"The 2005 McCauley Trailers National Forest Rally Championship"
Round 8: Killarney Forest Rally.
Sunday 4th September.
Organised & Promoted by Killarney & District Motor Club Ltd.
Event Preview
The final round of the 2005 McCauley Trailers National Forest Rally Championship hosted by Killarney & District Motor Club is based in Castleisland, Sunday 4th September. Rally HQ is the River Island Hotel, Castleisland and Wastewater Solutions have come on-board as sponsors. Scrutiny, Parc Ferme, Drivers Briefing, Start/ Finish and Service all take place at Castleisland Mart. The rally consists of 6 stages (3 done twice). COC; Brendan Counihan has revised last year's route with a new version of the opening stage in the Mullaghareirk forests. Stage 2; "Forehane" is identical to previous years and stage 3 "Mount Eagle" has also been varied.
Newly crowned Forest Champions Gareth MacHale and Killarney's Paul Nagle are hot favourites with their proven Corolla WRC. MacHale wrapped up the championship on the penultimate round in Birr and comes to the kingdom not having to think about points and can simply enjoy the fast flowing stages. Last year's winners Kevin O'Kane/ Martin Hanna are back with their Harper run Impreza. Dominic McNeill/ Francis Kenny return to the woods with the ex-Boland Lancer WRC. James Murphy/ Anthony Nestor (Escort WRC) may spring a surprise. Philip Johnson of Wastewater Solutions plans to compete in the event driving a "Promax Ireland" Evo. Alan Ring makes his annual gravel appearance with Derek Brannigan alongside in the DJ Rallyhire Evo 8. Killarney's Kevin O'Donoughue will use his latest spec Evo 8MR.
While the Gp N crown looks almost certain for Tyrone's Stephen Moore (Impreza N10) most of the class honours have to be settled in Killarney. Brian Lawlor and Frank Kelly are locked in a two way tussle for the "Best 2WD" award with only 1 point between them going to Killarney. Seamus O'Connell, Paul Staunton, Adrian Hetherington, Noel Driver, and John Reid, are the other big 2WD contenders who could upset the Lawlor/ Kelly battle.
The Dineen Brothers have wrapped up class one and are saving up for next season so they will miss the final round. Mick Nevin has taken the class 2 title again this season with his trusty mk2. Clement Lonergan leads class 3 - 7 points ahead of James Flynn both using Civics' but drop scores have to come into play. Interestingly James Flynn could be elevated out of the class awards as he on course for 3rd in the "Best 2WD" overall standings. Benskin Brothers Ray and Sean go down to the wire for the class four spoils. John Reid, James Coleman and Killarney's Jimmy Devane come into the class five fray as Lawlor and Kelly will most likely feature in the "Best 2WD" awards eliminating them out of the class standings. Pat O'Connell has class 7 in the bag after Birr. Monaghan's Ashley McAdoo has taken the inaugural Junior class award and comes to the Kingdom like many others for bonus points.
The first car starts at 10:00 Sunday morning, the event heads towards Rockchapel to the Mullaghareirk complex for the opening stage, followed by Forehane and Mount Eagle before service in Castleisland Mart at Lunchtime. After a repeat run through the loop of three stages the front-runners are due back at Rally HQ, River Island Hotel for a champagne reception at 17:00 followed by prizegiving later that evening.
Entries still welcome.
Contact: Brendan Counihan (COC) 087 2669714
Scrutiny: from 16:00 Saturday 3rd Aherns Garage/ Castleisland Mart.
Documentation: from 16:30 Saturday 3rd Rally HQ, River Island Hotel.
(Main st. Castleisland)
Drivers Briefing: Sunday 4th Parc Ferme/ Castleisland Mart.
Service: Centralised Service Castleisland Mart after ss3.
Map Number: Discovery Series 72.
Entry list: Will be available online from Thursday 1st @
www.rally.ie
Regards,
Greg Shinnors (PRO)