GSMC Mini Stages Rally - 19 Oct 08

Posted: October 21, 2008 12:33 PM - 23971 Hits

GERMAINES OF BALTINGLASS MINI STAGES RALLY
Round 6 - 2008 Midlands East Rally Championship
Round 8 - 2008 Junior Rally Championship

Kevin Kelleher/Martin Brady win in Baltinglass

Wilson wins first ever National Junior Rally Championship.

Posted: October 21, 2008 12:33 PM

Peter Wilson is the first ever winner of the National Junior rally Championship (NJRC). The Kells man made history as he steered his yellow and white Honda Civic to fourth overall in the GSMC Mini Stage Rally, the final round of the NJRC held on Sunday last Oct 19th. Wilson wins E5,000 and as a class winner in the NJRC and he will be interviewed for the Billy Coleman award, the winner of which gets E32,000.

The GSMC rally was a four stage tarmac rally based in Baltinglass. Met Eireann forecast wind and rain but it did not rain on the first two stages, although drivers did report slippery spots. The rain did come down on stage 3 and stage 4 was very difficult with a lot of standing water.

Damien Mc Carthy was the junior rally winner on the day, the Corkman at the wheel of a Civic. In a very exciting battle his winning margin was eight seconds, and there was just a 39 second differential between first and fifth, which included three drivers chasing the NJRC crown. Mc Carthy made a cautious start- he had a lead of five seconds at first service, and with an equal fastest on the third he held his lead through the treacherous final test.

That last stage presented no problems for Pat Cunnungham, he was fastest by 30 seconds and it lifted him from fourth to runner up in another Civic. It was the best result for the Galway man on tar, as he won the Limerick forestry rally earlier in the season.

Third overall was Jason Ryan. The Youghal man had a chance of winning the championship and he started in the best possible with a stunning time on stage 1. However a damaged brake pipe on the Civic on stage 2 cost him over thirty seconds and an overshoot on the next stage left him with too much of a deficit.

Wilson started the rally well and he stayed out of trouble all day. Third at first service and second after stage three, an uncharteristic time on the final test dropped the Kells driver to fourth. However in winning the inaugural NJRC Wilson has proved himself in a very competitive formula on both surfaces. He drove with speed and intelligence all year.

In fifth was Vincent mc Aree, the Monaghan man was also a championship contender. But he had a mountain to climb after his off on the penultimate round. Try as he might and the Peugeot 106 driver tried very hard, he could not get the better of the more powerful Hondas. As a class winner he will be interviewed for the Billy Coleman Award.

Sarah Moynihan (206), Bernard Mulvihill (Civic) and Eamon Power (106) also finished, and the latter will be considered for the Billy Coleman award, as he too is a class winner in the NJRC.

Damien Mc Carthy was delighted at the finish ramp. ”Tis great to finish the year on a high. But for a little problem here and there along the way, we would have been able to challenge the Wilson, Mc Aree and Ryan today. But that is rallying there can be only one winner and I congratulate Peter. We are very happy, we won three of the four tarmac rounds and we led two of the forest events”.

Leader Stage 1 to 4 Damien Mc Carthy

Stage winners:
D. Mc Carthy 2, J. Ryan 1, P.Wilson 1, P Cunningham 1.

8 NJRC drivers started the rally and 8 finished.

Results of GSMC Mini rally for NJRC drivers.
1 Damien Mc Carthy/Eamon Hayes (Civic) 42.53
2. Pat/Martin Cunningham (Civic) 43.03
3. Jason Ryan/Tadhg O’Sullivan (Civic) 43.06
4. Peter Wilson/JP Kilmurray (Civic) 43.07
5 Vincent/JP Mc Aree (106) 43.32
6. Sarah/Amy Moynihan (206) 46.28
7 Bernard Mulvihill/Enda Gerrety (Civic ) 50.40
8 Eamon /William Power (106) 58.54.

ACTION REPLAY FOR KELLEHER

Posted: October 20, 2008 3:26 PM

Kevin Kelleher and Martin Brady have taken victory in the 2008 Germaine's of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally, organised by the Garda S�hᮡ Motor Club, in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9. Their path to victory was eased slightly when their main rivals, Paul Kiely and Pat McSharry, also piloting an Evo 9 Lancer, encountered mechanical trouble prior to the third of the event's four stages. Kiely and McSharry led the rally by just one second at the half-way point, but then broke a transfer shaft while warming their tyres, and this put paid to their efforts for the day.

Kelleher and GSMC member, Brady, finished the event with an advantage of fifteen seconds over Trevor O'Shaughnessy and Eugene McGrath (Toyota Corolla CoupÂí who in turn were were eighteen seconds ahead Trevor Mulligan and Lisa Roe (Ford Escort RS) in third place, the latter two crews having been tied on time at the half way point. Paul McEnroe and Sorcha Kelly claimed fourth place in their Subaru Impreza N14. Des Moore made an inspired tyre choice and took second fastest time on the final stage, to move into fifth place overall at the finish.

The event consisted of two runs over the Kilranelagh and Slievereagh stages, east of Baltinglass. While the first loop was held in dry but windy conditions, heavy rain arrived in the afternoon to make the conditions for the crews all the more challenging over the second loop.

Mark Courtney (Toyota Celica GT-Four) had taken a commanding lead on the first stage of the rally, with Kelleher second fastest on the stage, followed by Kiely. Stage two saw Courtney crash out, while Kelleher also inflicted damage to his Mitsubishi Lancer. Kiely took fastest time to move into his short-lived lead. Kelleher was fastest on the two remaining stages, but had to thread carefully, as O'Shaughnessy was never too far away.

This success marks Kelleher's second win in a row on the event, the Clonakilty man having also taken victory last year, with his brother Martin navigating. Speaking after the finish, Kevin said: "It was a bit daunting this morning, it was my first time running first on the road, and it was my first time in this car, I only saw it for the first time this morning. Martin Brady was just back from England, he was competing the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge in Shropshire yesterday, so there were a lot of 'unusual' things about today. The first stage went well for us, but then we had an off on stage two, we were lucky to get away with it. We broke a wheel and a wishbone, but we were able to limp into service on three wheels. The James Foley Rallysport lads did a great job to turn us around, I gave them a fair bit of work to do, there was a lot of patching up to be done. Its a very prestigous event for Martin to win, being organised by his own club, GSMC. The stages were very nice."

The event was also the final round of the Motorsport Ireland National Junior Rally Championship (for drivers under 27 in two-wheel drive cars of up to 1600cc). Bandon's Damien McCarthy (Honda Civic) was the highest placed NJRC finisher, finishing in eleventh place overall. Patrick Cunningham, Jason Ryan and Peter Wilson were the next NJRC runners, in 13th to 15th places in the overall results. The outcome of the GSMC Rally provisionally gives Wilson the National Junior title, and with it a sponsored drive in a large capacity Group N car on an event in 2009. He and the other NJRC class winners, plus a number of wildcards, now go forward to the final selection process to determine Motorsport Ireland's Young Rally Driver of the Year and recipient of the Billy Coleman Award. The winner of that will receive a sponsored drive in a championship outside of Ireland in 2009.

More Photos

Posted: October 20, 2008 3:18 PM

LINK REMOVED - Sideway Shot Motor Sport Photography

Joe Lane Photos

rallyprint.com - Trevor McGrath

Full Results & Times

Posted: October 20, 2008 3:16 PM

1 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Brady (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 41m 09s,
2 Terence O'Shaughnessy/Eugene McGrath (Toyota Corolla RWD 2.5) 41m 24s,
3 Trevor Mulligan/Lisa Roe (Ford Escort Mk II) 41m 42s,
4 Paul McEnroe/Sorcha Kelly (Subaru Impreza N14 Gp N) 41m 50s,
5 Des Moore/Arthur Kierans (Ford Escort Mk II) 42m 01s,
6 Adrian Quinn/Alan Moran (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 42m 03s.

Leaders After
SS1 Mark Courtney/Mick Courtney (Toyota Celica GT-Four)
SS2 Paul Kiely/Pat Mc Sharry (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
SS3-4 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Brady (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)

Stage Winners:
SS1 Mark Courtney/Mick Courtney (Toyota Celica GT-Four)
SS2 Paul Kiely/Pat Mc Sharry (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
SS3 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Brady (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
SS4 Des Moore/Arthur Kierans (Ford Escort Mk II)

Results and Times

Posted: October 20, 2008 3:11 PM

Photo: www.sidewayshot.com

KELLEHER AND FOLEY GO 'BEST OF THREE'

Posted: October 15, 2008 9:52 PM

In October, 2007, Kevin Kelleher won the Garda S¨ªoch¨¢na Motor Club's Mini Stages Rally, based in Baltinglass. James Foley was second. In October, 2006, James Foley won the same event and Kevin Kelleher was second. In October, 2009, next Sunday to be precise, these two drivers will battle for supremacy once again, 'among the Wicklow Hills'. Both will pilot versions of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 on the Germaine's of Baltinglass supported event.

Kelleher comes to Baltinglass on the crest of a wave, having wrapped up the Group N category of the 2008 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship three weeks ago on the Cork '20' International. The Clonakiltyman's talent behind the wheel has been apparent for some time now, and the Tarmac crown was deserved reward for his efforts over the past number of years. While normally navigated by his brother, Martin, he will be guided on the Germaine's Rally by GSMC member, Martin Brady.

James Foley spends most of his hours preparing Mitsubishis for other competitors, (indeed he can count Kevin Kelleher among his past customers), but is always bang on the pace on the occasions he chooses to sample one of his own creations. The scene is thus set for the 'showdown'.

However, the Germaine's of Baltinglass GSMC Rally is not just about the top two seeds. Others such as Mark Courtney (Toyota Celica) and Paul Kiely (Mitsubishi) can also be expected to challenge for victory, while some of the top two wheel drive runners, such as Manus Kelly, Trevor Mulligan and Damian Gallagher in their Mark 2 Escorts, and Terence O'Shaughnessy in is rapid Corolla, should also be in the fray if the weather remains dry.

In addition to the battle for the rally itself, the destiny of two major championships will also be decided on Sunday. The inaugural Motorsport Ireland National Junior Rally Championship (for drivers under 27 in two-wheel drive cars of up to 1600cc), reaches its conclusion on the GSMC Mini Stages, with three drivers in contention for the prestigous title, and the prize of a sponsored drive in a 2000cc Group N car on a National event next year. Meathman Peter Wilson (Honda Civic) leads the NJRC on 48 points, followed by Monaghan's Vincent McAree (Peugeot 106) on 44 and Corkman Jason Ryan (Honda Civic) on 40. The various permutations are complicated by the fact that points are awarded on a class basis, and McAree is in a different class to the Civic duo. All of the class winners in the NJRC, plus a number of wildcards, will go forward to the final selection process for the Billy Coleman Award, presented by Motorsport Ireland to the Young Rally Driver of the Year. The Award winner will receive a sponsored drive in a championship outside of Ireland in 2009, presenting that driver with a huge opportunity to make his mark on an international stage.

The Japcars.ie Midlands East Championship also reaches its climax in Baltinglass, and again, this is class based. Honda Civic men, Michael Hagan and Colm Brady, head the standings on 67 and 62 points respectively, with James Cassidy (Escort) third on 60 points.

The Germaine's of Baltinglass GSMC Mini Stages Rally consists of two runs over the Kilranelagh and Slieveragh stages, east of Baltinglass, with service prior to stage one and after stage two in Whitestown Quarry. The winning crew is due to arrive at Rally HQ (Germaine's) at 3.30pm.

Marshals Required & Marshals Meeting Points

Posted: October 14, 2008 3:41 PM

Marshals Required for this weekend's Rally

Contact: 087 7980040 or 086 828 1222

Marshal meeting @ 8.30am for both stages

Marshal Meeting Points

National Junior Rally Championship (NJRC) Preview

Posted: October 14, 2008 12:15 PM

The first ever National Junior Rally Championship (NJRC) reaches its climax on next Sunday¡¯s GSMC Mini Stages Rally. Three drivers will start the four stage tarmac event with a chance of going home as champion. Peter Wilson from Kells Co.Meath leads with 48 points. Vincent Mc Aree from Ballinode, Co.Monaghan is second with 44 points, and in third place with 40 points is Jason Ryan from Youghal. With ten points for the rally winner an exciting finale is in prospect.

The GSMC Mini rally is the eighth and final round of the NJRC, a class based championship with four rounds on gravel and four on tarmac, with the six best scores to count. For that reason it is difficult to list the all the permutations, but if Wilson wins the rally, the NJRC is bound for Kells. Wilson has been in super form all year on both surfaces. He won the ALMC rally and was second four times, third once and retired near the finish line in Limerick. Vincent Mc Aree can also win the championship but his Peugeot 106 will have its work cut out against the power of the Civics. Jason Ryan is ten points adrift of Wilson but still in with a shot of the championship- he has won three forestry rallies even though he has more experience on the asphalt.

The NJRC has been very competitive all year, and some rapid junior drivers have entered the rally who cant win the championship. Damien Mc Carthy for instance-the Corkman won two tarmac rallies mid season and he would like to finish the year on a high. There is Colin O¡¯Toole- who is the local driver here-had terrible luck all year but he went very quickly in the ALMC rally. Patrick Cunningham won the second round in the Limerick forestry and the Galway driver has been consistently competitive since then.

Ballymahon driver Bernard Mulvihill had good finishes in the first three events and no finish since June and how he would like to win in Wicklow.

There is a prize of E5,000 for the winner of the NJRC, and reach class winner will be interviewed for the Billy Coleman award-worth E32,000.
If the NJRC winner also wins the Billy Coleman award, the NJRC award goes to the second place NJRC driver.
Even though there are only four stages left, there is still a lot to drive for.

The first car leaves Baltinglass at 10.15 with the finish advertised for 15.30.

JAPCARS.IE Midlands East Championship goes to the wire.

Posted: October 10, 2008 7:34 PM

5 Rounds completed and 1 to go. Since Nenagh in February the crews have wound there way through Roscommon, Carrickmacross, Drogheda, Oldacastle with the final round of the JAPCARS.IE Midlands East Championship being hosted in Baltinglass by the GSMC.

In terms of a overall winner in this class based championship its down to 3 Crews. Longford¡¯s Michael Hagan (Honda Civic) is leading the drivers championship on 67 Points followed by Oldcastle¡¯s Colm Brady (Honda Civic) on 62 Points and in 3rd place is James Cassiddy from Moynalty (Ford Escort) on 60 Points. In the Co-Drivers Championship it is very different with Declan Brady leading on 62 Points, Joe Norris on 60 points in second place and Liam Higgins and Declan Smith tied for third place on 55 Points. It going to make the GSMC Rally very interesting in terms of the overall championship.

Class leaders are David & Robert Woodcock, Donald Powell/Robert Lewis, Barry Coleman/John Corrigan, Michael Cunningham/Alan Moran, Marc McDermott/Damien Flanagan, Anthony Masterson/Tom Clinton, David Forde/Martin Gavigan, Thomas Carolan/Andreas Reid, Martin McKeown/Declan Ryan, Neil Pierce/Enda O¡¯Leary, Gerry & Karen Kelly, Declan Tansey/Bernard Devine, Pat Donegan, Ger McDonagh/Ken Flanagan and Patrick/Gerard Divilly.

The Prizegiving is being hosted by the Castle Automobile Club on Saturday 1st November in the Oldcastle House Hotel and tickets are available from the Registrar 086 8179297.