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Round 1 - 2013 Southern 4 Rally Championship
Posted: July 22, 2014 8:43 PM
Kevin Kelleher & Martin Kelleher (Subaru Impreza WRC) SS1 - Fire
Frank Kelly & Liam Brennan (Ford Escort MkII)
Brian O'Mahony & John Higgins (Subaru Impreza WRC) SS10
Bernard Foley & Ella Ryan (Honda Civic) SS11
Alan Courtney & Jim Hill (Porsche 928) SS7
JJ Fleming & Robbie Ward (Ford Focus WRC) SS10
Jason Ryan & Tadgh O'Sullivan (Toyota Starlet) - Ring
Posted: July 22, 2014 8:40 PM
Rally driver Brian O'Mahony from Carrigaline, Co. Cork and co-driver John Higgins from Kiltimagh, Co.Mayo will not forget St. Patrick’s weekend 2013 anytime soon. The pair won the annual West Cork Rally, a gruelling event that takes place over two days on 200km of West Corks most difficult tarmac roads.
With a new car to adapt to it was always going to be a difficult rally. The latest specification McKinstry Motorsport Subaru S14 WRC is a league ahead of their previous car, with John exclaiming “It’s a rocket ship” and Brian commenting that “It’s unlike anything I have ever driven”. This new machine, coupled with some of Ireland’s most demanding tarmac stages, ensured that it was always going to be an uphill battle for the pair.
The rally got underway on Saturday and consisted of six tough stages to test the drivers. Brian and John were fastest out of the blocks recording quickest time on the opening stage. When they reached the end, all was not well inside the car. Brian noted “We lost some time at the beginning of the stage due to some confusion, I am still getting the feel for the car”. The next car onto the stage was Kevin Kelleher in his Subaru but towards the end of the test, his car caught fire and the following competitors had to stop to assist. This meant that the following crews were awarded Brian’s fastest time for the stage.
Stage two saw the duo drop to second place behind fellow Subaru driver Denis Cronin. They were set to drop even more time to Cronin on stage three, when the car stalled on the start line and dropped them roughly ten seconds. At the first service of the day the pair had dropped from first after stage one, to fourth after stage three, over twenty seconds behind rally leader Cronin.
With the car was fully checked over by the McKinstry Mechanics in service and a fresh set of DMack tyres fitted, it was out to the next loop of three stages. Being unfamiliar with the new car showed, as Cronin continued to take time from them. When they re-entered service after the three test, Cronin had a massive twenty-eight second advantage. As day one of the rally came to a close the Cork-Mayo duo would have to claw back time on day two of this iconic event to claim the victory.
A beautiful sunny morning greeted the spectators and crews on day two of the West Cork Rally. Brian and John had it all to do and only six stages to do it, as they were trailing Denis Cronin by twenty-eight seconds. Stage seven of the rally started well for the two who ended the stage only point one of a second behind Daragh O’Riordan in his new Ford Fiesta WRC. This illustrates how close it is at the top of Irish Rallying, only point one of a second separated the two drivers after seventeen kilometers of flat out rallying!
On stage eight, the duo recorded their second fastest time of the rally, a staggering nineteen seconds faster than Cronin to slash his lead down to four seconds, with four stages remaining. Brian commented at the end of the stage that “Yes we are going well now! We have softened the suspension and altered the center differential, it feels much better”. Another fastest time on stage nine left them trailing Cronin by two seconds heading into the final loop of three stages.
The stage wins kept coming and on stage ten they moved into the rally lead, but it was short lived as stage eleven Cronin fought back and was fastest to move into the lead going into the final stage. It was going to be a photo finish.
Brian’s father, Frank a rallying legend in his own right, had never won the West Cork Rally, despite coming close on multiple occasions. There was pride and ego at stake going into the final stage. They lined up on the start line, knowing that they had to complete the seventeen kilometer test five seconds quicker than Cronin to win the rally. They blasted off and pushed hard, towards the end of the test they came across the stricken Subaru of Cronin, who had rolled out of the rally, thus handing them the victory!
Upon reaching the end of the stage the emotions were palpable, as Frank congratulated his son, and Brian and John celebrated their first West Cork Rally win! A Patrick’s weekend to remember indeed!
Posted: July 22, 2014 8:26 PM
1 Brian O’Mahony/John Higgins (Subaru Impreza WRC) 105m 16s,
2 Owen Murphy/Anthony Nestor (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 106m 56s,
3 Daragh O’Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC) 107m 17s,
4 John Joe Fleming/Robbie Ward (Ford Focus WRC) 109m 02s,
5 John Dalton/Gwynfor Jones (Darrian T90 GTR) 109m 10s,
6 Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Ford Escort MkII) 109m 47s,
7 Ed O’Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort MkII) 112m 03s,
8 John Cope/Alistair Wyllie (Subaru Impreza WRC) 112m 34s,
9 Stephen Carey/Breda O’Driscoll (Honda Civic Type-R) 114m 41s,
10 Jason Ryan/Tadhg O’Sullivan (Toyota Starlet) 114m 41s.
Group N Production class:
1 Owen Murphy/Anthony Nestor,
2 Stephen Carey/Breda O’Driscoll,
3 Brian O’Keefe/Donnacha O’Callaghan (Subaru Impreza N11) 119m 14s.
JUNIOR RALLY:
1 Richard Moore/Richard Cleary (Civic) 61m 02s,
2 Conor McCarthy/Dylan Coffey (Civic) 62m 15s,
3 Andrew Beamish/Cathal Quinn (Nova) 63m 09s.
HISTORIC RALLY:
1 Todd Falvey/Peter Falvey (Porsche 911) 92m 38s,
2 Tim Lenihan/Kieran Crowley (Escort) 98m 25s,
3 Michael Smith/P J O’Dowd (Avenger) 106m 44s.
Leaders After:
SS2-9 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS10 Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS11 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS12 Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Subaru Impreza WRC)
Stage Winners
SS1 Scratched
SS2 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS3 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS4 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS5 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS6 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS7 Daragh O’Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS8 Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS9 Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS10 Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS11 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS12 Scratched
Posted: March 14, 2013 12:11 PM
Saturday 16th March
Posted: March 12, 2013 8:41 PM
Out
51 - Paul Scannell / Mossy Griffin Ford Escort
52 - Andrew Fanning / Adam Coffey Ford Puma
61 - Steve Wood / Johnny Baird Citroen C2 R2 Max
123 - Alan Clarke / James Kingston Vauxhall Nova
In
141 - Denis Cronin / Coleman Hurley Subaru Impreza WRC
142 - David & Geraldine Jennings Ford Escort
143 - Andrew Mahon / Andy Donoghue Ford Escort
144 - Colm Murphy / Don Montgomery Subaru Impreza N12
Posted: March 9, 2013 9:24 AM
The 35th running of the West Cork Rally sponsored by Quality Hotels will provide some great excitement in Clonakilty and its surrounds on St. Patrick’s weekend. Despite the recession 143 entries have been received to date in the main field. Daragh O’Riordan who won the event last year has purchased a state of the art Ford Fiesta WRC and will give the car its Irish debut on this year’s event. O’Riordan will run as top seed and will be favourite to record the first back to back wins on the event since John Price in 1993. The appearance and sound of the Fiesta WRC should be very attractive to Irish rally fans in Clonakilty next weekend. Current Irish National Rally Champion Brian O’Mahony starts at two in a Subaru Impreza WRC S14, and like O’Riordan may be unfamiliar with the car at first, but once he gets used to it should be well in the hunt for overall honours.
Kevin Kelleher has never found his local event to be his luckiest, failing to make the start last year due to mechanical problems. However he had a solid 5th place in Birr and said he is very happy with the current setup of the car. John Dalton from Wales is the top overseas entrant and he starts at four in his familiar and potent Darrian T90 GTR. He has finished second on three occasions and could have a big say in this year’s event. Ballincolligs Owen Murphy starts at five in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, and although the 2011 Irish forestry champion and former Billy Coleman award winner is more at home in the woods, he is sure to be spectacular. Much of the same could be said about Frank Kelly at number six in his Escort Mk2. Franks pace on tarmac has dramatically increased in the past few seasons to such a level that he is now one of the top modified drivers in the country on either surface.
Barryroes Damien McCarthy is at seven in his Honda Civic hoping to emulate last year’s amazing performance which netted him third overall. Twice a finalist for the Billy Coleman award, he is quick in all parts of the country and is usually the man to beat in class 11. J.J. Fleming runs at eight in his yellow Ford Focus WRC after finishing 7th overall in the Galway International Rally. His best result in West Cork was 4th overall in 2004 which could well be improved on this year. John Cope from England is at nine in his Subaru Impreza WRC and he finished fifth overall last year. He will be hoping the experience will stand to him as he strives to improve on that result. Eoin Doyle completes the top ten in his Focus WRC having also experienced the West Cork roads on several occasions in the past and will be aiming for a good result.
Outside of the top ten there is even more quality, with some extremely quick Escorts in the hands of Wesley Patterson, Edward O’Callaghan, Kevin O’Donoghue and Adrian Hetherington to name but a few. 2010 forestry champion Pat O’Connell also makes and appearance in his Lancer at 16. Twenty entries have been received from the UK which is twice the number than in previous years, which has thrilled the organisers. Some of these haven’t been back in a few years such as Wayne Evans, Tomas Davies, Neil Spain and Huw Jeffreys. Denis Moynihan in his Escort Mk1 and Todd Falvey in his Porsche 911 RSR who are notable historic category drivers have decided to take part in the main event this year which adds to the diversity of machines. There are also some entrants from Donegal, while Martin Donnelly from New York has entered in his Mitsubishi Lancer and couple of local drivers have returned from Australia to take part. Rosscarberys Jerry O’Mahony holds the record for most attempts at the West Cork Rally and he will be doing it for the 32nd time in 2013.
There are seven entries to date in the historic class which includes four drivers from the UK and one from Northern Ireland. Wyn Hughes will be favourite to win this category, but the outright speed of Alan Courtney’s Porsche 928 can’t be ruled out either. The junior category has nine entrants and they are headed by Richard Moore from Wexford in his Honda Civic.
The first car will leave the start ramp at 1.05pm on Saturday to tackle six stages with Glandore, Sams Cross and Ardfield being run twice and service in Owenahincha after three stages. The Historic Rally will begin on Stage 4 (Glandore 2) before the cars head back to Parc Ferme at 6pm. Sundays stages will take in Ring, Clogagh and Ballinascarthy twice with service in Darrara Agricultural College after the first three stages. The first car is due back at the finish ramp at 3.10pm. The Junior Rally will get all six stages on the Sunday.
Scrutiny will take place from 4pm to 10pm on Friday 15th March in Clonakilty Car Centre (Old Quay Motors) and Parc Ferme will be in the Model Railway Village on the Inchydoney Road as usual. The event will be recorded for TV by Special Stage and will be shown on TG4 and Motors TV in the coming weeks.
Posted: March 8, 2013 10:16 AM
1 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
2 Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
3 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
4 John Dalton/Gwyfor Jones (Darrian T 90 GTR) [14]
5 Owen Murphy/Ann Other (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
6 Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Ford Escort Mk 2) [14]
7 Damien McCarthy/Eamon Hayes (Honda Civic) [11F]
8 John Joe Fleming/Robbie Ward (Ford Focus WRC ) [8]
9 John Cope/Alistair Wyllie (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
10 Eoin Doyle/Peter Brennan (Ford Focus WRC ) [8]
11 Wesley Patterson/Alan Whyte (Ford Escort RS 1800) [13]
12 Edward O'Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
14 Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
15 Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Ford Escort Mk 2) [14]
16 Pat O'Connell/Mark Wiley (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
17 Brian O'Keeffe/Donnacha O'Callaghan (Subaru Impreza N11) [4]
18 Leonard Downey/Mark Murphy (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
19 Eoghan Calnan/Conor Calnan (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
20 Allen Treacy/Bob Fitzgerald (Toyota Corolla) [13]
21 John Hendy/Enda Kennedy (BMW 3Series) [14]
22 Gwyn Thomas/Sean Hayde (Ford Puma) [20]
23 John Hickey/John Mc Carthy (Fubaru Ford Escort 4x4) [20]
24 Mark Nangle/Nollaig Breen (Subaru Impreza ) [20]
25 Liam Howlett/Leo Tector (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
26 Wayne Evans/Sion Jones (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
27 Fintan Canty/Denis O'Mahony (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
28 Tomas Davies/Den Golding (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
29 Denis Moynihan/Gerard Conway (Ford Escort MK 1) [13]
30 Diarmuid Keohane/Peter Keohane (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
31 Huw Jeffreys/Avarina Connor (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
32 Todd Falvey/Peter Falvey (Porshe 911 RS) [14]
33 Stephen Carey/Brid O'Driscoll (Honda Civic) [3]
34 Ray O'Sullivan/Derek O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk 2) [12]
35 Cal McCarthy/Eamonn Dullea (Honda Civic) [11F]
36 Jason Ryan/Tadgh O'Sullivan (Toyota Starlet) [11F]
37 Jason McSweeney/Donal Falvey (Honda Civic) [11F]
38 Jason O'Mahony/Jonathan O'Mahony (Honda Civic) [11F]
39 Jonathan O'Callaghan/Gavin Sheehan (Peugeot 106 GTI) [11F]
40 Paul Fitzgerald/Pierce Doheny Jnr (Ford Escort Mk 2) [11R]
41 Bernard Foley/Ella Ryan (Honda Civic) [11F]
42 Paul Bruton/Thomas Bruton (Honda Civic) [11F]
43 John White/Alan O'Mahony (Honda Civic) [11F]
44 Luke McCarthy/Eamonn McCarthy (Honda Civic) [11F]
45 Paul McDevitt/John Young (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
46 Michael McKennedy/Patrick McCarthy (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
47 Richard Whelan/Sarah Whelan (Honda Civic) [11F]
48 Johnny Curran/Mikey Walsh (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
49 Colm Noonan/Stephen Quinn (Peugeot 306 S16) [7]
50 Neil Spain/Elgan Davies (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
51 Paul Scannell/Mossy Griffin (Ford Escort Mk 2) [11R]
52 Andrew Fanning/Adam Coffey (Ford Puma) [6]
53 Peter Desmond/Sorcha Kelly (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
54 Colin Byrne/Brian Quinlan (Citreon C2R2 Max) [6]
55 Mark Dolphin/Finbarr Quirke (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
56 Philip Cross/Sean Duggan (Ford Escort G3) [14]
57 Ian Davies/Dai Roberts (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
58 Steve Roberts/Tony McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk 2) [12]
59 Gerard O'Connell/Tony Hennessy (Ford Escort Mk 2) [12]
60 Mick Cremin/Derek Tobin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5) [15]
61 Steve Wood/Johnny Baird (Citreon C2R2 Max) [6]
62 Wm Kenneally/Finbarr Fogarty (Ford Escort Mk 2) [11R]
63 Paddy O'Rourke/Tony Healy (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
64 Adam Platt/Alan O'Flynn (Ford Focus) [7]
65 Ian Caddy/Alan Thomas (Ford Escort Mk 2) [14]
66 Brian Hickey/Maul Aprati (Ford Escort Mk 2) [14]
67 Patrick Boyle Butcher/Donal McCole (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
68 John Bonner/Damien McElhinney (Ford Escort Mk 2) [11R]
69 Martin O'Donnell/John Michael O'Donnell (Honda Civic) [3]
70 Michael O'Sullivan/Eoin O'Leary (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
71 James Fitzgerald/Pat Cashman (Honda Civic) [11F]
72 Paul Browne/Jenna Brown (Honda Civic) [11F]
73 Kevin Dolphin/Martin O'Shea (Ford Puma) [6]
74 Martin Donnelly/Brian Doherty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
75 Patrick Calnan/Trevor McCarthy (Peugeot 106) [6]
76 John Quill/Caroline Quill (Citreon C2R2 ) [6]
77 Victor Beamish/Susan Beamish (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
78 Michael Nolan/Jimmy Kelly (Honda Civic) [11F]
79 Ciaran Casey/Steven Clarke (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
80 James Bradley/Maria Kehoe (Ford Escort Mk 2) [10]
81 Jerry O'Mahony/Willie Buchanan (Ford Escort Mk 2) [10]
82 Sean O'Carroll/Ian Stanley (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
83 Tadgh O'Sullivan/Colin O'Donoghue (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
84 Padraig Mc Carthy/Eoghan McCarthy (Honda Civic) [11F]
85 Colum Browne/Laurence McGrath (Honda Civic) [2]
86 Cyril Wharton/David Leslie (Ford Escort Mk 2) [12]
87 Vincent Mc Sweeney/Michael Kearney (Honda Civic) [11F]
88 Seamus Ronan/Aoife Fitzpatrick (Honda Civic) [11F]
89 Gearoid Beamish/Fearghal Beamish (Ford Escort Mk3) [10]
90 Ian Godney/Anthony O'Sullivan (Renault Clio) [13]
91 Jeremiah O' Flynn/Daniel Barrett (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
92 Gerard Clarke/Pat Gowan (Peugeot 206) [6]
93 Tommy Kelly/Noel Kendrick (Honda Civic) [2]
94 Colin Rowe/David Booty (Fiat 131 Sport) [13]
95 Brian O'Mahony/Michelle Galway (Honda Civic) [2]
96 Ian McCarthy/Vincent Goggin (Honda Civic) [11F]
97 David Duggan/Sean O'Crowley (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
98 Brian O'Neill/John McGrath (Toyota Corolla) [13]
99 Gavin Rogers/Georgina Clark (Ford Escort Mk 2) [13]
100 John O'Sullivan/Denny O'Riordan (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
101 Noel O'Mahony/Cliff Desmond ( Toyota Starlet) [9]
102 Fran Kinsella/William Kehoe (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
103 Donal Mc Grath/Sac O Spuds (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
104 Adrian Levis/Alison Levis (Honda Civic) [2]
105 Tiernach Maguire/Jim Ahern (Ford Escort Mk 2) [10]
106 Shane Stanley/Liam Fouhy (Honda Civic) [9]
107 Shane Kennelly/Eamonn Harte (Honda Civic) [9]
108 Conor Nash/David Kearney (Ford Escort Mk 2) [11R]
109 James Cunningham/Joe Fitzgibbon (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
110 Edward Hallahan/Barry Murphy (Ford Escort MK1) [10]
111 Shay Byrne/John Delaney (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
112 Andrew Nash/Emmett Cleary (Honda Civic) [2]
113 Chris Manning/Tim Sayer (Ford Escort Mk 2) [12]
114 Hazel O'Callaghan/Gary Cusack (Peugeot 106) [6]
115 Jason O'Brien/Cathal Murphy (Peugeot 206 Gti) [6]
116 Kieran O'Regan/Ger Keohane (Suzuki Swift) [9]
117 Liam O'Sullivan/Barry Quille (Honda Civic) [11F]
118 Gwynfor Townsend/Richard Barnes (Peugeot 205GTI) [12]
119 Colm Forde/Johathan Trill (Peugeot 206 Gti) [6]
120 Steven O'Donovan/Mike Cleary (Opel Corsa) [10]
121 Cathal McCarthy/Muireann Hayes (Peugeot 106 GTI) [2]
122 Fergus Hurley/Eric Deane (Ford Escort Mk 2) [11R]
123 Alan Clarke/James Kingston (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
124 Colin Moynihan/Liam Moynihan (Honda Civic) [11F]
125 Simon Cummins/John Pettit (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
126 Martin Crowley/Martin Barry (Suzuki Swift) [9]
127 Tony Hurley/Mark Hurley (Peugeot 106 Xsi) [9]
128 Donal Dineen/Noel O'Regan (Peugeot 205GTI) [10]
129 Francis Kelly/Sinead O'Donovan (Honda Civic) [2]
130 Henry Jennings/Fergus Harrington (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
131 Gavin Kelly/Eamonn Gillespie (Honda Civic) [3]
132 Finbarr Murphy/Nicky Hegarty (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
133 Christopher O'Donovan/Dan O'Donovan (Honda Civic) [2]
134 Padraig Deasy/Edel McCarthy (Nissan Sunny) [9]
135 JJ Furlong/Mark Furlong (Talbot Sunbeam) [11R]
136 Bryan Giles/Richard Jennings (Peugeot 205GTI) [10]
137 Colm O'Mahony/Ken Carmody (Ford Ka) [5]
138 John Hourigan/William White (Peugeot 205GTI) [10]
139 Eamonn Bates/James Sinnot (Suzuki Swift) [9]
140 Jonathan Twomey/Jonathan Carroll (Suzuki Swift) [9]
Historics
H 1 Wyn Hughes/David Davies (Ford Escort Mk2) [D 5]
H 2 Alan Courtney/Ann Other (Porche 928) [D 4]
H 3 Tim Lenihan/Kieran Crowley (Ford Escort Mk 1) [C 2 ]
H 4 Peadar Walsh/Grace Walsh (Lotus Cortina) [B 3]
H 5 Michael Smith/Maul Aprati (Avenger) [C 2 ]
H 6 Ian Fisher/Alan Mulligan (IMP Sport) [B 1 ]
H 7 Steve Griggs/Marc Clatworthy (Mini Clubman) [C 1]
Juniors
J 1 Richard Moore/Richard Cleary (Honda Civic) [J2]
J 2 Conor McCarthy/Dylan Coffey (Honda Civic) [J2]
J 3 Andrew Beamish/Cathel Quill (Vauxhall Nova) [J1]
J 4 John Flaherty/Tommy Commane (Toyota Starlet) [J2]
J 5 William Nolan/Dave Daly (Honda Civic) [J1]
J 6 Patrick Lawlor/Cian Dineen (Honda Civic) [J2]
J 7 Kevin Horgan/Shane Horgan (Honda Civic) [J2]
J 8 Andrew Ryan/Tommy Hayes (Honda Civic) [J2]
J 9 Chris Brady/Jennifer Warren (Toyota Corolla) [J2]
Late Entries will be taken
Posted: March 1, 2013 11:08 AM
The official closing date for the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally 2013 has been extended until Wednesday 6th March. Seeding will be done between that night and Thursday 7th and a list will be published on Friday 8th March.
Entries will still be accepted after this date but will be allocated the next available number at the end of the published list.
Anyone who enters after the list has been published will be reseeded accordingly on the weekend of the rally.
Due to the large number of entries received, Class 11 will now be split into 11F for front wheel drive cars and 11R for rear wheel drive cars.
Posted: December 25, 2012 10:18 PM
The Clonakilty based West Cork Rally will take place for the 35th time on the 16th & 17th March 2013. Once again the Cork Motor Club who promote the event are delighted to have the Quality Hotel on board as title sponsor. Martin Godfrey is back as Clerk of the Course for a second year after a successful first year at the helm. Martin has announced some major changes to the format to allow competitors more flexibility.
The aim is to help competitors by alleviating some costs and reduce the amount of time away from work. The event will have 12 stages over the weekend, three stages done twice each day with a 1pm start on the Saturday and a 3.30pm finish on the Sunday. Scrutiny will begin and end later on the Friday while crews who have a long distance to travel can do mechanical and documentation scrutiny on the Saturday morning if they so wish. There is also very little reduction on stage mileage from the 2012 event which represents great value for money.
Other changes announced include some classics stages being revisited with the service area for the first day located at Owenahincha. The Sunday stages will again have Darrara Agricultural College grounds as their service area. The entry fee for the main field will also be reduced from previous years (details to be announced at a later stage), and there will be a Historic and Junior section as usual. The Juniors will get to do all six stages on the Sunday and the marshalling refund scheme which has been so successful in previous years will also apply again.