Quality Hotel West Cork Rally / Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship Rd. 2

[Cess]

​

Round 2 of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship stops for the first time in Clonakilty itself for the Quality Hotel West Cork Rally. Held over St Patrick's weekend, the rally has attracted a strong entry of well over 150 crews.

Galway International winner and early championship leader, Donagh Kelly, will be hoping to take another win in his Focus WRC. However, defending Tarmac Champion, I'm sure Declan Boyle is looking to banish his 2015 season blues with a commanding performance. A trio of Fiesta WRCs driven by the Moffett brothers and Cork native, Daragh O'Riordan will also have their eyes on the top step.

The modified entry is bursting at the seams with serious machinery. Declan Gallagher and the sprightly Starlet may not get their own way for a change, as a posse of mighty class 14 Mark 2 Escorts awaits them, including the return of Phil Collins and Wesley Patterson.

Stephen Wright will unveil his Fiesta R5 and battle for class honours with Johnny Greer's Citroen DS3 R5 and Joe McGonigle's Skoda Fabia S2000.

Other highlights in the entry list include a pair of Darians, the infamous Fubaru and a class 14 BMW 1 Series.

Rally website: http://www.westcorkrally.com/

Top 20

1 Donagh Kelly / Kevin Flanagan - Ford Focus WRC
2 Declan Boyle / Brian Boyle - Subaru S12B WRC
3 Darragh O'Riordan / Tony McDaid - Ford Fiesta WRC
4 Sam Moffett / Karl Atkinson - Ford Fiesta WRC
5 Melvyn Evans / Mark Glennerster - Subaru Impreza WRC
6 Josh Moffett / John Rowan - Ford Fiesta WRC
7 Owen Murphy / Anthony Nestor - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
8 Jonathon Greer / Kirsty Riddick - Citroen DS3 R5
9 Stephen Wright / Mikie Galvin - Ford Fiesta R5
10 Declan Gallagher / Ryan Moore - Toyota Starlet

11 Phil Collins / Diarmuid Falvey - Ford Escort Mk2
12 Adrian Hetherington / Gary Nolan - Ford Escort Mk2
14 Wesley Patterson / Johnny Baird - Ford Escort Mk2
15 Eoin Doyle / Peter Brennan - Ford Focus WRC
16 Aaron MacHale / Paul Mcgee - Mitsubishi Evo 9
17 Brendan Cumiskey / Ronan O'Kane - Subaru ST1
18 Brian O'Keeffe / Sean Hayde - Subaru Impreza
19 Joseph McGonigle / Ciaran Geaney - Skoda Fabia S2000
20 Fergus O'Meara / Ann Other - Ford Escort Mk2

Live stage times: http://results.westcorkrally.com/

Championship website: http://www.irishtarmac.com/

 

[Graham]

the run up to this event has been pretty good on twitter, some entry also.

I have a feeling Wrights fiesta will be seen in a few days time in it's new colours and i am even more hopeful of a passenger run in it that same day.

 

[Cess]

No Donnelly or Jennings this time round. I'm guessing that Jennings no score on round 1 has coloured his thinking for the season ahead. Whereas I assume Donnelly has limited or no budget. Hopefully both will enter the Circuit.

Wright's Fiesta is the former Barrable/Tunnock's car.

 

[Graham]

No Donnelly or Jennings this time round. I'm guessing that Jennings no score on round 1 has coloured his thinking for the season ahead. Whereas I assume Donnelly has limited or no budget. Hopefully both will enter the Circuit.

Wright's Fiesta is the former Barrable/Tunnock's car.

aha didnt' realise that, whats barrable doing now?

be shocked if jennings doesn't do the circuit, is donnelly up to much these days really behind the wheel?

 

[Cess]

I don't think Barrable has any immediate rallying plans. I'm assuming that the Tunnock's backing through Stu Loudon was the key to that partnership.

Donnelly has still got it. He pushed Moffett all the way in Galway. They had a great ding dong. The stages on the Saturday were just too open for the 1600cc WRC cars to take on the older 2 litre cars.

 

[Graham]

I don't think Barrable has any immediate rallying plans. I'm assuming that the Tunnock's backing through Stu Loudon was the key to that partnership.

Donnelly has still got it. He pushed Moffett all the way in Galway. They had a great ding dong. The stages on the Saturday were just too open for the 1600cc WRC cars to take on the older 2 litre cars.

Eugene's Arthritis must be under control again then as i know he struggled with it over the bog events

 

[Cess]

Meanwhile, in real motoring news... Stephen Wright's Fiesta R5 for the weekend

Just saw the stages, looking forward to my first trip

 

[Cess]

Few pictures from scrutiny this afternoon for all three of you who are interested:

And I'm sharing accommodation with this

 

[Cess]

So we're down to two interested parties! Here's start ramp pics for you both

 

[Graham]

Hopefully Patterson gets a clean run, your weekend isn't complete without a selfish with becsy however, get on it

 

[Cess]

I may have missed that opportunity @Graham, but I will try! She was around the ramp last night and presented Dougie Hayes with a cake for his birthday.

 

[Cess]

My word, Ring is a beautiful stage. Waiting on second run though - SS3.

Biggest news is Declan Boyle didn't survive SS1. I think he has retired with mechanical problems.

 

[Graham]

fuel pump issues for Boyle

 

[Graham]

Declan Boyle back out under rally 2 rules

 

[Graham]

meanwhile at Bishopscourt:

McGarrity leads from mcGeehan with Kenny McK 3rd

Alastair Cochrane leading 2wd in 5th OA while Gorge Robinson leads grpN in the Evo

Not a strong entry by any means

 

[Graham]

McGrady Insurance Junior Stages

After SS6
1 D Harper
2 J McErlean +11.8
3 P White +18.8
4 M McGarrity +28.5
5 P Bennett +42.9

 

[Graham]

Maximum Power Rally ‏@maxpowerrally 20m20 minutes ago
@westcorkrally SS3

1. @AirtricityRally
2. @sammoffett1 +23.7
3. O'Riodan +25.9
4. @joshmoffettcom1 +29.7
5. Evans + 50.7

 

[Graham]

McGrady Insurance Stages

After SS8
1 D McGarrity
2 D McGeehan +40.5
3 K McKinstry +43.0
4 P Hurson +58.8
5 J Morrow +1'40.0

 

[Graham]

McGrady Insurance Stages

After SS12
1 D McGarrity
2 D McGeehan +54.1
3 K McKinstry +56.1
4 P Hurson +1'19.1
5 J Morrow +2'8.3

 

[Graham]

Maximum Power Rally ‏@maxpowerrally 2h2 hours ago
After SS5

1. @AirtricityRally
2. @sammoffett1 +30.3
3. O'Riordan +54.7
4. @joshmoffettcom1 + 1:16.3
5. Murphy +1:30.5

#westcorkrally

 

[Graham]

Ditchslapped ‏@Ditchslapblog 4m4 minutes ago
End of day 1 @westcorkrally

Kelly
S. Moffett +48.2
O'Riordan +1.43.9
Evans +3.08.8
Wright +3.14.8
Gallagher +4.03.3

 

[Cess]

For such a compact rally, it really is a war of attrition. Lots of expected big players have fell by the wayside today.

Ironically, one of the fastest men has been Marty McCormack on double 0 duties. Bodes well for the Circuit hopefully!

 

[Cess]

 

[Cess]

 

[Graham]

Looking forward to seeing it on the circuit.

Is it Simpson's old car?