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Skibbereen Fastnet Stages Rally - 28 Oct 07

Posted: October 30, 2007 4:42 PM - 25758 Hits

Round 10 - 2007 National Rally Championship
Round 5 - 2007 Southern 4 Rally Championship

  • MIKKELSEN MAGIC ROUNDS OFF DUNLOP CHAMPIONSHIP IN SKIBBEREEN
    (Report courtesy of Dunlop, Sponsors of the National Rally Championship)
  • Video Clips
  • More Photos
  • Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene take first Irish Win!
  • Results
  • Photos

Photo: Eoin O'Sullivan

Posted: October 30, 2007 4:42 PM

MIKKELSEN MAGIC ROUNDS OFF DUNLOP CHAMPIONSHIP IN SKIBBEREEN

(Report courtesy of Dunlop, Sponsors of the National Rally Championship)

Norwegian, Andreas Mikkelsen and his co-driver, Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC) took a start to finish victory in the Skibbereen based West Cork Hotel Fastnet Rally, the tenth and final round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship. At the end of the seven special stages they were 59 seconds ahead of the Skoda Fabia WRC of Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner. Tim McNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) finished third. The Group N category was won by Keith Cronin/Anthony O’Connell (Mitsubishi) and Tommy Doyle/Colin Fitzgerald (Escort) were the top two wheel drive competitors, they edged out Anthony O’Halloran/Charlie McEnery (Opel Manta) on the final stage.

Mikkelsen (Ford Focus WRC) made a fine start and extricated a ten second lead over Eugene Donnelly with local ace, Denis Cronin (Subaru) a further three seconds behind in third followed by Tim McNulty (Subaru WRC), who was another second back in fourth place. Gareth Jones punctured and slid his Ford Focus WRC into a ditch and lost over twenty minutes. Alan Ring’s Subaru was extensively damaged after he crashed and rolled. The Castleisland driver also had to deal with a small fire. Fortunately, himself and co-driver, Adrian Deasy were uninjured.

On the tough 19.95km stage at Mount Kid (S.S.2), Mikkelsen was the dominant force as he stretched his lead to 31 seconds. Remarkably, the Norwegian ace even admitted that he backed off on certain sections. Donnelly remained second, he remarked, “The car is under powered, it’s gripping very well but the handling is a bit soft.” Cronin maintained third – three seconds behind Donnelly and four ahead of McNulty, the latter continued to make adjustments to his Subaru WRC. Ray Breen in fourth stated that having just completed two passes over the stages (as practice for Rally Ireland), it was hard to commit his Ford Focus WRC. Local driver, Keith Cronin (Mitsubishi) held a superb sixth and led Group N. Elsewhere, the top ten also featured PJ McGrath (Subaru), Mitsubishi pair, Kevin Kelleher and Owen Murphy and James O’Sullivan (Subaru WRC).

Mikkelsen continued to set the pace with another fastest time - on this occasion on S.S. 3. Out on S.S. 4, Donnelly and McNulty shared fastest time with Mikkelsen, who reckoned he lost time as his Ford Focus was shod with intermediate tyres in the dry conditions. Donnelly was on a cut slick tyre and that gave him the advantage with McNulty equally happy with his tyre choice. Indeed, the Meath driver moved into third – three seconds adrift of Donnelly, who was 41 seconds off rally leader, Mikkelsen. Tyre choice was also on Cronin’s mind, he reckoned he had chosen a compound that was a trifle soft. Ray Breen and PJ McGrath were next on the leader board. In Group N, Keith Cronin continued to hold the edge over Kevin Kelleher, the margin between them was twenty seconds. The top ten was rounded off by James O’Sullivan (Subaru WRC) and Owen Murphy (Mitsubishi). Kevin Barrett retired his Subaru when the power steering pump split and George Tracey (Peugeot 206) bowed out with turbo trouble.

There was little between the top three on the repeat run over Mount Kid (S.S.5), Mikkelsen and McNulty shared the fastest time – a second quicker than Donnelly. In overall terms, Mikkelsen led Donnelly by 42 seconds with McNulty 22 seconds further behind in third. Cronin stayed in touch in fourth with Ray Breen slotting into fifth. PJ McGrath overshot and then stalled his Subaru, the episode cost him vital seconds and he slipped to eighth. Meanwhile, Keith Cronin (sixth) also overshot, however, he held on to his lead in Group N – with Kevin Kelleher 17 seconds adrift. James O’Sullivan and Owen Murphy, who lost considerable time with an overshoot on the first left hand junction, rounded off the top ten.

On the final two stages, Mikkelsen set the seal on his first ever Irish victory with Donnelly, McNulty, Cronin and Breen completing an unchanged top five. Group N winner, Keith Cronin (Mitsubishi) took a fine sixth followed by James O’Sullivan (Subaru WRC). PJ McGrath (Subaru) was eighth and although he suffered two punctures on the closing stages, Kevin Kelleher (Mitsubishi) was ninth and second in Group N with Kevin O’Donoghue (Mitsubishi) tenth. Kelleher took the top points in the Dunlop series, the first time this season that this was achieved by a Group N driver. Owen Murphy (Mitsubishi) was eleventh, one place ahead of Willie Fannin, who did enough to win Class 4 of the Dunlop series. Elsewhere in the Dunlop series, James Cassidy won Class 12 and Anthony O’Halloran was victorious in Class 14.

Results
1 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC) 65m 40s,
2 Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Skoda Fabia WRC) 66m 39s,
3 Tim McNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 67m 03s,
4 Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 67m 47s,
5 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) 68m 14s,
6 Keith Cronin/Anthony O’Conaill (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) GpN 69m 07s,
7 P J McGrath/Damien Morrissey (Subaru Impreza WRC) 69m 32s,
8 James O’Sullivan/Brian Duggan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 70m 12s,
9 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) GpN 70m 29s,
10 Kevin O’Donoghue/Joe O’Leary (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 71m 07s.

JUNIOR RALLY:
1 John Stafford/Anne Kennedy (Corsa) 39m 27s,
2 David Fleming/Kieran Doherty (Civic) 39m 39s,
3 David Power/Declan Fennell (Civic) 41m 35s.

Leaders After:
SS1-7 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC)

Stage Winners
SS1 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC)
SS2 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC)
SS3 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC)
SS4 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC)
SS5 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC)
& Tim McNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS6 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC)
SS7 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC)

PRE EVENT NEWS
  • Rookie World Rally Champion in Skibbereen
  • Eamonn Boland Withdraws
  • Preview
  • Entry List - Donnelly @ No 1 in Skoda Fabia WRC
  • Time and Distance Schedule
  • Capacity Entry expected for 2007 West Cork Hotel Fastnet Rally
  • Rally Launch - Wednesday 17th October 2007
  • On Line Entry open until Midnight Thursday 11th October.
  • Event Details - Press Release 1
  • Regulations/On line entry available
26/10/07
Rookie World Rally Champion in Skibbereen
Skibbereen & District Car Club are delighted to announce that 2007 Rookie World Rally Champion Shaun Gallagher will be driving one of the “0” cars on the 2007 West Cork Hotel Fastnet Rally. The Donegal Driver who won the title on the recent Rally Spain will use a newly built Citroen C2. Also running as a “0” car this weekend will Frank O’Mahony in his Metro 6R4.

A late withdrawal from the top 20 of the 2007 Fastnet Stages Rally is Eamonn Boland. His new 2006 specification Ford Focus World Rally Car will not be ready in time to make the start in Skibbereen.

21/10/07
Preview
Skibbereen & District Car Club are delighted to announce details of the entry list and timetable for the 2007 West Cork Hotel Fastnet Stages Rally.

With the overall title on the Dunlop National Rally championship already decided, many of the top seeds are crews using the event as a shakedown for Ireland’s up coming round of the world rally championship, and those competitors contesting the 023 Tiles Southern 4 rally championship.

Leading the 151 starters in the main field will be current tarmac champions, Eugene Donnelly & Paul Kiely, driving a Skoda Fabia WRC. Their objective for the weekend is to use the stages around Skibbereen to acclimatise to the new car ahead of Rally Ireland. The young Norwegian driver Andreas Mikkelsen who is a regular visitor to Ireland starts at No 2 in his Ramsport Ford Focus. The leading challenger in the 023 Tiles Southern 4 Rally Championship is Tim McNulty who will start as car 3 on the road. McNulty with co-driver Eugene O’Donnell won the last 2 rounds of the Dunlop National Rally championship, and is one of 9 drivers who could take the 023 Tiles Southern 4 rally championship in Skibbereen.

Eamonn Boland & Francis Regan are expected to debut their newly acquired 06 version of the Ford Focus and will start at 4. The crew recently competed in the World Rally Championship round in Spain, as did Welsh driver Gareth Jones with Mallow based co-driver David Moynihan who start at 5. These will be followed by last year’s No 1 seeds Ray Breen and Andrew Purcell. Breen lead the Fastnet rally last year until he slipped off the road for 10 minutes.

Top local seed is Denis Cronin with Helen Sullivan calling the notes in the Subaru Impreza WRC. They will be followed by James O’Sullivan, who finished as highest placed local driver on last year’s event.

The Patterson’s National Group N award has already been decided for 2007, so the main focus for the top seeds in the production category will be local honour or shakedown for Rally Ireland. The local crew of Kevin & Martin Kelleher who won the recent Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally are top Group N seeds followed by last year’s Group N winner on the West Cork Hotel Fastnet rally Willie Fannin.

Third group N car on the entry list is another young Norwegian driver, Eyvind Brynildsen, who has been competing in selected rounds of the world rally championship in his Lancer Evo 9 this year. The 19 year old finished 2nd in Group N on both the Norway and Spanish rounds of the World Championship, and is also competing on Rally Ireland.

Leading the 2 wheel drive challenge is Brian O’Mahony in his Clio Super 1600, followed by the Opel Manta of Anthony O’Halloran. Starting after SS4 will be the Historic and Junior competitors.

The Rally will start at 8:30am on Sunday Morning, the 29th of October from the NCT Centre in Skibbereen. The event will be decided over 7 stages with the cars returning to the NCT centre for service after special stages 2 & 5. The winning crew are expected at the finish ramp at the West Cork Hotel @ 4:30pm

The official rally programme will be available in Newsagents and Petrol stations in West Cork from Saturday 20th of October, and will contain full colour maps and stage details.

Event Timetable:

Start & Service: NCT Centre First Car Due. 8:30

Stage 1 Kilcoe 9.3 Kms F.C.D. 9:19
Stage 2 Mount Kid 20 Kms F.C.D. 9:49

Service 1 F.C.D. 10:25

Stage 3 Nowen Hill 19 Kms F.C.D. 11:23
Stage 4 Mealagh Valley 19.3 Kms F.C.D. 12:09
Stage 5 Mount Kid 20 Kms F.C.D. 13:02

Service 2 F.C.D. 13:39
Stage 6 Nowen Hill 19 Kms F.C.D. 14:47
Stage 7 Mealagh Valley 19.3 Kms F.C.D. 15:33

Finish Ramp - The West Cork Hotel F.C.D. 16.30

More Details on:
18/10/07
Entry List

Top 20
Car Driver /Navigator (Make/Model) [Class]
1 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Skoda Fabia WRC) [8]
2 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ole Floene (Ford Focus WRC) [8]
3 Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
4 Eammon Boland/Francis Regan (Ford Focus WRC) [8]
5 Gareth Jones/ TBA (Ford Focus WRC) [8]
6 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) [8]
7 Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
8 Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
9 P.J. McGrath/Damien Morrissey (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
10 Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
11 James OSullivan/Brian Duggan (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
12 Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
14 Eoin Doyle/ TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
15 George Tracey/Jane O'Connor (Peugeot 206 WRC) [8]
16 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
17 Willie Fannin/Paddy Robinson (Subaru Impreza N12) [4]
18 Eyvind Brynildsen/ TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
19 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Subaru Impreza N12B) [4]
20 Keith Cronin/Anthony O'Conaill (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [4]
21 Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Subaru Impreza N12) [4]

Full Entry lists + Time and Distance Schedule on:
14/10/07
Capacity Entry expected for 2007 West Cork Hotel Fastnet Rally
Skibbereen & District Car Club are delighted to announce that at close of entries over 275 applications were received for the 2007 West Cork Hotel Fastnet Rally.

Clerk of the Course Michael O’Riordan and his team now face the challenge of sorting the 151 starters in the main field and 20 starters in the Historic/Junior Section.

Although the overall and Group N Sections of the Dunlop National Rally Championship have already been decided, there are still many class positions to be settled on the Fastnet Rally. In the 023 Tiles Southern 4 Championship 9 drivers can still take the overall title.

Commenting on the entries received, Clerk of the Course Michael O’Riordan said, “We are delighted with the both the quantity and quality of the entries received for this year’s West Cork Hotel Fastnet Rally. Along with many of the National and Southern 4 Championship competitors, we are delighted to see some previous visitors to Skibbereen on the list of names along with those crews who want to use the Fastnet Rally as a shakedown for Rally Ireland, more details of which will be revealed at the Rally Launch.”

The Rally Launch for the 2007 Fastnet Rally with take place on Wednesday the 17th of October at 9pm in the Rally HQ, the West Cork Hotel, Ilen Street, Skibbereen, and all are welcome to attend.

The 2007 West Cork Hotel Fastnet Rally will feature a 7 stage format, one less that previous years, but with an increase in stage kilometres. This has been achieved by using a loop of three stages of almost 20 km each, preceded by an opening 10km stage just outside the host town of Skibbereen.

The West Cork Hotel Fastnet Stages Rally will be the final round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship and the 023 Tiles Southern 4 Championship.

10/10/07
On line Entry will remain open until Midnight Thursday 11th October.

Details:
27/09/07
Event Details - Press Release 1
Skibbereen & District Car Club are delighted to announce details of this year's Fastnet Rally.

After the success of last year’s event, The West Cork Hotel, on the banks of the Ilen River in Skibbereen will again be the Main Sponsor and Event Headquarters. This means that Scrutiny, Park Ferme and Rally Headquarters are all within a few hundred metres of each other, a feature that proved very popular in 2006.

Clerk of the Course Michael O’Riordan and his team of dedicated assistants have chosen a new format of stages for the 2007 running of the rally. “We wanted to shorten the time crews spent out of the stages, but retain the challenge for competitors.” said Michael.

The 2007 West Cork Hotel Fastnet Rally will feature a 7 stage format, one less that previous years, but with an increase in stage kilometres. This has been achieved by using a loop of three stages of almost 20 km each, preceded by an opening 10km stage just outside the host town of Skibbereen.

Deputy COC Kieran O’Callaghan added, “I have no doubt that this new route will ensure that whoever lifts the Fastnet Rock Sculpture at prize giving on Sunday 28th October will have worked hard over the weekend to deserve the honour. “

The West Cork Hotel - Fastnet Stages Rally will be the final round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship and the 023 Tiles Southern 4 Championship. Although the overall National Championship has been decided, there are still many class positions to be settled in Skibbereen over the bank holiday weekend. The Rally will also be a counting round in The Skibbereen and District Car Club Championship.

Regulations and Entry Form are now available via the Skibbereen & District Car Club website:

20/09/07
Regulations/On line entry available on Club website:

Topics: Fastnet Rally (Skibbereen) 

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