Trevor J Harding wins the 2009 Moonraker Forest Rally
Round 3 of the Petro Systems Irish National Forest Rally Championship
http://www.irishforestrally.com


Lismore in County Waterford was the base for Round 3 of the Petro Systems Irish Forestry Championship with 65 crews driving through the start ramp at the Lismore House Hotel.

Eight stages faced the crews which was organised by Munster Car Club with the famous forestry stage 'the Vee' being the opening stage of the day. Peter McCullagh and co driver Alan Dolan were making a welcome return to this years championship in a Mitsubishi Evo 9 and made their presence was felt straight from the off, stopping the clocks with a time of 6.44 on the opening stage. The Kildare crew were 2 seconds faster than currant championship leaders and number 1 seeds of the rally, Trevor J Harding & Andrew Purcell who brought their Subaru Impreza 555 to the stage finish a further 11 seconds ahead of the Mitsubishi Evo 9 crew of Pat O'Connell and Mark Wiley with James Murphy & Anthony Nestor setting the same time as O'Connell in their Ford Escort WRC to lie joint third. Frank Kelly and co driver Liam Brennan were 4th fastest a further seconds behind in a Ford Escort Mk11. The Toyota Corolla WRC crew of John Reid & Enda were 5th fastest with a time of 6.59.

It was the battle for 2 wheel drive honours Frank Kelly & Liam Brennan had opened up a lead of 11 seconds from the similar Ford Escort of Brian Lawlor & Peter Kavanagh, with the Toyota Starlet of Shane McGirr & Anthony Concannon a further 5 seconds behind in third.

Stage 2 Scart Mountain saw Harding attack Peter McCullough's lead taking 3 seconds back through the stage with a time of 6.32 and move in to a 1 second lead. James Murphy set third fastest time through the stage to moved up to 3rd overall with the Toyota Corolla WRC of John Reid also moving up a place to 4th. Pat O'Connell dropped to 5th overall whilst Frank Kelly lay in 6th place and held onto the lead of the 2 wheel drive battle from Shane McGirr who had now moved into 2nd ahead of Brian Lawlor as all the competing crews headed for their 1st service halt of the day.

The crews left service for the first run over stage 3 Bohadoon and once again Peter McCullagh threw down the challenge to Trevor J Harding setting a time 2 seconds quicker and move back into the overall lead. James Murphy still held 3rd place but his position was being challenged by John Reid who took a second back from Murphy. Martin Cairns who had Martin Brady on the notes started to find their pace setting joint 3rd fastest time through the stage with Pat O'Connell. James Murphy & Anthony Murphy were the only other competing crew to break the 3 minute barrier with a time of 2.59.
Frank Kelly still held on to the lead of top 2 wheel drive with a time of 3.07 just 1 second faster than Brian Lawlor with Connor Kelly and co driver Pierce Dohney's Ford Escort matching the time of Lawlor. Shane McGirr dropped 2 seconds to Lawlor but still held on to his 2nd place position.

Stage 4 Coolatour was the final stage before the afternoon service halt and once again the very close fought contest at the top of the leader board showed the sheer speed and commitment of the competing crews. Both Trevor J Harding and Peter McCullagh set equal fastest time stopping the finish clock on a time of 6.00. Mark Murphy & Carol O'Keeffe were 2nd fastest in their older model Subaru Impreza with James Murphy setting 3rd fastest time in his Escort WRC. As the crews may their way to service the leader board showed Peter McCullagh hold a slender 1 second lead from Trevor J Harding who in turn had opened up a lead of 31 seconds from James Murphy in 3rd place with John Reid a further 14 seconds adrift in 4th place. Pat O'Connell rounded off the top 5 in his ex Gabriel Martin Mitsubishi Evo 9.
Frank Kelly had opened up a lead of 41 seconds of his nearest 2 wheel drive rivals Shane McGirr & Anthony Concannon with Brian Lawlor & Peter Cavanagh still holding 3rd place from the strong challenge of Connor Kelly & Pierce Dohney.

Stage 5 was a repeat of the Vee and it was Harding who once again regained the lead his Subaru Impreza 555 3 seconds faster through the stage than the Escort WRC of James Murphy with Peter McCullagh 3rd fastest a further 1 second behind. John Reid set 4th fastest with a time of 6.46 while Pat O'Connell 5th fastest with a time of 6.47. A blockage on stage 6 saw all competing crew get a stage interruption time of 7.30 and as the crews went to the final service halt of the day the leader board showed Trevor J Harding & Andrew Purcell hold a slender lead of 3 seconds from Peter McCullagh & Alan Dolan. James Murphy & Anthony Nestor remained in 3rd place with the time difference to 4th place overall John Reid & Enda Shields now standing at 17 seconds. Pat O'Connell still remained in 5th place with Martin Cairns & Martin Brady in 6th overall.
Frank Kelly & Liam Brennan lost over four and a half minutes through stage 5 with mechanical woes which left Brian Lawlor & Peter Kavanagh take the lead of the 2 wheel drive from Shane McGirr & Anthony Concannon who lost time with a puncture.

With only a repeat through stages 3 and 4 remaining the and with less than a minute separating the top 5 crews the honour of winning the Moonraker forest rally was still all to play for. Once again Peter McCullagh & Alan Dolan showed true skill and were fastest on a time of 2.49 which was 3 seconds faster than Trevor J Harding & Andrew Purcell. Once again they McCullagh had pulled out all the stops and it was now all level at the top of the leader board with just 1 stage remaining. Pat O'Connell & Mark Wiley set 3rd fastest time of 2.55 whilst James Murphy, John Reid and Martin Cairns set equal fourth fastest a further 1 second behind O'Connell's Mitsubishi. Frank Kelly was 5th fastest and also quickest 2 wheel drive through the stage. As the crews made their way to the final stage and the rally was far from over. Harding's Subaru stopped the clocks with a time of 5.52 but unfortunately for Peter McCullagh and co driver Alan Dolan their chance of victory slipped away when they rolled their Mitsubishi Evo 9 halfway through the stage. Luckily for the crew it was a light roll and they were able to continue but dropped 41 seconds to finish runner up to Harding and Purcell. James Murphy & Anthony Murphy brought their Ford Escort WRC to the finish ramp in 3rd overall after holding off the late challenge of the Toyota Corolla WRC crew of John Reid & Enda Shields. Tipperary's Pat O'Connell and co driver Mark Wiley finished 5th overall in a Mitsubishi Evo 9 and winners of Group N.

It was a case of two in a row for Dublin's Brian Lawlor and Peter Kavanagh who secured the top 2 wheel drive award and 10th overall after having won the award on round 2 of the championship. Shan McGirr and co driver Anthony Concannon finished 12th overall in their Toyota Starlet and runners up to Lawlor and Kavanagh with the similar Toyota Starlet of Michael Cuddihy & Richard Coady finishing 17th overall and 3rd two wheel drive.

Class Winners.
Class 1 - Emmet Cronin & Mark Bowens,
Class 2 - Micheal Nevin & Alan Higgins,
Class 3 - Shane McGirr & Anthony Concannon,
Class 4 - Ray Benskin Snr & Keith McCarty,
Class 5 - Brian Lawlor & Peter Kavanagh,
Class 6 - Mark Murphy & Carol O'Keeffe,
Class 7 - John Reid & Enda Shiels,
Class 8 - Pat O'Connell & Mark Wiley,
Class 9 - Vincent McAree & Jp McAree



Report by:

Seamus O'Connor
Championship PRO

More details on the Irish National Forest Rally Championship is also available at www.irishforestrally.com

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