Mayo Autocross (LS) - 4 Jul 10

Posted: August 22, 2010 11:02 AM - 5782 Hits

Photo: Sean Hassett

McGreal Returns to the top

Posted: August 22, 2010 11:02 AM

Foxfords James McGreal returned to winning form at Harringtons Quary for the 3rd round of the Mayo & District Loose surface autocross 2010. It was the penultimate round of the 2009 championship when James last won. Since then he has been pipped to the post by Eamon Mimnagh twice and Mark Donnelly once but there was nothing that Eamon could do to reel in the Mayo man on the 4th of July event. James took the event by a convincing two second margin to his nearest rival.

That rival was Damian O'Hagan from Omagh in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6. Damian set consistant 2nd fastest times all day netting him second place overall. Next up was Andrew Mackarel in his older Mitsubishi Evo 5 gaining the last place on the podium by a scant .6 of a second from Eamon Mimnagh from Omagh.

Sligo’s James Lannon brought his immaculate Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 home in 5th after setting the fastest time on the 2nd run but unfortunately he was left in the dark on the 3rd run posting a time over ten seconds slower than James McGreal winning time. James lannon has shown great pace over the last few events, a podium finish surely must not be far away for the Boyle man.

Stephen Dixon was the first two wheel drive home in an incredible 6th place overall, It was Stevens first time in Harringtons quarry but he showed his sheer talent as he set a scintillating time on his last run just .7 of a second behind the four wheel drive machine of James Lannon. Right on Stephens heels was Conor Kelly from Tyrone in his Nissan Sunny finishing just .6 of a second behind.

Williamstown’s Walter Burke was next up in his Ford Escort Mark 2 as per usual Walter drifted his way around the 2.7km course in his tail happy car. He set his best time on his final run to net him 8th place overall. Over two seconds behind was Martin Tynan in his Mitsubishi Lancer.

Rounding out the top ten was Ciaran McCullagh the Meath man put in a stirling drive to clinch the final space inside the top ten.

Galway man Frank Byrnes swapped his single seater hillclimb machine and the tarmac of the hills for the gravel of Harringtons quarry and his Peugeot 206 Cup car. He finished the event in 12th place overall.

Second Mayo man home was Pat Higgins from Granard debuting his Subaru Impreza to a fine 13th place overall just .1 of a second behind Frank Byrnes.

Joe Cullen made the long trip from Wexford bringing his amazing motorcycle engined cart cross buggy. The buggy screamed its way around the track setting a time identical to Pat Higgins. Both drivers stopped the clocks at 4:26.77, Pat eventually finished one place in front after a tie breaker.

Next up in 15th place was Matthew Murphy from Shrule he was ahead of a host of Mayo Drivers: Derek Bolton finished 21st position, Alan Moran from Foxford had an incredible run in his class one Astra finished 22nd, Adrian Fahy from Ballinrobe was 23rd, Sean McHugh from Bekan had a torrid day being plagued by mechanical trouble in his Subaru and he finished 24th. Mayo & Districts Motorsport Club young driver 2009 Justin Ryan was next in 25th after a bad day also.

Foxford’s Stephen Doherty was two places behind in 27th place. Coming home in 28th place was Jared Gill from Bofeenaun in his Peugeot 205, four places ahead of the similar car of Peter MCManamon from Achill.

Eoin McGreal was another four places behind as his day was cut short with mechanical problems. Aidan Fahy from Ballinrobe finished in 40th position overall.

But the day and the overall honours were to belong to one man, James McGreal. The Foxford man shone through with is flat out driving style rewarding him with victory over a very stong field of drivers.