Cork 20 International Rally - 2-4 Oct 09

Cunningham to tackle Cork 20 Junior Rally

Posted: October 2, 2009 2:28 PM

In a late development Jonathan Cunningham has entered the Cork 20 Junior Rally. Jonathan currently lying second in the table in the National Junior Rally Championship had entered the event some weeks ago but after his big accident in Clare he wasn’t sure if his Honda Civic would be repaired in time for the Lee side rally.
But after taking some time to evaluate the damage sustained to the car, the Claregalway man has now written off the car and will now use his brother’s similar car.

Speaking to Jonathan on Thursday night he now thinks it’s essential to get back behind the wheel and regain some confidence before the final round of the NJRC in Nenagh on Sunday week on the Birr Stages Forestry Junior Rally.
This also adds a nice twist to the junior rally this weekend as Jonathan will go head to head with fellow NJRC competitor John Byrnes from Limerick. Byrnes is making the trip to Cork but will be using the Honda Civic belong to John Collins. John Byrnes will not be able to score points this weekend and there is only six points on offer to Jonathan Cunningham as he will be the only NJRC registered driver competing from his respective class but as he stated “It’s all about getting time in the car and putting Clare behind me”.

Season End Beckons for NJRC

Posted: September 30, 2009 4:04 PM

NJRC reaches round twelve with the Cork 20 Junior Rally. As the Championship steps into the month of October the end of the season is less than two weeks away. Only three events remain with three drivers still in the running for Junior Championship Glory. It could have all changed in Ennis, Co. Clare on round eleven. The top three standings and the only drivers within grasp of taking the title were Craig Breen on 38 points, Jonathan Cunningham on 36 points and John Byrnes on 36. Breen elected to enter the main field, with a knock on effect of Byrnes not entering as he could not score maximum points. This put Jonathan Cunningham in a great position as if he could take the maximum points on offer (In this case 8) he would join Craig Breen at the top of the table. All was going to plan until the last stage when Cunningham was leading the junior rally by nearly two minutes but crashed out heavily only a kilometre from the end.

The Cork 20 junior rally on the fourth of October kicks off a hectic week in the championship as only seven days later the championship moves to the other end of the Country for the Donegal Harvest Junior Rally on Saturday the tenth and then 24 hours later final round of the year is in Nenagh Co. Tipperary for the Birr Forestry.

With the top of the table being so close and the points scoring system dictating that maximum scores are only awarded depending on the amount of starts the drivers have elected to skip the Cork round. John Byrnes has entered the junior rally but will be using the Honda Civic of his good friend John Collins. John will use the Cork event as practice and to bump up his levels of concentration as his last rally was some weeks ago and he now needs some time behind the wheel. He is not using his Citroen C2R2 just in case anything could go wrong. Craig Breen on the other hand is in the middle of rounding of a fantastic with a flourish. Breen has already tied up both Irish and UK Fiesta Sporting Trophy Championships; he will be contesting the WRC Rally in Spain which is part of the International Fiesta Sport Trophy where he is currently second. Second on the table Jonathan Cunningham is in a fight against the clock to repair his car after his big accident on Clare. Jonathan’s task is made harder as he is working in England at M-Sport and only gets home on weekends.

Programme Locations

Posted: September 30, 2009 2:50 PM

• Munster Car Club

Irish Tarmac rally Championship goes down to the wire.

Posted: September 29, 2009 6:57 PM

The excitement will be at fever pitch as Eugene Donnelly and Gareth Mc Hale go head to head on this weekends Cork 20, the final round of the 2009 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Donnelly leads Mc Hale by 18 points, and a seventh place or higher will suffice for Donnelly to lift the Tarmac crown once again, even if Mc Hale wins in Cork .

The Cork 20 is a two day event traversing 150 stage miles. It is hosted by the Munster Car Club, with rally HQ in the Rochestown Park Hotel, Douglas. The Cork Marts complex in Rathcormac is the location of rally service on Saturday and Sunday.

Eugene Donnelly had an excellent year at the wheel of Skoda Fabia WRC with wins in Galway Circuit Jim Clark and Ulster under his belt. The Derryman finished second in Donegal, crashed out of the Lakes and he non started the Manx to have a total yield of 76 points.
By peculiar coincidence Mc Hale got his scores on the exactly the same events as Donnelly. He too non-started the Manx and crashed out in Killarney. The Dubliner’s year started with his Ford Focus WRC finishing second in Galway, third in the Circuit and fourth in the Jim Clark. Then came his maiden international victory in Donegal which gave a huge fillip to his chances, and with increased confidence he went very close to winning the Ulster as well. Leading the rally by two seconds on the penultimate stage an overshoot on the final test cost him a famous victory. However second place gives the Dubliner a total of 58 points.

With 16 points for a win and a 50% bonus on the final round, the winner of the Cork 20 can claim 24 points. Mc Hale must win and hope that Donnelly scores fewer than six points. Mc Hale will be very determined to lift his first Tarmac crown and emulate his father Austin who has won the championship a five-a record Donnelly hopes to equal on Sunday night

There is also unfinished business in Group N. Fermanagh’s Alastair Fisher leads the class with 51 points with Alan Carmichael second with 47 and Ger O’ Donovan third with 44 points. With Carmichael non staring it will be a straight fight between Fisher and O’Donovan. For O’Donovan to win he must win Group N and hope that Fisher will be lower than second.

Class A7 has also to be resolved-Tommy Doyle has a fifteen point advantage over Eugene Meegan. If Meegan wins the class in Cork and Doyle non finishes there will be a tie. While Joseph Mc Gonigle (N2) and Daragh O’Riordan (A6a) have already won their respective classes, O’Riordan can improve on his excellent sixth position in the championship tables with his Renault Clio.

Spectators will be delighted to watch Wesley Patterson in his fabulous Escort Mk 2. Patterson won the modified challenge in Galway, Circuit, Lakes and Donegal enabling him to become the winner of the inaugural modified challenge.

Cork hosts the Final FST round of 2009

Posted: September 29, 2009 6:56 PM

Round 6, the final round of the Fiesta SportTrophy Ireland series takes place this weekend at the Cork 20 International rally organised by Munster Car Club. Three crews will compete over the 140 km’s of the tricky Southern Ireland lanes. With the championship already wrapped up by Craig Breen (18) from Waterford and navigator Gareth Roberts on the previous round of the series, it allows a different crew to take the overall last victory of the year.

The first of the three crews competing is that of Shane Buckley (24) from Ballyhaunis and navigator Thomas Maguire. Buckley currently lies third overall in the series just three points behind second. Buckley has had a great first season after moving from the navigators seat into the driving seat. With his best finish to date a second overall on the Donegal International Rally he will be hoping to score his first overall in the series and take the overall runner up spot in the series. Navigator Maguire is also looking to try and secure second overall in the championship, however Buckley has recently sold his car and is currently looking to try and hire a car for the event to ensure he can take part.

The second of the crews at the event is Robbie Barrable (21) from Dublin and navigator Dermot O Gorman. Barrable again was a newcomer to the series at the start of the year, and after two non-point scoring rounds on the first two events of the season, two third place finishes and a second place finish has left him fourth overall in the standings. Barrable can still claim second in the series depending on how the other two FST competitors finish during the event.

The final of the registered FST crews competing is that of Mark Donnelly (17) from Omagh and navigator Paddy Robinson. Donnelly has shown excellent pace considering his age, and has managed to lead a number of FST Ireland events during the year, but after striking some unfortunate problems his highest finish of the year so far has been his consecutive second places on the second and third rounds of the series. Donnelly will hope to be able to claim his first victory at the event and currently lies second overall in the series, a position he will not want to lose. Navigator Robinson is also fighting for second overall in the rankings and knows how important a good finish for the pairing is.

With the competitors all fighting for the final prize fund of the series totalling almost €3000 the competition will be as close as ever. If all crews are to finish they are guaranteed a winners cheque.

Second placed competitor in the series, Mark Donnelly said:
“I am really looking forward to getting back out on the tarmac. It’s the last round of the FST this year and I hope that I can push for my first win, although Robbie [Barrable] and Shane [Buckley] will be tough competition! It should be an exciting event.

Late Entries Accepted

Posted: September 23, 2009 9:01 AM

Tel 086 6629314 / +353 86 6629314

• Munster Car Club

Group B Cars

Posted: September 23, 2009 9:01 AM

B1 Bernard Daly/Philip Doherty (Austin Rover Metro 6R4) [B] 1986 Development Car Pond Rothmans
B2 Jonathan Radley/TBA TBA (Renault Alpine A110) [4] 1965 tour de course M. Bianchi Works Elf
B3 Jim Butler/ Eddie Lyons (Renault 5 turbo) [4] 1983 British Chps. Price Price Rallying
B4 Conor Falvey/Robert Falvey (Ford RS1600) [4] 1974 British Chps. Coleman Thomas Motors
B5 Paul Hilliard/Linda Taylor (Subaru Legacy RS) [A] 1992 Manx Colin Mc Rae Rothmans
B6 Willy Fogarty/Frank Fogarty (A112 Auto Bianchi Abarth) [G2] 1977 San Remo Bettega Marlboro
B7 Pat Laracy/Ian Laracy (Opel Manta 400) [B] 1985 Circuit of Irl Coleman DOTI
B8 Denis Nagle/Irene O Donovan (Hillman Avenger) [G1] 1976 British Chps. Robert Eyre Maunsell Chrysler Works.
B9 Annmarie Moynihan/Sean Moynihan (Escort RS 1800) [G4] Circuit of Irl R Healy/ F Maher Ford Works
B10 John Anderson/Pamela Morrison (Austin Rover Metro 6R4) [B] 1986 Circuit of Irl Llewellin Unipart

Entry Lists

Posted: September 23, 2009 8:58 AM

1 Gareth McHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) [8]
2 Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Skoda Fabia WRC) [8]
3 Liam Mc Carthy/Kieran Murphy (Toyota Corolla WRC) [8]
4 Denis Cronin/Helen Sullivan (Impreza WRC) [8]
5 Alastair Fisher/Barry McNulty (Mits Evo 9) [4]
6 Owen Murphy/James O'Brien (Mits Evo 9) [4]
7 Phil Collins/Derek Brannigan (Ford Escort) [14]
8 Wesley Patterson/Martin McGarrity (Ford Escort) [14]
9 Washington James/Anthony O'Connell (Darrian GTR) [14]
10 John O'Donnell/Johnny Baird (Ford Escort) [13]
11 Tommy Doyle/Tony McDaid (Renault Clio R3) [7]
12 Darragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Renault Clio S1600) [6]
14 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Ford Escort) [14]
15 Barry Meade/Johnny Hickey (Ford Escort) [13]
16 John Hickey/Liam Dennehy (Fubaru MK2 4X4) [15]
17 Ger O'Donovan/Sean Hayde (Impreza N12B) [4]
18
19 Jeremy Taylor/Jody Patterson (Mits Lancer) [4]
20 Mark Nangle/Mike Clyne (Subaru Impreza) [4]
21 Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Ford Escort) [14]
22 Mickey Curran/Alan White (Ford Escort) [13]
23 Fergus O;Meara/Liam Brennan (Ford Escort) [13]
24 Allen Treacy/Bob Fitzgerald (Toyota Corolla) [13]
25 Moss Fitzgerald/TBA (Toyota Corolla) [13]
26 Anthony Neville/Brian Sinnott (Subaru Impreza) [4]
27 Tom White/Robert Murphy (Mits Evo 9) [4]
28 Pat Neville/Niamh Neville (Subaru Imprezza) [15]
29
30 Jason Ryan/Tadgh O'Sullivan (Honda Civic) [11]
31 Brian O'Keeffe/Carol O'Keeffe (Subaru Impreza) [8]
32 Ferghal Allen/Karl Atkinson (BMW M3) [14]
33 Gerard Seaman/Shane Buckley (Mits Evo 9) [16]
34 Andrew Fanning/Paddy King (Puma S1600) [6]
35 Joseph McGonigle/TBA (Citroen C2R2 MAX) [6]
36 Eugene Meegan/Sorcha Kelly (Honda Civic) [7]
37 John Hendy/Pat Condon (Toyota Corolla) [11]
38 Brian Doyle/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
39 John Buttimer/Declan Buttimer (Subaru Impreza) [4]
40 Michael Delaney/Mark Bowens (Ford Escort) [13]
41 Steve Roberts/Adrian Hayes (Ford Escort) [12]
42 Gerard O'Connell/ (Ford Escort) [12]
43
44 John S Quill/Alan Hartigan (Citroen C2R2) [6]
45 William Walsh/Ed O'Neill (Toyota Corolla) [11]
46 Wesley Daly/Finbarr Quirke (Ford Escort) [11]
47 Stephen Murphy/Pat Duggan (Ford Escort) [11]
48 Michael McKennedy/Johnathan O'Mahony (Toyota Corolla) [11]
49 John Curran/Johnny Finnegan (Ford Escort) [13]
50 Shane McCarthy/TBA (206 Cup Car) [6]
51 William Kenneally/Finbarr Fogarty (Ford Escort) [12]
52 Rob Alderman/Paula Alderman (Ford Escort) [13]
53 Tom Dunne/Declan Grogan (Subaru Impreza) [4]
54 Tony Calnan/Aidan Calnan (Subaru Impreza) [16]
55 Gary Caldwell/Niamh Caldwell (Honda Civic) [3]
56 Adrain Cannon/Ivan Hernon (Honda Civic) [2]
57 Kieran Marshall/Mark Horgan (Honda Civic) [3]
58 Jeremiah O'Flynn/Sean O'Flynn (Ford Escort) [10]
59 Victor Beamish/Susan Beamish (Vaux Nova) [10]
60 John White/Alan O'Mahony (Honda Civic) [11]
61 Eamon O'Connell/Mark Linehan (Honda Civic) [11]
62 Gerald Buckley/Ger Myers (Peugeot 106) [6]
63 Tomas O'Keeffe/Donal Keane (Ford Escort) [12]
64 Paul Browne/Margaret Browne (Honda Civic) [11]
65
66 Colm Forde/Johnathan Trill (Peugeot 206) [6]
67 Noel O'Sullivan/Nick Burke (Ford Escort) [9]
68 Colin O'Keeffe/Cian Corbett (Vaux Nova) [9]
69 Billy A McCarthy/John Falvey (Nissan Micra) [9]
70 Jim Ahern/Tiernach Maguire (Honda Civic) [2]
71 Colum Browne/Lawrence McGrath (Honda Civic) [2]
72 James Fitzgerald/Eoin Fitzgerald (Honda Civic) [11]
73 James Cunningham/Joe Fitzgibbon (Toyota Corolla) [11]
74 Kevin Dolphin/Martin O'Brien (Citroen C2R2) [11]
75 Adrian Tobin/David Dunne (Toyota Corolla) [11]
76 Sean Hickey/Noel Fleming (Ford Fiesta) [11]
77 Paul Scannell/Mossy Griffin (Ford Escort) [11]
78 Michael Murphy/Pat Cashman (Toyota Corolla) [11]
79 Denis Cleere/TBA (Toyota Corolla) [11]
80 Shane Moriarty/Anthony O'Donovan (Toyota Corolla) [11]
81 Michael Forde/Paul Sheehan (Talbot Sunbeam) [11]
82 Batty O'Donoghue/John Riordan (Opel Corsa) [9]
83 Colin Byrne/Steven O'Donovan (Ford Ka) [5]
84 Noel O'Mahony/Cliff Desmond (Toyota Starlet) [9]
85 John Sheahan/Robert Hughes (VW Polo) [1]
FST1 Shane Buckley/Thomas Maguire (Ford Fiesta) []
FST2 Robert Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Ford Fiesta) []

Historics
H1 Denis Moynihan/Dan Moynihan (Ford Escort)
H2 Ray Hilliard/Senan Raggett (Ford RS1800)
H3 Todd Falvey/Dan Barry (Porsche 911)
H4 Niall O'Connoell/John Liston (Mini Cooper)
H5 Niall Creighton/Gregory Roberts (Ford Cortina)
H6 Denis Hickey/Timmie Brosnan (Ford Escort)
H7 Gerard McCarthy/Tommy Commane (Triumph TR7)
H8 William Todd/Noel Anderson (Mini Cooper)
H9 Aidan O'Connor/Ian Regan (Ford Escort)
H10 Mark Falvey/Colin Moynihan (Ford Escort)
H11 Martin Sheahan/Sean Daly (Ford Escort)
H12 Edward Hallahan/Barry Murphy (Ford Escort)
H14 Peadar Walsh/Keith McCarthy (Ford Cortina)
H15 Aiden McGowan/David Patton (Ford Escort)
H16 Stephen Coffey/Michael O'Mahony (Ford Escort)

Junior
J1 Johnathan Cuningham/Patrick Cunningham (Honda Civic)
J2 David Guest/TBA (Honda Civic)
J3 Johnathan Byrnes/Kenneth Shiel ()
J4 Dermot O'Riordan/Brian O'Mahony (Honda Civic)
J5 Jack Newman/TBA (Honda Civic)
J6 David Fleming/Kieran Doherty (Honda Civic)
J7 Pat Barry/Bernard Foley (Honda Civic)
J8 David Brosnan/Donal Horgan (Honda Civic)
J9 Ray O'Sullivan/Derek O'Brien (Vauxhall Nova)
J10 Richard Whelan/Colin Fitzgerald (Honda Civic)
J11 Adrian Levis/Clara Healy (Suzuki Swift)
J12 David Duggan/Sean Murphy (Toyota Corolla)
J14 Jason Frahill/Nigel Frahill (Honda Civic)
J15 Johnathan O'Callaghan/Gavin Sheehan (Peugrot 106)
J16 Robert O'Regan/Aidan O'Brien (Honda Civic)
J17 Declan Murphy/Timothy Cronin (Honda Civic)
J18 Darren Noonan/Eoin Toomey (Honda Civic)
J19 Sean Liston/Daniel Browne (Vauxhall Nova)
J20 James Whelan/Sarah Whelan (Honda Civic)
J21 Cal McCarthy/Eamonn Dullea (Suzuki Swift)
J22 Desmond Roche/Mark O'Sullivan (205 GTI)
J23 Jamie O'Flaherty/Noel Gough (Honda Civic)
J24 Martin Mulcahy/John Nugent (Peugeot 106)
J25 David Loftus/TBA (Toyota Corolla)
J26 Johnathan Forde/James Collins (Peugeot 205)
J27 Denis Fehan/David Ahern (Honda Civic)
J28 Paul McMahon/Kieran Breenan (Honda Civic)

OO Course Cars
001 Stanley Ballentine/T.B.A. (Mitsubishi EVO 9)
002 Trevor Mulligan/Brian Daniels (Escort Mk2)
003 Ivan Bryan/Kevin Hickey (Corolla Twin Cam)
004 John Sinclair/Donal Sinclair (Corolla Twin Cam)
J001 Emmet Cronin/Richard O'Brien (Escort Mk2)
H001 Eddie Walsh/Deirdre O'Riordan (Escort Mk1)

Res. 00 Mark Dolphin/Ann Marie O'Driscoll (Escort Mk2)

Time and Distance Schedule

Posted: September 23, 2009 8:53 AM

• Munster Car Club

Regulations / Entry Form

Posted: August 19, 2009 9:47 AM

Regulations

Entry Form

Rally Launch - (Fri) 28 Aug 09

Posted: August 5, 2009 3:47 PM

The Press Launch for the Cork '20' International Rally will take place in the Rochestown Park Hotel, Rochestown, Co.Cork on Friday 28th August 2009 @ 8.00pm, all are welcome to attend.

A HANS device and fitting display will also take place at 7pm before the Press Reception to include the correct fitting of the HANS device in International spec and Clubman spec rally cars. Questions and advice given by scruitneers, CCS Staff and co-driver Donnacha O'Callaghan.
All are welcome to attend.

Club Website

Posted: January 1, 2009 12:01 AM

• Munster Car Club