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For
more information on the Petro Systems Motorsport Ireland National
Forest Rally Championship - please visit our championship website
@ www.irishforestrally.com
The 2009 Petro Systems Irish National Forestry Championship reaches
its finale this weekend as Birr Motor & District Club host
round 5 of this prestigious championship, the Abbey Court Hotel/Slattery’s
of Puckane Birr Forestry Rally. After beginning back in February
with the Sean Conlon Forestry Rally the overall championship title
has been a fierce battle and this weekend will see 3 crews fight
it out to be crowned the 2009 champions.
Leading the 80 strong entries away from the start ramp on Sunday
morning will be the Mitsubishi Evo 9 of championship leaders Trevor
J Harding and co driver Andrew Purcell. The crew have scored 2
outright victories so far this year and hold a 5 point lead over
their closest rivals Pat O’Connell and co driver Mark Wiley
who will be running second on the road Sunday in a similar Mitsubishi
Evo 9. O’Connell and Wiley have put in some fantastic top
3 finishes so far this year and are still in with a major chance
of lifting the 2009 title. Running at number 3 is the Toyota Corolla
of John Reid and Enda Shiels.
Reid was last year’s championship runner up while his co
driver Enda Shiels was crowned championship winning co driver
and although they are currently 15 and 16 points respectively
off the championship leaders in 3rd overall they can still technically
win the championship. At number 4 is Jeremy Drislane/ Liam McLaughlin
(Mitsubishi Evo 6 Grp A) followed at number 5 by the first two
wheel drive competitors of Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Ford Escort
MK11). Kelly and Brennan have had mixed fortunes this year and
even though they currently lie 3rd overall in the two wheel drive
championship they are still in the hunt for the top two wheel
drive honours. At number 6 are another of the top two wheel drive
competitors Brian Lawlor and Peter Kavanagh (Ford Escort MK11).
Brian Lawlor currently leads the two wheel drive standings while
his co driver Peter Kavanagh is in 2nd place just 2 points off
Richard Coady.
Mark Sheehan/Jonathan McGrath (Mitsubishi Evo 9) are at 7 and
will be aiming for a top Group N finish. Shay Power/Martin Croke
will be another crew aiming for top two wheel honours in their
pristine Ford Escort. Enda McNulty/Ronan O’Kane are at 9
in a Grp N Subaru Impreza with John McLaughlin/Ray Fitzpatrick
hoping to seal victory in class 8 after a good season in the forests.
Some
of the other top forestry crews competing for honours on Sunday
include James Coleman/Michael Haley (Ford Escort), Arthur Kierans/Andrew
Grennan (Ford Escort), James Foley/Andrew Cullen (Mitsubishi Evo
8), John Reddington/Stephen Quinn (Mitsubishi Evo 8), Christy
Carey/Mark Bowens (Mitsubishi Evo 8), Gerard Lucey/James Lucey
(Toyota Celica), Michael Cuddihy/Richard Coady (Ford Escort),
Jimmy Deane/TBA (Ford Escort),Pat Price/Stephen Price (Mitsubishi
Evo 6), Mark Murphy/Carol O’Keefe (Subaru Impreza), Sarah
Moynihan/Amy Moynihan (Mitsubishi Evo 8) and Michael Nevin/Des
Moran (Ford Escort).
Mechanical
Scrutiny will take place on Saturday at the NCT Centre in Nenagh
from 3.30pm till 8pm with paper scrutiny located at rally HQ the
Abbey Court Hotel between 4.30pm and 8.30pm. Parc Ferme will be
at the rear car park of the Abbey Court Hotel and a secure trailer
park will be provided beside Lidl at the rear of the hotel.
The
rally will begin on Sunday morning from the start ramp at the
Abbey Court Hotel at 08.31 with the of the 2 morning stages beginning
at 09.01 with both stages in the Latteragh/Devils Bit area. Service
1 will follow with the first car due at 10.15 and will be on the
old Dublin Rd between Dunkerrin and Moneygall. After service a
repeat of stages 1 and 2 will follow before crews will head for
the second service of the day at 12.22.
When the 2nd service is finished service crews will than move
to O’Connor’s Shopping Centre in Nenagh which is located
next to rally HQ the Abbey Court Hotel. Stages 5 & 6 will
be in the Silvermines/Burgess Beg area and will be followed by
the final service of the day in O’Connor’s Shopping
Centre in Nenagh.
The competing crews will than repeat stages 5 & 6 before heading
to the finish ramp at the Abbey Court Hotel at 17.30 where a champagne
reception will await the rally winners and also the result of
the 2009 Petro Systems Irish National Forestry Champions.
(Taken
from rally.ie)
ENDS
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