry but I think we should be starting a bit higher. We’ll try to get a reseed but if it doesn’t happen, we’ll just have to try our best!"  

Sponsors: John McGlaughlin is sponsored by McGlaughlin’s Bakery, Schism.ie, Sunoco Fuels, Greenvale Hotel, Hilltop Fuels and Kumho Tyres.

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20/04/06
Aaron MacHale will drive his Father's Ford Focus WRC03 on the Rally of Lakes, as Austin will be heading to Argentina to follow Gareth's progress.

Peader Hurson has a race just to make the start of "The Lakes", following his 2nd day off on the Circuit of Ireland.
However Hurson and Co-driver Damien Connolly expect to have the Subaru Impreza P2000 repaired in time.

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19/04/06

No Driver Co-Driver Address Car Group Class
1 Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Maghera Toyota Corolla WRC A 8
2 Derek McGarritty Dermot O'Gorman Glengormley Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
3 Eamon Boland Francis O'Regan Wexford Ford Focus WRC A 8
4 Tim McNulty Anthony Nestor Dublin Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
5 Austin McHale Brian Murphy Rathcoole Ford Focus WRC A 8
6 Donie O'Sullivan Sean Mullally Killarney Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
7 Peadar Hurson Damien Connolly Warrenpoint Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
8 Denis Cronin Helen O'Sullivan Bantry Subaru Impre WRC A 8
9 Nigel Hicklin Diarmuid Falvey Belfast Toyota Corolla WRC A 8
10 Melvyn Evans TBA Carmarthen Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
11 John Joe Fleming Robbie Ward Salthill Ford Focus WRC A 8
12 Aaron McHale Craig Parry Kilcullen Ford Focus WRC A 8
14 Gareth Jones David Moynihan Carmarthen Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
15 George Cullen Jakes Kelly Galway Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
16 Stephen Murphy Mick Morrissey Carlow Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
17 Denis Biggerstaff Sean Moriarty Dromara Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
18 George Tracey Finbarr Mangan Mullingar Peugeot 205 WRC A 8
19 Paddy White Graeme Stewart Navan Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
20 Eddie Garry Denis O’Donovan Waterford Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
21 Phil Collins TBA Hereford Ford Escort MK11 M 14
22 Tom Randles Diarmuid Lynch Kilgarvan Toyota Celica ST205 M 15
23 Colm Murphy Ger Loughrey Dublin Subaru Impreza N 4
24 Gary Jennings James O'Brien Ballinamallard Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
25 Alan Ring Brian Duggan Castleisland Subaru Impreza N 4
26 Kevin Kelliher Martin Kelliher Clonakilty Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
27 Seamus Leonard Gerry McVeigh Omagh Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
28 Tony Davies Brian Hardie Bedfordshire MG Metro 6R4 M 15
29 John O Sullivan Pat Cashman Killarney Ford Escort Cos M 15
30 James Foley Dominic Markey Navan Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
31 Roy White Stephen McAuley Clonmel Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
32 Willie Fannin Mick Courtney Dublin Subaru Impreza N 4
33 Kevin O'Donoghue Joe O'Leary Killarney Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
34 Conor McCloskey Andrew Purcell Kilrea Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
35 James O'Sullivan Adrian Deasy Cork Mitsubishi Evo 7 N 4
36 Phillip Morrow Daniel Barnitt Lisburn Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
37 Jer O'Donovan Stephen O'Donovan Bantry Ford Escort Cos M 15
38 Pat Price Seamus O'Connor Portmarnock Mitsubishi Evo 8 N 4
39 Guy Woodcock Phil Harrisson Flintshire Ford Escort Maxi A 7
40 Wesley Patterson Llinos Jones Edwards Lisburn Ford Escort M 13
41 Dave Slattery Ger Somers Killarney Ford Escort M 13
42 Anthony O'Halloran Kevin Synott Ennis Opel Manta M 13
43 John Hickey Alistair Wylie Headford Escort Mk II 4x4 M 15
44 Peter Kelly Con Lucey Headford Ford Escort M 14
45 Mike Moloney Marie Casey Ennis Ford Escort M 13
46 Tadgh Linehan Mark Kane Mallow Subaru Impreza N 4
47 Paul Dempsey TBA Galway Subaru Impreza N 4
48 Eoin Doyle Paul Walsh Mooncoin Subaru Impreza N 4
49 Willie John Dolan Brian Doherty Castlederg Subaru Impreza N 4
50 Walter Walsh Sean Duggan Waterford Subaru Impreza N 4
51 Tom Holton Bruno Brissart Enfield Toyota Celica ST 205 M 15
52 Mark Courtney Paul Kelly Kinsealy Toyota Celica ST 205 M 15
53 Fergus O'Meara Dermot Brennan Killorglin Ford Escort M 13
54 Raymond Spence Craig McSweeney Newtownards Ford Escort M 13
56 Charlie Hickey Johnny Hickey Killarney Ford Escort M 13
57 Tony Murphy Brid Murphy Ballyhahill Ford Escort M 13
58 Connor Byrne Niall Byrne Enniskillen Mitsubishi Evo 7 N 4
59 Seamus Devine John McElhinney Derry Subaru Impreza WRC A 8
60 Brian O'Mahony John Higgins Carrigaline Ford Puma S 1600 A 6
61 Ken O'Neill Conor O'Neill Milltown Ford Puma S 1600 A 6
62 John Mcglaughlin David McElroy Cookstown Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
63 Ray Hilliard Edward Walsh Listowel Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
64 Gerhard Henneky Marco Schillemans Netherlands Mitsubishi Evo 8 N 4
65 Enda Nolan Michael Lyster Carlow Mitsubishi Evo 7 N 4
66 Pat Maguire Joe Fitzgibbon Ballycotton Subaru Impreza N 4
67 P.J.Mcgrath Killian Duffy New Ross Subaru Impreza N 4
68 Brendan Brosnan Denis O'Connell Tralee Ford Escort M 12
69 Mark Nangle Sean Flanagan Summerhill Subaru Impreza N 4
70 Sebastian Stacpoole John Shiels Askeaton Mitsubishi Evo 8 N 4
71 Eddie Power Jonathan McGrath Dunmore East Renault Clio A 16
72 Andrew Bushe Martin McGarrity Lisburn Citroen Saxo S1600 A 6
73 Brendan Dennehy Willie Buchannan Rathmore Talbot Sunbeam M 13
74 Philip Walker Peter Martin Glasgow Subaru Impreza M 15
75 Eamon Daly Ger Healy Rathkeale Mitsubishi Evo 9 N 4
76 John Buttimer Declan Buttimer Clonakilty Subaru Impreza N 4
77 David Randles John Young Killarney Nissan Almera A 7
78 Geoff Wright Chris Sanderson Durham Nissan Almera A 7
79 Andrew Browne Barry Sheridan Oldcastle Peugeot 206 A 6
80 Keith Cronin Anthony O'Connell Ballylickey Peugeot 206 A 6
81 Mike Nelligan John Hurley Knocknagoshel Opel Astra Gsi M 13
82 Liam Davis Billy Kelliher Ballinhassig Ford Escort M 13
83 Pat Callanan Kenneth Shiel Athenry Honda Civic R N 3
84 Eugene Meegan Paul McGee Monaghan Honda Civic R N 3
85 John Murphy Liam Moynihan Millstreet Honda Civic R N 3
86 Raymond Gilleece Sean Gilleece Sligo Honda Civic R N 3
87 Alwyn Spiers Wendy Blackledge Markethill Peugeot 106 A 6
88 Pat O'Sullivan John O'Shea Farnanes Honda Integra N 3
89 Brian Melia Doc Doherty Athenry Honda Integra N 3
90 John Fleming John O'Mahony Killarney Honda Civic VTI A 6
91 Michael Cummins Ray Fitzpatrick Cashel Mitsubishi Evo 7 N 4
92 Jimmy White Stephen White Killarney Ford Focus A 7
93 Kieran Marshall Philomena Marshall Killarney Honda Civic R A 7
94 Peter Gallagher Dermot Hasset Dublin Peugeot 306 N 3
95 Ger O'Sullivan Alan Coleman Glenbeigh Subaru Impreza M 15
96 Ger Neeson Cormac Casey Killarney Ford Puma M 16
97 Dave Watkins Nigel Houlston Shrewsbury Triumph TR8 M 14
98 Conor Cavanagh James Jordan Cork Ford Escort M 14
99 David Murphy John Doody Rockchapel Ford Escort M 13
100 William White Peter O'Toole Dublin Citroen Saxo VTS A 6
101 Adrian Randles Aileen Randles Kilgarvan Ford Escort M 11
102 Barry Murphy TBA New Ross Citroen Saxo S 1600 A 6
103 Niall Guinevan Leslie Stanley Ovens Peugeot 206 S 1600 A 6
104 Brian Connolly Trevor Payne Clonmel Citroen Saxo A 6
105 Ted O'Riordan Adrian O'Connell Farnanes Proton Satria A 6
106 Kevin O'Sullivan Martin O'Riordan Killarney Opel Corsa M 9
107 Pat Looney Ronald Riordan Kilcummin Austin Mini M 9
108 Noel O'Sullivan Nicky Burke Killarney Ford Escort M 9
109 Eddie Blackwell John Quill Flintshire Subaru Impreza M 16
110 Keith Naughton Keith Tierney Ennis Ford Escort M 13
111 James B Ryan Liam O'Shea New Ross Peugeot 106 A 6
112 Chris Waardenburg Marjolein Kustermans Netherlands Citroen Saxo A 6
113 Seamus O'Grady Oonagh Roche New Ross Proton Satria A 6
114 David Graham Tony McDaid Tyrone Peugeot 106 GTI A 6
115 Darren McCarthy Steve Davis Cork Vauxhall Nova M 10
116 Enda Hallihan Ollie Ward Craughwell Honda Civic N 2
117 Raymond Conlon James O'Reilly Clones Toyota Corolla M 11
118 Andrew Stewart Tony Gallagher Convoy Suzuki Swift A 5
119 Andrew Fanning Alan McCormick Cahir Ford Puma A 5
120 Roland Doherty TBA Adare Opel Corsa M 9
121 Pat Mulcahy Amy Mulcahy Abbeyfeale Suzuki Swift A 5
122 Eoin Woods Dorothy Cavanagh Toomevara Ford Escort M 12
123 Patrick Randles Derry O'Mahony Kilgarvan Ford Escort M 10
124 Albert Kelly Ann Walsh Headford Vauxhall Chevette M 11
125 David Leslie Melissa Leslie Killarney Toyota Corolla M 11
126 Paul Ahern Kieran Murphy Killarney Honda Civic M 11
127 Paudie O'Callaghan Padraig Dineen Killarney Toyota Starlet M 9
128 Colm Forde Jonathan Trill Carrigaline Ford Ka A 5
129 Mick Quinn Enda McLaughlin Longford Honda Civic N 2
130 Damien Tourish Domhnaill McAlaney Lifford Honda Civic N 2
131 John Gallagher Brendan McElhinney Letterkenny Honda Civic N 2
132 Colm Flynn Raymond Finnegan Navan Toyota Corolla M 11
133 Colm Cronin Diarmuid Cronin Killarney Peugeot 206 Xsi M 16
134 John O'Riordan Helen Duggan Faha Ford Escort M 11
135 David Fleming Kieran Doherty Killarney Toyota Starlet M 9
136 Andrew Gamble Jonathan Charleson Tyrone Nissan Micra A 5
137 Tommy Doyle Andy O'Donoghue Longford Honda Civic N 2
138 Mike Gaine Mark Horgan Kenmare Ford Escort M 10
139 Kevin Moran D.J.O'Donoghue Killarney Talbot Sunbeam M 10
140 Tom Dunne Christine O'Leary Kildorrery Peugeot 106 GTI N 2
141 Brian Wilson Carol Keane Mullinavat Opel Corsa M 16
142 Michael Herbert Karen Gaffney Dublin Nissan Micra A 5
143 Ian Hynes TBA Galway Honda Civic N 2
144 Aidan Ryan Dan Cronin Killarney Peugeot 205 M 10
145 Maurice Murphy Philip Leahy Rockchapel Ford Escort M 10
146 Tom Sullivan Mossie O’Connell Killarney Peugeot 205 M 10
147 Stephen Murphy John Falvey Killarney Opel Corsa M 9
148 Columba Heena Derek Heena Donegal Toyota Corolla M 11
149 David Laddin Orla McAndrew Killarney Mazda 323 M 9
150 Tara Duggan Andrew Duggan Killarney Ford Ka M 9
151 Eamonn Barret Finbarr O'Mahony Askeaton Ford Escort M 9
152 Phil Morton Steve Waggett Durham Datsun Coupe M 9
153 PJ O’Keefe Niall Piggot Newmarket Ford Escort M 10

Historics
201 Todd Falvey Dan Barry Killarney Porsche 911 C 2
202 Ray Cunningham Richard Hyland Galway Mini Cooper S B 2
203 Joe Connolly Gareth Connolly Goresbridge Ford Escort C 2
204 John Farrell Enda Shiels Navan Ford Escort C 2
205 Denis Moynihan Dan Moynihan Cork Ford Escort C 2
206 Adrian Kermode Maurice Beckett Isle of Man Porsche 911 C 2
207 Don Moynihan Tim Moynihan Mallow Ford Escort C 2
208 Frank Cunningham Nicky Grist Galway Ford Escort C 2
209 John O'Toole Aidan Wright Cork Ford Escort C 2
210 Mike Doody Richard O'Mahony Abbeyfeale Morris Mini C 1
211 Peter Horsburgh Anthony Preston Oxon Austin Cooper S B 2
212 Liam Sheehan Alan Harrington Castletownbere Ford Escort C 1
213 Paul Mitchell Donal Falvey Killarney Austin Mini D 2
214 Edward Gibbons Michael Twomey Kilgarvan Hillman Avenger C 2
215 Trevor Cusack Shane Crowley Mallow Ford Escort C 2
216 Donal Kelliher Derry Healy Millstreet Ford Escort C 1
217 Gerard McCarthy Paul Horan Tralee Triumph TR7 D 4
218 Eddie Cronin Jimmy Devane Killarney Morris Mini B 1
219 Jack O'Shea Mark Doody Glenbeigh Austin Mini Clubman C 1
220 Jason O’Connor Hugh McMahon Newcastlewest Ford Escort C 1
221 Niall Creighton Gregory Roberts Moira Ford Lotus Cortina B 3
222 Donal O’Connor Vincent Fagan Rathmore Ford Escort C 2
223 Martin Kehoe Barty Daye New Ross Mini Cooper S C 1
224 David Cremin Johnny O'Shea Bantry Ford Escort D 4
225 Martin Sheehan Bernard Clancy Doneraile Ford Escort C 2
226 Noel Hurley Coleman Hurley Glengarrif Saab 99 EMS D 3
227 John Hackett Michael Hackett Clonmel Austin Mini C 1
228 Colin McDowell Robert Anderson Kircubbin Morris Mini C 1
229 Philip McDowell Mark Stirling Newtownards Ford Escort C 1
230 Edward Hallihan Barry Murphy Doneraile Ford Escort C 1
231 Gerry Freeman Dermot Quigley Dublin Ford Anglia B 3
232 John Curran Jason O Callaghan Doneraile Ford Escort C 1
233 Sean Treacy Billy Regan Lisburn BMW 2002 C 2

Juniors
301 Barry Meade Colin Fitzgerald Kanturk Ford Escort J 1
302 Ross Forde Kevin Keane Galway Citroen Saxo J 2
303 Jason O'Mahony Aoife McCarthy Rosscarbery Honda Civic J 2
304 Brian O'Mahony Joe Cooke Rosscarbery Peugeot 106 J 1
305 Jarlath Conneely Peter Casserly Craughwell Honda Civic J 2
306 John Spillane Sean Hurley Bantry Peugeot 106 J 2
307 Tim Foley Conor Collins Newmarket Honda Civic J 2
308 Johnny Fitzgerald Gerry McCarthy Kenmare Ford Escort J 2
309 Ciaran Casey Paul Reck Macroom Talbot Sunbeam J 2
310 Thomas Melia Christopher Browne Oldcastle Peugeot 205 Gti J 2
311 Billy O'Keeffe Derek O'Neill Carrick on Suir Vauxhall Corsa J 1
312 Sarah Moynihan Amy Moynihan Mallow Nissan Micra J 1
313 Patrick Cunningham Shane O'Brien Claregalway Honda Civic J 2
314 Sean Moylan TBA Kanturk Peugeot 205 J 2
315 Daniel O'Leary Colm Lenihan Killarney Honda Civic J 2
316 Thomas Quaid Jonathan O'Rourke Charleville Toyota Corolla J 2
317 Donal Crooke Robert Woodcock Lucan Peugeot 205 J 2
318 Gary Dineen Mike Lenihan Scartaglin Talbot Sunbeam J 2
319 Gary Fahy John Forde Skibbereen Peugeot 205 J 2
320 Noel Kelliher Daniel Lucey Macroom Toyota Corolla J 2
321 Daniel O'Leary Mike Fitzgearld Kiskeam Honda Civic J 1
322 Tim Allman Shane Buckley Firies Peugeot 206 J 2
323 David Power Kevin Power Waterford Honda Civic J 2
324 Jonathan O'Mahony Alan Whyte Rosscarbery Suzuki Swift J 1
325 Brian Grealish Sean Hession Oranmore Honda Civic J 2
326 Philip Giles Bill Giles Rosscarbery Toyota Corolla J 2
327 Donal Dinneen Brian Giles Skibbereen Peugeot 205 Gti J 2
328 Frank Doherty Anthony O'Shea Killarney Toyota Corolla J 2
329 Noel McCarthy Stephen Kingston Skibbereen Toyota Starlet J 1
330 Adrian Levis Eric Deane Skibbereen Suzuki Swift J 1
331 Alan Mackey Orlagh O'Connor New Ross Vauxhall Nova J 1
332 Jason Ryan Bernard McSweeney Youghal Honda Civic J 2
333 Brian Kirwan Andrew Ring Laois Peugeot 205 J 2
334 William Angland Danny O'Leary Newmarket Honda Civic J 1
335 Niall O'Rahilly Drew Kieran Crowley Newmarket Ford Escort J 2
336 Declan O'Brien Bernard Moore Clonmel Honda Civic J 2
337 Martin Horgan T.J.Flahive Ballybunnion Honda CRX J 2
338 Finbar Cahillane James Flynn Killorglin Toyota Corolla J 2
339 Thomas O'Keeffe Donal Keane Mallow Ford Escort J 2
340 Jonathan Lucey Alan Lucey Mallow Toyota Corolla J 2
341 Brian Ledwith Martin Feeney Claregalway Toyota Corolla J 2
342 Kenneth Kelliher Brendan O'Connor Tralee Ford Escort J 2
343 Liam Howlett Leo Tector Enniscorthy Talbot Sunbeam J 2
344 Sharon Power TBA Dunmore East Ford Ka J 1

Killarney and District Motor Club

Rally of Lakes (Killarney)

• 2006 Tarmac Championship
• 2006 Southern 4 Rally Championship

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John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Speaking at the launch of the Rally of the Lakes at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney

"Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to be here with members of the Killarney and District Motor Club and their guests for the official launch of the 2006 Rally of the Lakes, which will be the 27th time this internationally renowned and long-established motor sports event has taken place.

The magnificent scenic region around Killarney has been a location of choice for motor sport since 1901 when the Irish Automobile Club chose the town as an overnight stop on its inaugural 1,500 mile Tour of Ireland. Killarney also hosted the Circuit of Ireland from the 1930s to 1983 and it is of course the focal point of the Ordnance Survey Rally of the Lakes.

This major event in the international motor sports calendar has attracted many of Europe's outstanding drivers since the great Billy Coleman won the inaugural event in 1979. The Cork driver went on to win the rally on three further occasions, a record exceeded only by six times winner Bertie Fisher.

From April 28th to 30th next the very best of Irish rally drivers will compete against international teams from Scotland, England, Wales, the Isle of Man, Holland, Belgium, Denmark and other countries for the honour of joining the elite role of champions of this event.

Their exploits in traversing some of the most scenic rally stages in Europe, such as the world-renowned Moll's Gap, will be followed with keen interest and enthusiasm by an estimated 60,000 spectators including some 3,000 overseas visitors. Research into the economic benefits of the Rally has shown that it injects more than €20m into the local economy and as such it makes a very significant contribution to tourism in Killarney.

The event is also critical to teams and drivers who are competing for major international honours. It is one of eight rounds of the International Rally Championship and is also a round of the West European Cup in which rally teams from Ireland, the UK, the Isle of Man, Holland and Belgium compete each year. These drivers and their teams will certainly be presented with a formidable challenge as they negotiate a series of testing stages over two days.

Challenge however is at the core of motor sport, and I am delighted to note that Rally Ireland has taken up the challenge of making a bid to stage a round of the World Rally Championship in Ireland in 2007. Much planning and research has gone into the preparation of the bid, which has now reached an advanced stage with a formal scrutiny of Rally Ireland 2006 by officials of FIA, the world governing body. The hosting of a World Rally Championship Round in Ireland, with its associated international media coverage, would considerably enhance the status of Ireland as a world-class motor sport destination.

Rallying is a highly attractive sport from a tourism perspective. Not only do events like the Rally of the Lakes attract large numbers of overseas visitors, but also it presents them, and television audiences, with memorable images of our scenic landscape. Competitors, support teams and spectators participating in the Rally of the Lakes will spend much of their time surrounded by the mountains and lakes of Killarney and many are certain to become ambassadors for this magnificent region.

Word of mouth recommendation remains one of the most powerful influences in attracting visitors to Ireland. Fortunately the vast majority of overseas tourists express a high level of satisfaction with their visit and are prepared to recommend Ireland as a holiday destination. Coupled with the development and marketing activities of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, this high level of personal recommendation has enabled our tourism industry to grow to record levels. We have created an industry which has shown confidence and optimism and which has backed these sentiments with unprecedented investment in accommodation and tourist facilities.

The Government for its part, has also made a major commitment to the continued growth of tourism through its funding of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland and through investments in a wide range of infrastructural projects. These initiatives were rewarded with yet another record year for tourism in 2005 when visitor numbers reached 6.7million and tourism revenue exceeded €5.3billion.

Everything points to another successful year in 2006, boosted by a number of factors including the Ryder Cup in September. The recently published final report of the Tourism Action Plan Implementation Group indicates that we are well on course towards achieving the goals of ten million visitors and €6billion in revenue by 2012, which were set out in the 'New Horizons' tourism strategy document in 2003.

A motor rally is also a communal event in which drivers, support crews, officials and spectators have an opportunity of meeting and socialising over a weekend and, in this case, experiencing some of the unique hospitality which Killarney has to offer. I am delighted to note that the Rally is sponsored by Ordnance Survey Ireland, which has produced many excellent maps of the Killarney region, and by the Gleneagle Hotel where the Rally Headquarters will be located.

Special thanks and congratulations are also due to Killarney and District Motor Club, its chairman Pat Healy, its committee and membership, who have worked hard and long to organise this international event. The Club has played a prominent role in the sporting and social life of Killarney for many years and contributes handsomely to the local economy through its organisation of the Killarney Historic Stages Rally and of course the Rally of the Lakes.

I wish this year's Rally of the Lakes every success and I thank you for inviting me to officially launch the event this evening."

The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism

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11/04/06
Donnelly Heads Huge Lakes Entry
Reigning Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly will lead away the 151 starters in the 2006 Ordnance Survey Killarney International Rally of the Lakes, which takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend of April 28th – May 1st.

Details of the event, now in its 27th year were announced at a reception in the Brehon Hotel Killarney on Sunday April 9th by Minister John O’Donoghue T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. In the Minister’s address he said “This International event has some of the most scenic rally stages in Europe such as the world-renowned Moll’s Gap, will be followed with keen interest and enthusiasm by an estimated 60,000 spectators including some 3,000 overseas visitors. Research into the economic benefits of the Rally has shown that it injects more than €20m into the local economy and as such it makes a very significant contribution to tourism in Killarney”.

Over three hundred entries were received for the Rally of the Lakes, which is a