Midland Stages Rally - 5 Apr 09

Note from Maurice Moffett and Jason McKenna

Posted: May 6, 2009 3:00 PM

"Just a note to say thanks lads for all your assistance on the final road section of rally. We were doomed to retire but James Foley, Kris Meeke and all the other competitors were having none of it. What happened then is well documented!!
The sportsmanship of all the competitors was amazing and we cannot thank you enough. Also well done to Sean Cahill and the midlands committee for an excellent event."
Maurice Moffett and Jason McKenna - Car no 5

Posted: April 18, 2009 6:08 PM

Posted: April 10, 2009 9:58 PM

Photo: James Burkee

Video Clip: Excel Championship Review

Posted: April 10, 2009 9:57 PM

In Cars

Posted: April 10, 2009 9:46 PM

EXCELLENT START FOR EXCEL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP!

Posted: April 10, 2009 10:18 AM

The Midland Stages Rally marked the first milestone in the new Excel Rally Championship. After months of preparation, deliberation and negotiation the series was flagged off by none other than Kris Meeke, starting at number one in the Excel Clio. Kris was trying Silverstone Tyres for the first time and was well pleased with the rubber, finding a better compound for the afternoon stages, as he quipped. “The Silverstone tyres were a huge surprise, massive grip.” Excel’s Paul Roche was also keen to see how the package would work. “At the start of the day, we sent him out on the wrong compound for Kris’s type of driving, but he was delighted when we changed and got the compound right. It was good to get feedback on the tyres, and we learnt a lot from this.” For Kris however the event presented its fair share of little niggles, with Paul Nagle having to take over the co- driver’s seat at the eleventh hour as Kris didn’t have the necessary IRDS insurance for between the stages in Ireland. The ultra fast stages didn’t suit the Clio’s gearing either, the car topping out at 104 mph, when the top crews where geared for 135 mph on the long straights. Clipping a chicane and damaging a CV joint also cost some valuable time, but Kris thoroughly enjoyed the Clio, and it was fitting to have the Rally Brazil winner on the stages. He finished ninth overall on the event and first in class ahead of another Excel Rallying machine.

The new Championship received 31 driver registrations, and 28 co driver registrations for its very first round, and this new class based championship is very simple in its design. But Paul knows there’s a lot more work to do.” We were pleased with the registrations, and that’s why we made registration free to encourage the series until people can see what it’s about. Obviously with 6 of the 8 rounds counting, it’s early days yet for registrations, and there is still time for anyone wishing to do the series. It’s a simple series, based on class points. There is no overall leader, it is all worked out on class positions in our 19 classes. This gives a wide range of drivers in the different classes the opportunity to contest the end of season shootout where the big prizes will be awarded. If you win your class you are guaranteed an entry to the shootout, and there will be a few wildcards also we can pick out.” Sometimes simple is better, and also the series announced that it would also allow Hankook tyres to be used, bought from the Excel truck, therefore catering for every size of rally tyre throughout the nineteen classes.

In the classes, David Quigley and Des Sherlock in their Honda Civic where victorious in class 2, taking 19th place overall. Stephen Wright and Paul McGee where the top Excel finishers in class 3 with their Fiesta ST, in 23rd place. The top Excel registered competitor in the overall results was Adrian Quinn with Alister Wylie on the notes in their Evo 9, finishing a fabulous fourth overall and first in Group N. Another Excel crew James Foley and Andrew Cullen took fifth overall in their new Evo 10, which has to be the most recent car in the series.

Terrence O’ Shaugnessy had been the leading Excel driver in his rapid 2.5 Millington, Corolla. The rear wheel drive ace was running as high as second overall, before retirement. Trevor and Tristan Hutton took the Group A up to 1400cc class in their Puma on the rally and in the Excel points tally. Young 19 year old Limerick driver, John Byrnes and Kenneth Shields had an exceptional run and took maximum points in class 6 in the Excel Rallying hire C2 R2, and also were second in the class on the event behind Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle in the Clio S1600. Colin Flanagan and Ollie O’ Grady took the class 8 honors in their modified Evo 8. David Quinn and Enda McGonagle took maximum points in class 9, the modified up to 1400cc in their Nova, whilst Enda McLoughlin and Michael Reilly took the class 10 trophies on the event and maximum Excel points. James Culliney and Eddie McLoughlin took the class 11 maximum score. The Excel website is due to be updated with profiles of all the registered crews, offering further exposure for those registered competitors.

It’s been a successful start to the series which had On the Limit Sports covering the event, and World Championship co-driver Nicky Grist, who had to step aside after the recce in the Clio, got in front of the cameras to provide his insight into the new series. For the Excel team the Midland Stages marked the beginning of their new concept, a successful beginning. “It was a good start for us before the next round in Monaghan .The Excel Championship and the Silverstone tyres proved a huge success at the weekend, and we really welcome competitors to give it a go.”

205s - ENGLISH TOPS THE CLASS IN THE MIDLANDS

Posted: April 10, 2009 10:15 AM

Round 2 of the Peugeot Service Club Irish 205 Challenge took the drivers to the lovely town of Rooskey County Leitrim which sits on the Shannon River for Midland Motor clubs annual stage rally on Sunday last. Just five crews started the nine stage event as more drivers struggle with the economic downturn. The stages which ran close to Longford town were uninspiring but still posed a challenge to the 120 cars which started the event. Stage one was a fast stage close to ten miles long and fastest through it were Andy Slattery co driven by Donal Lynch setting a time of 8.55s with their closet rival being Kenny English/ Joe Bannerton just 9 seconds down. Next came Noel Smith/ Dara Lyttle on 9.11 and Norman Dunne/ Eoin O Flattery on 9.13. First retirement was Damien and Thomas McGauran who finished the stage but retired on the road section with a blown head gasket. A bitter blow to the brothers from EnnisKillen who worked tirelessly during the week leading up to the event to ready their 205. Stage two was the longest of the event at 13 miles but was cancelled by the organisers before it was due to run so on to stage three for the remaining drivers. Fastest through was Slattery and Dunne who tied on time. Next was English who dropped 18 seconds with a spin. Smith too lost time but the 3 minutes were down to slipping off the road at a tricky junction which was coated in mud. As the drivers reached first service in Longford town the positions read Slattery leading from Dunne with English just 9 seconds behind and Smith ruing his costly mistake in fourth.

Stage four saw all the drivers receive a stage interrupted time. Stage five was a repeat of two which was cancelled first time around and Smith stamped his name on it by going fastest by 14 seconds from Dunne who had English just 2 seconds behind him and Slattery right on his tail 1 second adrift but lucky to make it out after contact with a bank caused little damage. Stage six saw Smith fastest again with Slattery 3 seconds slower, this pair really pushing each other hard now and leaving English behind by 14 seconds through the stage. Dunne however was wondering what he had to do to finish this event, rolling over and retiring just a few miles into the stage. Back at service the support crews set about repairing the cars for the final three stages. All the drivers were now trying very hard and this showed in the times with Smith fastest by 1 second from Slattery and English who tied on time. All this frantic pace was bound to cause trouble and so it did on stage eight for Slattery and Smith. Firstly Smith was slowed by an oil warning light which caused him to slacken his pace, then Slattery had to stop on the stage when a water pipe split sending the engine temperature soaring. Some handy work by the side of the stage got them going again but with the loss of 20 minutes. All this left English to cruise to the finish, setting fastest on both stage eight and nine to record his first ever win in the championship. Smith nursed his ailing car through the final stage to finish second and get his championship bid underway. Slatterys make shift repair held together to see the finish and gain valuable points to increase his lead in the challenge.

Back at the finish in the Shannon Key West hotel, English was a deserving winner having avoided trouble and pushed hard when it mattered most. Both Slattery and Smith can feel hard done by but that is the nature of the sport. Some consolation for Smith is the next round is his home rally, the Cavan Stages in May. In the build up to the event all the drivers registered for Peugeot Service Club Irish 205 Challenge received support from Finol who are the distributors for Total quartz Lubricants, providing oils and fluids of the highest quality to meet the demands rallying puts on the cars in the championship. Also providing support are Blaklader workwear who dressed the service crews with top quality overalls, protecting the wearer against the elements during the busy service interval and adding colour to the championship.

The Irish 205 challenge wish to thank the Midland motor club and all their marshals for a great event.

The Irish 205 challenge is proud to be sponsored by,
www.serviceclub.ie Slatterys of Puckane, Peugeot and Subaru dealerships Total quartz lubricants Blaklader workwear Kumho tyres Ears motorsport

Video Clips

Posted: April 7, 2009 11:51 PM

Honda Cup Ireland 2009 Round 3 Report – Midland Stages Rally

Posted: April 6, 2009 5:53 PM

The Midland Stages Rally would host the third round of Honda Cup Ireland 2009 on the first weekend of April. The registered competitors would face nine stages made up from three stages looped three times. An overcast but dry morning would greet the competitors at the start of the Rooskey, Co. Leitrim based event and dry weather was forecast for the entire day.

The Round 2 winner, Tomas O’Rourke, would lead the field away on what would turn out to be a dramatic day’s action for some. O’Rourke would be followed onto the start ramp by Damien McCarthy, the Round 1 winner, and an epic battle would commence from there on. The top two seeds would be followed across the start by Martin Cunningham, Stephen Carey and Peter O’Kane whom had all shown impressive pace in the last round of the cup in West Cork.

The drama would start to unfold from the word go with Martin Cunningham – who has the pace to be a potential round winner – would have a differential failure before getting to the first stage. We look forward to seeing Martin back in action in Carlow. The initial pace on SS1 would be set by Damien McCarthy in his Super-Production Civic EG6 recording a time of 8:02 minutes, with Tomas O’Rourke only four seconds adrift. A battle between Stephen Carey and Peter O’Kane had also flared up with times of 8:20 and 8:23 respectively. Stage 2 would be cancelled for all competitors. By the time the competitors arrived into the first service halt after stage 3, McCarthy had increased his advantage from 4 seconds to six seconds over O’Rourke and further down the field, Carey had pushed his lead over O’Kane out to 5 seconds. However O’Kane was complaining of a mechanical issue and was concerned about his chances of continuing on in the event.

Going into the second loop of stages on SS4, Tomas O’Rourke would set a blistering time of 7:56 minutes which was a top 10 time overall and snatched the lead from McCarthy after the Cork man lost some time with a spin, recording a time of 8:09. Peter O’Kane would push on with problems and would beat Stephen Carey by 4 seconds over stage 4, but unfortunately would not make it out of SS5 when the problem became terminal. After the SS4 spin, Damien McCarthy would stamp his authority on Tomas O’Rourke retaking the lead and stretching it out to 7 seconds by the second service halt. Neither driver complained of any problems.

With Stephen Carey only requiring a finish to consolidate his position with the demise of Peter O’Kane, the main focus was now on the battle at the head of the field between McCarthy and O’Rourke. With 3 stages remaining it was all to play for and SS6’s results wouldn’t offer any insight into the potential winner as both drivers set equal times. SS7 was cancelled for the top 15 drivers, so again, both drivers were awarded the same time. With only 1 stage remaining and 7 seconds separating the two drivers it would be now or never for either competitor to pull a massive performance out of the bag. O’Rourke pushed hard to win the stage with a time of 7:42, but McCarthy’s ability to push on as well, setting a time of 7:44, was enough to give him the win after a fantastic day’s competition.

Both Damien McCarthy and Tomas O’Rourke have won 4 Kumho Competition tyres each for their efforts and finished 7th and 8th overall respectively in the rally. Stephen Carey would finish 3rd and 27th overall in his Production EK4, and has picked up 2 Kumho tyres for finishing second in his class.

We would like to thank KUMHO Tyres, Sunoco Fuels, Euro M-Sport, Dunweedin and Meegan Motorsport for their continued support. The next round of the championship is round 4, the Carlow Stages Rally on 10th May 2009.

More Details:

Honda Cup Ireland

Photo:........ even losing a wheel on the way to the finish ramp couldn't stop Moffett & McKenna................

Posted: April 6, 2009 5:22 PM

Photo: Sean Hassett

Photos

Posted: April 6, 2009 5:17 PM

James Burke Motorsport Photography
Hassett Motorsport Photography

Results

Posted: April 6, 2009 5:08 PM

1 Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Toyota Starlet RWD) 64m 12s,
2 Trevor Mulligan/Lisa Roe (Ford Escort Mk II) 64m 17s,
3 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Ford Escort Mk II) 65m 56s,
4 Adrian Quinn/Alistair Wyllie (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 66m 02s,
5 James Foley/Andrew Cullen (Mit. Lancer Evo 10 Gp N) 67m 23s,
6 Paul McEnroe/Sorcha Kelly (Subaru Impreza N14 Gp N) 67m 44s.

JUNIORS:
1 Richard Moffett/Laura Moffett (Starlet) 46m 08s,
2 Sam Moffett/Donal Lennon (Citroen C2R2) 46m 23s,
3 David Moffett/Andrew Speers (Starlet) 47m 06s.

Leaders After:
SS1-4 Garry Jennings/David Moynihan (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
SS5-9 Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Toyota Starlet RWD)

Stage Winners:
SS1 Garry Jennings/David Moynihan (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
SS2 - Cancelled
SS3 Garry Jennings/David Moynihan (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
SS4 Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Toyota Starlet RWD)
SS5 Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Toyota Starlet RWD)
SS6 Terence O'Shaughnessy/Eugene McGrath (Toyota Corolla RWD)
SS7 Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Toyota Starlet RWD)
SS8 Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Toyota Starlet RWD)
SS9 Trevor Mulligan/Lisa Roe (Ford Escort Mk II)

Full Results: results.shannonsportsit.ie (Angus Sealy)

Late Entries / Updated Reserve List

Posted: April 3, 2009 2:38 PM

Cars 137 - 142 in.

Late Entries / In
Shane Buckley/Thomas McGuire Westmeath Ford Fiesta
Declan Forde/Roana Lally Galway Ford Escort

Late Entries on Reserve Allan Bardon/Ed Dunne Westmeath Honda Civic
Edward Kelly/John Kelly Kilkenny Peugeot 106
Anthony Masterson/Tom Clinton Cavan Honda Integra
Liam Fleming/Stephen Rush Monaghan Toyota Corolla
Ian McDonnell/Tom O'Dwyer Roscommon Honda Civic
Charlie Nilan/Rusth O'Keeffe Galway Honda Civic
Michael Connelley Galway Honda Civic

Posted: March 30, 2009 6:28 PM

Pictured at the Shannon Key West Hotel, Rooskey for the
launch of the Midland Moto Stages Rally 2009 were (l-r)
Vincent Collins, Midland Motor Club Chairman,
Niall Flynn, Shannon Key West Hotel, main sponsor
and Seán Cahill, Clerk of the Course
Photo: Andrew Fox

Entry List

Posted: March 30, 2009 2:38 PM

Number Driver/Navigator (Make Model) [Class]
1 Kris Meeke/Nicki Grist (Renault Clio S1600) [6]
2 Garry Jennings/David Moynaghan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [N4]
3 James Foley/Andrew Cullen (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [4]
4 Trevor Mulligan/Lisa Roe (Ford Escort Mk II) [14]
5 Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Toyota Starlet RWD) [14]
6 Fergal Costello/Shane Gilhooly (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
7 John Kelly/Robbie Shaw (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [A8]
8 Tommy Doyle/Fergus Smith (Renault Clio R3) [7]
9 Adrian Quinn/Alister Wyllie (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
10 Paul McEnroe/Sorcha Kelly (Subaru Impreza N14) [4]
11 Colin Flanagan/TBN (Ford Escort RS Cosworth) [15]
12 Thomas O'Rourke/TBN (Honda Civic) [3]
13 Aaron Hagan/Mick Hagan (Honda Civic) [13]
14 Damien McCarthy/Eamon Hayes (Honda Civic) [11]
15 Mickey Curran/TBN (BMW M3) [14]
16 Simon Kehoe/Veronica Kehoe (Opel Astra) [13]
17 Derek Deane/Martin Flynn (Ford Escort) [13]
18 Arthur Kierans/TBN (Ford Escort) [12]
19 James Cassidy/John Norris (Ford Escort) [12]
20 Gerry Smyth/Gregory McQuillan (Ford Escort) [12]
21 Alan Sheridan/Gerry Conlon (Ford Escort) [14]
22 Stephen Hernon/Ivan Hernon (Subaru Impreza) [4]
23 Stephen Cullen /TBN (Subaru Imprezza) [N4]
24 Damien Hagan/Andrew Grennan (Ford Escort) [13]
25 Paraic Cummins/Joe Smullen (Ford Escort) [13]
26 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Ford Escort) [14]
27 David Percy/John Kinahan (Ford Escort) [13]
28 Gerry Casey/Peter O'Toole (Ford Escort) []
30 John Byrnes/Kenneth Shields ( ) []
31 Martin Cunningham/John Fitzpatrick (Honda Civic) [11]
32 Patrick Tully/Sean Brady (Honda Civic) [11]
33 Michael Murray/TBN (Mitsubishi Evo 6) [4]
34 Brian Doyle/TBN (Ford Escort) [13]
35 Jason Kinsella/Brian Murphy (Honda Civic) [11]
36 David Quigley/Des Sherlock (Honda Civic) [2]
37 Nigel McGinn/Niall Byrne (Mitsubishi Evo 6) [8]
38 Jason Ryan/Tadgh Sullivan (Honda Civic) [11]
39 Pakie Duffy/Alan Gibbons (Honda civic) [3]
40 Colm Brady/Enda Gerety (Honda Civic) [11]
41 Mick Quinn/Karen Kelly (Honda Civic) [2]
42 Marc McDermott/Damian Flannagan (Honda Civic) [13]
43 Anthony Dolan /Nigel Feeney (Toyota Corolla) [11]
44 Enda McLoughlin/Michael Reilly (Ford Escort) [10]
45 Chris Kelly/Declan Tynan (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
46 Pat Faughnan/Stephen Faughnan (Ford Escort) [11]
47 James Culliney/Eddie McLoughlin (Ford Escort) [12]
49 Kiernan Guinan/Alan Higgins (Ford Escort) [12]
50 Patrick Bonner/TBN (Ford Escort) [12]
51 Tommie Rafferty/Cathriona Costello (Ford Escort) [12]
52 Sean Doyle/TBN (Ford Escort) [12]
53 Barry Cuffe/Derek Molloy (Ford Escort) [12]
54 Sean Kelly/Ivor Trimble (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
55 Pascal Hennessy/Phillip Quinn (Honda Civic) [11]
56 Sean McHugh/Michael Loughrey (BMW M3) [14]
57 Kieran Donoghue/Dermot O'Rourke (Subaru Imprezza) [8]
58 Greg McGroary/Kerry McCarter (Ford Escort) [13]
59 Ger McDonagh/Ken Flanagan (Mitsubishi Evo 4) [15]
60 Michael Collum/John Collum (Honda Civic) [2]
61 Rory Byrne/Jeremy Patterson (Mitsubishi Evo 9) [4]
62 Michael Cunningham/Ashling Grimes (Mitsubishi Evo 9) [4]
63 Stephen Wright/Paul McGee (Ford Fiesta) [3]
64 Phillip Harte/Niall McCullagh (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
65 Thomas Carolan/Declan Smith (Ford Escort) [9]
66 Colin Currid/Raymond Currid (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
67 Fred Homes/Alan McGovern (Toyota Corolla) [11]
68 Shane O'Rourke/Gary Meehan (Mitsubishi Evo 6) [4]
69 John O'Toole/Declan O'Toole (Honda Civic) [2]
70 Pa Bellew/Jimmy Bellew (Ford Escort) [9]
71 Ken Hogan/David Dooley (Honda Civic) [2]
72 Eamon Dervan/David Gardiner (Honda Civic) [2]
73 Eamon Brady/David Kellegher (Honda Civic) [11]
74 Benny Kennedy/Gerard Brendan Ryan (Honda Civic) [11]
75 Cathal O'Reilly/Gerard O'Reilly (Ford Focus) [7]
76 Neil Tohill/Gerard Tohill (Subaru Impreza) [4]
77 John Agnew/Frank Connolly (Peugeot 206) [7]
78 Brian Dennis/Gerard Geraty (Skoda Fabia) [8]
79 Stephen Carey/Mark Lee (Honda Civic) [N2]
80 Joseph Lenehan/TBN (Opel Tigra) [9]
81 Adran Grealy/Sean Murray (Ford Escort) [12]
82 Sean Kelly/Ollie Kelly (Honda Civic) [11]
83 Vincent Collins/Fintan Kilroe (Talbot Sunbeam) [11]
84 Paul Curley/Des Danniels (Honda Civic) [2]
85 Brendan Barrett/Mark Convey (Ford Escort) [13]
86 Brian Halligan/Damien Horan (Honda Civic) [6]
87 David Donoghue/James Comer (Toyota Corolla) [11]
88 Richard Keown/Tony Walsh (Ford Escort) [12]
89 Andrew Slattery/Donal Lynch (Peugeot 205) [10]
90 Ultan MCGowan/TBN (Peugeot 205) [10]
91 David Donoghue/Alan Dolan (Citroen C2) [11]
92 Gavin Gallagher/Gordon Duffan (Honda Integra) []
93 Peter O Kane/Mark O'Connor (Honda Civic) [3]
94 Patrick Melia/Michael Ward (Honda Integra) [11]
95 Eammon McCafferty/Catherine Levis (Ford Puma) [5]
96 Trevor Hutton/Clint Hutton (Ford Puma) [5]
97 Noel Smith/Dara Lyttle (Peugeot 205) [10]
98 Michael Kerrigan/Garret Johnston (Peugeot 205) [10]
99 Kenny English/Joesph Bannerton (Peugeot 205) [10]
100 Damien McGauran/Thomas McGauran (Peugeot 205) [10]
101 Paul Monaghan/Patrick Baker (Toyota Corolla) [11]
102 Damian O'Reilly/TBN (Ford Escort) [9]
103 Ciaran Marron/Aidan Marron (Honda Civic) [11]
104 Norman Dunne/TBN (Peugeot 205 GTI) [10]
105 Kevin Cleere/TBN (Ford Escort) [10]
107 Kieran Carroll/Louise Healy (Honda Civic) [11]
108 Garry Quinn/Alan Quinn (Opel Manta) [13]
109 Shane Burns/Joe Ward (Peugeot 205) [10]
110 Martin McPhillps/Paul Sheridan (Toyota Corolla) [11]
111 Dermot McCafferty/Sinead McCafferty (Peugeot 106) [6]
112 James Flood/Gordon Flood (Honda Civic) [2]
114 Michael Raftery/Joanne Collins (Ford Escort) [10]
115 Martin Devine/Colm Dromey (Vauxhall Nova) [13]
116 Padraig Doory/Brian Purcell (Suzuki Swift) [9]
117 Sean Carty/Evan Farrell (Honda Civic) [11]
118 Thomas Fallon/Stephen Healy (Toyota Corolla) [11]
119 Alan Egan/Gary Egan (Subaru Imprezza) [11]
120 Bernard Carolan/Sharon Massop (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
121 Gary Caldwell/Niamh Caldwell (Honda Civic) [3]
122 David Conway/James Clancy (Vauxhall Astra) [9]
123 Enda Greene/Eddie Egan (VW Golf) [10]
124 Ollie Carroll/Fergal Kelly (Citroen C2) [6]
125 Michael Dillon/Michael Dunne (Honda Civic) [2]
126 George Bell/Ruth Lawrence (Honda Civic) [11]
127 Pat Neville/TBN ( ) []
128 Adam Kinkade/Mark Wedlock (Honda Civic) [2]
129 Pauric Sheridan/Aidan Reynolds (Ford Sierra) []
130 Mark Lennon/Edmund Egan (Honda Civic) [11]
131 David Quinn/Enda McGonigle (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
132 Dermot Lawlor/TBN (Honda Civic) [2]
133 Danny Daly/Sean Daly (Peugeot 205 GTI) [12]
134 Donald Powell/TBN (Honda Civic) [2]
135 Eamon McLaughlin/Jerry McLaughlin (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
136 Gerard Greene/TBN (Ford Escort G3) [10]

Reserve
137 Ollie Tynan/Damien McConnell (Honda Civic) [11]
138 Adrian Fahy/Aidan Fahy (Ford Escort) [11]
139 John Walsh/Philip Walsh (Honda Civic) [2]
140 Fergal Callaghan/Kenneth McMorrow (Toyota Corolla) [11]
141 Paul McHugh/Paul Cummins (Honda Civic) [2]
142 Micheal Lavin/Michael McDonnell (Toyota Corolla) [11]

Junior
No Driver/Navigator (Make Model) [Class]
J1 Christopher Snow/Thomas Melia (Honda Civic) [16]
J2 Richard Moffett/Laura Moffett (Toyota Starlet) [16]
J3 David Moffett/Andrew Speers (Toyota Starlet) [16]
J4 Johno Doogan/Pierce O'Callaghan (Ford Escort) [16]
J5 Ferlin Taylor/Vinnie Boyd (Honda Integra) [16]
J6 Bobby Cooper/Michelle Silke (Toyota Corolla) [16]
J7 Michael McCormack/Mark Kiernan (Peugeot 205) [16]
J8 Damien Boyle/Nicola Boyle (Honda Civic) [16]
J9 Paul Curran/Emma Curran (Peugeot 106) [16]

NEW AND FREE EXCEL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE LAUNCHED BY WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ACES!

Posted: March 26, 2009 10:42 PM

The Midland Stages Rally, on the 5th April is the new first round of the totally revitalised 8 round Excel Rally Championship, and the Excel series will truly bring World class to the Midland Stages event. Excel Rallying will be fielding their own mighty Clio Super 1600 in the rally, with none other than Kris Meeke at the wheel. The Junior WRC ace, and winner of the last IRC round Kris promises to once again provide an electrifying show at the wheel of the same Clio he took to fifth place in last years Killarney International, and the same Clio that the lucky winners of the Excel Championship could be rallying in 2010. Kris will be testing the Silverstone Tyres on the Clio, the brand of tyre which is the control tyre available at heavily discounted rates to all Excel competitors. Also in the co-driver’s seat for the first time with Kris, is none other than “the Welsh Wizard” Nicky Grist, co- driver to Juha Kankkunen and the late Colin McRae in the World Rally Championship.

At one point this year it looked as though the new Excel Rally Championship wasn’t going to get off the starting line, but it’s enthusiastic manager Paul Roche was determined to make it happen, putting considerable investment into the series, and Paul and brother Ian have now worked to produce a more streamlined series, with seven rallies, encompassing eight scoring opportunities. With the series featuring nineteen classes, it is open to most rally cars, and at the end of the season the class winners along with a couple of wildcard entries will get the chance to contest the Excel shootout, to decide the big prize winners. First prize is a Super 1600 drive in 2010, on four Excel rounds, a superb prize worth €20,000. For second place there are two Super 1600 drives, worth €10,000, third place is one event worth €5000, and there are cash prizes of €1000 for fourth to seventh places, making the total prize fund of €39,000. However as if that isn’t enough to entice competitors, the registration is free in 2009! The man behind Excel Rallying, Paul Roche comments. “We want to really build the series this year so that competitors can see that it is a properly run championship, and that we want to give something valuable to the competitor, so we are investing heavily in the championship. There is the added bonus of TV coverage from with On the Limit Sports, and dedicated press releases after each round. We hope this will give added value to competitors, and help them to find sponsors this year. It has taken us a couple of attempts to get the series off the ground properly, and after meetings with Motorsport Ireland, we think that we have come up with a more manageable series of events and something that provides a superb opportunity for competitors.”

With a dedicated website so that competitors can keep track of their positions, and indeed update their profiles, a series co-ordinator at all the rounds and discounts on supplies and hire deals from Excel Rallying it presents an all in package.

2009 Excel Rally Championship - CANCELLED

Rally Launch - Monday 23rd March

Posted: March 23, 2009 11:13 AM

The official launch of the 2009 Midland Stages Rally takes place on Monday the 23rd of March in the Shannon Key West Hotel at 8pm, where further information on the event will be announced and all are welcome.

Closing Date for Entries extended

Posted: March 23, 2009 10:57 AM

Entries still being taken for the Midland Stages rally.

Midland Motorclub

Midland Multistage Rally Heads to Longford

Posted: March 23, 2009 10:33 AM

Midland Motor Clubs annual Car Rally returns to Longford after a 9 year break, the last rally to be held there was back in 1999 when the HQ was in Edgeworthstown. The 2009 Shannon Key West Hotel, Rooskey Stages Rally takes place on Sunday the 5th of April. This year’s event is part of the Midland Motor Athlone Midlands East Rally Championship, the Irish Peugeot 205 Championship, the EXCEL Rally championship as well as Honda Cup Championship. Plans are well under way for the flagship Midland Motor Club event with Clerk of the Course, Sean Cahill from Ballinalee who along with his Rally committee have been putting the final touches to this highly anticipated event.

The Rally this year moves from Roscommon where it has been held for the last few years to Longford where there is a huge interest in motorsport and the rally has been embraced with open arms. This years rally embraces all the area Midland Motor Club cover with the actual stages all in Co Longford, Rally Headquarters in the Shannon Key West Hotel Rooskey, Leitrim while Scrutiny and Parc Ferme are across the river at the old Glanbia site in Co. Roscommon. The service area for the event is just off the N4 bypass in Longford.

This years event will run under the format of 3 stages completed three times giving a total of nine stages, equating to approximately 130 stage kilometres. The stages are located in the Drumlish, Aughnacliffe, and Ballinalee areas with centralised servicing after each loop of 3 stages. Midland Motor Club are indebted to the residents along the rally route as without the co-operation of these people the rally would not run.

Despite the downturn in the economy the entries are steadily arriving in to event secretary Josephine Lane Flynn since entries opened on the 28th of February. On Sunday the 5th of April 151 cars will be flagged off from Parc Feirme at the old Glanbia grounds in Rooskey. This year’s event will contain main field and junior categories attracting entries from the length and breadth of Ireland. This year’s event will also see a large number of Midland Motor Club entries from Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath and Letrim.

Opening Round of Excel Championship

Posted: March 13, 2009 4:32 PM

The Midland Stages Rally is now the opening Round of the 2009 Excel Rally Championship

2009 Excel Rally Championship - CANCELLED

Regulations available / Details

Posted: February 24, 2009 6:15 PM

Midland Motor Club are delighted to announce details of its upcoming Multi Stage Rally on the 5th April 2009.
This year the organisers are delighted to have the Shannon Key West, Rooskey, Co. Leitrim as the new HQ for the event.
The event is a qualifying round of the EXCEL Rally championship, Honda Cup Championship and Midlands Motors, Midlands East Rally Championship.
The rally consists of approx. 130 Stage Kilometres. The format will be three stages by three giving a total of nine stages and the number of competitors is limited to 131 with priority to those in the various championships.
This year sees Sean Cahill from Longford taking on the role of Clerk of the Course who along with his team are busy putting it all to-gether for the event.
Entry forms available through Rally.ie or may be downloaded through the Club website at www.midlandmotorclub.com .
Entries by hard copy only to event secretary Joesphine Lane-Flynn, Ravens Rock, Stonepark, Longford.
Entries open 28th February and the entry fee for 2009 is €545.

Regulations and Entry From on:

• Midland Motorclub

Event Website / Details

Posted: January 1, 2009 12:01 AM

• Midland Motorclub