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West Cork Rally - 17-18 Mar 07

Posted: March 20, 2007 7:09 PM - 38613 Hits

Round 1 - 2007 Southern 4 Rally Championship

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  • More Photos
  • Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman win in West Cork
  • Full Results and Times
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Photo: Eoin O'Sullivan

Posted: March 20, 2007 7:09 PM


Bones O’Connor Modified Challenge Winners - John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian T90 GTR)
Results
1 Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Ford Focus WRC) 1h 55m 53s,
2 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h 56m 04s,
3 Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h 58m 37s,
4 Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h 59m 03s,
5 Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 03m 40s,
6 John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian T90 GTR) 2h 04m 56s,
7 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher (Mit. Lancer Evo 9) GpN 2h 05m 13s,
8 Kevin O’Donoghue/Joe O’Leary (Ford Escort Mk II 2.4) 2h 06m 45s,
9 Wesley Patterson/Ruth Guest (Ford Escort Mk II 2.0) 2h 07m 34s,
10 James O’Sullivan/Brian Duggan (Mit. Lancer Evo 8) GpN 2h 08m 27s.

Leaders After:
SS1 Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Ford Focus WRC)
SS2-12 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS12-14 Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Ford Focus WRC)

Stage Winners:
SS1 Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Ford Focus WRC)
SS2 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS3 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS4 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS5 Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Ford Focus WRC)
SS6 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS7 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS8 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS9 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS10 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS11 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS12 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS13 Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Ford Focus WRC)
SS14 Michael Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Ford Focus WRC)
SS15 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS16 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Group N Winners - Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher
Photo: John Bayly

First Mk II Home - Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary
PRE EVENT NEWS
  • Reserve List @ No 168 - 14/03/07
  • 023 TILES SOUTHERN 4 RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
  • Non Starters include Kevin Lynch & Phil Collins
  • Programme Outlets
  • Scrutiny Timetable
  • Time and Distance Schedule
  • Updated Entry List available - 08/03/07
  • Full Entry List and Reserve List
  • Top 20 Details
  • Marshals Training Night - (Tue) March 6th
  • Rally Forum on the Friday Night
  • Leading Entries
  • Entries filling rapidly for West Cork Rally
  • Regulations available
  • Bones O’Connor Modified Challenge Trophy
  • Sponsor
  • Modified Challenge

Martin Delaney (Delaney Oils), Raymond Kelleher (Sales & Marketing Quality Hotels Sponsors),
Maura Cal McCarthy (Vice Mayor of Cork County),
Peter Walsh (Mayor of Clonakilty),
Brian O'Connell (Clerk of the Course),
Declan O'Flynn (Chairman of Clonakilty Fundraising Committee).
Photo: Ger Leahy
14/03/07
023 TILES SOUTHERN 4 RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
The 2007 023 Tiles Southern 4 Rally Championship kicks off this weekend with the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally.
The Clonakilty Based event has an oversubscribed entry list and this augers very well for the championship this year.

Last years Champions,Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally return to the scene of their first overall victory last year where they will again do battle with fellow WRC drivers Denis Cronin/Helen O Sulivan (Impreza WRC),Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy(Impreza WRC) and Michael Barrable/Dermot O Gorman (Focus WRC).
The classes should also be hotly contested. Class 4 participants will include James O Sullivan (Evo 9), Kevin Kelleher (Evo9), Kevin O Donoghue (Evo 9), Tadgh Linehan (Impreza N11) and Mark Nangle (Impreza N10).
Class 14 should see the return of long time Southern 4 contestants Phil Collins,Kevin O Donoghue and Conor Cavanagh among others vying for honours.
While class 13 brings us a battle between Wesley Patterson, Gwyndaf Evans,Liam Davis, Willie McCarthy, Leonard Downey and Alan Treacy.
11/03/07
Rally Programmes with Maps and Timetable will be available from:
Joe's Newsagents, Clonakilty (at Roundabout)
Johnny Crowley, Maxol Station, Clonakilty
Noel White's, Texaco Station, Clonakilty
Hartes Supermarket, Clonakilty
Meades Shop, Pearse St, Clonakilty
McCarthy's, Clonakilty Town Centre
Noel Walsh, Londis, Pearse Street, Clonakilty
Quality Hotel, Clonakilty
Texaco Station, Timoleague

Hurleys, The Pike (Ref Robert Walsh)
Ryan's Shell Station, Rosscarbery
Joe Cowhig, Serv Station, Leap
Spar Filling Station, Skibbereen
Pearce Hickey, Skibbereen

EMO, Cronin's Service Station, Ballylickey
Glenview Motors, Macroom
Henry Ford Tavern, Ballinscarthy
Bandon Motors, Clonakilty Road, Bandon
Londis Service Station, Bypass, Bandon
Kevin O Leary's, Cork Road, Bandon
Kevin O Leary's, Clonakilty Road, Bandon
Cahalanes Garage, Cork Road, Bandon
O'Sullivan's Spar, Innishannon (ex Ryan's garage)
Coleman's Car Care, Bishopstown, Cork
Statoil - Bishopstown Service Station
Statoil, Frankfield, Cork
Statoil, Ballincollig, Co Cork
Statoil, Midleton, Co Cork
Statoil, Tivoli, Co Cork
Statoil, Mallow Road, Cork
Statoil, Killarney, Co. Kerry

John Barrys Maxoll, Ballincollig
Casey's, John's Bridge Filling Station, Kanturk
Estuary, Riordan's Filling Station, Kanturk
Maxol, The Viaduct, Cork

Midway service station, Cullen
Blarney Filling Station
Jerry Murphy, R&R Tyres, Ballincollig Re Advertisers

CSE Barge at Rally

Scrutiny Timetable & Time and Distance Schedule
On the Event website below:

05/03/07
Full Entry List and Reserve List on the rally website:
Updated - 08/03/07
03/03/07
Top 20 Details
The Quality Hotels West Cork Rally 2007 which takes place on 17th & 18th March has quality in the entry as well as in the name. 151 cars will take to the start on St.Patricks weekend and the 29th running of the event has attracted a strong entry. The historic rally begins after stage 5 with the Juniors coming on board from stage 13 on the Sunday.

First car away from the Clonakilty start will be that of last year’s winners Melvyn Evans from Wales with his Limerick co-driver Sean Mullally in their Subaru Impreza WRC. Melvyn will be hoping to become only the second driver to win the event three times. At number 2 on the road is the Subaru Impreza WRC of Tim McNulty with co-driver Anthony Nestor who will be looking to get more stage miles under their belts after a short run in Galway. Tim will be one of the favourites to win the event even though it’s his first time competing in Clonakilty.

Number 3 is the extremely quick Kevin Lynch with Francis Regan on the notes in a Ford Focus WRC. Like McNulty, Lynch has not been to West Cork before but would still expect to be in with a serious shout of winning despite having a difficult time in the new car in Galway. Donie O’Sullivan & Paul Nagle are at 4 in the McKinstry Subaru Impreza WRC. This crew won the event in 2004 on their last appearance in West Cork and won’t be very far away either this time

Number 5 is a quick local man local man Liam McCarthy with Kieran Murphy co-driving as usual. This crew have had their share of bad luck over the years, with victory eluding them on more than one occasion. They are in a Subaru Impreza WRC for 2007. Denis Cronin & Helen O’Sullivan who won the event in 2005 are at 6 and will be hoping for better luck in their Impreza WRC than last year when they retired just two miles into the first stage.

Making a welcome return after last years event, Michael Barrable and Dermot O’Gorman are at 7 in their Focus WRC with Jon Ingram & Ian Allsop at 8 in their Impreza WRC. Rounding off the top ten are J.J.Fleming and Robbie Ward in their Focus WRC and John Dalton & Gwynfor Jones in the Darrian T90 who will be looking to repeat their fabulous third place from last year.

Outside of the top ten there are drivers such as Phil Collins in his Escort, top Group N driver Kevin Kelleher at 12 followed by three time winner Bob Fowden at 14. There are three more Impreza WRCs of various specifications from fifteen to seventeen in the hands of Noel Redmond, Tony Davies & P.J.McGrath. Next up are the Mitsubishi Evos of Owen Murphy, the Billy Coleman Award winner for 2006, & James O’Sullivan. Tadhg Linehan in his Subaru Impreza rounds off the top 20.

Competition for the Bones O’Connor Modified Challenge is not restricted Dalton and Collins as a host of very quick modified men are outside the top 20 such as Gwyndaf Evans, Wesley Patterson, Willie Power, Tom Randles, Brian Brogan, Conor Curley & Rodney White among the top names.

The first competing car will leave Parc Ferme at the Model Railway Village on the Inchydoney Road at 10am on the Saturday morning with the winner due at the finish ramp in Clonakilty at 5.10pm on the Sunday. Rally Headquarters will be at the Quality Hotel and Leisure Centre who are the main sponsors of the event. There will be service after every two stages with sixteen stages in all over the weekend.

The full entry list will be published in a few days on the event website:
02/03/07
Marshals Training Night - (Tue) March 6th A marshals training night in preparation for the 2007 Quality Hotels West Cork Rally takes place on Tuesday 6th March at the Commons Inn Hotel, Mallow Road, Cork at 8.30pm and all are welcome to attend.

Leading Entries
The 2007 Quality Hotels West Cork Rally has attracted in excess of 270 entries.
Those who have entered the event include, Tim McNulty, Kevin Lynch, Donie O’Sullivan & Gareth Jones.
The Bones O’Connor Modified Challenge should see some good competition with the likes of Phil Collins, John Dalton, Wesley Patterson & Gwyndaf Evans all entered.

Entry list expected in a few days
15/02/07
Entries filling rapidly for West Cork Rally

Entries are filling rapidly for the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally with over 120 entries in to date. Among those who have stated an interest in taking part are Denis Cronin, who won in 2005, Jon Ingram, Gareth Jones, Peadar Hurson & J.J.Fleming. Top two wheel drive competition is expected from the likes of John Dalton, Phil Collins, Gwyndaf Evans, Wesley Patterson, Washington James & Conor Curley who have also indicated their intention to compete.

Once again the event will be sponsored by Choice Hotels Ireland through its brand the Quality Hotels and the rally headquarters will be the Quality Hotel & Leisure Centre Clonakilty. The General Manager of the Quality Hotel & Leisure Centre Clonakilty, David Henry, is looking forward to welcoming both competitors and spectators alike. Sean Delaney & Sons EXXON and Mobil Oil Suppliers, the traders of Clonakilty and the West Cork Rally Fundraising Committee will act as associate sponsors. The Cork Motor Club, promoters and organisers of this prestigious event would like to acknowledge the assistance of Cork County Council, Clonakilty Town Council, the Gardai, the townspeople of Clonakilty, Bandon and especially the residents on the stages who allow the passage of the rally and who put up with the inconvenience of being blocked in, we thank you.

Accommodation is becoming very scarce, but may still be sourced by contacting Imelda Walsh on 023 33110, (00 353 23 33110 from the UK) between 9am and 5pm.
You can also visit www.clonakilty.ie or www.qualityhotelclon.com.

This two day event, based in the seaside town of Clonakilty and in its 29th year, comprises of eight stages each day. Service will take place after every two stages and pacenote making will be permitted. There are over 155 stage miles are on offer & there are just over 100 road miles which makes the route very compact. Some classic stages will be used again along with some that have not been used for a few years.

The rally forum, which was a success in 2006, returns again this year on Friday 16th March with guests to be revealed at a later stage. BRDS insurance forms are available to download from the
www.westcorkrally.com website. UK competitors are reminded that this is the only acceptable form of insurance.

04/01/07
Regulations available to download from:
11/12/06
Bones O’Connor Modified Challenge Trophy
Cork Motor Club is pleased to announce a new award for the 2007 Quality Hotels West Cork Rally.

The Bones O’Connor Modified Challenge Trophy will be presented to the first modified (non-homologated) car home on the event. In addition the winner will also receive a free entry to the 2008 event.

It is fitting that such a trophy be named after Michael ‘Bones’ O’Connor, a founding member of the Cork Motor Club and a well known figure in Irish Motorsport having been Clerk of the Course of the West Cork Rally from 1978 (when he was one of the youngest clerks ever in Irish rallying) to 1990.

Bones O’Connor was also responsible for implementation of safety plans in Irish Rallying along with a host of other innovations that were first tried out on the West Cork Rally over the years.

He was largely responsible for bringing Welsh & English competitors to the West Cork Rally, who continue to enjoy the “craic” in Clonakilty to this day.

Who can forget Bones doing rally radio in Shanahan’s of Leap when his desk was the lid of a coffin and his seat an old unused toilet.

He also competed on stage rallies during the late 70’s and early 80s competing on the Irish international scene in a Toyota Starlet. He competed in the 1982 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland in the same car. He also competed on the Welsh International in 1979 as well as the Manx International.

In recent years he has become multiple Irish champion on the night navigation scene

04/12/06
Sponsor / Modified Challenge
The 29th running of the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally takes place on the 17th & 18th March 2007. With the Bank Holiday falling on the Monday, a great atmosphere should prevail in the town of Clonakilty on what is one of the most social events on the rally calendar.

Choice Hotels through the Quality Hotels brand will once again act as title sponsors and the rally H/Q will be based in the Quality Hotel and Leisure Centre Clonakilty.

For 2007, Cork Motor Club who organise and promote the event, plan to introduce a modified challenge to the rally which would cover the present classes 9-15 according to the 2006 Motorsport Ireland Year Book (www.mmotorsportireland.com). This gives anyone driving a car such as a Metro 6R4 or Darrian a chance to mix it with the likes of BMW M3’s and Escort Mk2s. This challenge will be incorporated into the main event, which attracts a capacity entry every year.

Topics: West Cork Rally 

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