Posted: November 11, 2014 11:33 AM - 13217 Hits
Round 6 - 2014 Southern 4 Rally Championship
Posted: November 11, 2014 11:29 AM
For the Carbery Plastics Rally team of Cal McCarthy and co-driver Eamonn Dullea, and Conor McCarthy and Alan Whyte, the Skibbereen Fastnet Rally marked a fabulous finish to a fine season for both young rally crews in their Honda Civics. For Cal it was a stunning sixth overall and first in class 11F, setting a handful of fastest two-wheel drive times along the way. For Conor it was his first Junior victory on tarmac, making up a little for that almost certain Killarney Junior win back in May, lost with a final stage break-down.
Things didn’t start so easily for Cal and Eamonn on the Fastnet, with a big spin on the first stage.
“It was a scary one!” exclaimed Cal. “We survived a fourth gear spin and she went round and round in the road but we didn’t hit anything. I had chosen slicks for the early tests and it was very much the wrong choice. The whole incident dropped us thirty seconds. Once we got wets onto the car, then we really started to claw back, and we had no problems.” It was a difficult day with extremely wet conditions and a lot of cars off the road on patches of very shiny slippery tarmac. “It was tricky and the car would lock up so easily in some places. There was running water too, so it was easy to get caught out.” But it proved no problem as the Carbery Plastics Honda powered back up to sixth place taking some fastest two wheel drives. To top it they were the second two wheel drive car home, and the boys took the top Skibbereen Car Club crew award. “It’s a great finish to the season for us. It started off well this year, then we had the mechanical problems mid-season, but we have come through that now and the Civic has proven how good a car it is, so we are very happy.”
For 21 year old Conor McCarthy the Irish Junior Forestry title has been wrapped up, and with it an automatic entry into the Billy Coleman Award finals. He has shown great speed and maturity all season in his EK4 Honda, and has to be in with a good shout of winning this prestigious award.
In all it’s been a fine finish to the season for the West Cork team, and for 2015 there are exciting ideas for further progression.
Posted: November 11, 2014 11:10 AM
1 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC) 75m 41s,
2 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC) 77m 05s,
3 Josh Moffett/John Rowan (Ford Fiesta WRC) 77m 53s,
4 Rob Duggan/Noel O'Sullivan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 77m 55s,
5 Ed Murphy/John McCarthy (Ford Escort MkII) 80m 44s,
6 Cal McCarthy/Eamonn Dullea (Honda Civic) 81m 09s,
7 Leonard Downey/Mark Murphy (Ford Escort) 83m 25s,
8 Jonathan O'Callaghan/Gavin Sheehan (Peugeot 106) 84m 28s,
9 Jer O'Flynn/Shane McCarthy (Ford Escort) 84m 38s,
10 Stephen Carey/Ella Ryan (Honda Civic) 84m 40s.
Production class: 1 Rob Duggan/Noel O'Sullivan.
Juniors:
1 Conor McCarthy/Alan Whyte (Civic) 55m 05s,
2 Kenneth Quirke/Sean Hegarty (Talbot Sunbeam) 56m 01s,
3 Patrick Lawlor/Brian Slattery (Civic) 58m 12s.
Leaders After:
SS1-8 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Fiesta WRC)
Stage Winners
SS1 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS2 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS3 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS4 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS5 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS6 Kevin Kelleher/Ger Conway (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS7 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS8 Rob Duggan/Noel O'Sullivan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
Posted: October 21, 2014 8:51 AM
No Driver/Navigator (Car) [Class]
1 Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
2 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC) [8]
3 Kevin Kelleher/Ger Conway (Subaru Impreza WRC S9) [8]
4 Josh Moffett/John Rowan (Fort Fiesta WRC ) [8]
5 Frank Kelly/Charlie McEnery (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
6 Rob Duggan/Noel O'Sullivan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
7 ED Murphy/John McCarthy (Ford Escort) [13]
8 Vincent O'Shea/Brian Hickey (Ford Escort) [14]
9 Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Ford Escort) [14]
10 Leonard Downey/Mark Murphy (Ford Escort) [13]
11 Cal McCarthy/Eamonn Dullea (Honda Civic) [11F]
12 Jason McSweeney/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
14 Stephen Carey/Ella Ryan (Ford Fiesta) [6]
15 Brian O'Keeffe/Sean Hayde (Subaru Impreza N15) [4]
16 Eddie Power/Mark Bowens (Toyota Corolla WRC) [15]
17 Daniel Cronin/Shane Buckley (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
18 Vincent McSweeney/Michael Kearney (Honda Civic) [11F]
19 Andrew Mahon/Eamon Hayes (Ford Escort) [11R]
20 Paul Fitzgerald/Pierce Jnr. Doheny (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
21 Philip Cross/JJ Cremin (Subaru Impreza N9) [4]
22 Paraic Cummins/Graham Kelly (Ford Fiesta) [14]
23 Fintan Canty/Denis O'Mahony (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
24 Allen Treacy/Bob Fitzgerald (Toyota Corolla GT) [13]
25 Jonathan O'Callaghan/Gavin Sheehan (Peugeot 106 GTi) [11F]
26 Peter Desmond/Sorcha Kelly (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
27 David Fleming/Kieran Doherty (Honda Civic) [11F]
28 Darren Young/Sean Walsh (Honda Civic) [11F]
29 Luke McCarthy/TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
30 Paul Browne/Daniel Hanratty (Honda Civic Vtec) [11F]
31 Martin Lordan/Derek Tobin (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
32 Gerard O'Connell/Tony Hennessy (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
33 Jer O'Flynn/Shane McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
34 Jason Roycroft/Nicole O'Shea (Honda Civic EK4) [2]
35 Patrick Calnan/Trevor McCarthy (Honda Civic) [6]
36 Etienne O'sullivan/Eoghan Coughlan (Peugeot 106 GTi) [6]
37 Conor McCarthy/ TBA (Honda EK 4) [16]
38 David Cremin/Johnny O'Shea (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5) [15]
39 Victor Beamish/Susan Beamish (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
40 Ciaran Casey/Iarla McCarthy (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
41 Paul Casey/Kieran Crowley (Ford Escort) [13]
42 Sean O'Carroll/Damien McCarthy (Ford Escort) [13]
43 Jonathan O'Mahony/Jason O'Mahony (Ford Escort) [12]
44 Fergus Hurley/Eric Deane (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
45 Luke Maccarthy/David Hogan (Porsche 911) [12]
46 Jim Cronin/Colm Cronin (Ford Escort) [12]
47 Denis Hickey/Eoin O'Leary (Ford Escort) [12]
48
49 Kenneth Quirke/TBA (Talbot Sunbeam) [16]
50 Andrew Beamish/Lisa O'Dowd (Vauxhall Nova) [16]
51 Cathal McCarthy/Alison Levis (Honda Civic) [11F]
52 ED Twomey/TBA (Ford Fiesta) [6]
53 Adrian Levis/Claire Levis (Peugeot 205 GTi) [10]
54 John Forde/Eamonn Bates (Peugeot 205 Gti) [10]
55 Jerry O'Mahony/Willie Buchanan (Ford Escort) [10]
56 Brian O'Mahony/Michelle Gallwey (Honda Civic EK4) [2]
57 Tiernach Maguire/Nicky Hegarty (Ford Escort) [10]
58 Jason O'Brien/ TBA (Peugeot 206 Cup Car) [6]
59 Shane Stanley/Liam Fouhy (Honda Civic) [9]
60 Eamonn McCarthy/Breda O'Driscoll (Honda EG6) [16]
61 Eric Calnan/Cillian Crowley (Peugeot 106 GTi) [16]
62 Kieran O'Donoghue/Donagh Crowly (Honda Civic 1.6VTI) [16]
63 Seamus O'Donovan/Barry McCarthy (Suzuki Swift) [9]
64 Shay Byrne/John Delaney (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
65 Patrick Condon/ TBA (Peugeot 205 GTi) [10]
66 Conor Nash/David Kearney (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
67 Noel McCarthy/Eamonn Creadon (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
68 Paudie Deasy/Edel McCarthy (Honda Civic EK4) [2]
69 Gavin O'Grady/Alan Moroney (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
70 Chris Manning/Tim Sayer (Ford Escort) [12]
71 Stephen O'Shea/Kenneth O'Shea (Toyota Starlet) [11F]
72 Diarmaid O'Crowley/Eimear Hurley (Vauxhall Nova) [16]
73 Mark Hurley/David Duggan (Honda Civic) [16]
74 Chris Brady/Jenny Warren (Honda Civic Vtec) [16]
75 David Beamish/Muireann Hayes (Opel Corsa) [16]
76 Jamie O'Flaherty/TBA (Honda Civic ) [16]
77 George Swanton/Kevin Barry (Escort Mk1) [17]
78 Maurice Whelton/Ivan Bennett (Mini Cooper) [17]
79 Harry Nunan/Anthony Roche (Austin Mini Cooper S) [17]
80 Pat O'Connell/TBA (Toyota Starlet) [9]
81 Kieran O'Regan/Brian Keohane (Suzuki Swift) [9]
82 Ashling Power/Richard Harney (Honda Civic) [9]
83 Gavin Walsh/Billy Shealy (Honda Civic Type R) [11F]
84 Robert Beamish/Orla Beamish (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
85 Martin Crowley/Martin Barry (Suzuki Swift) [16]
86 Alan O'Riordan/James Jordan (Subura Impreza) [15]
87 Aaron O'Regan/Sean O'Regan (Honda Civic) [16]
88 Eoin Crowley /David Kelleher (Escort MK2) [10]
89 Shay Delaney/Lisa Delaney (Suzuki Swift) [9]
Posted: October 7, 2014 2:11 PM
With only 18 days to go, to the 2014 Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally, plans are at a advanced stage.
”We are offering competitors a friendly, very compact event featuring 3 very challenging stages around Bantry on good quality tarmac. Centralised servicing is in Bantry town centre which makes the rally very spectator and competitor friendly. The format is two stages done three times and one stage done twice. The total stage kilometres are 138km and 94km road.
Parc Ferme is in the grounds of the Westlodge Hotel is only a two minute walk to documentation.
This rally is a vital boost to the local economy every year on the October Bank Holiday Weekend. Without the support of the business, the people of Bantry and surrounding area, this would not be possible.
Ceremonial start will be in Bantry Town Centre on Saturday evening (25th October).
On Sunday, 26th October, the first car is due on the first stage at 9.15am and the first car on last stage is 16.05pm.
Entries are flowing in nicely if you would like to enter see details below:
Posted: September 24, 2014 7:59 PM
"Bantry Development & Tourism Association is delighted to welcome the 2014 Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally to Bantry. The rally which takes place on 26th October 2014 marks the fourth year of an ongoing collaboration between BDTA and The Skibbereen & District Car Club that promises the spectacle and thrills of car rallying coupled with unparalleled and affordable hospitality in a great location.
Bantry is a seaside town in the heart of West Cork with stunning scenery and miles of coastline roads. This makes it the ideal headquarters from which to stage the rally and a great place for visiting spectators to enjoy and explore. The town has an abundance of restaurants, bars, cafe’s, and local businesses making it a vibrant place with a great atmosphere. There’s a huge selection of places to stay in the area which include top quality hotels, B&B’s and self catering facilities as well as beautiful campsites beside Bantry Bay. There are many free walks and tours to avail of and there is no shortage of craic and music in local pubs, hotels and music venues.
We look forward to welcoming you to Bantry for the Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally. Bantry is also host to many festivals including FADO Festival Bantry Walking Festival,Bantry Wild Atlantic Festival, Way Down South & BBQ Festival, West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Masters of Tradition festival, Bantry Pirate Festival, Chief O’Neill Traditional Music Festival, West Cork Literary festival, Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally, Bay Run Half Marathon & Bantry Agricultural Show.
For more information on accommodation, restaurants, bars and things to do, please visit our website on www.visitbantry.ie. You can also call us in Bantry Tourist Office on (+353)27-50229 with any queries you may have. "
Posted: September 20, 2014 11:18 PM
Posted: September 20, 2014 11:11 PM
Dear Rally Contestant,
It gives me great pleasure to invite you to participate in our Annual “Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally” which we are so proud and honoured to sponsor this event for the fourth year in succession.
My name is Pat Gill, I was appointed General Manager of the Westlodge Hotel in December 2013. I have many years experience in running event Hotels such as this and I have 20 years experience in dealing with the famous “Rally of the Lakes”.
I am a strong supporter of rallying and I have given my support on numerous occasions over the years, in my role as Chairman of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation. I am well aware of the value rallying can and does bring to an area and indeed to a hotel involved with it.
I have had an in-depth discussion with Skibbereen & District Car Club, we have discussed at length improvements that will be made and I will make every effort possible to deliver these in this year’s upcoming event.
We have ongoing improvements to our hotel bedrooms, we have employed a superb new local head chef and I can ensure that all bars will be opened and functional with appropriate late licences during the Rally Weekend. It is vital for us here as well as Skibbereen & District Car Club that this year’s event passes off without a hitch.
Improvements proposed for this year:
Posted: August 21, 2014 11:52 AM
Skibbereen & District Car Club Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally 2014 will take place on Sunday 26th October 2014. The popular Bantry based event always attracts a large entry. A top line of local and international competitors will compete this year. Entry fees will be great value for all.
It is a counting round of the Plasticbags.ie Southern 4 Rally Championship and the Carbery Plastics Skibbereen & District Car Club Championship 2014.
The Westlodge Hotel is again the Rally Headquarters and Ger Hayes is Clerk of the Course. Servicing is centralised in Bantry Square and road mileage as always is extremely low.
Patrick Gill, General Manager, Westlodge Hotel, stated that
“he is delighted that the Hotel is Title Sponsor for the 2014 Rally for the fourth year in a row, he looks forward to welcoming all competitors and spectators from far and wide to what promises to be a fantastic weekend”.
Clerk of the Course – Ger Hayes commented:
“We are very pleased to be associated with the Westlodge Hotel for our penultimate event of the year, we value the trust and backing that we receive from all of our sponsors. The support of Bantry Development & Tourism Association which has been of tremendous help and support to the Club will play a key role in developing a successful rally.”
“As ever, we are looking forward to a safe weekend for our competitors and also for all the visitors to Bantry. This year we are asking rally supporters attending the Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally 2014 to join with Skibbereen & District Car Club, in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority and Motorsport Ireland, to “KEEP THE RACE IN ITS PLACE”.
The organising committee are very pleased with the route chosen this year, competitors and spectators are in for a spectacular day of rallying.
Regulations for the event should be available shortly.