Mayo Stages Rally - 11 Mar 12

In Car

Posted: March 16, 2012 11:02 AM

Donagh Kelly & Kevin Flanagan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 GpN) SS8


Camillus Bradley & Crawford Henderson (Ford Escort Mk2)


Justin Ryan & Andy Walsh (Honda Civic) SS3

Posted: March 16, 2012 10:43 AM

Maguire claims Hat-Trick on Mayo Stages Rally

Posted: March 13, 2012 12:02 PM

Niall Maguire rolled back the years to claim victory on the McWilliam Park Hotel and Fleet Transport Magazine Mayo Stages Rally on Sunday. With co-driver Enda Sherry, the Monaghan man had to overcome a tough battle with team-mates and Subaru WRC rivals Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally, before a puncture for Barrett on the penultimate stage proved decisive in deciding the outcome. It was Maguire’s third victory on Mayo soil and puts him into the lead of this year’s Dunlop National Rally Championship after two rounds, while Barrett had to be satisfied with second place after winning this event last year.

Early morning drizzle had left the roads in very slippery conditions for the opening loop of stages, catching out many competitors. Among them were the number two seeds Thomas Fitzmaurice who lost two minutes with a spin in their Subaru WRC, dropping them to 85th place. Thereafter it was a case of damage limitation and the Kerry crew were ultimately very happy to finish in fifth place overall.

Brian O’Mahony and his local co-driver John Higgins from Kiltimagh were held up by the Fitzmaurice incident on stage one in their Duggan’s Sales & Recovery Claremorris sponsored Subaru WRC, but worse was to follow on the second loop of stages when smoke followed by fire enveloped the cabin. Luckily there was no permanent damage, but the Cork / Mayo pairing were disappointed to have to retire early on an event in which they had high hopes of victory.

Barrett had established a fifteen second advantage over the hard charging Donagh Kelly / Kevin Flanagan in a Group N Mitsubishi Evo as the competitors returned to first service with Maguire and O’Mahony close behind, but as the roads started to dry it was Maguire who started to push the pace, beating his team-mate on each of the following three tests to arrive back into second service tied on time with the Maynooth driver.

A close finish looked inevitable after Barrett struck back on stage seven, regaining the lead by two seconds. His chances of a repeat Mayo win were struck a major blow on the following test though, when the Subaru got a puncture, putting Maguire back in front by five seconds with one stage remaining. The Monaghan man was duly fastest again on the final stage, to claim a popular win back at rally HQ, the McWiliam Park Hotel.

Third place went to Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan who were the highest placed Group N competitors in their Mitsubishi Evo. Indeed the Donegal crew had been in contention for overall honours for much of the day until drying roads handed the advantage back to the World Rally Cars.

Tipperary’s Roy White and James O’Brien were happy with their run to fourth in their Rover MG ZR, Roy very happy with the car after suffering problems on the opening National Championship round in Birr. Behind Thomas Fitzmaurice in fifth were the Dunlop Championship Group N winners, Donegal brothers Trevor and Kenny Bustard in their Mitsubishi.

Seamus Leonard and John McCafferty were initially showing atop the leaderboard but a two minute penalty ultimately kept them down in seventh place, Seamus just happy to post decent stage times. On a day that proved challenging for rear wheel drive cars Camillus Bradley and Crawford Henderson from Co. Derry once again proved Masters of Mayo, winning the Dunlop Championship Mark 2 prize for top Escort crew. Two other Escort crews rounded out the top ten, Paul Barrett and Peter Ward from Tyrone ahead of Cavan’s Jonathan Pringle and Martin Byrne.

Once again Mayo & District Motorsport Club received many plaudits for runing a highly successful rally. Testing stages and flawless organisation meant the event ran without hardly a hitch, while the good weather attracted large crowds to see the action at the Ceremonial Start on Saturday as well as on the rally stages.
For the hard worked organisers at the rally finish it was a case of looking forward to a well deserved rest, but roll on 2013.

MAGUIRE/SHERRY WIN IN CLAREMORRIS - Report courtesy of Dunlop Proud Sponsors of the Dunlop National Rally Championship

Posted: March 13, 2012 11:24 AM

In an exciting finish, Niall Maguire and co-driver, Enda Sherry (Subaru WRC) won the McWilliam Park Hotel/Fleet Transport Magazine Mayo Rally, the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship. They finished nine seconds ahead of the similar car of Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally with the Mitsubishi of Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan a further 44 seconds behind in third. Pre-event Dunlop series leaders, Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Subaru WRC) made a great recovery, 85th after the opening stage, they finished fifth.
Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson (Escort) won the Modified category.

Last year's winner, Barrett led after the opening test although Seamus Leonard posted a time five seconds quicker, he was late at the stage arrival control as tried to solve a misfire on the road section. Eventually, he replaced the plugs and the situation was sorted but he was penalised three minutes that actually dropped him to 96th. in general classification after the completion of the stage.

Pre-event Dunlop series leader, Thomas Fitzmaurice (Subaru WRC) spun and lost almost two minutes and ended the stage down on 85th. place

Brian O'Mahony, third on the road, lost some ten seconds at the stage start when his Subaru stalled twice, he lost more time when he encountered the stricken Subaru of Fitzmaurice.

Prior to the ceremonial start, O'Mahony had to change the propshaft, he finished the stage in ninth place - 27 seconds behind rally leader, Barrett.

Meanwhile, Donagh Kelly was impressive and slotted his Mitsubishi into second place ' six seconds off the top and three ahead of Niall Maguire.

Roy White (MG S2000) was fourth with Shane Maguire (Subaru) and Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) completing the top six. Josh Moffett slid his Mitsubishi off the road.

O'Mahony gleamed five seconds off leader Barrett on the second stage and the pair shared the same time on the third stage where Leonard set the fastest stage time.

At the Claremorris service, Barrett recalled an overshoot on the second test as he led Donagh Kelly by 15 seconds, the latter had a brush with a bank on the third stage at Knock. Third placed Maguire, who was five seconds behind Kelly, opined that he just could not get into the groove and could not find a reason, although he did remark that he was braking far too early at the various. O'Mahony was fourth with fifth placed Roy White (MG S2000) reckoning that he was lacking in confidence due to his indiscretion in the opening Dunlop round in Abbeyleix.

Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi) experienced a major moment on the third stage. Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) was the top Modified competitor although he reckoned he lost time with a misfire on the final stage of the loop. The top ten was completed by the Mk. 2 Escorts of Frank Kelly, Camillus Bradley and Pat Donegan.

Fitzmaurice and Leonard climbed to 18th. and 34th. respectively but Shane Maguire dropped to last, his Subaru had fuel pump troubles.

Out on the second loop, Niall Maguire (Subaru ) made a vast improvement - due principally to a change of tyres. The Monaghan man was quickest on S.S. 5 while Leonard set the best time on both the fourth and sixth stage. At the final service halt, Maguire and Barrett shared top spot. Third placed Kelly remarked that as the road conditions dried out, he was losing touch with the more powerful cars of his rivals, the Donegal driver was sixteen seconds off top spot.

Meanwhile, Brian O'Mahony (Subaru) lost some forty seconds when he had to stop close to the stage finish of S.S. 4 due to a fire. Although the Cork driver was able to finish the stage and start the fifth test, he was forced to stop when the fire re-ignited. At the service halt, it was detected that oil had seeped from a crack in the gearbox casing and it dropped on to the turbo causing the fire.

Both Fitzmaurice and Leonard continued to charge through the leaderboard and were sixth and ninth respectively. A delighted Roy White (MG S2000) stated that he enjoyed the second loop, he was fourth with Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi) fifth despite a spin on S.S. 4 that cost him some twenty seconds. Seventh placed Declan Gallagher continued to be hampered by the misfire in his Toyota Starlet. Cavan's, Jonathan Pringle, who has only competed in about nine rallies, completed the top ten. Retirements included Frank Kelly (crash) and Declan Boyle (fuel pump).

Barrett eked two seconds from S.S. 7 but punctured three kilometres from the finish of the penultimate test with Maguire taking a five second lead. The Monaghan driver sealed victory with fastest time on the final stage to win by nine seconds and move into the lead of the Dunlop Rally Championship.

Elsewhere, Kelly took third with White untroubled in fourth. Fitzmaurice completed his recovery to take fifth. Bustard survived a major moment over a big jump while Bradley, the top two-wheel drive exponent, clipped a rock and damaged a rim on S.S. 7.

The Dunlop 'Drive of the Day' was won by Donegal's, Mark Ewing/Graham Henderson (Honda Civic).

Border Championship - Drive of the Day

Posted: March 12, 2012 12:27 PM

Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship Drive of the day winner Jonathan Pringle, Brenda Flynn, Martin Byrne & Darragh Mullen of Sligo Pallets
Photo: Brendan Flynn

Photos

Posted: March 12, 2012 12:20 PM

crspics.com - Counihan Rallysport Pictures
James Burke Motorsport Photography

Results

Posted: March 12, 2012 11:10 AM

1 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC) 71m 30s,
2 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC) 71m 39s,
3 Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 72m 23s,
4 Roy White/James O’Brien (MG ZR S2000) 73m 08s,
5 Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Subaru mpreza WRC) 73m 26s,
6 Trevor Bustard/Kenny Bustard (Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 73m 57s,
7 Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Subaru Impreza WRC) 74m 06s,
8 Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson (Ford Escort MkII) 74m 40s,
9 Paul Barrett/Peter Ward (Ford Escort MkII) 75m 13s,
10 Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne (Ford Escort MkII) 75m 20s.

Motorsport Safety Team Group N Production class:
1 Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan,
2 Trevor Bustard/Kenny Bustard,
3 Paddy McVeigh/Stephen O’Hanlon.

rally.ie Two wheel drive class:
1 Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson,
2 Paul Barrett/Peter Ward,
3 Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne.

Leaders After:
SS1-5 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS6 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC)
& Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS7-9 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Stage Winners
SS1 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS2 Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS3 Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS4 Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS5 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS6 Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS7 Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS8 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS9 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Full Results: results.shannonsportsit.ie (Angus Sealy)
Video Updates: www.youtube.com/user/MayoStagesRally2012?ob=0

Audio: Trevor Payne (Limerick 102FM) speaks to Cathal Doyle (Mayo Motor Club)

Posted: March 11, 2012 9:25 AM

Mayo Stages Rally 2012 Pilots New end of stage interview video channel

Posted: March 11, 2012 9:18 AM

Believed to be a first for Irish Rallying, Mayo Stages Rally will be piloting a new end of stage interview service. The interview crew will be at the end of each stage of the rally to interview the drivers, and interviews recorded will then be uploaded for people to view on youtube within 30mins of the crews completing that stage.

Link: www.youtube.com/user/MayoStagesRally2012?ob=0

New Ultimate Rally News service for Mayo Stages Rally

Posted: March 9, 2012 2:36 PM

Killian Duffy is launching a new Twitter based Rally News service at the Mayo Stages Rally this weekend. There will be live text commentary coming from the end of each stage of the rally, with driver quotes, pictures & much more.

The news will begin this Saturday afternoon with driver recce comments & Ceremonial Start pictures.

You can follow the 'Ultimate Rally News' service on Twitter by following @KillianNews

Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship 2012 Round 1 Preview

Posted: March 9, 2012 1:55 PM

The Event:
Claremorris, Co. Mayo plays host to the opening round of the 2012 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship this weekend. The is the 3rd successive year the Mayo Stages has based in the town. Event HQ is the McWilliam Park Hotel with parc fermé and service again located adjacent to the hotel. A ceremonial start will precede the event at 9pm on Saturday evening before the action gets under way at 9am, Sunday Morning. Three stages will be tackled three times to the north of Claremorris giving crews 120 kilometres of competitive driving. The first car is due back at the McWilliam Park Hotel shortly after 5pm.

The Border Championship 'drive of the day award' returns again for 2012. This award goes to the fastest crew on a selected stage in a selected class, provided they finish the event. The selected stage and class will be chosen at random and announced to competitors on the morning of the rally.

Class 1-8:
Multiple Border class winners return to the series this year. Adrian Cannon/Patrick McCrudden are the top class 2 seeds as Adrian sets out to defend his class 2 title for last year. Donegal's Martin O'Donnell/John Michael O'Donnell are the top seeds in class 3, with Omagh brothers Declan & Dara Leonard in their Ford Fiesta's and former Class 3 champion, Pakie Duffy also likely to be in the thick of the class 3 battle. Trevor Bustard/Kenny Bustard, Shane Maguire/Martin McGarritty, Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan and Josh Moffett/Domhnall Lennon are expected to be involved in a major battle for class four honours. Border stalwart, Eamon McCafferty is the sole entry in class 5, while the Citroen C2R2's should be fighting for class 6 honours with Joe McGongile, Joe Shrimpton, Peter Barrable and Sean Agnew all entered. John Duffy/John Egan and Roger Kennedy/Wendy Blackedge will be battling it out for class 7 . While any of the top six seeds in class 8 could be the overall winners of the event, Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally, Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley, Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins, Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry, Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty and Aaron McHale/Brian Daniels.

Class 9-15:
Barry McGill/Derek Heena and Justin Smyth/Gregory McQuillan are the top class 9 seeds, while in class 10 Patrick Kiernan/Darren O'Brien and Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes head the entry. Galway's Neil Pierce/Enda O'Leary will face stiff competition for class 11 honours from Monaghan's Anthony Hand/Emmet Sherry with many more crews setting their sights on the class win. Arthur & Mac Kierans begin their defence of the Border title in class 12, where Vincent Collins/Fintan Kilroe and local men Colin Loughney/Michael Loughney are likely to be their main challengers. Class 13 will be a close affair with Michael Conlon/Aiden Boyle, Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore, Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne and James Coleman/Kaye Shanahan leading the entry. Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan head the class 14 entry, but with the inform Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan and 2010 Border Champion, Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle right behind, it certainly won't be easy for the Monaghan men. Rory White/James O'Brien's unusual Mountune engined, MG head the class 15 entry .

CLAREMORRIS AWAITS DUNLOP CONTENDERS - Courtesy of Dunlop - proud sponsors of the National Rally Championship

Posted: March 9, 2012 1:45 PM

THE second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, the McWilliam Park Hotel/Fleet Transport Magazine Mayo Rally features no fewer than six World Rally Cars in a competitive top ten that will go head to head over nine testing stages in the Balla/Kiltimagh region of the county.

Top seed, Kevin Barrett in his Subaru WRC will be determined to get his Dunlop title bid back on track after finishing a disappointing sixth on the opening round in Abbeyleix at the end of last month. The Maynooth driver won the Mayo event last year, beating his Dunlop nemesis, Niall Maguire by 51 seconds, no doubt he will try and replicate that form to bring an end to his Dunlop drought - his last and only win in a round of the Dunlop series came at the Galway Summer Rally in 2010.
“I picked the wrong tyres for the opening loop in Abbeyliex and when you drop that kind of time there is no way back. In reality, what we saw in the opening round is that Thomas (Fitzmaurice) has got on to the car very well while we all knew that Brian (O’Mahony) would be quick. Along with Niall, Seamus Leonard and Aaron MacHale it will make for an interesting day.”

Opening round sensation, Kerry’s, Thomas Fitzmaurice in the ex-Valentino Rossi/Patrick Elliott Subaru S11 will start from the number three slot as leader of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.
“It won’t be easy, the stages in Abbeyleix suited me, you can take that kind of pace from Group N. If the stages are technical, then Kevin (Barrett) and Niall (Maguire) will be hard to beat, they are familiar with the one-day events. I was surprised with myself in Abbeyleix. I knew Brian (O’Mahony) was going to be quick and to be honest, tyre choice cost him the rally. You can be sure that won’t happen again.”

The Abbeyleix Rally was a great contest between Fitzmaurice and his Cork rival, Brian O’Mahony, also in a Subaru S11. Tyre choice proved crucial on that event and no doubt, both will be eager to take victory in the west of Ireland. O’Mahony will have his Mayo co-driver, John Higgins calling the pacenotes and hoping for a win in his local event.

Former triple champion, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) wasn’t that far off the pace in Abbeyleix, he lost time with a puncture and the Monaghan man will be intent on ensuring he will be an integral part of the battle in Mayo. It will be interesting to see how series interloper, Seamus Leonard (Subaru WRC) will fare against the opposition over the nine stages.

Meanwhile, former Dunlop champion, Aaron MacHale, who won the title in 2007 will compete in his Ford Focus WRC for the first time in several months, he will be co-driven by Brian Daniels.

Monaghan’s, Daniel McKenna (Ford Escort) is the top entry in the Modified category and will be superb opposition for the fellow Escort duo of Frank Kelly and Declan Boyle. Kelly was the top finisher in Abbeyleix and leads the Dunlop National Mark 2 Escort Champions Trophy and the rally.ie category.

The top ten is completed by Clonmel’s, Roy White (MG S2000), who crashed out on the opening round in Abbeyleix after making a good impression on the opening stage, will be intent on making amends.

Elsewhere, the Mayo entry includes the Group N cars of Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi), Shane Maguire (Subaru), Donagh Kelly (Mitsubishi) and Josh Moffett (Mitsubishi) while the Modified category in reinforced by Camillus Bradley, Rodney Wilton, Pat Donegan, Mickey Conlon – all in Ford Escorts and the Toyota Starlet of Declan Gallagher.

Claremorris under Starters Orders for Mayo Stages Rally

Posted: March 8, 2012 2:46 PM

The stage is set for a week-end of high-octane motorsport action, as the McWilliam Park Hotel and Fleet Transport Magazine Mayo Stages Rally arrives into town this Friday. With many of the best rally drivers and state-of-the-art rally cars set to do battle over 120 kilometres of special stages to the north of Claremorris, there promises to be spills and thrills aplenty before the action concludes back at rally headquarters The McWilliam Park Hotel on Sunday evening.

One of the biggest annual sporting events in Mayo, the 2012 edition of the Mayo Stages Rally is based for the third year in Claremorris, though with three brand new stages in the Balla / Kiltimagh / Knock areas on offer, this year’s event will offer a fresh challenge for competitors. With a near capacity entry expected to start the rally, thousands of visitors are expected to visit the Claremorris area over the course of the weekend. The rally is the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, and the opening round of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship.

Rally Countdown – all go from Friday evening

With competitors arriving from Friday afternoon on, the first task for the drivers and co-drivers after signing-on to the event is on Saturday morning March 10th, when they drive the rally stages in their road cars making pacenotes to use the following day. Later in the day, the rally cars will be presented for scrutineering where they have to pass stringent road and rally safety requirements before being allowed to take part in the rally. After that the cars are locked away securely in Parc Feirme ahead of the start of the rally.

Ceremonial Start

For the public, the rally gets underway in earnest on Saturday evening when the leading competitors as well as all the local drivers gather in Claremorris town centre for the Ceremonial Start. Now in its third year, this is a great opportunity to see the rally cars and stars up close, and is especially suitable for families with small children. The town centre will be closed to traffic from 6pm with diversions in place. The rally cars will start arriving from 7pm with the cars passing over the starting ramp where the drivers will be interviewed at 9pm.

When the flag drops….

The serious competition starts on Sunday morning, with the leading cars leaving Parc Feirme at 8.50 am to tackle the nine challenging special stages. The first stage Craggagh Hill between Balla and Kiltimagh runs for the first time at 9.30 am. Stage two, Thorn Hill in the Bohola area gets underway at 10 am, and stage three, Eden, which is near Knock runs at 10.45 am. The cars then return to service adjacent to the McWilliam Park Hotel before tacking the loop of three stages two more times. The leading cars are due back at the rally finish in Claremorris shortly after 5 pm. Full details of maps and times will be available in the rally programmes which will be on sale in shops and garages around the area from Friday evening. Online users can follow Mayo & District Motorsport Club’s Twitter (http://twitter.com/MayoMotorClub) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/mayostagesrally) accounts which will be continually updated during the week-end with all the latest news, times and competitor quotes, or can check into the club website (www.mayomotorsportclub.com).

Marshals Needed

A small army of people is needed to run an event like the Mayo Stages Rally, and Mayo & District Motorsport Club is looking for people who would like to assist by marshaling on the day. Anyone interested should contact either 087 232 3113 or 087 055 9207 (+353 87 232 3113 or +353 87 055 9207)

Top Quality Entry Field

A near capacity entry list promises an intriguing battle for victory on the Mayo Stages, with two Mayo & District Motorsport Club members among those with a genuine chance of tasting victory champagne. Leading the field away are last year’s winners Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally. The Maynooth / Limerick duo will need to repeat the serious pace that brought them victory last year to once again top the podium. At two are the winners of the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship a fortnight ago, Thomas Fitzmaurice and Fionn Foley from Kerry, while at three, Brian O’Mahony from Cork will be hoping the local knowledge of his co-driver John Higgins from Kiltimagh will be enough to put them atop the winner’s circle on Sunday evening. Championship regulars Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry from Monaghan are followed by Omagh’s Seamus Leonard and John McCafferty. With all the top five seeds in Subaru World Rally Cars, local club member Aaron McHale with co-driver Brian Daniels will be hoping his Ford Focus WRC will be up to the challenge of repeating the Kilcullen man’s victory here a few years ago.

Away from the World Rally Cars, a serious battle is in prospect between competitors in the ever-popular Escort Mark 2’s, for whom a special competition has been established this year as part of the Dunlop National Rally Championship. Drivers like Daniel McKenna, Frank Kelly and Declan Boyle will be pushing the World Rally Cars for pace, particularly if conditions are dry, with a plethora of others hot on their heels. An interesting battle is in prospect in Group N also, with young guns Shane Maguire and Josh Moffett among the favourites in this category.

Locals Line Up For Battle

Perhaps inevitably the current difficult economic environment has meant fewer local competitors taking part on the Mayo Stages Rally compared to recent years, but nonetheless a sizeable number are all set for the challenge of tackling their local rally. Aside from John Higgins and Aaron MacHale, the top seeded Mayo & District Motorsport Club members are Andrew Mullen and Elaine Doherty from Ballisodare in car 21, who are also the title sponsors of the Border Rally Championship through their company Sligo Pallets. At 28 is Mervyn Deane from Williamstown who faces a tough challenge against the top competitors in class 13 in his Escort. At 46 are Colin and Michael Loughney in a class 12 Escort, the brothers having set some impressive times on this event last year. Ballaghadereen’s Derek Bolton has Sean Hassett from Headford co-driving in car 68, a Subaru Impreza. Club chairman Sean McHugh from Bekan starts at 73 in his class 14 BMW M3 Compact, while Ballinrobe father and son team Adrian and Aidan Fahy are at 77 in their class 13 Escort.

Belmullet’s Ciaran Kennedy and co-driver Patrick O’Hora make their return to rallying in car 83, a class 2 Honda Civic, while the class 7 Honda Integra of Crossmolina’s John Duffy with John Egan co-driving is at 86. In car 91, Justin Ryan from Headford and Andy Walsh from Ballinrobe will be hoping to repeat their recent fine form on the Galway International Rally in their class 2 Honda Civic.

Barry Cuffe from Belcarra and Marcus Molloy from Crossmolina start at 93 in their class 13 Escort just one place ahead of the class 12 version of Niall Morley and Cormac Lyons from Knock. Ballina’s Derek McCarthy co-drives the Ford Puma of car 99, Eamonn McCafferty, with another Ballina crew at 100, the class 2 Honda Civic pairing of Tony Langdon and David Loughney. Just behind them at number 101 is the similar car of Knock’s David and Simon McGuinness.

At 109, Mayo Young Driver Autocross Champion Alan Moran from Foxford makes his stage rallying debut in his class 9 Opel Kadett, while competing in the same class are Killala’s Gavin and Raymond Carroll in a Vauxhall Nova in number 113.

Rally Safety Message for local schoolchildren

Posted: March 7, 2012 10:02 PM

Mayo & District Motorsport Club organised a very successful event for local schoolchildren at Bohola National School which is located close to two of the stages on this year’s event. Presented by rally driver Toni Kelly from Donegal, who is also a Road Safety Authority (RSA) ambassador, together with members of Mayo & District Motorsport Club, Mayo County Council’s Road Safety Officer Noel Gibbons, and An Garda Siochana, the initiative provided the school children with a special opportunity to learn first hand about the safety measures that are in place to run a rally, as well as a demonstration of safety equipment on board a current rally car. The presentation was very well received with lots of questions and much excitement about the forthcoming rally.

Successful Mayo Stages Rally Launch

Posted: March 5, 2012 2:33 PM

Photo: Michael Donnelly

The countdown to the 2012 McWilliam Park Hotel and Fleet Transport Magazine Mayo Stages Rally is firmly on, following a successful launch at the McWilliam Park Hotel, headquarters for the March 11th event. A large crowd was in attendance to hear information about this year's rally from a selection of speakers, including Clerk of the Course Padraic Roche and Chairman of Mayo & District Motorsport Club Sean McHugh. Among those attending were Motorsport Ireland President Joe Corocan, Aaron MacHale and Robbie Lyttle on behalf of the Motorsport Ireland Road Safety campaign, and Andrew Mullen, sponsor of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship, of which the Mayo Stages is the opening round. Local representatives included the Claremorris Chamber of Commerce, county councillors and Noel Gibbons, Road Safety Officer with Mayo County Council.

Earlier in the day Mayo & District Motorsport Club organised a very successful event for local schoolchildren at Bohola National School which is located close to two of the stages on this year's event. Presented by rally driver Toni Kelly from Donegal, who is also a Road Safety Authority (RSA) ambassador, together with members of Mayo & District Motorsport Club, Mayo County Council's Road Safety Officer Noel Gibbons, and An Garda Siochana, the initiative provided the school children with a special opportunity to learn first hand about the safety measures that are in place to run a rally, as well as a demonstration of safety equipment on board a current rally car. The presentation was very well received with lots of questions and much excitement about the forthcoming rally.

Entries still being accepted, contact event secretary on 0872442190 / +353872442190

Seeded Entry List

Posted: March 5, 2012 12:21 PM

Mayo Stages Rally - 11 Mar 12 - SEEDED ENTRY LIST

Entries still being accepted, contact event secretary on 0872442190 / +353872442190

Additional Title Sponsor For Mayo Stages Rally

Posted: February 24, 2012 11:06 AM

Mayo & District Motorsport Club is pleased to announce that Fleet Transport Magazine has become joint title sponsor of the 2012 Mayo Stages Rally alongside The McWilliam Park Hotel. Based in Claremorris, Fleet Publications, established in 2003, is Ireland's leading publisher of magazine titles for the fleet and commercial vehicle markets. As well as Fleet Transport, other titles produced by Fleet Publications include Fleet Car, Fleet Van & Utility, Fleet Bus & Coach, Fleet Trailer & Bodybuilder, Fleet Maritime, Green Fleet Management, and for the mobile leisure sector, Caravan Cruise Ireland magazine.

Group Editor of Fleet Publications Jarlath Sweeney said
"Fleet Transport Magazine is delighted to become a title sponsor of the 2012 Mayo Stages Rally. For the third year the rally is based in our hometown of Claremorris, and has proved to be a huge success in the past two years, bringing much benefit to the town and surrounding area. Fleet Publications is a committed supporter of motorsport both in Ireland and overseas, and we are happy to be able to support Clerk of the Course Padraic Roche and his team to ensure the 2012 running of the Mayo Stages Rally is another major triumph."

In addition to the title sponsors, a host of local businesses have come on board to support the 2012 McWilliam Park Hotel and Fleet Transport Magazine Mayo Stages Rally. These include Supermacs Claremorris, MW Design, Print & Signs Claremorris, Hillside Service Station Claremorris, EPS Ballyhaunis, Morans Family Butchers Belcarra, Claremorris Credit Union, Hastings Insurance Brokers Westport, Claremorris and other offices, Kevin Kennedy Motors Belmullet and Ballina, and KPS Colour Print Knock.

Promotional Video

Posted: February 22, 2012 9:33 AM

Map: Rally HQ, Service park, Trailer Park, Parc Ferme and Scrutiny.

Posted: February 15, 2012 4:19 PM

Mayo Stages 2012 - Map of Rally HQ, Service park, Trailer Park, Parc Ferme and Scrutiny.

Rally Guide

Posted: February 3, 2012 7:58 PM

Available at:

• Mayo & District Motorclub

Regulations / Entry Form

Posted: January 23, 2012 10:07 PM

Mayo Stages Rally - 11 Mar 12 - REGULATIONS
Mayo Stages Rally - 11 Mar 12 - ENTRY FORM

Previous entrants will receive supplementary regulations in the post.

Gearing Up for McWilliam Park Hotel Mayo Stages Rally 2012

Posted: January 16, 2012 11:34 AM

Preparations for the 2012 Mayo Stages Rally which takes place on March 11th are well underway, two months ahead of the popular West of Ireland event.

With the Dunlop National Rally Championship returning to the Mayo roads after a year’s absence, and the rally also the opening round of the 2012 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship, the stage is set for many of Ireland’s top rally drivers and co-drivers to battle it out for honours in March.

It’s a mixture of old and new for 2012 as, for the third year in succession, the Mayo Stages Rally will be based in the south Mayo town of Claremorris. However competitors will face the challenge of three entirely new stages, each to run three times. Offering a total distance of approximately 123 stage kilometres and 137 road kilometres, they look set to provide a challenging test for competitors.

Once again the McWilliam Park Hotel returns as title sponsor and rally headquarters for the week-end. Just off the N17, but close to the town centre and with the service park adjacent to the hotel, this modern facility is ideally situated for easy access from all locations, and has proved to be a popular location with competitors and visitors to the rally in the past two years.

A new Clerk of the Course comes on board for 2012. Padraic Roche from Killala is an experienced rally official, having undertaken a number of roles in recent years, as well as a regular competitor. He will be ably supported by Deputy Clerk of the Course David Jordan, Assistant Clerk of the Course Liam Healy and Event Secretary Katheen Kennedy, as well as an experienced team of officials.

Regulations for the 2012 Mayo Stages Rally will be available online shortly on Mayo & District Motorsport Club's website www.mayomotorsportclub.com,with entries accepted from 31st January.

Club Website

Posted: January 16, 2012 11:32 AM

• Mayo & District Motorclub