Change of plan means a visit to the Stages

Well what should have been a preview write up for the Race Retro Show in Stoneleigh near Coventry this is now a preview to the first round of the National Rally Championship supported by Triton Showers.

The Birr and District Motor Club host Round 1 of the rejuvenated National Rally Championship, which is this year sponsored by Triton Showers after the long running backing of the championship by Dunlop Tyres came to an end last year. The change in title sponsor and some slight changes in the championship has seen a massive interest in the Abbeyleix based event with a quality entry that the likes of hasn't been seen for a number of years. Numerous events have drawn good entries but this weekend sees not just a quality top 10 or top 20 but a great top 50.

It has been a few years since I have been to the Birr Rally and the last visit was in 2010 when Niall Maguire ran first on the road with now Championship sponsor Kevin Barrett next up, this year Niall runs with number 10 on the doors with Kevin a few cars ahead at number 7

Niall Maguire/Barry Goodman Birr Rally 2010

This years top 20 is reminiscent of the entry lists we were used to during the boom times with a high number of WRCars, good Group N's and some quick Mk2 Escorts

No 1	Driver  Declan Boyle	Navigator Brian Boyle	Class 7	Car Subaru Imperza S12B
2	Donagh Kelly	Kevin Flanagan	7	Ford Focus WRC
3	Garry Jennings	Rory Kennedy	7	Subaru Impreza S12B
4	Darren Gass	James McCarville	7	Subaru Impreza WRC S14
5	Roy White	James O'Brien	20	MG ZR S2400
6	Peadar Hurson	Damien Connolly	7	Subaru Impreza WRC
7	Kevin Barrett	Sean Mullally	7	Subaru Impreza S14
8	John Stone	Carl Williamson	7	Skoda Fabia WRC
9	Steve Wood	Keith Moriarty	7	Subaru Impreza WRC
10	Niall Maguire	Enda Sherry	7	Subaru Impreza S11
11	Alan Ring	Adrian Deasy	7	Subaru Impreza S12B
12	Kevin Kelleher	Ray Fitzpatrick	7	Subaru Impreza WRC
14	Declan Gallagher	Ryan Moore	13	Toyota GT86
15	Frank Kelly	Liam Brennan	14	Ford Escort
16	Craig Breen	Andy Hayes	13	Ford Escort
17	Mike Quinn	Donal Balfe	14	Ford Escort
18	Jonathan Pringle	Martin Byrne	14	Ford Escort
19	Chris Armstrong	James Fulton	13	Ford Escort
20	Gary Kiernan	Niall Tierney	13	Ford Escort
21	Shane Maguire	Stephen Thornton	4	Mitsubishi Evo 9

It's great to see a strong presence from the front runners in the Tarmac Championship at the front of the field plus some welcome visitors from across the water, John Stone/Carl Williamson in their Skoda Fabia WRC, Steve Wood with Keith Moriarty on the notes in an Impreza WRC  and Simon Chapman, navigated by Monaghan man Arthur Kierans, in a Millington powered Proton Satria. Special praise must go to Dom Buckley IRS for their tireless work in preparing John Stones "Team Legend" Fabia after a fire on the North West Stages in Blackpool a couple of weeks ago. Everything looked complete and ready in time until an ECU failure yesterday. After frantic searching one was located in Belgium and rather than be let down by a courier, flights were arranged and a person dispatched to collect the vital piece of the puzzle and then hope it was compatible with the car........The good news is it arrived back to Buckleys today and works so the car is on it's way to the Abbeyleix.

The Boyle cousins from Donegal will be hoping for a good start in the defence of their National Title after their unfortunate penalty on the Tarmac Championship operner in Galway a couple of weeks ago but with the presence of Donagh Kelly and Garry Jennings they might not have things their own way while Roy White, Kevin Barrett, Maguire and Alan Ring will be hoping to mix it in with the "big boys" at the front.

Craig Breen takes time out from his WRC and ERC schedules to take part in James Colemans Mk2 Escort, Andy Hayes will be on navigating duties for Craig this weekend. Meanwhile Eugene Donnelly swaps seats and will be navigating for Mark Kane in a Mk2 Escort. Another interesting addition to the entry list this weekend is the Toyota GT86 which is to be driven by Declan Gallagher. The car which has been built by Davey Greers DGMsport concern is being loaned to Gallagher for the weekend by fellow Donegal man and Toyota Dealer Brendan Kelly.

photo via David Greer @cadgerrally on Twitter

The HQ for the event will be the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel with Scrutiny held at Oliver Stanley Motors in Durrow. First car is away from parc ferme on Sunday morning at 09.00 with the first stage due to start at 10.02. The stages, based near Borris in Ossery, Roscrea and Rathdowney, will be run in a 3 x 3 format with service after stages 3 and 6 and first car due in to those services at 11.45 and 14.15. The winners are due back at the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel at 17.05(approx)

Full entry list, details of program outlets etc can be found on Birr Motor Club website
Results will be available on http://results.shannonsportsit.ie

If you are going out spectating please remember to obey the officials and marshals and stand in a safe place as motorsport can be dangerous

A Return to the Rally Stages

Well it's been two months since I was last at a rally and that was across the water when I went to the first round of the BRC (British Rally Championship) at the start of May in Carlisle. So a last minute decision was made Friday night to go to the ALMC Stages Rally which was based in Trim in Co. Meath. The main reason for going was to see some of the crews over from the UK who are competing in the REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship. The main championship contendors Steve Simpson, Damien Cole, John Stone and Graham Coffey would battle it out on the stages with non championship drivers like Hugh Hunter, Mick O'Brien and Garry Jennings.

Steve Simpson/Patrick Walsh

Changeable conditions during the day would see numerous changes in the leader board with tyre choice being a deciding factor. Another element of the stages to catch a number of competitors out during the day were the bales used for chicanes and to protect sign posts, and property along the route. First to fall foul of these was Adrian Hetherington, who had Nigel Frazer alongside him in the Escort. They clipped a bale on SS2 which resulted in instant retirement, then on SS4 Steve Simpson and Patrick Walsh retired their Impreza after heavy contact with a bale, the damage resulting in a canceled stage. Garry Jennings and Barry McNulty would be the next front running crew to retire when a technical issue saw them park the Impreza S12 on SS6 

Garry Jennings/Barry McNulty 

With Jennings out Hugh Hunter and Andy Marchbank had a clear lead in their Impreza but there was a great battle brewing between John Stone/Carl Williamson (Skoda Fabia WRC) and Focus WRC crews Damien Cole/Elliott Edmonson and Mick O'Brien/James O'Brien for 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. Stone and Williamson held a slight advantage after SS8 but they had tyres which suited the wetter conditions of SS7 & SS8 and the drying surfaces on the last stage saw both the Focus WRC's overhaul the Fabia, with both Cole and O'Brien tying for time at the end but Coles faster run on SS1 netted him the runner up spot.

John Stone/Carl Williamson

A welcome addition to the entry was the Fiesta S2400 of Pete Taylor and Andrew Roughead and the Millington engined Proton Satria of David and Allie Tinn. Unfortunately the Fiesta didn't make t to the finish but both it and the Proton looked and sounded great on the stages. Also present was a crowd favorite, the MG Metro 6R4 of Simon Chapman and Michael Calvert, there's just something about the sound of the V6 engine coming in th distance, an unmistakable note that raises the excitement level among old and young alike.

Simon Chapman/Michael Calvert

Top two wheel drive finisher was the hard charging Frank Kelly, who had Jackie Elliott in to try and keep control in Baby Blue. They finished a very credible 6th overall 24 seconds behind the impressive Alex Laffey and Jack Morton in the Fiesta R5+

Further down the order the junior event was won by the 106 Rallye of Brian Brady and Leonard Tuite

A few other shots from the day

With the changeable conditions it was hard to get some clear shots, either got massive glare or alot of darkness when the clouds came in but it was good to get back out on the stages, might be a while before I see tar or gravel roads again.

Rally Results: HERE

Photos on Peespeed Photography

Next event for Peespeed Photography is the QUB Summer Lanes on Saturday 19th July

Peter