Posted: July 17, 2017 7:27 AM - 13088 Hits
Round 6 - 2017 National Rally Championship
Round 4 - 2017 Border Rally Championship
Round 4 - 2017 West Coast Rally Championship
Posted: July 17, 2017 6:57 AM
With his sixth victory in as many events, the latest on the FAAC Simply automatic/Sligo Park Hotel Rally, Monaghan’s Sam Moffett (Ford Fiesta WRC) clinched the Triton Showers National Rally Championship in style.
Co-driven by Cork’s Karl Atkinson, twenty-seven year old Moffett finished a minute and 35.6 seconds clear of the Skoda Fabia R5 of Derry’s Desi Henry and his Cork co-driver Liam Moynihan. Former triple champion Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) and his co-driver Enda Sherry were a minute and 22.2 seconds further behind in third.
On the opening stage near Ballintogher Sam Moffett (Fiesta WRC) punched in the best time and led the similar car of Declan Boyle by 3.7 seconds with late entry Josh Moffett in his Fiesta R5 some 8.1 seconds further behind. Reigning Triton champion Roy White (Fiesta WRC) was fourth.
Boyle made adjustments to the set-up of his Fiesta and reaped the rewards by claiming the best times for the other two stages of the opening loop. At the Colooney service park he led Sam Moffett by 9.4 seconds, the latter remarked that his car was unstable on the stages. Meanwhile, his brother Josh retained third – albeit 17.4 seconds further behind.
Roy White was untroubled in fourth followed by Derry’s Desi Henry (Skoda Fabia R5) and fellow Ulsterman Jonny Greer (Citroen DS3 R5).
Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) occupied seventh in a top ten that also featured Martin Cairns (Fiesta WRC), Kenny McKinstry (Subaru) and Brendan Cumiskey (Skoda Fabia R5).
In the Motorsport Safety Group N category, Shane Maguire (Mitsubishi) held a 5.4 second advantage over title rival David Guest, who made tyre choice that was far too brave and paid the consequences with an overshoot.
The second loop of three stages brought a significant change to the top ten.
Boyle was lucky not to have lost more time at a right hand junction when he slid wide and clouted a bank, yet, he only dropped a few seconds and still led Moffett by seven seconds.
Greer retired when he slid his Citroen DS3 R5 off the road.
Quickest on S.S. 5 Boyle extended his advantage to 9.2 seconds but his rally ended on the next stage when he punctured, although he finished the stage, he withdrew at the stage finish as he had lost over three minutes.
Meanwhile, Josh Moffett (Fiesta R5) lost third place when his Fiesta R5 punctured and he had to stop and change the front left wheel.
At the final service Sam Moffett held a significant advantage, he was a minute and 12.3 seconds clear of new second placed driver Desi Henry. The rally leader was concerned about a vibration that was still present despite changing rims and tyres. However, he did admit that a change of tyres brought a marked difference in the handling of the car.
Second placed Henry reckoned his Skoda was down on power and attributed the loss to a leak from the turbo boost. Niall Maguire in third recalled an overshoot that cost him around twenty seconds. White in fourth had an eventful loop, he also had a moment at the same location where Boyle clouted a bank on the fourth stage. He lost more time on the next stage when he overshot a junction and then as he tried to exit that situation he beached his Fiesta WRC, the whole sequence cost the outgoing Triton champion around two minutes. McKinstry in fifth had issues with the brakes while Boyle was still classified as sixth.
Elsewhere, Martin Cairns on his first tarmac event in his new Fiesta WRC was untroubled in seventh and was followed by Brendan Cumiskey (Skoda Fabia R5) and the Mitsubishi of Group N leader Shane Maguire. Motorsport Safety Team Group N championship rival David Guest (Mitsubishi) was just over a minute behind as he struggled with tyres. Fellow Group N drivers Niall Devine, Trevor Bustard and Paul Barrett were sandwiched between the main title rivals. Monaghan’s Mickey Conlon (Escort) led the modified category even though he had problems with the front brake discs.
On the final loop of stages Sam Moffett went on to seal his sixth win of the season, he also won the Power Stage. En-route to his first ever national title, he has claimed all but one of the 126 points that were available.
Henry despite a moment on the seventh stage when he clouted the front of his Skoda Fabia R5, took second with Maguire third. Josh Moffett (Fiesta R5) continued his recovery to claim fourth.
Monaghan’s Mickey Conlon (Escort) won the modified category and also netted the Triton Showers Drive of the Day award.
Meanwhile, the Junior event was won by Monaghan’s Jonny Treanor (Honda Civic), who finished over a minute ahead of the Toyota Starlet of Armagh’s Jason Black with series leader Meath’s Brian Brady (Honda Civic) third.
Posted: July 17, 2017 6:53 AM
1 Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Ford Fiesta WRC) 67m 56s,
2 Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Skoda Fabia R5) 69m 31s,
3 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC S12B) 70m 54s,
4 Josh Moffett/James Fulton (Ford Fiesta R5) 71m 22s,
5 Roy White/James O'Brien (Ford Fiesta WRC) 71m 39s,
6 Brendan Cumiskey/Ronan O'Kane (Skoda Fabia R5) 72m 22s,
7 Kenny McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Subaru Impreza WRC S14) 72m 52s,
8 Martin Cairns/Andrew Purcell (Ford Fiesta WRC) 73m 08s,
9 Shane Maguire/Darragh Kelly (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 73m 29s,
10 Niall Devine/Crawford Henderson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 74m 18s.
Motorsport Safety Team Group N award: Shane Maguire/Darragh Kelly.
rally.ie Two wheel drive award: Mickey Conlon/Ciaran McPhillips (Escort) 74m
33s.
Juniors:
1 Jonny Treanor/Damien Fleming (Civic) 48m 55s,
2 Jason Black/Jack McKenna (Starlet) 49m 58s,
3 Brian Brady/Leonard Tuite (Civic) 50m 18s.
Leaders After:
SS1 Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS2-5 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS6-9 Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Stage Winners
SS1 Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS2 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS3 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS4 Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS5 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS6 Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Ford Fiesta WRC)
SS7 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC S12B)
SS8 Josh Moffett/James Fulton (Ford Fiesta R5)
SS9 Josh Moffett/James Fulton (Ford Fiesta R5)
Posted: July 7, 2017 3:42 AM
With five straight wins in the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, Monaghan’s Sam Moffett (Ford Fiesta WRC) can clinch the title on Sunday’s sixth round, the FAAC Simply automatic/Sligo Park Hotel Rally that has attracted an entry of some 112 crews.
Moffett has won the events in Nenagh, Longford, Monaghan, Rathkeale and Waterford and has racked up all but one of the 105 available points. The series awards twenty points for a win plus an additional point for setting the fastest time on the Power Stage – the final stage of each event.
On Sunday’s nine-stage encounter, round six of the eight round campaign, he needs just nine points to claim the prestigious Vard Memorial Trophy and his first major rally championship title.
A former Billy Coleman award winner, Moffett has been virtually untouchable all season long, his only glitch came in the last round, the Raven’s Rock Rally in Waterford when he lost the lead for a few stages due to a broken driveshaft. However, that was replaced at the subsequent service and within two stages he was back in the lead and went on to claim another strong victory.
His closest rival is reigning Triton champion Clonmel’s Roy White, also in a Ford Fiesta WRC. Realistically, White is now the only driver that can deny him the title and even if he (White) were to claim the maximum scores on all three remaining rounds including Sligo, that nine-point haul will still be sufficient for Moffett.
Sunday’s entry also includes two former national champions – both of whom have won in Sligo – Donegal’s Declan Boyle and Monaghan’s Niall Maguire.
Boyle (Fiesta WRC) won two years ago when fellow Donegal driver Donagh Kelly clinched the Triton title in Sligo, Boyle’s quest to win this year’s series has been blighted with non-finishes in Longford and Rathkeale, previously he won the Sligo Rally in 2013 in a Subaru WRC en-route to the first of his two national titles.
Meanwhile, triple national champion Maguire (Subaru WRC) last won the Sligo Rally all of thirteen years ago, the national regular is currently equal third in the series.
Derry driver Desi Henry makes a rare appearance in the Triton series and should be a force in his Skoda Fabia R5. Another Skoda campaigner is Dundalk’s Brendan Cumiskey, he was fourth in the last round in Waterford and a similar result – given the quality of the entry - would be deemed impressive. Fellow Ulster driver Jonny Greer will compete in a Citroen DS3 R5.
One of the best-known drivers in the country, Kenny McKinstry from Banbridge will compete in a Subaru WRC and will occupy the number eight berth in Sligo.
A formidable top ten also includes Tyrone’s Martin Cairns in a Fiesta WRC and top two-wheel drive contender Cavan’s Gary Kiernan (Ford Escort).
The modified entry also features Roscommon’s Cormac Phelan (Honda Civic) and the Escorts of Davy Armstrong, Tom Flaherty, Connor Watters, Tim Enright and Mickey Conlon and Sean Liston (BMW E30).
Meanwhile, the Motorsport Safety Team Group N title is set to go down to the wire and the Sligo event could be a key event in deciding the destiny of the title. Principally, it involves former Sligo Rally winner, Monaghan’s Shane Maguire and Cork’s David Guest, both in Mitsubishi EvoIX’s.
Maguire has shown great consistency and an increased turn of speed on the last two rounds to move ahead of his Cork rival. Guest, the current Irish Tarmac Group N champion is well aware that he needs to finish ahead of Maguire on Sunday to keep his title hopes alive, like the overall Triton series, the Group N award is based on the best six results from eight events. Maynooth’s Paul Barrett (Subaru) and Dubliner Neil Tohill (Mitsubishi) could play a part in the destiny of the title especially if they were to split the leading duo. Others in the category are the Mitsubishi duo of reigning champion Tyrone’s Aidan Wray and Gary Cairns (Mitsubishi)
Tyrone’s Barry Morris (Escort) can extend his lead in the Mk. 2 Champions Trophy and also improve his position in the rally.ie series given the absence of current leader Adrian Hetherington (Escort).
Local drivers in action include UK based Coolaney native Anthony O’Brien (Mitsubishi), Enda Haran (Escort), Jason Currid (Escort) and the vastly experienced Dominic McLoughlin (Peugeot 205).
Posted: July 4, 2017 4:26 AM
1 Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Ford Fiesta WRC) [7]
2 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Ford Fiesta WRC) [7]
3 Roy White/James O'Brien (Ford Fiesta WRC) [7]
4 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC S12B) [7]
5 Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Skoda Fabia R5) [5]
6 Brendan Cumiskey/Declan Campbell (Skoda Fabia R5) [5]
7 Johnathan Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Citroen DS3 R5) [5]
8 Kenny McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Subaru Impreza WRC S14) [7]
9 Martin Cairns/TBA (Ford Fiesta WRC) [7]
10 Gary Kiernan/James Fulton (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
11 Aidan Wray/Kieran McGrath (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [4]
12 Shane Maguire/Darragh Kelly (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
14 David Guest/Paddy Robinson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
15 Anthony Cairns/Mark Preston (Subaru Impreza) [20]
16 Trevor Bustard/John McCafferty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
17 Neil Tohill/Gerard Tohill (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
18 Paul Barrett/Declan Tumilty (Subaru Impreza N14) [4]
19 Cathan McCourt/Brian Hoy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
20 Richard Whelan/James Whelan (BMW M1) [14]
21 John Cairns/James Cairns (Subaru Impreza) [20]
22 Declan McCrory/Graham Henderson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [20]
23 Gary Cairns/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
24 Lee Hastings/Alistair Wyllie (Subaru Impreza) [20]
25 Cormac Phelan/Katja Auhl (Honda Civic) [13F]
26 Niall Henry/Damien Duffin (TBA ) []
27 David Armstrong/Paul Mulholland (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
28 Tom Flaherty/Martin Flynn (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
29 Conor Watters/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
30 Anthony O'Brien/Aidan Gannon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [20]
31 Tim Enright/Darina Joyce (Ford Escort Mk2) [13R]
32 Mickey Conlon/Garvin McPhillips (Ford Escort Mk2) [13R]
33 Sean Liston/Katrina Walsh Liston (BMW E30) [13R]
35 Alan O'Callaghan/Cathal McGrath (Subaru Impreza N12B) [20]
36 JF Shovlin/Emmet Brosnan (Subaru Impreza WRC) [15]
37 Gary Cooney/Darragh Mullen (Subaru Impreza WRC S9) [7]
38 Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
39 Mark Wedlock/Lois Branyan (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
40 Enda Haran/Sean Hassett (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
41 Jason Currid/Sharon Clarke (Ford Escort) [14]
42 Jonny Traynor/Stephen McElroy (Honda Civic) [16]
43 Michael Boyle/Dermott McCafferty (Honda Civic) [16]
44 Jason Black/Jack McKenna (Toyota Starlet) [16]
45 Brian Brady/Leonard Tuite (Honda Civic) [16]
46 Tom Holton/Ryan Diver (Honda Civic) [16]
47 Niall Devine/Crawford Henderson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
48 Mervyn Deane/Trevor Burke (Ford Escort Mk2) [13R]
49 Colin Flanagan/Barry McLoughlin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [15]
50 Colin O'Rourke/Pat McSharry (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
51 Colin Currid/Paul Gallagher (Ford Escort) [12]
52 Eamonn McGuigan/Michael Moran (Ford Escort) [12]
53 Sam Johnson/Brian Halligan (Honda Civic) [11F]
54 Alan Lawson/Sean Harte (Honda Civic) [11F]
55 Barry Morris/Declan Campbell (Ford Escort Mk2) [13R]
56 Tommy O'Connell/Emmet Sherry (Ford Escort Mk2) [13R]
57 Dominic McLoughlin/Brian McLoughlin (Peugeot 205) [13R]
58 Jason Roche/Kaine Treanor (Ford Escort Mk2) [13R]
59 Vincent Collins/Fintan Kilroe (Ford Escort) [12]
60 Damien O'Reilly/Daire Maguire (Ford Escort) [9]
61 Darrel Quinn/Michael Laverty (Ford Escort) [12]
62 Patrick Herity/Seamus Dolan (Ford Escort) [13R]
63 Gary Cassidy/Paul Kelly (Honda Civic) [13F]
64 Kieran Carroll/Tony Curran (Honda Civic) [11F]
65 Philip Harte/Adrian Foley (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
66 James Browne/Loretta Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
67 Keith Lyons/Elaine NiShe (Ford Fiesta R2T) [2]
68 Stephen Peoples/Kieran Burke (Ford Escort) [11R]
69 Gerard Gibbons/TBA (Ford Escort) [11R]
70 Seanie O'Gorman/Ger Clancy (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
71 Declan Hall/Chris Corr (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
72 William Armstrong/Philip Armstrong (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
73 Art McCarrick/Leigh Cavanagh (Honda Civic) [1]
74 Aidan Doyle/Kerrill Dempsey (Honda Civic) [1]
75 Brian Quigley/Seamus McTigue (Honda Civic) [11F]
76 Ciaran Phelan/Aine Phelan (Honda Civic) [11F]
77 Gary Quinn/Alan Quinn (Opel Manta 400) [13R]
78 Martin Ewing/James Ewing (Peugeot 205) [10]
79 Shane Carr/Ciaran Carr (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
80 Mickey Brennan/Ryan Brennan (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
81 Quentin Park/George Tinnsley (Ford Escort) [12]
82 David Quinn/James McDermott (BMW E30) [14]
83 James McGreal/Chris Mitchell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [15]
84 John Brazier/Alex Brazier (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [20]
85 Patrick Corcoran/Johnny Rooney (Ford Escort G3) [11R]
86 Jason Tuthill/Ben Teggart (Ford Escort) [11R]
87 Stephen Brady/John Conway (Ford Escort) [11R]
88 Tony O'Brien/Kevin O'Brien (Honda Civic) [11F]
89 Roger Kennedy/Wendy Blackledge (Peugeot 306) [3]
90 Nick Barnett/Martin Brady (Honda Civic) [3]
91 Sean Maloney/Shane Barry (Toyota Corolla) [16]
92 Noel Murphy/Stephen Monaghan (Honda Civic) [16]
93 Des Lyons/Ashling Miardle (Honda Civic) [11F]
94 Davy Hunt/Gillian Gilmartin (Peugeot 106) [11F]
95 Ronan Quinn/Ian McCord (Ford Escort) [11R]
96 Andrew Casey/Ronan McAnenny (Honda Civic) [1]
97 Chris Brennan/Martin Hughes (Honda Civic) [11F]
98 Paul O'Brien/Shaun Forde (Honda Civic) [11F]
99 Marty McGuigan/Sam Clarke (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
100 Ronan Denning/Karl Egan (Peugeot 106) [2]
101 Stephen Reynolds/Derek McCarthy (Honda Civic) [1]
102 Malcolm Pedlow/John Henderson (BMW 2002) [18]
103 Martin Geraghty/Conal Doherty (Honda Civic) [1]
104 Philip Hamilton/Joe Comerford (Citroen C2) [11F]
105 Barry Gibblon/Keith Neary (Honda Civic) [11F]
106 Keith Jacob/Michael Carr (Honda Civic) [16]
107 Shane McFadden/Emer McFadden (Honda Civic) [16]
108 James Connor/Colm Connor (Toyota Corolla) [16]
109 Mickey Joe Browne/Sean Browne (Honda Civic) [16]
110 Mark Murphy/Paul Stuart (Ford Escort) [12]
111 Jordan Charters/Gavin Kelly (Honda Civic) [1]
112 Jeff Gunning/Adrian Callery (Toyota Corolla) [16]
113 Deirdre Benson/Ferlin Taylor (Honda Civic) [1]
Posted: July 3, 2017 6:31 AM
Connacht Motor Club are pleased to announce that Ciaran Phelan , General Manager of National Automation have kindly again sponsored the insurance element of the cost of the Junior category entry of one lucky winner .
The draw will take place at the compulsory Safety briefing on the morning of the event.
Entries are still being accepted for Juniors , Main field and Historics.
Posted: June 27, 2017 3:15 AM
This Wednesday evening at 9pm , all fully paid up entries received at close of business on that evening , including those already in the pot from Fridays draw ,will be entered in a further draw for a 500 euro voucher. Mark Wedlock was drawn out in last Fridays draw , which was held at the front door of Sligo Park Hotel in the presence of staff of the hotel and members of the rally committee and streamed live on the Connacht Motor Club facebook page . Competitors who already have plans to compete in Sligo are encouraged to submit entry now , not alone to be in the draw but also to allow the club to plan for specific numbers .
Posted: June 16, 2017 4:03 AM
Posted: June 1, 2017 6:37 AM
As preparation are well underway for the 2017 stages , the next step is publication of regulations which are currently on line for download. Robert Lyttle COC is confident that his selection of three by three stage loop will have something for everyone. His concerted effort to achieve a good stages to road section ratio has been achieved, leading to a tight loop. Particular consideration has also been focused on safe and non blocking stages conscious of every competitor throughout the complete field getting a full run over every stage.
The rally committee are appealing to the loyalty of competitors to submit entries as early as possible should they be considering competing on Sligo Stages to help with event planning. It is not the intention of the club to cold call databases of drivers as we feel this to unproductive and puts undue pressure on individuals. No cheque received will be lodged before June 30th .
Being a round of three championships , the Triton National, the Sligo Pallets Border and the Top Part West Coast , should have a wide appeal to the competitor network across the island as a whole.
Reflecting on the tenth anniversary of Irelands first World Championship round ,Robert has decided to include some classic sections of that year when rallying reached its peak in this country. It is hoped that in a year experiencing a degree of strain on entries that the mid summer stages will bring back treasured memories of 2007
Regulations are available for download on the club website and open for receipt of entries.
Posted: March 8, 2017 10:40 AM
Topping the confirmation of Robert Lyttle as Clerk of the Course for this years Sligo Stages Rally, is the great news that FAAC Simply Automatic have come on board as joint title sponsor alongside Sligo Park Hotel.
The securing of this leading global brand as headline sponsor is a momentous development in the raising the events profile nationally . FAAC who recently celebrated fifty years in business ,manufacture automation products for doors , gates ,barriers and shutters. The company with its technological heart in Bologna concentrates the groups electronic manufacturing in West Dublin ,with a Wholesale and Distribution facility in Boyle Co Roscommon.
Robert Lyttle as Clerk of the Course has also reached a milestone as being at the helm for a record number of times , surpassing maximums held previously for Sligo Stages Rally. His meticulous planning casts a unique professionalism across the event as a whole as he continually strives to raise the bar.
This years Sligo Stages Rally is a counting round of the Triton National Championship , the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship and the Top Part West Coast Championship.