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Tour of the Sperrins (Magherafelt) - (Sat) 19 May 07

Posted: May 24, 2007 8:00 PM - 14304 Hits

Round 4 - 2007 Northern Ireland Rally Championship

  • Championship Points for Sonya Mac’s Philip White Tyres Ka on Tour of the Sperrins
  • Charlie & Paddy keep their crown at KBB Tour of the Sperrins Rally!
  • CHARLIE TAKES FIRST GLORY FOR REID MOTORSPORT
  • Full Results
  • Photo
  • Video Clips

Posted: May 24, 2007 8:00 PM

Championship Points for Sonya Mac’s Philip White Tyres Ka on Tour of the Sperrins
Cool FM DJ Sonya Mac finished last weekend’s Magherafelt and District Motor Club’s Tour of the Sperrins based in Maghera 5th in class gaining more valuable points towards a class championship place.

After the accident on the Balix Hill stage of the Easter Rally, the Tour of the Sperrins was a confidence building exercise for Sonya and Safron and the team set out to at least finish the event.

Sonya Said,
‘I was very nervous before the start of Sperrins on Saturday. The accident at the last rally left me feeling less confident than before but I really just wanted to finish the event and get some points on the board, which is what we did.

‘The weather conditions left the already very narrow and bumpy stages very greasy and slippy. But we were just pleased to bring the Ka back to Parc Ferme in one piece!’

The points gained at the Sperrins leaves Sonya 4th in class before the next round of the Northern Ireland Rally Championship, the Mourne Rally in Newry on the 9th June.

Sonya Mac’s Ford Ka is prepared by Harper Rally Preparation and sponsored by Philip White Tyres, Pirelli and 974 Cool FM.

Charlie & Paddy keep their crown at KBB Tour of the Sperrins Rally!
Charlie Donnelly and Paddy Toner retained their title at last weekend's KBB Tour of the Sperrins Rally when they emerged victorious for the second year in succession! The event, which was round four of the Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship, saw local man Donnelly arrive home just six seconds ahead of Cookstown's Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly, who scored maximum championship points for the third event in succession.

  Donnelly, the brother of current Irish Tarmac Champion Eugene, is the reigning Irish National Champion. After winning the championship, he decided to take a break from the driving seat due to health reasons, but he failed to resist the temptation of entering his popular home event to defend his title.

  Despite a long layoff, Donnelly and Toner immediately grabbed the lead in their Toyota Corolla WRC. They were two seconds faster over the opening stage from Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly, while Seamus Heron and Elaine Doherty were third ahead of Sean Devine and Damien Duffin.

  Donnelly continued his charge through stages two and three, extending his lead by vital seconds. A bad tyre choice for stage three saw him set fastest time by just two-tenths of a second, but he was back on the throttle over stage four, when he was 11 seconds faster than Allen.

  The chasing Cookstown pilot could seemingly do little about the Toyota in front, but he was safe in the knowledge that his rival was not registered for the championship. Second position was enough to secure maximum points, although he had to watch his back as Sean Devine and Damien Duffin were now third, just seven seconds in arrears.

  The final two stages saw trouble raise its head in the leader's camp, and suddenly victory for Donnelly started slipping from his grasp. While he was equal fastest with Allen through stage five, a slipping clutch through the closing miles saw him lose more than 13 seconds! It was not enough for Allen to snatch the win, so a relieved Donnelly and Toner arrived at Walsh's Hotel in Maghera to celebrate victory!

  Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly secured second overall and maximum championship points while Seamus Heron and Elaine Doherty were third after Sean Devine and Damien Duffin crashed out after a jump on the final stage.

  "We were only six or seven seconds behind Glenn so we decided to push hard for the championship points," Devine recalled. "It was difficult to choose tyres all day, and the stage started off dry, but then it was a bit wet in the middle. We just came up over a bridge and the car broke away from us. Thankfully, not much damage was done and now we just have to make sure it's ready for the next rally."

  In fourth position, Neil McCance and Sean Ferris continued their excellent run of form with victory in the Sunoco Fuels Group N category. The crew fended off challenges from Errol Clarke and Richard Cathcart, who both retired, to make it two category victories in as many weekends after their Manx success. It was also enough to give him second placed championship points, and he now lies fifth overall in the standings.

  Pomeroy's Stephen Moore, who had Tony McHugh on the notes, had a difficult rally as he struggled to become accustomed with his Focus WRC on wet tarmac. He recovered well though and despite a few minor indiscretions, he came home in fifth position ahead of Enniskillen's Raymond Johnston and Richard Bell. Moore now lies second in the championship, six points behind leader Allen and two points ahead of Johnston.

  Completing the top ten, Cathal Rogers and John McCafferty were seventh overall in their Mitsubishi Lancer, just over 20 seconds ahead of John McGlaughlin and Stephen McAuley. These two crews were second and third in the Sunoco Fuels Group N category, while the Superdrive two-wheel-drive award went to Frank Kelly and Joe Friel. It was nip and tuck until the finish for Kelly, as he battled with Aiden and Damien Toner. In the end, it was Kelly who sealed the victory by 2.2 seconds from Toner who completed the top ten.

 
CHARLIE TAKES FIRST GLORY FOR REID MOTORSPORT
Charlie Donnelly and Paddy Toner took the first ever victory for the Reid Motorsport team, on the Tour of the Sperrins Rally at the weekend. The Sperrins event started in Charlie’s home town of Maghera, and at the finish he received a hero’s welcome as he brought the now famous Toyota Corolla WRC in which he and Eugene won last years National and Tarmac titles onto the ramp in first place. Indeed it had been almost six months since Charlie had drove a rally car Liam Reid had planned to co-drive for the day, but was stuck in England due to work commitments, so the man who shared Charlie’s National glory last season, Paddy Toner stepped into the hot seat at the eleventh hour.

The duo had also taken honours on this event last year, but despite a fastest time on the first two stages, things were not all so smooth inside the Reid Corolla, as the car was misfiring. “It did it through both tests, but Derek McGeehan and the boys did a fantastic job of fixing it at first service. I was also trying to feel my way with these BF Goodrich tyres, but they seemed good “quipped Charlie. The main opposition was coming from the other McGeehan Motorsport Corolla of Glen Allen, and the Subaru of Sean Devine, but Charlie recorded fastest times on stage’s three, four and five to extend his lead to just over twenty seconds before the last stage. “Conditions today have been changeable, and to be honest we may have made more time if we had of taken a gamble on tyres, but we’ve stuck with intermediates all day, and we’ve been very safe.” Safe indeed but the Corolla was now suffering from a very suspect clutch and it made the last stage much more nerve wrecking, Glen Allen going for it and taking his first fastest time of the rally. “It was just a legacy of the car having sat for six months without use, and the clutch forks were weak. Going into the last test it was slipping very badly, and it was only about half way through the stage that I figured out how to drive it so that the slip wasn’t slowing her down too much. I just hoped all the hard work wouldn’t slip away, but we held on, and to come back into Maghera again as the winner was sensational.” As the ever present rallying commentator Dougie Hughes welcomed them back to Walsh’s Hotel in Maghera, it was a equally special day for Magherafelt and District Motor Club who had pulled off yet another superbly run event. “The club did another splendid job this year, and again it was great for Paddy and I to win as he was actually the first ever Clerk of the Course for the Tour of the Sperrins Rally, and I was his deputy, twenty years ago this year, back when it started in the forests. But this year the stages were excellent, and I am the first to admit that many of the roads I knew well. Paddy was worried, I wouldn’t listen to the notes, but sometimes there’s nothing as dangerous as a road you think you know well, so listening to him and driving to the notes was essential.”

The other member of the Reid Motorsport team on the event was Shaun Reid giving his Group N Mitsubishi Evo 9, a run out in preparation for next weekend. Shaun got off to a flying start with one of the fastest Group N times on the first stage, but then a hard landing on a big jump broke the transfer box rendered the Evo rear wheel drive, but that didn’t deter him, continuing the event and gaining experience with tyre choices in the changing conditions. The next event for the entire Reid Motorsport team starts this Friday, round four of the Irish Tarmac Championship, the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland were Eugene Donnelly, Gareth Jones, James Cullen and Shaun Reid will all be out in force.

PRE EVENT NEWS
  • KBB Tour of the Sperrins Rally ready to go!
  • Entry list, programme details etc. all available
  • KBB to sponsor this year’s event
  • Regulations available
15/05/07
KBB Tour of the Sperrins Rally ready to go!
Round four of the Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship gets underway this Saturday 19 May with the KBB Tour of the Sperrins Rally!

Based from Maghera's Walsh's Hotel, Magherafelt and District Motor Club have been oversubscribed with entries for their closed road event. Such is the popularity of rallying on these shores, 220 crews applied for one of the 120 places available for the rally!

Topping the entry list, local man Charlie Donnelly is set to return to action behind the wheel of a Toyota Corolla WRC. The reigning Irish National Rally Champion has been taking a break for the driving seat for health reasons this year, but the temptation of competing at his home event was too difficult to resist. Donnelly won last year's Sperrins Rally behind the wheel of a Skoda Fabia WRC, and will be aiming to make it two on the trot this weekend with Liam Reid navigating.

Aiming to stop him in his tracks, current Pacenotes N.I. series leaders, Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly, will start at number two in their Corolla WRC. The Cookstown driver moved to the top of the standings after taking victories at Bishopscourt and the Easter rallies. 'It never rains but it pours' rings true for Allen, and after a two year stint with no championship victories to his name, suddenly he is back on winning form.

Donemana's Sean Devine, with Damien Duffin calling the notes, will be hoping history doesn't repeat itself this weekend, as he wheels out his Subaru Impreza WRC. Last year's rally saw him crash out of the event while in a strong position at the top end of the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, Stephen Moore and Tony McHugh also return in their Ford Focus WRC. They were the surprise winners at the opening round of the series in Kirkistown, and are the current leaders of the Southern Forestry Championship. Moore will be in buoyant form after his latest victory at the Munster Moonraker Rally last weekend, but the switch back to tarmac could see use the opening stages to find his feet.

Enniskillen's Raymond Johnston also joins the fray with his Subaru Impreza WRC. Currently third in championship terms, both he and Richard Bell have been enjoying a good run this year.

At number six, former Group N Champion Richard Hogg returns to the series with a Skoda Octavia WRC at his disposal. He won the Group N category on the event last year, but the move to WRC machinery could see him become a threat for overall honours.

In the Sunoco Fuels Group N category, Richard Cathcart and Killian Duffy start the event with number nine on their doors. The crew will be challenged by Neil McCance and Sean Ferris, who won their category at last weekend's Manx National Rally. Johnny McKenna will also be vying for top honours in his Evo 8, while Connor McCloskey, Errol Clarke, John McGlaughlin and Eoin McErlean will also be in the hunt.

The Superdrive two wheel drive category will also provide plenty of sideways action and drama, with Draperstown preparation man Camillus Bradley leading the way. He heads a trio of Escorts, with Alistair Cochrane and Frank Kelly also joining the fun. Rodney White, in his Talbot Sunbeam, is another who is capable of taking the prize, as are Aidan Toner, Declan McNaughton and Martin McCormack.

Spectators will have an opportunnity to see some of the latest WRC cars at close quarters this Friday (18th) at rally scrutiny, which will be held at the Station Road Business Park, Maghera, from 5pm onwards.

The rally starts in earnest at 10am on Saturday morning from Walsh's Hotel, when crews will leave to tackle six demanding tarmac stages in the Sperrin Mountains and Upperlands area. The first car is due back at Walsh's Hotel for the champagne finish at approximately 4.45pm.

15/05/07
Entry list, programme details etc all available
Interest in this year’s event has exceeded all expectations with 220 crews applying for the 120 places to compete on the rally. All the leading contenders in the Northern Ireland Rally Championship have entered and the field will be lead away by the 2006 winner Charlie Donnelly in his infamous Toyota Corolla WRC. Current Championship leader, Glenn Allen from Cookstown starts at no 2, also in a Corolla WRC with the 1st of the Subaru WRCs at 3 being driven by Sean Devine from Dunamanagh with Stephen Moore at No4 in a Ford Focus WRC. The 1st of the Group N cars starts at NO 9 with Richard Cathcart followed by the experienced Neil McCance at 10 with Draperstowns Johnny McKenna at 11. What most people class as the entertainers of the event the 2wd cars start at No 19 with Draperstowns preparations expert Camillus Bradley trying to finish in front of Alastair Cochrane and Frank Kelly.

On Friday the 18th spectators will have their chance to see some of the latest WRC cars up close at the Rally Scrutiny held at the Station Road Business Park, Maghera from 5pm onwards with the Rally starting from Walsh’s Hotel at 10am on Saturday 19th May to tackle six demanding tarmac stages in the Sperrin Mountains and Upperlands area. First car is due back at Walsh’s Hotel for the champagne spraying at approximately 4.45 pm where prize giving will take place.
17/04/07
KBB will sponsor this year’s event
Stephen Mc Ferran, COC for the Tour Of The Sperrins Rally has announced that KBB will sponsor this year’s event. “We are pleased to confirm that KBB will continue to sponsor the Tour of the Sperrins Rally for 2007, Stephen continued “KBB, the event sponsor for the last number of years has proven to be a strong partnership and the club would like to thank them for their valued assistance.

Kieran Shaw, M D, said, “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Magherafelt and District Motor Club and the Tour of The Sperrins Rally. Our partnership has again been privileged this year with a road closing order, which will allow the club to build on last years success and raise the profile of the rally.This event will bring many of Irelands world rally cars and local hero’s to the roads around Magherafelt.” He continued; “The rally brings valuable tourism to the area and helps add to the atmosphere and profile of the Magherafelt District Councils May Festival.”

Stephen also commented; “The Tour of the Sperrins Rally will take place on 19th May. The event will start and finish from Walsh’s’ Hotel Maghera. The Tarmac Format has all the makings of a fantastic rally, and the stages chosen are among the best in Northern Ireland.

As in previous years special deals on accommodation and ferry travel will be in place for competitors from England, Scotland and Wales who may wish to come over and contest the event. The event offers 6 stages with 44 stage miles.

20/03/07
Regulations available

Topics: TOUR OF THE SPERRINS 

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